Full laser resurfacing

Full laser resurfacing or laser skin resurfacing is an advanced treatment for moderate to severe skin damage, delivering dramatic results and a permanent improvement to skin quality.

Full laser resurfacing or laser skin resurfacing is an advanced treatment for moderate to severe skin damage, delivering dramatic results and a permanent improvement to skin quality.

At a glance

Every patient is unique, and during our consultation process, we work with you to develop a bespoke treatment plan based on what you want to achieve.

Duration

1 - 2 hours

Anaesthetic

Local anaesthetic

Downtime

Up to 2 weeks

Length of results

Lifetime

Full Laser Resurfacing Cost

£5,000

Laser Skin Resurfacing Testimonials

Hear from Donna about her experience of full laser resurfacing at McKeown Medical.

How does laser skin resurfacing work?

What is laser skin resurfacing?

When the skin has been badly damaged by the sun or nicotine — or when you want to achieve the most dramatic possible improvement to your skin — full field skin resurfacing laser treatments are usually the best option.

The benefit of a traditional full field laser resurfacing procedure is that it achieves the most dramatic degree of improvement in skin quality possible. The results are also permanent.

The device we use for this laser resurfacing treatment is the Sciton Contour Tunable Resurfacing Laser (TRL), an advanced instrument that delivers a level of accuracy that other lasers cannot achieve. This allows us to create a truly tailored laser treatment specifically for each patient’s unique needs and aesthetic goals.

Sciton is a trusted medical device company known as the ‘Rolls Royce’ of laser manufacturers.

What can laser resurfacing treat?

Full field laser resurfacing can treat skin laxity and remove fine lines and mild to deep wrinkles — especially around the mouth, eyes and cheeks. It is also excellent for removing skin imperfections or pigmentation issues such as age spots, smoothing rough skin texture, and can have a tightening effect on ageing or sagging skin (especially the skin around the eyes).

The full laser resurfacing procedure is an effective treatment for the following skin conditions:

  • Sun damage
  • Nicotine damage
  • Fine lines & wrinkles
  • Pigmentation
  • Loose skin
  • Uneven skin tone

How does facial laser resurfacing work?

Facial laser resurfacing treatment regenerates the facial skin by removing the top layers of the skin, stimulating the body’s healing response and collagen production. This allows for new cell growth and skin regeneration that improves the skin’s texture and creates a more youthful, smoother appearance.

Laser resurfacing is especially effective for treating smoker’s lines, wrinkles from years of sun exposure as well as helping with general skin rejuvenation and skin tightening. It works to   improve skin texture and address a variety of other issues that arise as a result of years of exposure to our environment.

Types of laser treatments

Here is Dr Rhona Cameron, who heads up our laser team, talking about your options for laser treatment.

Patient Reviews

Read reviews from our patients about their experience at McKeown Medical. 

Are you ready to start your consultation?

Finding the right treatment for you is the most important factor in ensuring that you are on the correct path to achieve the results you desire. Our pre-consultation form helps us to identify your needs and, ultimately, gets you on the right path to achieving your optimal results.

How much does full laser skin resurfacing cost?

Your treatment plan will be tailored to your individual needs and the results you are looking to achieve.

Full laser resurfacing

£5,000

What to Expect from Full Laser Resurfacing

A patient before and after treatment at McKeown Medical.

The Full Field Laser Resurfacing Procedure

Full field laser resurfacing involves removing the entire surface of the skin, in contrast to most of our modern lasers that work by treating only a fraction of the skin’s surface with each pass.

The fractional approach is ideal for patients with minor skin damage or who want minimal downtime. However, when the skin needs more extensive rejuvenation, a full field laser skin resurfacing treatment is best.

Before the procedure

Full field laser resurfacing for the face is an invasive procedure that is performed by our expert medical professionals under local anaesthetic to ensure minimal discomfort. That means we begin by injecting local anaesthetic — similar to the dentist — to first make the skin numb.

As part of our facial resurfacing treatment, we can also perform laser skin resurfacing under the eyes to tighten the eyelids. If we are planning to treat the skin around the eyes — which most patients opt to have — we need to place metal contact lenses in the eyes to protect the surface of the eye from the laser. Although this sounds quite alarming, most patients tolerate it very well, especially those who are used to wearing regular contact lenses.

During the procedure

During the skin resurfacing procedure, the laser is passed over the skin in multiple passes, each time removing a controlled amount of the skin’s surface until we achieve the desired results. It is normal to feel some heat building up in the skin. Patients often describe the sensation of the laser procedure as a feeling similar to sunburn.

