Are you tired of looking in the mirror and seeing sun damage, fine lines, or acne scars that make you look older than you feel? Living in South Florida means year-round sunshine, but all that beautiful weather takes a toll on your skin. If you’re dealing with wrinkles, uneven skin tone, or rough texture, laser skin resurfacing might be exactly what you need.
At Manhattan Laser Spa in Bal Harbour, we help people just like you turn back the clock on aging skin without surgery or long recovery times. Our medical spa specializes in advanced laser treatments that actually work, delivering real results you can see and feel.
Let’s break this down in simple terms. Laser skin resurfacing uses focused beams of light to remove damaged outer layers of your skin. Think of it like sanding down an old piece of furniture to reveal the beautiful wood underneath. The laser precisely targets problem areas, removing damaged cells layer by layer while stimulating your body to produce fresh collagen.
Here’s what makes this treatment special: it treats the root cause of skin aging, not just the surface. When the laser removes those damaged layers, your body kicks into healing mode and starts building new, healthier skin from the inside out. The collagen production continues for months after treatment, which means your results actually get better over time.
We use FDA-approved laser technology at Manhattan Laser Spa, operating under medical supervision to give you clinical-grade results in a comfortable spa environment. Whether you’re dealing with years of sun damage from days at Bal Harbour Shops or natural aging, we’ve got the right treatment for your skin concerns.
Types of Laser Resurfacing We OfferNot all laser treatments are created equal. At our Bal Harbour medical spa, we tailor your treatment based on what your skin actually needs.
Fractional CO2 Laser Resurfacing
This is the gold standard for serious skin concerns. CO2 laser resurfacing treats deeper wrinkles, significant sun damage, and stubborn acne scars. The fractional approach means the laser creates tiny columns of treatment zones, leaving surrounding tissue intact to speed up healing. You’ll need some downtime with this one (think 5-7 days), but the results are dramatic and long-lasting.
Erbium YAG Laser Resurfacing
This option works well for moderate skin issues and lighter skin tones. Erbium lasers are gentler than CO2 lasers, which means less downtime but still excellent results for fine lines, mild scarring, and uneven texture. Most people are back to their normal routine within 3-5 days.
Non-Ablative Laser Treatment
Want results without the recovery time? Non-ablative treatments work on the deeper layers of your skin without removing the top layer. This means minimal downtime (usually just a day or two of pinkness), but you’ll likely need multiple sessions to see the full effect. It’s perfect if you can’t take time off work or have a busy schedule.
What Skin Concerns Can Laser Resurfacing Fix?People come to Manhattan Laser Spa for all kinds of reasons. Here are the most common concerns we treat:
Sun Damage and Age Spots: Living near Collins Avenue and spending time outdoors leaves its mark. Brown spots, freckles, and uneven pigmentation respond really well to laser treatment. We can significantly reduce or completely remove these spots.
Fine Lines and Wrinkles: Those crow’s feet around your eyes, the lines on your forehead, and wrinkles around your mouth can make you look tired or older. Laser resurfacing smooths these out by stimulating collagen production, which plumps and tightens your skin naturally.
Acne Scars: Old acne scars don’t have to be permanent. Laser treatment breaks down scar tissue and promotes new skin growth, dramatically improving texture and appearance. Some of our Aventura and North Miami Beach patients have seen 50-70% improvement in their acne scarring.
Rough Skin Texture: If your skin feels rough or looks uneven, laser resurfacing can smooth things out. It’s like hitting the reset button on your skin’s texture.
Enlarged Pores: Large pores can make your skin look older and are tough to treat with regular skincare products. Laser treatment helps tighten and minimize pore size.
Hyperpigmentation and Melasma: These stubborn dark patches respond well to laser treatment, especially when combined with proper post-treatment skincare and sun protection.
Skin Laxity: Mild sagging or loose skin gets tighter as your body produces new collagen after treatment. You won’t get facelift results, but you’ll definitely notice an improvement in firmness.
The Treatment Process: What to ExpectWondering how this actually works? Here’s what happens when you come to Manhattan Laser Spa.
Your Free Consultation
First things first: we don’t do one-size-fits-all treatments. During your consultation, we’ll examine your skin, talk about what bothers you most, and create a customized treatment plan. We’ll explain which type of laser resurfacing will work best for your skin type and concerns, what kind of results you can expect, and how much downtime you’ll need.
This is also when we’ll answer all your questions. Don’t hold back. We want you to feel completely comfortable and confident before moving forward.
