Living in Fort Lauderdale means beach days, boat rides, and year-round sunshine. It also means your skin takes a beating from UV exposure, humidity, and salt air. If you’re noticing sun spots, rough texture, or fine lines that weren’t there a few years ago, you’re not alone.
Laser skin treatment can help reverse years of sun damage and bring back smoother, healthier-looking skin. At Manhattan Laser Spa in Fort Lauderdale, we use medical-grade laser technology to treat wrinkles, acne scars, age spots, and uneven texture. Here’s what you need to know.
Laser skin treatment uses focused light energy to target damaged skin cells and stimulate your body’s natural healing response. Think of it like hitting the reset button on your skin.
There are two main types:
Ablative lasers remove the outer layers of skin. They’re more aggressive but deliver dramatic results. You’ll have some downtime, but the payoff is worth it for deeper wrinkles, significant sun damage, or stubborn scars.
Non-ablative lasers work beneath the surface without removing skin. They heat the deeper layers to boost collagen production. Less downtime, gentler results. Perfect if you want improvement without taking a week off work.
Both types work by creating controlled injury to the skin. This triggers your body to produce fresh collagen and elastin, which is what gives skin that firm, plump look. Over the next few weeks and months, you’ll see continued improvement as new skin cells replace the old, damaged ones.
Laser skin treatment isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, but it handles a lot:
Sun damage and age spots. If you’ve spent decades in the Fort Lauderdale sun (or forgot sunscreen more times than you’d like to admit), lasers can fade brown spots and even out skin tone.
Fine lines and wrinkles. Crow’s feet, forehead lines, those vertical lines around your mouth? Lasers smooth them out by rebuilding collagen underneath.
Acne scars. Whether it’s rolling scars, boxcar scars, or ice pick scars, fractional laser treatment can dramatically improve texture over several sessions.
Rough texture. If your skin feels bumpy or uneven, laser resurfacing removes that top layer of damaged cells and reveals smoother skin underneath.
Enlarged pores. Lasers tighten skin and reduce pore size, giving you that refined look.
Melasma and hyperpigmentation. Those dark patches that pop up from hormones, sun exposure, or pregnancy respond well to laser treatment.
Redness and rosacea. IPL (intense pulsed light) targets visible blood vessels and reduces overall redness.
Not all lasers are created equal. Here’s what we use at Manhattan Laser Spa:
This is the gold standard for serious skin rejuvenation. CO2 lasers are ablative, meaning they vaporize the top layers of damaged skin. It’s the most aggressive option, but it delivers the most dramatic results for deep wrinkles, severe sun damage, and significant scarring.
You’ll need about a week of recovery time. Your skin will be red and peeling, but once it heals, you’ll see a major difference in texture, tone, and tightness.
Fractional lasers (like Fraxel or erbium laser systems) treat small zones of skin at a time, leaving surrounding tissue intact. This speeds up healing and reduces downtime.
Think of it like aerating a lawn. The laser creates thousands of microscopic columns of treated skin, triggering collagen production without affecting the entire surface. You get noticeable improvement with less recovery time than full CO2 resurfacing.
Most people need 3 to 5 sessions for best results.
IPL isn’t technically a laser, it’s intense pulsed light that targets pigmentation and redness. Great for sun spots, freckles, broken capillaries, and overall tone improvement.
There’s virtually no downtime. You might have some temporary darkening of spots before they flake off over the next week or so.
These lasers heat the deeper skin layers without damaging the surface. They stimulate collagen over time, which means results are more gradual but with zero downtime.
Perfect if you want subtle improvement and can’t take time off for recovery.
First, we’ll bring you in for a consultation. We’ll look at your skin type (important for determining which laser is safe for you), discuss your concerns, and create a treatment plan. Not everyone is a good candidate for every laser, especially if you have darker skin or certain medical conditions.
On treatment day, here’s what happens:
Before the procedure. We’ll clean your skin and apply a topical numbing cream about 30 to 60 minutes before we start. You’ll also wear protective eye shields.
During the procedure. The laser handpiece glides over your skin in a controlled pattern. You’ll feel warmth and maybe a snapping sensation, like a rubber band hitting your skin. Most people say it’s tolerable, especially with the numbing cream. Some of our lasers have built-in cooling systems that blow cold air on your skin during treatment.
The actual laser work takes 20 to 45 minutes, depending on the size of the treatment area.
Right after. Your skin will feel warm and look pink to red, kind of like a sunburn. We’ll apply a soothing ointment or healing serum.
This depends entirely on which laser we use.
