Resurfacing, Your Way
Some skin issues are near the surface, while others go deeper. Fine lines, rough texture, and sun damage may each need a different type of laser resurfacing. This is where Erbium resurfacing helps. At Aesthetic Surgery of Charlotte, we use this Erbium laser at different depths based on your skin and your goals. Lighter treatments refresh your skin with little downtime. Deeper treatments target wrinkles and more serious damage, but require a longer recovery. You don't need to decide on a treatment level before your visit. We'll examine your skin, discuss your goals, and recommend the right amount of resurfacing.
Actual Patient
| Best For: | Fine lines, deep wrinkles, sun damage, age spots, rough texture |
| Treatment Type: | Full-field Er:YAG laser resurfacing |
| Wavelength: | 2940 nm |
| Treatment Depth: | Fully customizable |
| Downtime: | A few days for the lightest treatments to 10 days or more for deeper resurfacing |
| Numbing: | Topical anesthetic or local anesthetic depending on depth |
| Results: | Smoother skin with continued new collagen production as healing progresses |
Precision Below the Surface
Erbium Resurfacing is a tunable resurfacing laser. We can adjust how deeply the laser treats, rather than using the same setting for everyone. The system uses an Er:YAG laser at a 2940 nm wavelength. The laser beam is absorbed by water in the skin and removes controlled layers of damaged skin from the treatment area. The provider can independently adjust how much tissue is removed and how much heat reaches the tissue below. This level of control is important. A light laser peel for mild sun damage is very different from deep resurfacing for lines around the mouth.
As your skin heals, your body naturally increases collagen production. This new collagen keeps growing after the surface heals, helping your skin look smoother and firmer over time.
Know the Difference
Full-field and fractional lasers both resurface skin, but they do it differently. Erbium Full Field Resurfacing treats the entire skin surface inside the designated treatment area. Fractional Erbium laser treatments create tiny treatment zones with untreated skin between them. Neither option is better than the other. They’re just different tools for different needs.
Fractional treatments may be a good fit when you want less downtime or when the skin condition does not call for full-field resurfacing. Full field Erbium resurfacing gives us more freedom when the whole surface needs to be treated at a specific depth.
Actual Patient
Texture, Tone, Renewal
Erbium Resurfacing can be used for several concerns that develop with aging, sun exposure, or changes in the skin over time.
It may help improve:
We adjust the treatment depth based on your skin concern. Mild surface damage is treated differently than deeper wrinkles.
Choose Your Depth
The key thing to know about Erbium Resurfacing is that it’s not a one-size-fits-all treatment or recovery.
Shallow treatments work closer to the skin surface. They can be useful for early sun damage, roughness, mild pigment changes, or skin that simply needs more resurfacing than skincare can provide. Recovery is often short. With the lightest settings, some people only need a few days of downtime.
Go a little deeper, and we can start working on more noticeable fine lines, sun damage, uneven texture, and other changes that have built up over time. As treatments get stronger, you can expect more redness, swelling, and peeling.
Deep resurfacing is where Erbium Resurfacing can address deeper wrinkles and more significant skin damage. Deep resurfacing is a more intensive treatment, and recovery takes longer. You may need 10 days or more before returning to your usual activities. A stronger treatment is not always better. We use just enough energy to treat the problem areas, without going deeper than necessary.
Fresh Skin, Thoughtfully Done
The main benefit is control. We adjust the treatment depth to match your skin goals, rather than forcing your skin into a preset plan.
Erbium Resurfacing can:
Er:YAG lasers usually leave less heat in the skin than traditional CO2 lasers. This can mean less risk of injury to nearby tissue, though pigment changes are still possible and your skin tone is always considered. Our goal is to help your skin look healthier, smoother, and clearer. Good resurfacing should make your skin look like itself, just better.
Fit Comes First
If you have wrinkles, sun damage, rough texture, or other surface changes that bother you, Erbium Resurfacing may be worth considering. It’s also important that you can follow the recovery instructions, especially for deeper treatments.
Your skin type, tone, medical history, medications, sun exposure, and pigmentation history all play a role. People with darker skin tones may have a higher risk of pigment changes after laser treatments, so we take extra care in choosing the right settings.
You might come in expecting, Erbium Resurfacing but sometimes another laser treatment is a better option. We will help you find the right fit during your evaluation. If you’re not sure how strong your treatment should be, a consultation lets us examine your skin and discuss your options, expected downtime, and what results you can expect.
The Right Tool for Your Skin
Different lasers do different jobs.
| Treatment | Best For | Approach | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erbium Resurfacing | Wrinkles, sun damage, texture | Full-field Er:YAG resurfacing | Varies widely by depth |
| ProFractional | Acne Scars, Surgical or traumatic scars. | Fractional Er:YAG | Varies widely by depth |
| HALO | Tone, texture, sun damage | Hybrid fractional | Moderate |
| MOXI | Early pigment changes, maintenance | Non-ablative fractional | Low |
| EDGE CO2 | Wrinkles, scars, texture | Fractional CO2 | Varies |
| BBL | Brown spots, redness, visible vessels | Broadband light | Minimal for many patients |
If pigment and redness are the main problem, BBL may make more sense. If you have deeper texture, or wrinkles, resurfacing may do more. Sometimes one device is enough for your needs. Other times, the best plan may use more than one treatment.
