Laser Skin Resurfacing

Conveniently located to serve the areas of San Jose, CA

Laser skin resurfacing is a treatment that uses concentrated beams of light to remove the outer skin layers, revealing fresh layers beneath, stimulating collagen growth, and improving wrinkles, scars, and sun damage. As the lasers vaporize the damaged skin tissues, the body triggers new skin growth.

Dr. Thang Tran, MD, is passionate about working to help you achieve your beauty goals and restore your confidence. By focusing on anti-aging, facial treatments, and body contouring procedures, the team at True You Medical Aesthetic wants to help you age with grace and elegance. If you want to enhance your appearance and rejuvenate your skin, contact us online or call our office at (408) 223-8818 to schedule your personal consultation and explore your laser resurfacing treatment options.

About Laser Skin Resurfacing

Laser skin resurfacing uses focused light beams to remove damaged skin layers and stimulate new collagen production. (1) It aims to smooth, firm, and rejuvenate the skin by either removing skin layers (ablative lasers) or by targeting root causes in deeper tissue layers (non-ablative lasers). With laser skin resurfacing, patients can address a vast array of concerns, including fine lines, deep wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, acne or surgical scars, sun damage, age spots, enlarged pores, oil production, rough skin texture, unwanted tattoos, and more!

Non-Ablative vs. Ablative Lasers

Lasers also fall into two categories based on how they address the skin: ablative and non-ablative. (2)

  • Ablative lasers: Ablative lasers vaporize and remove the outer layers of damaged skin while heating deeper layers to trigger intense collagen growth. They are best for removing deep wrinkles, severe sun damage, and acne scarring. These treatments require one to two weeks of recovery.
  • Non-ablative lasers: Non-ablative lasers heat the underlying tissue without destroying or removing the skin. They are best for fine lines, mild scarring, and early hyperpigmentation concerns. These treatments require little to no downtime, although multiple sessions are often required.

PicoSure® Laser

Our office offers the PicoSure laser. This is an innovative laser that is neither erbium nor CO2, instead, it is a non-ablative picosecond alexandrite and nd:YAG device that emits rapid pulses of light. It offers several treatment applications, including reducing unwanted pigmentation, sun damage, age spots, tattoos, and more. The PicoSure laser causes the pigment to disperse, stimulates collagen production, and improves surface issues by reaching deeper tissues, all while preserving your surrounding tissue. This treatment is well-tolerated, non-invasive, and quick. Additionally, the PicoSure laser is effective for a wide range of skin tones. Although sometimes more effective for darker skin tones, it can do wonders on lighter skin. This is due to its treatment modality; ultra-short, pressure-based energy pulses gently stimulate repair processes, instead of this effect resulting from intense heat that can cause further damage to the skin layers. In melanin-rich skin, traditional lasers’ use of thermal energy can burn or cause overabsorption, while the energy is often lost in skin with less melanin. With a gentler approach, the PicoSure laser greatly reduces post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and scarring while still effectively resolving a patient’s skin concerns.

Benefits

Laser skin resurfacing is a highly effective treatment that can help rejuvenate your skin and transform its overall texture. It also offers many benefits, such as:

  • Reduced wrinkles
  • Diminished hyperpigmentation
  • Minimized scarring
  • Refined pores
  • Boosted collagen and elastin production

Candidates

If you are seeking to reduce facial wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin texture, sun damage, or acne scarring, then you may be an ideal candidate for laser skin resurfacing. To achieve the best results, you should be in good general health, be free of any active skin infections or several medical conditions, and hold realistic expectations for your results. If you are currently breastfeeding, pregnant, or have a weak immune system, you may need to delay treatment or find an alternative. An expert team member will establish your candidacy during your consultation.

Personal Consultation

During your personal consultation, one of our skin specialists will evaluate your medical history and discuss your skin concerns in detail. They will also perform a physical evaluation of your skin texture and other target concerns. This meeting allows them to gather all of the necessary information to create a personalized plan that reflects your treatment goals. Your specialist will also address any questions or concerns you may have. Contact us online or call our office at (408) 223-8818 to schedule your personal consultation.