Pre-Treatment Preparation
Once you decide to move forward, we might recommend using medical-grade skincare products for a few weeks before treatment. This preps your skin and helps you heal faster. We’ll also give you specific instructions about avoiding sun exposure (super important in South Florida) and certain medications.
The Day of Your Treatment
When you arrive for your laser resurfacing procedure, we’ll start by thoroughly cleansing your skin. Then we apply topical anesthetic to keep you comfortable during treatment. The numbing cream takes about 30-45 minutes to work, so bring your phone or a book.
The actual laser treatment typically takes 30-60 minutes, depending on how much area we’re treating. You might feel some warmth or tingling, but most people say it’s totally manageable. Some describe it as tiny rubber band snaps against the skin.
Our licensed medical professionals adjust the laser settings based on your specific skin concerns and desired results. We can treat your entire face or focus on specific problem areas like around your eyes, mouth, or forehead.
Post-Treatment Care and Recovery
Here’s the real talk about recovery. Your skin will be red, swollen, and sensitive right after treatment. It’s basically like having a sunburn. How long this lasts depends on which type of laser we used:
Fractional CO2 Laser: Expect 5-7 days of downtime. Your skin will be quite red and may ooze or crust slightly for the first few days. By day 5-7, you can usually cover any remaining redness with makeup.
Erbium Laser: About 3-5 days of downtime. Less intense than CO2 but still requires some healing time.
Non-Ablative Laser: Usually just 1-2 days of mild pinkness. You might be able to go to work the next day.
We’ll send you home with detailed aftercare instructions and all the products you need. Following these instructions is critical for getting great results and avoiding complications. You’ll need to keep your skin moisturized, avoid direct sun exposure, and use SPF protection religiously (which you should be doing anyway in Bal Harbour).
The first few weeks after treatment, your skin might look worse before it looks better. This is totally normal. As the old skin flakes off and new skin emerges, you’ll start seeing the improvements. Most people notice significant changes by week 3-4, and results continue improving for several months as collagen production ramps up.
Why Choose Manhattan Laser Spa for Laser Resurfacing in Bal Harbour?You’ve got options when it comes to laser treatments in the Bal Harbour, Surfside, and Bay Harbor Islands area. Here’s what sets us apart:
Medical Supervision: We’re a true medical spa, which means our treatments are performed under the direction of board-certified physicians. This isn’t a day spa with a laser. We have licensed medical professionals who understand skin on a clinical level.
Advanced Technology: We invest in FDA-approved laser systems that deliver consistent, safe results. Our equipment includes both fractional CO2 and erbium lasers, plus non-ablative options, so we can match the right technology to your needs.
Customized Treatment Plans: Your skin is unique, and your treatment should be too. We don’t push everyone toward the same procedure. Instead, we create personalized plans based on your skin type, concerns, goals, and lifestyle.
Experience That Matters: Our team has years of experience performing laser skin resurfacing. We’ve treated hundreds of patients from Bal Harbour Village, Indian Creek Village, Sunny Isles Beach, and throughout Miami-Dade County.
Transparent Pricing: We’ll give you a clear breakdown of costs during your consultation. No surprises or hidden fees.
Comprehensive Aftercare: Your relationship with us doesn’t end when you leave after treatment. We provide thorough post-treatment support and follow-up appointments to monitor your healing and results.
This is one of the first questions people ask, and honestly, the answer varies. Pricing depends on several factors:
At Manhattan Laser Spa, laser skin resurfacing typically starts around $500 per session. More aggressive treatments like full-face fractional CO2 laser resurfacing cost more than targeted non-ablative treatments.
During your free consultation, we’ll give you an exact quote based on your personalized treatment plan. We also offer flexible payment options to make treatment accessible.
Here’s some good news: laser skin resurfacing delivers long-lasting results when you take care of your skin properly. Most patients enjoy their results for several years. Some of the improvements, like reduced acne scarring and improved texture, can be permanent.
That said, your skin will continue aging, and sun exposure will continue causing damage if you don’t protect yourself. To maintain your results:
Think of laser resurfacing as hitting the reset button. It gives you a fresh start, but you’ve got to maintain it with good habits.
When performed by qualified professionals using proper equipment and protocols, laser skin resurfacing is very safe. At Manhattan Laser Spa, safety is our top priority. We follow strict safety standards, use FDA-approved technology, and maintain a clean, sterile facility.
