Is-laser-skin-resurfacing-painful
Is Laser Skin Resurfacing Painful?
Posted on [post_date] [post_comments] [post_edit]
The short answer is no — properly managed, laser skin resurfacing is not a painful procedure. The longer answer because comfort depends on which laser, what depth, what anaesthesia and what aftercare you have. This guide breaks down what to expect during the procedure itself, what the recovery window feels like, and how each laser protocol differs.
At Centre for Surgery, we use the Fotona SP Dynamis Pro Er:YAG laser for all at our Baker Street private hospital. The platform’s flexibility means we can deliver everything from a comfortable cosmetic refresh to deeper resurfacing with appropriate pain management for each.
Pain during the procedure
What the procedure feels like depends entirely on protocol depth.
For , , and other SMOOTH® protocols — where the laser heat without removing the skin surface — most patients describe the sensation as warm tingling rather than pain. No anaesthesia is typically required. The PIANO® step in Fotona 4D is the warmest sensation, lasting a few minutes per pass; some patients describe it as a gentle "hot stone" feeling.
For fractional erbium YAG resurfacing — where laser energy is delivered in microscopic columns — the sensation during is brief stinging in the moment of each pass, comparable to flicks of a rubber band on warmed skin. A topical anaesthetic cream applied for 30 to 45 minutes before treatment significantly reduces this. Most patients find the procedure entirely tolerable. Treatment time runs 30 to 60 minutes depending on area.
For ablative treatments — where the entire epidermis is over the treatment area — the procedure is more intense and requires infiltrative local anaesthetic, sometimes combined with oral sedation. With appropriate anaesthesia, patients feel pressure and warmth but not pain. Without it, the sensation would be significant. We never run fully ablative protocols without proper anaesthesia.
For individual — moles, seborrhoeic keratoses, milia, skin tags — a small infiltration of local anaesthetic around the lesion eliminates discomfort entirely. The lesion is then vaporised over a few minutes. Patients feel nothing during the procedure itself.
What the recovery window feels like
Pain in the recovery window depends on the depth.
The treated skin feels warm and tight — most patients describe it as like a to severe sunburn. For fractional protocols this is mild and manageable with paracetamol. For fully ablative work it’s more pronounced but still controlled with standard pain relief. Cool compresses for short and frequent application of the prescribed occlusive ointment help significantly.
The burning sensation fades. The skin starts to feel itchy and tight as healing accelerates. This is psychologically challenging — the itch can be distracting — but isn’t painful. Keeping the area thoroughly moisturised reduces the urge to scratch.
Peeling and re-epithelialisation. The skin feels tender to touch but isn’t actively painful unless directly pressed. By the end of this window most patients describe the area as merely "sensitive" rather than .
Residual pinkness without significant discomfort. Skin may feel tight or dry for several weeks as collagen remodelling proceeds. Standard moisturiser keeps this comfortable.
For the full week-by-week recovery breakdown including what to expect at each stage, see our companion guide on .
How pain is managed
Several layers of pain management combine to make laser resurfacing comfortable.
Before treatment: Topical anaesthetic creams applied for 30 to 45 minutes numb the skin surface effectively. For deeper protocols, infiltrative local anaesthetic injected into the skin produces complete numbness in the treatment area. For fully ablative full-face protocols, oral sedation can be added to reduce anxiety and during the longer procedure.
During treatment: For Fotona protocols, the laser’s pulse profile lets the clinician deliver each pass at the most comfortable setting for that and area. Cooling air through the handpiece the sensation further on settings where that’s helpful.
Immediately after: A cooling mask or aloe-based gel calms the post-treatment warmth. The prescribed ointment ongoing comfort during early .
During recovery: Paracetamol is sufficient for most patients. For fully ablative protocols, a few days of stronger pain relief may be prescribed. Cool compresses, head elevation overnight and avoiding heat exposure all help.
Comparing Er:YAG to CO₂ for comfort
One of the reasons we use erbium YAG rather than CO₂ for resurfacing at our clinic is the comfort difference. The Er:YAG wavelength produces less thermal spread, which translates directly into less discomfort during and after treatment.