Preparation

To effectively prepare for your treatment, we advise you to:

  • Avoid excessive sun exposure and tanning four weeks prior to treatment
  • Pause the use of retinoids and exfoliating acids one to two weeks before treatment
  • Arrive at your appointment with clean skin, free of skincare, sunscreen, or makeup products
  • Pause the use of blood-thinning medications and supplements

Procedure

At the beginning of your treatment, you may receive a topical anesthetic cream to reduce discomfort in your treatment area. After this step, your skin specialist will thoroughly cleanse your skin and provide protective eyewear. They will use a handheld device to administer the laser energy to your skin and strategically target the treatment area. They may perform a “test” session, applying the laser energy to a small area to see how your skin responds. The PicoSure laser will emit short bursts of energy that last one trillionth of a second (a picosecond). Your specialist will adjust the wavelength of the laser depending on your skin’s needs. The short bursts prevent the laser from burning your skin; underlying tissues absorb the light energy as heat, but outer layers are not exposed long enough to be damaged. Once your laser specialist passes the laser over the treatment area and addresses your concerns, they will apply a thick, protective healing serum to aid in recovery.

Recovery

Immediately after your treatment, you will likely notice a thin film appearance on your skin that is known as “frosting.” This is your immune system’s natural response to the laser, which your skin will naturally absorb. You may experience minor swelling, so you must avoid touching your skin or wearing tight clothing that can chafe against it. Wearing a protective bandage over the area and using petroleum-based jelly can support your skin while you heal.

Results

You will notice results from your treatment immediately and over the next few days as the targeted pigment in your skin gradually fades. You will also notice a smooth, rejuvenated, and hydrated appearance. It will also generate collagen and elastin production in deep skin layers, contributing to long-term improvements in structure, elasticity, texture, and more. Depending on the severity of your concerns, you may require several sessions to achieve full results. Sessions are often spaced six weeks apart to give your body time to heal and build collagen and to prevent injuring your skin from over-treating it.

Corresponding Procedures

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

PRP is a concentrated serum derived from your own blood that heals damaged and deflated tissues. This therapy utilizes the healing properties of your body’s own cells, with hundreds of growth factors and regenerative proteins, to promote skin regeneration and elasticity.

HydraFacial

A hydrafacial is a minimally invasive skincare treatment that improves the appearance of your skin through cleansing, exfoliation, and infusing a deeply hydrating serum. It targets deep wrinkles, fine lines, dullness, and active acne with ease, creating a vibrant, healthy, and rejuvenated complexion.

Botox®

Botox is an injectable treatment that targets the root cause of facial wrinkles by relaxing the facial muscles. It can smooth the surface of your skin and diminish existing and future wrinkles resulting from expression lines.

Cost of Laser Skin Resurfacing in San Jose

The total cost of your laser skin resurfacing treatment will vary depending on the severity of your skin concerns, the size of your treatment area, whether you combine it with other treatments, and your overall goals for your procedure. Our team will provide you with a detailed cost outline during your personal consultation. Contact us online or call our office at (408) 223-8818 to explore your treatment options and cost.

FAQ

What is laser skin resurfacing?

Laser skin resurfacing is a treatment that targets the deeper skin layers and precisely removes skin layer-by-layer by vaporizing it. It aims to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, scars, hyperpigmentation, sun damage, and more.

How does laser skin resurfacing vary from other skin treatments?

Laser skin resurfacing differs from popular skin treatments such as chemical peels and microneedling since it uses focused light beams and delivers higher precision, deeper penetration, and shorter recovery times.

Can you pair laser skin resurfacing treatments with other procedures?

Yes, you can combine laser skin resurfacing with other treatments such as dermal fillers, platelet rich plasma (PRP), hydrafacials, and more!

What are the advantages of PicoSure Laser?

PicoSure laser treatment uses ultra-short pulses to shatter pigment and stimulate collagen production with minimal heat. It is also ideal for all skin tones as it carries a lower risk of thermal damage or hyperpigmentation on darker skin types.

How long does it take to see results from laser skin resurfacing?

You can expect to see improvements after a week, but generative and long-term changes will become noticeable after a couple of months as collagen and elastin production continues.

Are the results from laser skin resurfacing permanent?

No, the results from laser skin resurfacing are not permanent, although they can last anywhere from 3 to 10 years, depending on the type of laser used.

References

  1. Preissig J, Hamilton K, Markus R. Current Laser Resurfacing Technologies: A Review that Delves Beneath the Surface. Seminars in Plastic Surgery. 2012;26(03):109-116. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1329413
  2. Dunkin MA. Laser Skin Resurfacing: Benefits, Side Effects, and Average Cost. WebMD. June 12, 2023. Accessed August 24, 2026. https://www.webmd.com/beauty/laser-skin-resurfacing
  3. Hantash BM, Gladstone HB. Current role of resurfacing lasers. Giornale italiano di dermatologia e venereologia : organo ufficiale, Societa italiana di dermatologia e sifilografia. 2009;144(3):229-241. Accessed August 24, 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19528905/