Years of Fort Lauderdale sunshine showing on your skin? Sun spots, uneven tone, and texture that makeup can’t fix?
Laser facials use targeted light energy to reverse sun damage, reduce wrinkles, even out pigmentation, and give you smoother, younger-looking skin without surgery.
At Manhattan Laser Spa, we offer multiple types of laser facials for different skin concerns and downtime preferences. Whether you need a quick lunchtime treatment or more aggressive resurfacing, we’ll match you with the right laser for your goals.
A laser facial uses concentrated light energy to treat skin concerns at different depths. The laser targets specific issues like pigmentation, redness, or damaged tissue while leaving surrounding skin intact.
Different lasers work in different ways. Some target color (brown spots, red veins). Others create controlled injury to trigger collagen production. Some remove the outer skin layer completely while others work beneath the surface.
The type of laser facial you need depends on what you’re treating and how much downtime you can handle.
Not all laser facials are the same. Here’s how to think about your options.
Technically not a laser (it uses broad-spectrum light instead of a single wavelength), but everyone calls it a laser facial.
IPL targets color. Brown spots, red veins, and redness all absorb the light energy and break down. Your body then naturally removes them over the following weeks.
What it treats: Sun damage, age spots, freckles, redness, broken capillaries, rosacea, uneven skin tone
Downtime: Minimal. You’ll be slightly red for a few hours. Brown spots darken before they flake off in 1-2 weeks.
Best for: Living in Fort Lauderdale means serious sun exposure. IPL is perfect for undoing that damage.
Sessions take 20-30 minutes. Most people need 3-4 treatments spaced 4 weeks apart.
These create thousands of tiny treatment zones in your skin (think of it like poking holes with a pen). The zones stimulate collagen while the untreated skin speeds healing.
There are two types:
Non-Ablative (like Fraxel Restore, Clear + Brilliant): Works beneath the skin surface without removing the top layer. Minimal downtime (2-3 days of redness and mild flaking). Great for texture, fine lines, and mild sun damage. You’ll need 3-5 treatments.
Ablative (like Fraxel Repair, CO2 fractional): Actually removes skin tissue. Way more dramatic results but 7-14 days of real downtime with peeling and redness. Usually just one or two treatments needed.
What it treats: Wrinkles, acne scars, texture issues, sun damage, enlarged pores, overall skin quality
Best for: People who want significant improvement in texture and are willing to invest in a series of treatments
A gentle, non-ablative laser that heats the dermis to stimulate collagen without any surface damage.
What it treats: Fine lines, large pores, diffuse redness, overall skin texture and tone
Downtime: Zero. You might be slightly pink for an hour.
Best for: Regular maintenance, people who absolutely can’t have downtime, subtle improvements
This is a true “lunchtime facial.” You can do it on your lunch break and go right back to work.
The most aggressive option. It vaporizes the entire outer skin layer and heats the dermis beneath.
What it treats: Deep wrinkles, significant sun damage, severe texture issues, scarring
Downtime: 10-14 days of serious peeling, redness, and recovery
Results: Dramatic. This is the gold standard for facial rejuvenation.
Best for: People with severe concerns who can handle significant recovery time
We typically refer people wanting full CO2 resurfacing to board-certified physicians because the recovery requires medical supervision.
Here’s what you need to consider.
Your main concern:
Your downtime tolerance:
Your skin type:
During your consultation, we’ll assess your skin and recommend the best approach.
Here’s the typical experience:
Before treatment: We clean your face thoroughly. For more aggressive treatments, we apply numbing cream 30-45 minutes before.
Eye protection: You’ll wear special goggles or shields. Laser light can damage your eyes.
During treatment: We move the laser handpiece across your face in overlapping patterns. You’ll feel warmth, tingling, or snapping sensations depending on the laser type.
IPL feels like a rubber band snap. Fractional lasers feel prickly and hot. Most people tolerate it fine with cooling systems and numbing cream.
Treatment time: 15-45 minutes depending on what we’re treating.
After treatment: Your skin will be red and feel warm, like a sunburn. We apply moisturizer and sunscreen.
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Recovery varies dramatically by laser type.
You’ll be red for a few hours, like a mild sunburn. Brown spots darken immediately and get darker over the next few days. They’ll flake off like coffee grounds over 1-2 weeks.
You can wear makeup the next day to cover the dark spots. Most people go right back to work.
Day 1-2: Red and slightly swollen. Your skin feels tight.
Day 3-5: Mild flaking and texture like sandpaper.
Day 5-7: Back to normal. Your skin looks better than before treatment.
You can usually work the day after treatment if you’re comfortable being a bit red and can wear makeup.
This is serious recovery. Days 1-3: Red, swollen, oozing. You look like you have a bad sunburn.
Days 4-7: Peeling and crusting. You’re not going out in public.
Week 2: Still pink but can cover with makeup.
Weeks 2-4: Pink gradually fades.
Plan to take a full week off work and social activities.
IPL: You’ll see brown spots flake off in 1-2 weeks. Redness fades over 2-4 weeks. Full results after your series of treatments (3-4 months).
Non-ablative fractional: Gradual improvement over 2-3 months as collagen builds. Best results after completing your series (4-6 months).
Ablative treatments: Immediate improvement once healed, with continued improvement over 3-6 months.
Collagen production continues for up to 6 months after treatment. Your skin keeps getting better long after the laser work is done.
Here’s the thing about laser facials in Fort Lauderdale. The sun is your biggest enemy during recovery.
After laser treatment, your skin is extremely vulnerable to UV damage. New skin has zero pigment protection. Sun exposure can cause permanent dark spots that are worse than what you started with.
This is tricky in Fort Lauderdale where outdoor activities happen year-round.
Our advice:
Time treatments for when you’ll be indoors most. Winter is slightly better than summer, but honestly, Fort Lauderdale doesn’t have real seasons.
Avoid laser treatments before beach vacations, boat trips, or anything involving extended outdoor time.
If you do go outside during healing, wear SPF 50+, reapply every hour, wear a wide-brimmed hat, and stay in the shade.
Many of our Las Olas and Victoria Park clients schedule treatments during busy work periods when they’re indoors most of the day anyway.
Most people can get some type of laser facial. The key is matching the right laser to your skin.
You’re probably a good candidate if:
Darker skin needs special consideration: Many lasers aren’t safe for darker skin tones because they target pigment. But Nd:YAG lasers and certain settings can work safely.
We’ve successfully treated all Fitzpatrick skin types at our Fort Lauderdale location. During consultation, we’ll assess your skin and recommend safe options.
It depends on the laser type and what you’re treating.
IPL Photofacial: 3-4 sessions spaced 4 weeks apart for optimal results. Then maintenance treatments every 6-12 months.
Non-ablative fractional: 3-6 sessions spaced 4-6 weeks apart. Maintenance annually.
Ablative fractional: 1-3 sessions. Often just one treatment gives dramatic improvement.
Laser Genesis: 4-6 sessions for best results. Maintenance every few months.
More aggressive lasers need fewer sessions but more recovery. Gentler lasers need more sessions but minimal downtime.
Pricing varies by laser type and treatment area.
General ranges:
IPL Photofacial: $300-500 per session Laser Genesis: $300-400 per session Non-ablative fractional (Fraxel, Clear + Brilliant): $700-1,200 per session Ablative fractional: $1,500-3,000 per session
Most people buy package deals for series treatments, which brings the per-session cost down 15-25%.
During your free consultation, we’ll assess your skin and give you exact pricing for your specific needs.
Multiple Laser Options: We’re not locked into one technology. We have various laser systems, so we can actually match the right treatment to your concern instead of forcing everyone into the same thing.
Medical Supervision: All laser treatments are performed under physician oversight. These are medical devices that require expertise to use safely.
Experience with All Skin Types: We’ve safely treated fair skin to very dark skin. We know how to adjust settings to minimize risks for darker skin tones.
