Aesthetic services
Laser Resurfacing
Erbium laser treatment that gently removes sun-damaged, uneven, and lined skin, revealing the smoother, brighter skin beneath. Precise, customizable, and performed by our board-certified nurse practitioner for results that look like a fresh start.
How laser resurfacing works
The skin renews itself constantly, but with age that process slows and damage accumulates. Erbium laser resurfacing gives it a head start, gently vaporizing the worn outer layers so smoother, more even skin can take their place.
Our Approach
At St. Johns Wellness, our board-certified nurse practitioner tailors every laser treatment to your skin type, concerns, and schedule. Lighter passes refresh tone and texture with minimal downtime; deeper treatments address years of sun damage or scarring in a single session. Either way, you’ll leave with a clear aftercare plan and our support through the healing process.
Erbium is known as the gentler ablative laser. It works at a wavelength the skin absorbs very efficiently, so the treatment is controlled, healing is quicker, and results are long-lasting. Skin looks brighter within a couple of weeks and continues to improve for months as collagen rebuilds.
45–60 minutes
3–7 days
Visible in 2 weeks
What we treat
Years of sun and expression leave marks that skincare alone can't undo. We treat them at the source, resurfacing the outer layers so the skin heals back smoother and clearer.
Sun damage & pigmentation
Fades sunspots, freckling, and uneven tone by removing the damaged surface layer, revealing clearer, brighter skin beneath.
Fine lines & wrinkles
Smooths lines around the eyes, mouth, and forehead, and softens deeper wrinkles as fresh collagen rebuilds the skin.
Acne scars
Levels out pitted and textured scarring with precise, controlled resurfacing. Often combined with RF microneedling for deeper scars.
Uneven texture & pores
Refines rough, dull, or bumpy skin and visibly tightens pores, leaving the surface smooth enough that makeup sits better.
Around the eyes
Treats crepey lower lids and crow's feet, an area too delicate for most treatments but ideal for the precision of erbium.
Around the mouth
Softens vertical lip lines and smoker's lines that fillers and Botox can't fully address, restoring a smoother upper lip.
Candidacy
Am I a good candidate for laser resurfacing?
If your main concern is what you see on the surface, rather than volume or movement, laser resurfacing may be the right fit. It’s ideal if you:
- Want to reverse visible sun damage and pigmentation
- Have lines around the lips or eyes that bother you in photos
- Want to smooth acne scars or rough, dull texture
- Prefer one thorough treatment over an ongoing series
Treatment isn’t recommended during pregnancy, with an active infection or cold sore, or soon after isotretinoin. Skin tone and sun exposure also shape how we plan your session, which we’ll go through together at your consultation.
What to expect
A few days of healing, years of results
Each session takes 45 to 60 minutes, with numbing cream applied first to keep you comfortable. Expect redness, mild swelling, and peeling for several days as the old skin lifts away. It looks worse than it feels, and most patients are back to normal, with makeup, within a week. New, smoother skin is visible by two weeks, with collagen continuing to build for up to six months.
Before your visit
- Pause active skincare a week ahead
- Avoid sun exposure and tanning for two weeks
- Let us know about cold sores; we'll prescribe an antiviral if needed
During recovery
- Cleanse gently and reapply ointment throughout the day
- Don't pick or peel; let the skin shed on its own
- Wear SPF 30+ daily and avoid direct sun for a month
Laser resurfacing at St. Johns Wellness starts at $XXX for targeted areas like the eyes or mouth, and $XXX for the full face. The final price depends on the treatment depth and the size of the area. Consultations are free, and our nurse practitioner will give you a complete quote before anything is scheduled.
Both remove the damaged outer layers of skin, but erbium does it with far less heat spreading into surrounding tissue. That means less redness, a shorter recovery, and a lower risk of pigmentation changes, which makes erbium safer for a wider range of skin tones. CO2 goes deeper and can treat more severe damage, but with a week or more of downtime and higher risk. For most patients, erbium offers the best balance of results and recovery.
We apply a strong numbing cream for about 30 to 45 minutes before treatment, so most patients feel warmth and a light snapping sensation rather than pain. Deeper treatments may feel more intense, and we’ll talk through comfort options at your consultation. Afterward, the skin feels like a sunburn for a day or two.
It depends on the depth of treatment. A lighter resurfacing means two to four days of redness and light peeling. A deeper treatment means five to seven days of redness, swelling, and peeling before the new skin is fully in place. Most patients plan a long weekend or a quiet week and are back to normal, with makeup, by day seven.
Once peeling is complete, usually within a week, your skin will already look brighter and smoother. Collagen continues to rebuild beneath the surface for three to six months, so texture and fine lines keep improving well after the initial healing.
Years, with good sun protection. Laser resurfacing removes damage rather than masking it, so the improvement is lasting. Sun exposure is the main thing that brings it back, which is why daily SPF matters so much afterward. Many patients choose a light maintenance treatment every few years.
Most patients see significant improvement from a single deeper treatment. For a gentler approach with less downtime, a series of two to three lighter sessions spaced a month apart achieves similar results over time. We’ll recommend the path that fits your goals and schedule.
Erbium is one of the safer ablative lasers for medium and deeper skin tones because it produces less heat. That said, resurfacing carries more pigmentation risk than treatments like RF microneedling, so we assess skin tone carefully and may recommend a more conservative depth, a test spot, or an alternative treatment. This is always an honest conversation.