Skin Laser Treatments
NON-INVASIVE SKIN TREATMENT, INCLUDING LASER HAIR REMOVAL, LASER LIPOSUCTION, SKIN TIGHTENING/RESURFACING, ROSACEA TREATMENT, AND MORE
Skin Laser Treatments with Cho Plastic Surgery Quick Facts:
- Typical recovery time: A few days to two weeks
- Price range: $100-1,500
- Procedures performed at the office of Cho Plastic Surgery
Overview
Advanced skin laser treatments offer a powerful, non-surgical way to refresh and restore your skin by selectively targeting your concerns at their source.
Our skin lasers can treat:
- sunspots, melasma, benign skin growths
- acne scars, traumatic scars, surgical scars, stretch marks
- rosacea, unwanted blood vessels on the face, spider veins
- unwanted hair
- wrinkles and collagen stimulation for tighter appearing skin
- overall skin rejuvenation for brighter, tighter, and healthier looking skin
Skin Laser Treatments
Laser Hair Removal | $100+
Laser hair removal is a safe and effective method for reducing unwanted hair on various parts of the body. Over multiple sessions, typically spaced a few weeks apart, laser hair removal can provide long-lasting results, significantly reducing hair growth in treated areas. It's a popular choice for those seeking a more permanent solution to unwanted hair, offering smooth, hair-free skin without the hassle of daily shaving or waxing.
Laser hair removal areas offered:
- Face ($250+), Upper Lip ($100+), Chin ($150+)
- Chest ($400+), Back ($500+), Arms ($300+), Underarms ($250+)
- Bikini ($300+), Brazillian ($350+), Legs ($350+)
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy | $350+
Intense pulsed light therapy is a versatile and non-invasive treatment that uses broad-spectrum light to target various skin concerns. It can be used to treat hyperpigmentation, broken capillaries, and uneven skin tone. It also stimulates collagen production, improving skin texture and reducing fine lines.
Best for:
- Stimulates collagen production for plumper tighter skin
- Rosacea treatment
- Treat hyperpigmentation / sun damage
- Spider vein treatment
CO₂ Lasers | $1,500+
CO₂ lasers are used to resurface the skin and treat various skin conditions. These lasers emit a concentrated beam of light that vaporizes the outer layers of skin, effectively removing damaged tissue and stimulating collagen production in the deeper layers. This can address wrinkles, fine lines, scars, moles, sun damage, and uneven pigmentation.
Best for:
- Laser scar removal
- Skin tightening
- Skin resurfacing
- Skin rejuvenation and wrinkle reduction
- Treat hyperpigmentation / sun damage
- Laser mole removal
Fractional Non-Ablative Lasers | $250+
Fractional non-ablative laser treatments are advanced skincare procedures that use targeted laser energy to rejuvenate the skin without causing significant damage. This type of skin laser therapy works by delivering precise, microscopic laser beams into the skin, creating tiny columns of thermal injury. These micro-injuries stimulate the skin's natural healing response, promoting collagen production and cell turnover. Ideal for reducing fine lines, wrinkles, scars, and uneven skin texture, fractional non-ablative laser treatments offer noticeable improvements with minimal downtime.
Best for:
- Laser scar removal
- Skin tightening
- Skin resurfacing
- Skin rejuvenation and wrinkle reduction
Erbium Fractional Ablative Lasers | $250+
Fractional ablative laser treatments are advanced cosmetic procedures that use laser energy to resurface and rejuvenate the skin by targeting specific areas with precise thermal damage. Fractional ablative lasers create controlled micro-injuries in the skin, vaporizing old, damaged skin cells and stimulating the production of new collagen and elastin. These treatments are highly effective for addressing deep wrinkles, pronounced scars, moles, and uneven skin texture.
Best for:
- Laser scar removal
- Skin resurfacing
- Skin rejuvenation and wrinkle reduction
- Laser mole removal
SculpSure Lasers | $600+
SculpSure is a non-invasive body contouring treatment that uses laser technology to target and reduce stubborn fat in specific areas. It works by heating fat cells, which are then naturally eliminated by the body's lymphatic system over time. Ideal for areas like the abdomen, flanks, back, and thighs, SculpSure is a popular choice for those seeking to sculpt and refine their physique without the need for surgery.
Best for:
- Laser lipo, non-surgical body contouring
1064 Lasers for Spider Veins | $500+
The 1064 laser is a highly effective treatment for spider veins, especially on the legs. This laser works by emitting a specific wavelength of light that penetrates into the skin to target and heat the blood vessels without harming surrounding tissues. The heat causes the veins to coagulate and collapse, which are then gradually reabsorbed by the body, leading to a significant reduction in their appearance. This non-invasive procedure typically requires minimal downtime.
Best for:
- Spider vein treatment
Choosing Your Laser
Navigating the world of laser skin therapy can be overwhelming given the variety of advanced technologies available. At Cho Plastic Surgery, we simplify this process by matching the specific wavelength and intensity of our laser platforms to your unique skin type and aesthetic goals. While deep ablative lasers offer dramatic, single-treatment transformations for deep wrinkles and scarring, non-ablative options provide subtle, progressive improvements with almost no social downtime. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your skin's condition, your lifestyle, and the amount of recovery time you are comfortable with.