Patients who have had both lasers describe Er:YAG as more comfortable across the whole arc — gentler stinging during the procedure, milder post-treatment warmth, less prolonged tenderness during healing. The clinical evidence supports this experience: CO₂’s longer effect drives more inflammation and a more uncomfortable recovery.
For a full comparison covering safety and as well as comfort, see our guide on . For the technical reasons Er:YAG is more comfortable, see .
Factors that affect your pain experience
Within typical protocols, individual experience varies. Pain tends to be milder in patients who:
Pain tends to be more pronounced in patients with previous reactions to skin treatments, very thin or skin, or specific medical conditions affecting nerve sensitivity. Mention any of these at consultation — anaesthesia and protocol can be adjusted accordingly.
Comparing pain across treatment modalities
If you’re choosing between laser and other rejuvenation options, the comfort comparison:
What we don’t recommend
Frequently asked questions
For most patients, the procedure is more comfortable than they . The discomfort is short and managed.
Paracetamol is the first-OnabotulinumtoxinAAbobotulinumtoxinAIncobotulinumtoxinAPrabotulinumtoxinALetibotulinumtoxinARimabotulinumtoxinBHyaluronic Acid FillersCalcium Hydroxylapatite FillersPoly-L-lactic Acid FillersPolymethylmethacrylate FillersAutologous Fat GraftingForehead Lines TreatmentGlabellar Frown Lines TreatmentCrow's Feet TreatmentBunny Lines TreatmentChemical Brow LiftLip FlipGummy Smile CorrectionMasseter ReductionJaw SlimmingDimpled Chin SmoothingCobblestone Chin SmoothingNefertiti Neck LiftMicro-BotoxMesotoxHyperhidrosis TreatmentChronic Migraine ReliefBruxism TreatmentTMJ TreatmentCervical Dystonia TreatmentNeck Spasm TreatmentBlepharospasm TreatmentLip AugmentationLip ContouringCheekbone EnhancementTear Trough FillersNasolabial Fold SofteningMarionette Line FillersLiquid RhinoplastyNon-Surgical Nose JobJawline ContouringJawline DefinitionChin AugmentationTemple VolumisingHand RejuvenationAcne Scar Subcision Filling choice — it doesn’t affect bleeding or healing. Avoid aspirin and ibuprofen in the first 48 hours. For more demanding protocols, stronger pain relief may be prescribed.
Yes — for longer or deeper procedures, oral sedation can be added to topical and infiltrative anaesthesia. Discuss this at consultation.
The periocular skin is more sensitive, but it’s also where we use the most settings. For protocols specifically, even patients with sensitive periorbital skin generally tolerate the treatment without anaesthesia.
The "sunburn" feeling fades within 24 to 48 hours for fractional and 2 to 4 days for fully ablative. Mild on touch may persist for a week to ten days.
Tell us at consultation. We adjust protocols, build in more thorough anaesthesia, and can stage treatment over more shorter sessions rather than fewer intense ones. There’s no need to suffer through laser resurfacing.
Our laser specialists deliver Fotona SP Dynamis Pro treatments with thorough anaesthesia, careful protocol selection and comprehensive post-treatment support. Pain management is part of the protocol, not an afterthought — and the result is treatments most describe as much more comfortable than they .
Centre for Surgery · CQC-regulated · GMC specialist-registered surgeons · · · ·
Filed Under:
Share this post
Primary Sidebar
I agree to receive marketing communications ()
I agree to receive marketing communications ()
Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated private hospital on London’s Baker Street, delivering plastic and cosmetic surgery through GMC-registered specialist surgeons. Our expertise spans facial procedures including and , , for men, and body contouring procedures such as and . safety, surgical excellence and natural-looking results sit at the heart of everything we do.
Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated private hospital on London’s iconic , offering plastic and cosmetic surgery led by GMC-registered consultant surgeons.
Marylebone
London
W1U 6RN
Mon – Sat, 9am – 6pm
Saturday consultations available