CO2 laser resurfacing: Plan for 7 to 10 days of significant downtime. Your skin will be red, swollen, and crusty as it heals. You’ll need to keep it moisturized with healing ointments and avoid sun exposure completely.
Fractional laser: 3 to 5 days of redness and mild swelling. Your skin might feel rough or sandpapery for a few days as the treated areas shed.
Non-ablative laser or IPL: Minimal downtime. Some redness for a few hours, maybe a day. You can usually go right back to your normal routine.
No matter which treatment you get, you’ll need to baby your skin for a bit. That means gentle cleansers, lots of moisturizer, and religious sun protection. Seriously, sunscreen is non-negotiable after laser treatment.
It depends on what you’re treating and which laser we use.
Ablative lasers (CO2, erbium): Usually just one session for dramatic results. Some people do a second session a year later for maintenance.
Fractional lasers: Most people need 3 to 5 sessions spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart.
IPL photofacials: 3 to 5 sessions for best results.
Non-ablative lasers: 4 to 6 sessions, sometimes more for significant improvement.
Results aren’t instant. You’ll see some immediate improvement, but the real magic happens over the next 3 to 6 months as your collagen rebuilds. Your skin will continue to look better with time.
When done by trained professionals with FDA-cleared equipment, yes. But there are risks, especially if the wrong laser is used on your skin type.
Potential side effects:
This is why you need a medical spa with actual medical supervision. We assess your skin type using the Fitzpatrick scale before treatment. Darker skin tones have a higher risk of pigmentation changes with certain lasers, so we adjust our approach accordingly.
We also require a patch test for anyone with a history of scarring or keloid formation.
Laser skin treatment isn’t for everyone. You’re not a good candidate if:
We’ll go over your medical history during your consultation to make sure laser treatment is safe for you.
Fort Lauderdale has plenty of med spas offering laser treatments. Here’s what sets us apart:
Medical supervision. We’re a state-licensed medical spa with a medical director overseeing all treatments. You’re not getting lasered by someone who took a weekend course.
FDA-cleared equipment. We use only medical-grade, FDA-cleared laser systems. No shortcuts, no cheap knockoffs.
Customized treatment plans. Your skin isn’t like anyone else’s. We create a treatment plan based on your specific concerns, skin type, and goals.
Transparent pricing. No hidden fees or surprise charges. We’ll discuss costs upfront during your consultation.
Real results. We’ve performed thousands of laser treatments on Fort Lauderdale residents dealing with the same sun damage, aging, and skin concerns you’re facing.
“I’ve lived in South Florida my whole life. Is my sun damage too severe for laser treatment?”
Honestly? Probably not. We’ve treated people with decades of unprotected sun exposure. CO2 laser resurfacing can handle even severe photo damage. The key is realistic expectations and possibly multiple sessions.
“I have darker skin. Is laser treatment safe for me?”
It can be, but we need to be careful about which laser we use. Certain wavelengths (like Nd:YAG lasers) are safer for darker skin tones. We’ll do a thorough skin assessment and possibly a test spot before proceeding with full treatment.
“How much does laser skin treatment cost in Fort Lauderdale?”
Prices vary based on treatment type and area size. IPL photofacials typically start around a few hundred dollars per session. Fractional laser treatments run higher. Full-face CO2 resurfacing is the most expensive but only needs one session. We offer financing through CareCredit and other options.
During your free consultation, we’ll give you an exact quote based on your treatment plan.
Let’s be real. Living in Fort Lauderdale is tough on skin. The UV index here is high year-round. Salt air, humidity, and outdoor lifestyle mean your skin is constantly exposed to elements that accelerate aging.
If you spend time at Fort Lauderdale Beach, Las Olas, or out on the water, you’ve probably accumulated sun damage whether you realize it or not. Those brown spots, rough patches, and fine lines? That’s photo damage, and it adds up over the years.
Laser treatment is one of the most effective ways to reverse that damage. It removes the damaged surface layer and stimulates fresh collagen production underneath. You’re essentially getting new skin that hasn’t spent 20 years in the Florida sun.
Plus, laser treatment is way more effective than over-the-counter creams or serums. We’re talking medical-grade technology that penetrates deeper and delivers actual, measurable results.
Wondering how laser treatment compares to other options?
Chemical peels: Good for mild texture and tone issues, but they don’t penetrate as deeply as lasers. Peels work through chemical exfoliation; lasers work through controlled heat injury. Lasers give more dramatic, longer-lasting results.
Microneedling: Creates tiny injuries to stimulate collagen, similar to fractional lasers. Microneedling is gentler with less downtime, but lasers deliver more significant improvement, especially for pigmentation and deep wrinkles.
Injectables (Botox, fillers): These address volume loss and dynamic wrinkles. Lasers address skin quality, texture, and tone. They work well together but aren’t substitutes for each other.
Topical treatments (retinoids, vitamin C): Great for maintenance and mild improvement, but they can’t touch what lasers can do for significant damage.
Many of our clients combine treatments. For example, laser resurfacing for texture and tone, plus fillers for volume loss. We’ll help you figure out the best approach during your consultation.
About 2 to 4 weeks before your appointment:
The day of treatment:
Your results depend partly on how well you take care of your skin after treatment.
First few days:
First few weeks:
Long-term:
We’ll give you detailed aftercare instructions specific to your treatment. Follow them, and you’ll get better results with fewer complications.
Let’s be honest. It’s not completely pain-free, but it’s tolerable. Most people describe it as a warm, snapping sensation, like a rubber band hitting your skin repeatedly. We use topical numbing cream before treatment, and our lasers have built-in cooling systems that blow cold air on your skin during the procedure.
Ablative lasers (like CO2) are more uncomfortable than non-ablative options. If you’re sensitive to pain, let us know. We can adjust settings or use stronger numbing agents.
The good news? The actual laser work only takes 20 to 45 minutes. Most people say it’s way less bad than they expected.
That depends on how well you take care of your skin afterward. If you protect your skin from the sun, use good skincare, and don’t smoke, results can last several years.
For some concerns like sun spots or age spots, laser treatment can provide long-lasting results. But remember, it doesn’t stop your skin from aging or prevent new sun damage. If you keep spending unprotected time in the Fort Lauderdale sun, new spots will eventually appear.
Most people do maintenance treatments every 1 to 2 years to keep results looking fresh. Think of it like getting your car detailed. The initial treatment does the heavy lifting, maintenance keeps it looking good.
You can, but it’s not ideal. Your skin will be more sensitive to sun after treatment, and avoiding sun exposure in South Florida summer is basically impossible.
Fall, winter, and early spring are better times for laser treatment here. You’ll have an easier time staying out of the sun during recovery, and you won’t miss prime beach season.
If you absolutely need treatment in summer, we can do it, but you’ll need to be extra careful about sun protection. We’re talking SPF 50+, wide-brimmed hats, and staying in the shade as much as possible.
Probably not. Laser skin treatment is considered cosmetic, so insurance won’t pay for it. However, we accept CareCredit and offer other financing options to make treatment more affordable.
In rare cases where laser treatment is medically necessary (like treating precancerous lesions), insurance might cover it. We’ll help you figure out if that applies to your situation.
Big difference. Medical spas operate under medical supervision with licensed professionals using FDA-cleared, medical-grade equipment. Regular day spas often use lower-powered devices that might be called “laser” but don’t deliver the same results.
You want someone who understands skin anatomy, laser physics, and how to adjust treatment parameters based on your skin type. That requires medical training, not just a spa certification.
Laser treatment done wrong can cause burns, scarring, and permanent pigmentation changes. Don’t cheap out on this.
This is tricky. Some lasers can actually make melasma worse by triggering more pigment production. That said, certain laser types (like Q-switched Nd:YAG or specific IPL settings) can improve melasma when used carefully.
We need to see your skin in person to determine if you’re a good candidate. Melasma is notoriously difficult to treat, and laser isn’t always the best first option. Sometimes a combination of topical treatments, chemical peels, and very specific laser protocols works best.
If you have melasma, be extra cautious about choosing your provider. You need someone experienced with treating pigmentation disorders in your skin type.
It depends on the laser type. With ablative lasers like CO2, you’ll see immediate improvement once the initial redness and peeling subside (about 1 to 2 weeks). But the real results continue to develop over 3 to 6 months as collagen rebuilds.
With non-ablative lasers and fractional treatments, results are more gradual. You might notice subtle improvement after the first session, but optimal results come after completing your full treatment series, usually 3 to 5 sessions.
IPL photofacials show improvement within a week as dark spots flake off, but you’ll need multiple sessions for best results.
Bottom line: laser treatment is an investment in gradual improvement, not an instant fix. Be patient. Your skin is rebuilding itself from the inside out.
Ready to do something about sun damage, wrinkles, or acne scars? Let’s talk.
We offer free consultations at our Fort Lauderdale location. We’ll examine your skin, discuss your concerns, explain your options, and create a customized treatment plan. No pressure, no obligation.
Call us or book online. Most people wish they’d done this sooner.