Benefits
- Improvement in skin tone, texture, fine lines, and sun damage
- Dramatically smooths fine lines, deep wrinkles, and structural irregularities like acne scarring
- Evens Skin Tone: Targets and dissolves unwanted pigmentation, including sun spots, age spots, melasma, and redness from broken capillaries
- Stimulates collagen by penetrating the deeper layers of the skin to trigger natural collagen production, resulting in firmer, more youthful skin over time
- Precise treatments that target specific problem areas without damaging surrounding tissue.
Risks
- Temporary redness and swelling
- Pigmentation changes
- blistering or scarring
- Infection
All laser treatments are supervised by Dr. Cho, board-certified plastic surgeon. A skin type assessment (Fitzpatrick scale) is completed before any treatment to ensure the highest level of safety and efficacy.
Ideal Candidate
- You are physically healthy
- You have realistic expectations and understand the recovery timeline associated with the chosen laser
- You are a nonsmoker
- You are looking to correct fine lines, wrinkles, surface roughness, or mild skin laxity
- You are dealing with sun damage, stubborn acne scars, rosacea, or uneven skin tone
- You are willing to strictly protect your skin from UV exposure before and after treatment to ensure safe healing
Skin Laser Consultation
- During your laser consultation, Dr. Cho will assess your current medical history, including medications, vitamins and herbal supplements you take, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use
- And check for past skin conditions, keloid scarring tendencies, or medications (like Accutane) that could impact healing
- Assess your skin using the Fitzpatrick scale to determine the safest and most effective laser wavelengths for your complexion
- Take photographs
- Dr. Cho will carefully listen to your aesthetic goals and come up with a customized plan to meet those goals
- Discuss likely outcomes of lasers and any risks or potential complications
- Your skin is assessed using the Fitzpatrick scale to determine the safest and most effective laser wavelengths for your complexion
Treatment Preparation
- Avoid direct sun exposure, tanning beds, and self-tanning products for at least two to four weeks prior to your session
- Stop using irritating topical ingredients (such as Retin-A, retinols, glycolic acids, and salicylic acids) three to five days before treatment
- Ensure your face is completely free of makeup, lotions, perfumes, or jewelry on the day of your scheduled treatment
- Do not wax or pluck unwanted hairs for at least 6 weeks prior to starting laser hair removal. Shaving is ok.
What to Expect During Treatment
- A topical numbing cream is applied to the treatment area for 30 to 45 minutes beforehand to ensure optimal comfort
- You will be provided with specialized safety shields or goggles to completely protect your eyes from the laser light
- During the procedure, you will feel a snapping or warming sensation as the laser energy is safely delivered into the skin
- Integrated cooling technology or a chilled air stream is used simultaneously to soothe the skin and minimize discomfort
- Optional use of self administered and controlled nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for additional help with anxiety and pain.
Recovery
- For the first 24 to 48 hours, the treated skin will feel warm, tight, and exhibit mild to moderate redness
- As old skin cells turn over, a natural bronzing, flaking, or "sandpaper" texture will develop and shed over three to seven days
- Recovery requires switching to a mild cleanser and a heavy, physician-approved moisturizer to maintain the skin barrier
- Daily application of a broad-spectrum, physical SPF 30 or higher is non-negotiable to protect the fresh, vulnerable skin
FAQs
Yes, lasers are a very safe treatment when being performed by professionals. Make sure to always go to a trained professional who considers your skin concerns and full health history before treatment is performed.
Most patients describe a mild heat or snapping feeling. For more intensive treatments we offer topical numbing, lidocaine, or even the use of Nitrous to keep you comfortable.
This varies depending on the laser treatment, but generally the downtime can range from a few days to two weeks.
Yes, but it requires specific laser wavelengths (like Nd:YAG) and lower energy settings to prevent hyperpigmentation, making an expert medical consultation essential.
While aggressive ablative treatments can achieve goals in a single session, milder non-ablative or IPL therapies typically require a series of three to six treatments.
Surface tone improvements are often visible within one to two weeks, while structural updates driven by collagen production continue to improve for three to six months.
The skin rejuvenation you get from laser treatments can vary in longevity. This largely depends on which type of treatment, how many sessions you do, and how you maintain your results at home.
Laser hair removal is not considered a permanent hair loss solution. It’s a long lasting hair reduction service. What this means is you may need touch ups in the future to maintain results.
Patient Review
I was in town visiting from South Carolina and made it a point to schedule an appointment with Dr. Cho and Ashley while I was here! I got laser hair removal with Ashley and Dysport with Dr. Cho for jaw pain and tension and it was a great experience! Staff is incredibly friendly and the office is beautiful and clean. I will absolutely be back... See review
Angela G. / Laser Hair Removal and Dysport Patient
Treatment is a Big Decision
Your skin needs good skin care products, routine facials with the esthetician, and sometimes injectables such as neurotoxins and fillers, but lasers will supplement and focus on concerns that other treatments can't address. Dr. Cho has extensive experience treating patients of all skin types and concerns with the latest technology with minimal pain and downtime.
Financing Available
We believe your aesthetic goals should always be within reach. To make your journey more accessible, we offer payment options through Care Credit and Cherry by Alle, with financing available for same-day treatment. We will be happy to assist you in the application process at the time of your consultation. For more information, contact our office.
This page written/reviewed on 7/5/26 by: Dr. Cho, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon