Recovery from a Pixel laser treatment can take one to two weeks, less than half of the recovery time expected with a typical ablative laser treatment (which removes the entire surface of the skin).
For the first few days, you might experience side effects like tingling, burning, and itching sensations, similar to what you might feel with a severe sunburn.
"It's normal to have crusting and flaking for three to seven days after Pixel, depending on the depth of penetration and the number of passes," says Dr. Jacob Freiman, a plastic surgeon in Miami.Â
In some cases, some skin inflammation can persist for up to a few months after the procedure, reports Dr. Gary Motykie, a West Hollywood, California, plastic surgeon.Â
The skin on areas of the body other than the face can take at least twice as long to heal because the skin turns over more slowly and does not have as many oil glands.
You can use ice packs to ease swelling, take over-the-counter pain relievers, and moisturize the treated area. If your skin crusts, apply more moisturizer. “Always cover the treated area with moisturizer, to decrease healing time and the extent of redness,” says Dr. Gary Motykie, a plastic surgeon in West Hollywood, California.
Avoid strenuous activity and direct sun exposure for at least the first week and apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, to prevent pigmentation issues like melasma.
You’ll begin to see results once the healing process is complete, but you may need more than one treatment to achieve your desired results.