Following laser resurfacing procedures, the treatment area is covered in a vaseline-like substance (Aquaphor), and you go home with instructions on how to care for your skin during the healing process. We ask you to clean your skin 2 or 3 times per day using a special antiseptic solution that we provide for you.

You will also be prescribed a course of antibiotics and a course of antiviral medication to reduce the chances of infection during the healing process. This is vital because an infection of any sort can result in scarring or permanent changes to the pigmentation of the skin — so the initial healing period is critical.

Full Laser Skin Resurfacing Recovery & Aftercare

Full Laser Skin Resurfacing Recovery & Aftercare

The initial recovery time after a full field laser skin resurfacing treatment can be up to 2 weeks, and during the first week, we will see you daily to check that the epidermis is healing well and to ensure you have been able to clean your skin properly.

This is what you can expect after the procedure:

When you leave the clinic, it is normal for your skin to ooze for the first 24 hours. In most cases, the oozing stops after 24 hours, but it can persist for 2 or 3 days. The swelling typically gets worse in the first couple of days, peaking around day 3, before slowly starting to get better.

By around 5-7 days after the face resurfacing treatment, the new skin will have grown back; although at this stage, you will likely still have some swelling and redness.

Normally by around day 10-14, most of the initial healing is done and you will be able to start wearing makeup and getting back to most normal activities. The redness will gradually fade to pink and then eventually go back to your normal skin colour.

It can sometimes take up to 6 months for the final stages of the pinkness to go completely, but we will be here to guide you through this process.

If you have more questions about this procedure, you can get in touch with our patient relationship manager or book a consultation with one of our aesthetic experts to find out if laser resurfacing is the right skin rejuvenation treatment for you.

A patient before and after treatment at McKeown Medical.

Common Questions

Does full laser resurfacing hurt?

Most patients describe the treatment as an unpleasant experience, with discomfort, but most patients don’t find it to be painful.

What are the benefits of full laser resurfacing?

Full laser resurfacing, also known as ablative laser resurfacing, offers a multitude of benefits for individuals seeking to improve the appearance and texture of their skin. Firstly, this advanced procedure effectively reduces the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots, resulting in a more youthful complexion. Additionally, full laser resurfacing stimulates collagen production, which enhances skin elasticity and firmness. Moreover, this treatment can effectively address various skin concerns such as acne scars, sun damage, and uneven pigmentation. The precision of the laser allows for targeted treatment areas and customisable results.

How long does it take to recover from full laser resurfacing?

Full healing from the treatment will take several months, although most patients can get back to normal activities by around two weeks. The swelling usually gets worse over the first couple of days before starting to go down.

The new skin typically begins to appear around the first week after treatment, although the skin is still quite red and swollen at this stage. This continues to dissipate during the second week so that by day 10-14, most patients feel comfortable getting back to normal activities with the help of some tinted moisturiser or tinted sunscreen. The final pinkness can take several months to resolve completely.

Are there any risks or side effects associated with full laser resurfacing?

The main risk of laser is infection which can cause changes to the pigmentation of the skin and even scarring. To reduce the chances of infection, we give you antibiotics for the first week and antiviral medication.

If you are prone to cold sores, we will ask you to start antivirals the night before your treatment. We will follow up with you daily following the procedure to check on your recovery and identify any signs of complications that might require additional treatment.

Should I avoid sun exposure after full laser resurfacing?

Avoiding sunlight exposure is an important part of the healing process. During the initial two-week healing period you should avoid being out in the sun completely. Whilst your skin remains pink, you should only be out in the sun wearing SPF50 and a hat to avoid sun on your face as much as possible.

When your skin has completely healed, and the residual pinkness is gone, you can go back in the sun – although remember that sun exposure will cause recurrence of your wrinkles and sun damage and is not advised.

Your Expert Team

Founder

Dr Darren McKeown

Our founder, Dr Darren McKeown, is renowned for his expertise and artistry with dermal fillers. As a peer-reviewed medical author, he is passionate about treatments that stand up to scientific scrutiny. Above all, Dr McKeown believes in a global approach; delivering flawless results – and rejuvenation that lasts.

Medical Director

Dr Rhona Cameron

Dr Rhona Cameron is a skilled injector who has been extensively trained in Dr McKeown’s signature intuitive technique. Her treatments blend advanced facial optimisation with powerful, energy-based devices – such as lasers, BBL and radio frequency – energising the appearance and enhancing skin health. approach; delivering flawless results – and rejuvenation that lasts.

Some other areas of specialism

BBL® treatment

HALO Laser Treatment

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