Erbium Laser Skin Resurfacing in Colorado Springs, CO
Advanced Erbium Laser Resurfacing for Smoother, Brighter, Healthier-Looking Skin — Experience the Aria Difference
Fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, uneven pigmentation, rough texture, and scarring can become more noticeable over time. At Aria Dermatology and Aesthetics in Colorado Springs, Dr. Victoria Moss, MD, FAAD offers advanced fractional laser resurfacing using two complementary technologies: 2940 nm Erbium Yag ablative laser resurfacing and 1540 nm Erbium glass non-ablative laser resurfacing.
Having both wavelengths allows us to customize treatment based on your skin, concerns, and desired downtime. The 2940 nm laser precisely resurfaces damaged skin, while the 1540 nm laser delivers fractional energy deeper into the skin to stimulate collagen remodeling without ablating the surface. Treatments can be used individually or as part of a customized resurfacing plan to improve fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, uneven tone and texture, acne and surgical scars, and overall skin quality.
What Is Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing?
Fractional laser skin resurfacing uses controlled columns of laser energy to treat a fraction of the skin at a time, stimulating the body's natural healing response and promoting skin renewal and collagen remodeling.
At Aria Dermatology and Aesthetics, we offer both 2940 nm Erbium Yag ablative fractional resurfacing and 1540 nm Erbium glass non-ablative fractional resurfacing. Having both technologies allows us to customize the depth, intensity, and downtime of treatment based on your skin and individual goals.
What Does Laser Skin Resurfacing Treat?
Fractional laser resurfacing can improve a variety of skin concerns, including:
Fine lines and wrinkles
Sun damage and photodamage
Uneven skin tone and pigmentation
Rough or uneven skin texture
Acne scars
Surgical and traumatic scars
Enlarged pores
Age-related skin changes
Overall skin texture and quality
The best laser, treatment depth, and number of treatments depend on the condition being treated, your skin type, and the degree of correction desired.
What Is 2940 nm Ablative Laser Resurfacing?
The 2940 nm laser is an ablative resurfacing laser with a wavelength that is highly absorbed by water in the skin. This allows precise removal of microscopic areas of damaged tissue while stimulating the skin's natural repair and remodeling response.
This type of laser resurfacing can be customized in depth and intensity, making it an excellent option for patients seeking more significant improvement in fine lines and wrinkles, sun damage, uneven pigmentation, rough texture, and certain types of scarring.
Because this laser is ablative, it generally involves more downtime than non-ablative fractional resurfacing.
What Is 1540 nm Non-Ablative Laser Resurfacing?
The 1540 nm laser is a non-ablative fractional laser that delivers controlled columns of thermal energy beneath the skin while leaving the surface largely intact.
This controlled thermal injury stimulates the body's healing response and promotes new collagen formation and dermal remodeling. The 1540 nm laser is particularly useful for treating acne scars, surgical and traumatic scars, fine lines, uneven texture, and overall skin rejuvenation.
Because the skin's surface is not intentionally ablated, recovery is generally shorter than with more aggressive ablative resurfacing.
Is Erbium Laser Resurfacing Good for Acne Scars?
Yes. Both fractional lasers can play a role in treating acne scars, depending on the type and depth of scarring.
The 1540 nm laser creates controlled thermal treatment zones within the dermis to stimulate collagen remodeling, while the 2940 nm laser provides ablative resurfacing that can address surface irregularities and textural changes.
Because acne scars are not all the same, the most effective treatment plan may involve one wavelength, a combination of resurfacing technologies, or other treatments based on your individual scar pattern.
What Is the Difference Between Ablative and Non-Ablative Laser Resurfacing?
Ablative laser resurfacing removes microscopic areas of the skin's surface while stimulating deeper remodeling. Our 2940 nm Er is an ablative resurfacing laser and generally provides greater surface correction with more downtime.
Non-ablative laser resurfacing heats targeted tissue beneath the skin without intentionally removing the surface. Our 1540 nm Er provides non-ablative fractional resurfacing with less surface disruption and typically less downtime.
Having both technologies allows treatment to be tailored to the amount of correction you want and the amount of recovery time you are comfortable with.
How Is Er:Yag Different From CO2 Laser Resurfacing?
Both Er and CO2 lasers are ablative resurfacing technologies, but they interact with skin differently.
The 2940 nm Er wavelength is very strongly absorbed by water, allowing precise tissue ablation with relatively limited surrounding thermal injury. CO2 lasers produce a greater degree of residual thermal coagulation.
Neither technology is ideal for every patient. The appropriate resurfacing treatment depends on your skin, concerns, desired degree of correction, and acceptable downtime.
How Many Laser Resurfacing Treatments Will I Need?
The number of treatments depends on the wavelength used, treatment intensity, condition being treated, and your individual goals.
1540 nm Er non-ablative resurfacing is commonly performed as a series of treatments to produce progressive collagen remodeling and improvement.
More intensive 2940 nm Er resurfacing may produce meaningful improvement with fewer treatments, although treatment plans vary considerably depending on the depth of resurfacing and the concern being treated.
Results continue to develop as the skin heals and collagen remodels following treatment.
What Is the Downtime After Laser Skin Resurfacing?
Downtime depends significantly on which wavelength is used and how aggressively the skin is treated.
After 1540 nm Er non-ablative resurfacing, patients may experience redness, warmth, swelling, sensitivity, and a dry or rough texture for several days.
Because 2940 nm Er is ablative, recovery is typically more significant and may include redness, swelling, peeling, crusting, or oozing as the treated skin heals. More aggressive treatments require longer recovery.
Your treatment will be customized based not only on the results you want, but also on the amount of downtime you are comfortable with.
Which Laser Resurfacing Treatment Is Right for Me?
The best resurfacing treatment depends on your primary concerns, skin type, severity of damage or scarring, desired results, and tolerance for downtime.
Patients seeking gradual collagen remodeling with less surface disruption may be better suited for 1540 nm Er non-ablative resurfacing, while patients seeking more intensive correction of wrinkles, sun damage, pigmentation, or texture may benefit from 2940 nm Er ablative resurfacing.
At Aria Dermatology and Aesthetics, treatment is customized rather than choosing a laser based on a one-size-fits-all protocol.
Ready to Reveal Smoother, Healthier-Looking Skin?
Discover what customized laser resurfacing can do for your skin. Schedule a consultation at Aria Dermatology and Aesthetics in Colorado Springs to determine whether ablative, non-ablative or another customized resurfacing approach is right for your skin, goals, and desired downtime.