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“Can I go back to work the next day?”
This question comes up in nearly every laser treatment consultation. The honest answer depends entirely on which laser you’re considering, and clinics don’t always make that clear upfront.
Marketing materials love phrases like “minimal downtime” and “lunchtime procedure.” But what does that actually mean? Two days of redness? A week of peeling? Two weeks of staying home?
This guide breaks down realistic recovery timelines for different laser treatments, based on clinical research and practitioner experience.
Not all lasers work the same way. The fundamental difference comes down to how aggressively they treat the skin.
Ablative lasers remove the outer layer of skin (epidermis) entirely. They create a controlled wound that heals with fresh, new skin. Results are dramatic. Recovery is significant.
Non-ablative lasers heat the deeper layers of skin without removing the surface. They stimulate collagen production while leaving the epidermis intact. Results are more subtle. Recovery is minimal.
Fractional lasers (which can be either ablative or non-ablative) treat only a fraction of the skin surface. They create microscopic columns of treatment with untreated skin in between. This speeds healing because the surrounding healthy tissue helps repair the treated zones.
Understanding which category your treatment falls into tells you most of what you need to know about recovery.
Here’s what clinical research and practitioner guidelines actually say about recovery times:
This is the most aggressive option. It removes the entire outer skin layer for dramatic results on deep wrinkles, significant sun damage, and acne scars.
Recovery timeline:
Return to work: 14 to 21 days, according to NCBI clinical guidelines.
Makeup: 7 to 14 days after treatment.
Who it’s for: People willing to take significant time off for major improvement. Often scheduled around vacations or holidays.
Slightly gentler than CO2 with less heat damage to surrounding tissue. Still removes outer skin but with faster healing.
Recovery timeline:
Return to work: 3 to 8 days for full-field treatment.
Makeup: Approximately 7 days.
Who it’s for: Those wanting ablative results with somewhat less downtime than CO2.
Creates microscopic columns of ablative treatment with untreated skin between them. Faster healing than full ablative because surrounding tissue aids repair.
Recovery timeline:
Return to work: 4 to 10 days for fractional CO2. One clinical study found that multiple treatments at lower settings averaged 4.3 days downtime versus 7.3 days for single high-intensity sessions.
Makeup: 5 to 7 days typically.
Who it’s for: People wanting significant results with moderate (not minimal) downtime. Popular choice for professional women who can schedule around a long weekend.
Heats deeper skin layers in a fractional pattern without removing the surface. Stimulates collagen with minimal surface disruption.
Recovery timeline:
Return to work: 1 to 3 days. Many return immediately with slight redness.
Makeup: 1 to 3 days.
Who it’s for: Those wanting gradual improvement with minimal disruption. Multiple sessions (typically 3 to 5) produce cumulative results.
A gentler non-ablative fractional laser designed for maintenance and prevention. Uses a 1927 nm wavelength that targets pigmentation and promotes cell turnover with minimal surface disruption.
Recovery timeline:
Return to work: Most people return to normal activities within 24 hours, though skin may look rough or patchy.
Makeup: Can technically be worn after 24 hours, but may not sit well on rough skin until days 4 to 5.
Socially presentable: 3 to 5 days for most patients.
Who it’s for: People wanting preventive care or maintenance with true minimal downtime. Safe for all skin types year-round.
Not technically a laser but uses intense pulsed light to target pigmentation, redness, and vascular issues. Leaves skin surface intact.
Recovery timeline:
Return to work: Immediately for most patients. Redness typically fades within hours.
Makeup: Can be worn immediately.
Who it’s for: Those targeting sun spots, redness, or uneven skin tone with virtually no downtime.
When clinics advertise “minimal downtime,” they typically mean one of two things:
True minimal downtime (BBL, some non-ablative lasers): You can return to work and social activities immediately. Mild redness lasting hours, not days. No peeling or texture changes visible to others.
Marketing minimal downtime (Moxi, fractional non-ablative): You won’t be bedridden, but you’ll have visible signs of treatment for 3 to 5 days. You can technically work, but you may not want to have important meetings or social events. Sandpaper texture and MENDs are noticeable up close.