That said, all cosmetic procedures carry some risk. Potential side effects include:
People with darker skin tones have a slightly higher risk of pigmentation changes. We’ll discuss this during your consultation and may recommend specific pre-treatment skincare to minimize risk.
You’re not a good candidate for laser resurfacing if you:
We’ll go through your complete medical history during consultation to make sure laser resurfacing is safe and appropriate for you.
You might be wondering how laser resurfacing compares to other options. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Chemical Peels: Good for mild concerns but can’t treat deeper wrinkles or significant scarring. Less expensive but results don’t last as long.
Microneedling: Great for collagen stimulation but typically requires more sessions than laser treatment. Good option if you can’t handle laser downtime.
IPL Photofacial: Better for pigmentation and redness issues but won’t address texture or wrinkles as effectively.
Laser Skin Tightening: Helps with mild laxity but doesn’t resurface the skin. Often combined with laser resurfacing for comprehensive results.
Injectable Fillers: Fill in specific wrinkles and add volume but don’t improve overall skin quality or texture.
Many of our Bay Harbor Islands and Miami Beach patients get the best results by combining treatments. For example, laser resurfacing followed by laser skin tightening, or resurfacing combined with occasional dermal fillers. We can discuss combination approaches during your consultation.
It depends on your goals and which type of laser we use. Ablative lasers (CO2 and erbium) often deliver dramatic results in just one session. Non-ablative treatments typically require 3-5 sessions spaced a few weeks apart.
Some people with severe sun damage or deep acne scarring might need multiple ablative treatments, but we’d space these several months apart to allow complete healing between sessions.
Technically yes, but we usually don’t recommend it. Your skin will be very sensitive to sun exposure after treatment, and avoiding the sun in South Florida summer is nearly impossible. Fall and winter are ideal times for laser resurfacing since you can more easily protect your healing skin and stay indoors when needed.
If you absolutely need treatment in summer, plan to stay out of the sun completely for at least 2-3 weeks. That means no beach, no pool, no outdoor dining on Harding Avenue. Most people find it easier to schedule treatment when the weather is cooler.
Unfortunately, no. Because laser resurfacing is considered a cosmetic procedure, health insurance won’t cover the cost. However, there is one exception: if you’re getting laser treatment to reduce scarring from a medical condition or injury, your insurance might cover part of it. We can provide documentation to help you submit a claim, but approval isn’t guaranteed.
Most people handle the procedure well with topical numbing cream. During treatment, you’ll feel warmth and maybe some tingling or snapping sensations, but it shouldn’t be painful. The first few days after treatment can be uncomfortable (think sunburn), but we’ll give you instructions for managing any discomfort with cold compresses and recommended pain relievers if needed.
We can definitely treat darker skin tones, but we need to be extra careful. Darker skin has more melanin, which means a higher risk of pigmentation changes after laser treatment. We often recommend starting with non-ablative treatments or using specific pre-treatment skincare to minimize risk.
The good news? Our erbium YAG laser and certain non-ablative lasers are generally safe for all skin types. We’ll assess your skin during consultation and recommend the safest, most effective option for your skin tone.
Here’s the honest answer: laser resurfacing can significantly reduce deep wrinkles, but it probably won’t erase them completely. For very deep wrinkles (like severe marionette lines or deep forehead creases), combining laser resurfacing with injectable fillers or Botox often gives better results than laser treatment alone.
That said, many of our Surfside and Aventura patients are amazed at how much softer and less noticeable their wrinkles look after treatment. Even if they don’t disappear completely, the improvement is substantial.
You’ll see some immediate improvement in texture once the initial redness and swelling go down, usually around week 2-3. But remember, the real magic happens over the next few months as your body produces new collagen. Most people see their best results around the 3-month mark, and your skin continues improving up to 6 months after treatment.
If you’re tired of looking older than you feel, laser skin resurfacing at Manhattan Laser Spa can help. We’ve helped countless residents of Bal Harbour, North Miami Beach, Sunny Isles Beach, and surrounding areas achieve smoother, younger-looking skin without surgery.
Don’t let sun damage, wrinkles, or acne scars hold you back from feeling confident in your skin. Our experienced team will create a personalized treatment plan designed specifically for your skin type, concerns, and goals.
Schedule your free consultation today to learn more about laser skin resurfacing and find out which treatment is right for you. Call Manhattan Laser Spa or book online. We’re conveniently located to serve Bal Harbour Village, Collins Avenue, and the greater Miami-Dade County area.
Your journey to radiant, rejuvenated skin starts here.
