Healing timeline after laser resurfacing

The pitch for laser resurfacing often promises short and predictable downtime. This journal covers Saline, Michigan, and it sets that promise against published recovery figures. One source to read alongside is a review comparing CO2 and Er:YAG laser therapy for acne scars.

The claim as it is usually presented

A typical quote gives one recovery number and moves on. Ask which laser it assumes and what is being treated.

What a published source says about recovery

my.clevelandclinic.org says recovery time with CO2 laser resurfacing is up to two weeks. It also says that, in general, the areas heal in five to 21 days, depending on the nature of the condition that was treated and the type of laser used. To see how technologies differ, read the review of current laser resurfacing technologies.

Where a single number falls short

A range that depends on the condition and the laser sits oddly beside one figure for every patient. If your quote gives a single timeline, ask which condition and which laser it was built on.

The question to ask

Which laser is planned for me, what condition does it treat, and which independent source gives its healing range?