Start With Your Skin
During your consultation, we determine what your skin truly needs. We’ll look at the treatment area, your skin’s thickness and texture, pigment, sun damage, and anything else you want to improve. We will also review your medical history and previous treatments.
Next, we’ll discuss how much downtime you can expect. Let us know if you can only take a few days off work, or if you have a wedding, trip, or other big event coming up. The amount of recovery time you can manage helps us plan your treatment.
You’ll leave your consultation with a clear idea of which treatment is right for you, how deep we recommend going, and what your recovery will involve.
Prep for a Better Heal
Successful laser resurfacing begins with preparing your skin properly. Before your appointment, we may ask you to:
Only stop prescription medications if your healthcare provider instructs you to do so.
Actual Patient
Controlled, Precise, Personalized
We start by cleansing your skin and confirming the treatment area and settings. A topical anesthetic may be enough for shallow treatments. Deeper treatments may call for local anesthetic or additional comfort measures.
During treatment, a computer-guided scanner is maneuvered by practitioner evenly across the skin. The energy needed depends on how deep we are going and what we are treating.
After your treatment, we will explain how to care for your skin. For deeper resurfacing, this may include keeping your skin moist as it heals.
Actual Patient
Healing at Your Depth
A very shallow treatment might leave you red for a few hours. Deep resurfacing is a different experience and can require 10 days or more of recovery. Depending on treatment depth, you may experience redness, swelling, warmth, peeling, and sensitivity. With deeper treatments, peeling can start within about 24 hours. Redness may last several weeks and sometimes longer.
After deeper resurfacing, you may be able to wear makeup about a week after treatment, but your skin must be fully healed first. We will let you know when it is safe, so you do not have to guess.
Newly resurfaced skin and ultraviolet light do not mix well. Stay out of direct sun while your skin heals and follow our sun protection advice. After deeper resurfacing, you may need to take extra sun precautions for several months. New sun damage can undo the improvements you worked hard to achieve.
Fresh Skin Takes Shape
The first noticeable improvements show up as the redness, swelling, and peeling settle. With deeper resurfacing, many patients start getting a better look at their results within one to two weeks. The skin’s texture can look smoother, wrinkles may look softer, and damaged skin gives way to a fresher surface. The process continues after healing. New collagen keeps forming in the deeper layers for months, so your skin can keep improving over time.
Your Skin Sets the Pace
It depends on how deep we treat. Some patients choose one deeper treatment because they want stronger correction and are comfortable with the recovery. Others prefer shallower treatments with less downtime. There is no benefit to choosing the deepest treatment just because it is available. The best plan is the one that fits your goals, your skin, and your schedule.
Better Together
Yes, Erbium Resurfacing can be combined with other treatments, as long as it's planned carefully. The treatment handles texture and damaged layers of skin. BBL may be better for redness and pigmentation. Injectables address volume or muscle movement. Medical-grade skincare can help support skin quality between treatments. If you have several concerns, we will help decide what to treat first and how much healing time you need between treatments.
Depth Is Only Part of the Decision
With Erbium Resurfacing, choosing the right settings is just as important as having the laser itself. At Aesthetic Surgery of Charlotte, we offer several types of laser and energy treatments, so we do not have to use the same device for everyone. Dr. Adam Augenstein and our team will consider your skin, your goals, and your available recovery time before recommending a plan. This might mean a lighter treatment, a deeper resurfacing, or even a different approach altogether. A good consultation will help you figure out the best option.
Start With What You Want to Change
If you have sun damage, deep wrinkles, or skin texture that has not improved with lighter treatments, schedule a visit so we can assess your skin. Book a consultation with Aesthetic Surgery of Charlotte to discuss your skin goals, treatment options, recovery time, and whether Erbium Resurfacing is right for you.
A topical anesthetic may be enough for lighter resurfacing. Deeper treatments may need local anesthetic or other comfort measures.
Anywhere from a few days for a very light treatment to 10 days or more after deep resurfacing. We can give you a more useful estimate once we know the treatment depth.
After deeper treatment, makeup may be possible at around one week, but only once the treated skin has healed enough. Follow the timeline your ASC provider gives you.
Results can last for years depending on depth performed with good skincare and sun protection, although your skin will continue to age naturally. Continued sun exposure can also create new damage.
Yes. These are common areas for resurfacing, especially when fine lines have become more deeply etched.
It can be. Charlotte gets plenty of sun throughout the year, but cooler months may make it easier to avoid sun exposure while you heal.
Yes, but do not schedule aggressive resurfacing too close to an important date. Deep treatment can leave redness after the main peeling and healing phase has passed.
Cost depends on the treatment area, treatment depth, and overall plan. We can give you specific pricing after evaluating your skin.
Yes, when appropriate. We look at how deeply you were treated, how the skin healed, and what you still want to improve before recommending another session.
For the highest quality care and results, book your consultation with Dr. Augenstein at Aesthetic Surgery of Charlotte. We can’t wait to help you realize your best life.