The distinction matters for planning. If you have a wedding, presentation, or important event, you need to know which category your treatment falls into.
Here’s how to think about timing based on clinical recovery data:
Important event in 24 to 48 hours:
Important event in 1 week:
Important event in 2 weeks:
Important event in 3 to 4 weeks:
Important event in 6+ weeks:
The safest approach is always to schedule more time than you think you need. Individual healing varies, and some people experience prolonged redness or complications that extend recovery.
Clinical guidelines provide averages, but individual results vary based on:
Skin type and tone: Darker skin tones may experience longer-lasting post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Lighter skin may show redness more visibly.
Treatment intensity: The same laser at different settings produces different recovery times. More aggressive settings mean more downtime but potentially better results.
Treatment area: Certain areas heal faster than others. The face typically recovers faster than the neck, chest, or hands.
Your healing response: Some people simply heal faster than others. Previous treatments may give you insight into your personal recovery pattern.
Age: Older skin may take longer to heal, though this varies significantly by individual.
Lifestyle factors: Smoking slows healing. Sun exposure before or after treatment increases complications. Hydration and nutrition affect recovery.
Compliance with aftercare: Following post-treatment instructions closely can significantly speed recovery and improve results.
Beyond the timeline, knowing what sensations to expect helps you prepare:
Immediately after ablative treatment: Warmth and stinging, similar to a bad sunburn. Some describe mild to moderate pain that responds to over-the-counter medication.
Days 1 to 3 (ablative): Skin feels tight, raw, sensitive. You may feel like you don’t want to move your face much. Swelling, especially around the eyes.
Peeling phase (both ablative and fractional): Itching as skin sloughs off. Temptation to pick (don’t). Rough, sandpaper texture that catches on things.
After non-ablative: Mild warmth lasting hours. Minimal discomfort. The main challenge is visual (redness, MENDs) rather than physical sensation.
To get an accurate picture of your personal downtime:
Honest practitioners will give you a range and encourage you to plan for the longer end of that range.
Here’s the reality that marketing often obscures: more dramatic results require more aggressive treatment, which requires more recovery time.
A PubMed review of laser resurfacing noted that “neither nonablative nor fractional resurfacing produces results comparable to ablative laser skin resurfacing” in terms of wrinkle reduction and skin rejuvenation.
However, that same review acknowledged that non-ablative and fractional options “have become much more popular than the latter because the risks of treatment are limited in the face of acceptable improvement.”
Translation: most people choose gentler treatments with less downtime and settle for good (not dramatic) results. That’s a completely valid choice. But it should be an informed one.
If you have significant sun damage, deep wrinkles, or acne scars, a single ablative treatment with 2 weeks of recovery may produce better results than 5 non-ablative treatments with almost no downtime each. Discuss the tradeoffs openly with your practitioner.
Realistic recovery expectations:
| Treatment Type | Return to Work | Socially Presentable | Full Healing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full CO2 ablative | 14 to 21 days | 2 to 3 weeks | 1 to 3 months |
| Erbium ablative | 3 to 8 days | 1 to 2 weeks | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Fractional ablative | 4 to 10 days | 1 to 2 weeks | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Fractional non-ablative | 1 to 3 days | 3 to 5 days | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Moxi | Same day | 3 to 5 days | 5 to 7 days |
| BBL/IPL | Same day | Same day | 5 to 7 days |
These numbers come from clinical guidelines and practitioner experience, not marketing materials. Use them to plan realistically.
The best laser treatment is one that fits your lifestyle, timeline, and goals. If you can only take one day off work, aggressive ablative resurfacing isn’t the right choice right now, no matter how good the results might be. Understanding real recovery times helps you make decisions you won’t regret.
Want help determining which laser treatment fits your schedule and goals? At Kontour Medical Aesthetics, we offer laser skin resurfacing and Moxi laser treatments with honest conversations about what to expect. Contact us to discuss your options.
Stay informed with expert insights, treatment guides, and the latest developments in medical aesthetics from Nurse Practitioner Belita Savage.
