What type of laser is known for minimal downtime?

Non-ablative lasers are designed to penetrate the skin without removing the outer layer, which significantly reduces downtime for patients compared to other types of lasers. The technology behind non-ablative lasers focuses on stimulating collagen and elastin production in the deeper layers of the skin, leading to skin rejuvenation and improvement in texture without causing significant surface injury.

This approach minimizes recovery time since the skin's protective layer remains intact, allowing patients to resume their normal activities shortly after treatment. In contrast, ablative lasers remove the outer layer of the skin to treat deeper issues, which often necessitates a longer recovery period. Fractional lasers may also create micro-injuries to promote healing while increasing downtime compared to non-ablative options. Thermal lasers primarily work on the principles of heating tissue, which can generate varying levels of downtime depending on their use, often resulting in some degree of injury and recovery needs.