Honest Assessments: We’ll tell you if laser isn’t the best option for your concern. Sometimes chemical peels, microneedling, or other treatments work better.
Fort Lauderdale Expertise: We understand the challenges of recovering in South Florida’s sun. We’ll give you realistic guidance about timing and protection.
Whether you’re coming from Coral Ridge, Harbour Beach, Lauderdale Beach, or anywhere in Broward County, we’ll help you get the clearer, younger-looking skin you want.
It depends on the type. IPL and Laser Genesis feel like warm rubber band snaps. Tolerable without numbing for most people.
Fractional lasers feel pricklier and hotter. We use numbing cream which makes it manageable. Most people say it’s uncomfortable but not painful.
Ablative lasers need good numbing and possibly oral pain medication. The treatment itself is tolerable, but the recovery can be uncomfortable like a bad sunburn.
During treatment, you’ll feel it, but we have cooling systems that help. After treatment, your skin will feel hot and tight for a few hours.
It depends on the treatment. With IPL and Laser Genesis, you can usually wear makeup the next day.
With fractional lasers, you typically need to wait 24-48 hours for non-ablative and 5-7 days for ablative until new skin forms.
We’ll give you specific guidelines based on your treatment. When you do start wearing makeup again, use mineral-based products without harsh ingredients.
This is tricky. Melasma can be unpredictable with lasers.
IPL and certain lasers can help fade melasma, but they can also make it darker if not done correctly. Darker skin tones have higher risk.
We need to be very conservative with settings. Often we combine laser with other treatments like chemical peels and medical-grade skincare for better, safer results.
Some types of melasma respond well. Others don’t. During consultation, we’ll assess your specific case and be honest about whether laser is a good option or if alternative treatments would work better.
A regular facial uses manual extractions, massage, and topical products. Results are temporary (a few days of glow).
Laser facials use medical-grade technology that actually changes your skin structure by stimulating collagen, breaking down pigment, or removing damaged tissue. Results are long-lasting and cumulative.
Regular facials are relaxing and help maintain skin. Laser facials are medical treatments that correct specific concerns.
You can (and should) do both. Many people do monthly regular facials and quarterly laser treatments.
Probably not, unless you’re doing aggressive ablative resurfacing.
Most laser facials work progressively. Each treatment builds on the last. Your skin didn’t develop sun damage or wrinkles overnight, and one treatment won’t completely reverse years of damage.
For IPL, you’ll see brown spots disappear after each session, but you’ll keep finding more as deeper spots rise to the surface. That’s why a series works better.
For fractional lasers, collagen takes months to build. Multiple treatments give you more collagen and better results.
One treatment will give you some improvement. A series gives you dramatic improvement.
You can, but timing is everything. You absolutely cannot go to the beach during the healing period (typically 2-4 weeks depending on treatment).
After healing, you need to be extremely diligent about sun protection. SPF 50+ reapplied every hour, protective clothing, wide-brimmed hats, and shade.
Many beach lovers schedule laser treatments during less beach-heavy months or plan them around work-intensive periods when they’re indoors more anyway.
If you’re at the beach every weekend year-round, laser facials might be challenging. We’d recommend less aggressive treatments that heal faster and possibly exploring alternative treatments.
Good question. IPL uses broad-spectrum light (multiple wavelengths). True lasers use a single, specific wavelength.
IPL is less precise but great for general sun damage and redness because it targets multiple colors at once.
Lasers are more precise and can treat deeper or more specific concerns.
Both work well. The choice depends on what you’re treating. IPL is our go-to for sun damage and pigmentation. Fractional lasers are better for wrinkles and texture.
If you’re dealing with sun damage, pigmentation, redness, or texture issues from years in Fort Lauderdale’s sunshine, laser facials can help.
Manhattan Laser Spa offers multiple laser technologies customized for your specific concerns and skin type. We’ll recommend the right treatment for your goals and guide you through safe recovery.
Schedule your free consultation today. We’ll assess your skin, discuss your options, and create a treatment plan that actually works for your lifestyle.
Call us or book online. Better skin is possible.
