Not all lasers are the same! Here, we outline the main differences in this laser treatment overview.
Many people ask us questions about how lasers and laser treatments are different.
Is there one laser for everything? Is fractionated laser the same as CO2? What is ablative and non-ablative? Is one brand the same as another brand? Why are there so many lasers?!?!
Our team at Dermatology Clinics Australia is trained, led by Dr Shobhan Manoharan, specialist dermatologist and internationally renowned laser & aesthetic dermatologist. Dr Manoharan was a past Director of Training for the Australasian College of Dermatologists and the founder of training facility Dermatology Education.
We are best positioned to answer all of your laser treatment questions!
We summarise some of the frequently asked questions in our laser treatment overview below, which we hope will help you understand some of the basic differences between some common treatments.
Our take-home messages are:
- All lasers and laser treatments are not created equal.
- Not all laser brands provide the same results.
- You should know your laser operator and the training that they have received and the experience that they have.
Why have more than one laser?
Lasers are complicated, and skin is even more complicated. When we are treating skin conditions as laser specialists, we are often very specific about how we treat various aspects of it. To do this, having the cutting edge tools that are very specific for different conditions, types of pigments, types of scarring and certain rejuvenation purposes, enables us to get better outcomes, have less complications and optimal results for our patients. There are places that will use an IPL system for pigment, redness and rejuvenation however in our clinic, the reason that we have all of these myriad of cutting edge lasers is that we can target specific issues very carefully and be able to treat all skin types with a wide range of complicated skin conditions very safely.
What is the difference between IPL and Laser?
Both IPL and laser are light based devices, but IPL is a broad band of light, so it is not a particular wavelength, but has a broad spectrum of wavelengths of light. IPL is very handy for general pigment or vascular conditions and can even be used for hair removal in certain skin types.
Lasers are very specific and only target one wavelength of light. This means that you can more safely treat particular conditions such as pigment or blood vessels or hair follicles or rejuvenate the skin with much more energy because it is done with such a specific wavelength that it is very specific and very safe for the exact condition that you are treating.
Lasers are very precise tools. IPL is a broader, less precise tool that can still be useful and can be handy because they can be used very quickly, but are not as specific, sophisticated or intensive as laser devices.
What is the difference between ablative lasers and non-ablative lasers
Ablative laser is a laser that treats the skin surface in either a fully ablative (removing a full layer of skin) or fractional (creating small holes and treating part of the skin) setting. You can do this in a very controlled way to get transformative results in terms of overall rejuvenation or scar treatments. It provides whole new layers of skin and physically burns away scars or wrinkles.
Non-ablative fractional lasers often bypass the surface of the skin, and tunnels little packets of energy into the lower layers of the skin. As a result of that, you are not healing like a burn. Your skin then reacts with an inflammatory reaction and you peel away like a gentle sunburn. You can still get improvements of your skin, but it is not as invasive and doesn’t require as much recovery time as an ablative laser. This is very useful for rejuvenation, tone and texture, pigmentation and overall improving sun spots and sun damage.
What makes the different types of lasers different?
Different lasers have different wavelengths.
Different wavelengths target either water (in the case of the scar/anti-ageing ablative lasers) or pigment (in the case of picosecond or vascular lasers).
Understanding the expertise, training and experience of your laser practitioner is key to ensuring that you are in safe hands and being given the best treatment plan for you.
Laser treatments are safest done in dermatology practices with a team led by an experienced laser dermatologist.
Can one type of laser treat many concerns?
Experienced laser dermatologists will use a range of devices to ensure that the best wavelength and type of laser delivery is best suited to your skin and concerns. This will reduce potential complications and provide exceptional results.
One laser used to treat a myriad of concerns can give some improvement to numerous conditions, but will not provide the best results.