Find out what it is, what it can do for your skin, the different options available, and more…
If you dream of having glowing, youthful, blemish-free skin, you’ve probably already heard of – and perhaps considered having – laser skin resurfacing. But you’re possibly also wondering if it’s really as good as all those Instagram posts and before-and-after blogs suggest, or simply if it’s the right treatment for you?
Laser skin resurfacing is one of the most effective treatments for reversing and preventing signs of aging and damage caused by sun exposure. It’s also very popular, with more and more Americans opting for this type of procedure every year and the global market expected to reach a whopping $649.9 million by 2031.
While it’s not a surgical procedure, some versions of laser skin resurfacing can be relatively intensive and come with fairly long recovery times. However, others – such as the CoolPeel® CO2 and MOXI® laser resurfacing that we offer at BodyTonic Med Spa in Cleveland – are non- or minimally-invasive, pain-free, have no (or next-to-no) downtime, and still provide incredible results.
Ultimately, as with any type of cosmetic treatment, you can’t decide whether it’s right for you without knowing some of the facts. So we’re here to help.
So we’re here to help.
What Is Laser Skin Resurfacing?
It’s a facial rejuvenation treatment that uses lasers to improve the overall appearance of skin and treat specific minor flaws such as sunspots, acne scars, fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, and much more.
There are lots of different types of lasers now in existence, so laser skin resurfacing is actually a broad term that encompasses the full range of treatments of this type. However, they all follow the same basic principle of using the heat and light energy of a laser to create micro-injuries to the skin, which then stimulates the body’s natural healing responses and leads to the creation of new skin.
The main differences between the types of laser skin resurfacing treatment available come down to two core options: using ablative or non-ablative lasers.
Ablative Lasers
These are the most powerful lasers – the most common types are carbon dioxide (CO2) and erbium lasers. They remove the thin outer layer of skin and heat the underlying skin, basically causing a controlled vaporization of skin cells and encouraging the body to create fresh, new, younger-looking skin in its place. Ablative lasers create a more intense “injury,” which means they come with some painful and awkward downtime. There are also more risks associated with them. But they do offer the most noticeable results after just one treatment.
An amazing new technology in this field is the CoolPeel CO2 laser (which we offer at BodyTonic). It’s ablative – but without the intensive heat (hence its name), which means it delivers similar results to traditional CO2 lasers but without the painful downtime.
Non-Ablative Lasers
This type of laser is much gentler, targeting the deeper layer of skin to instigate the same healing process and collagen growth, but not removing any of the outer skin layers. This means a less painful procedure, fewer risks, and a shorter recovery time, but results are more subtle.
Common non-ablative laser treatments include pulsed-dye laser, IPL (intense pulsed light) therapy, and the cutting-edge MOXI laser by Sciton.
Fractional Lasers
You’ll also come across the term “fractional laser” a lot. Both ablative and non-ablative treatments can be delivered with a fractional laser, which basically means the laser is delivered in a pixelated manner that leaves microscopic columns of untreated tissue (rather than wounding 100% of the skin) – allowing for quicker healing and fewer side effects, but equally powerful results. Both MOXI and CoolPeel are fractional lasers.
Benefits of Laser Skin Resurfacing
Whether opting for ablative or non-ablative lasers, you can expect to enjoy the following benefits from laser skin resurfacing treatments:
- Minimized appearance of scars
- Less noticeable fine lines and wrinkles
- More even skin tone and texture
- Reduced signs of sun damage and age spots
- Tighter-looking, fuller skin
- A brighter, clearer, glowing complexion
As ablative lasers are more intensive, they provide more noticeable versions of these results and are more effective on deeper wrinkles, scars, heavy discoloration, and other more noticeable skin damage.
Non-ablative lasers are a more gentle approach and are ideal as a form of preventive “prejuventation”, addressing more of the early signs of aging and maintaining a vibrant and healthy glow to the skin. Non-ablative lasers are also effective at addressing rosacea, spider veins, and acne-related skin conditions.
Is Laser Skin Resurfacing Right for Me?
Laser skin resurfacing is a great option for anyone who wants to reverse (or prevent!) the worst signs of aging, sun damage, acne scarring, and other skin conditions that over-the-counter products just can’t help with.
It isn’t suitable for people with active skin conditions such as acne, or if you’re on certain medications or have certain allergies. But otherwise, it’s a treatment that’s suited to most people.
Non-ablative treatments like MOXI are better suited to younger or less-damaged skin, addressing early signs of aging, subtle texture or tone issues, and year-round maintenance, while ablative options like CoolPeel CO2 go deeper, making them better for more advanced damage, wrinkles, or scarring.
Your skin’s pigment is another factor to consider, as the darker your skin, the greater the risk of hyperpigmentation from laser treatments. However, this is mainly with the traditional, more aggressive ablative lasers; modern options like MOXI and CoolPeel are safer for all skin tones. It’s something to be aware of though, and to discuss with your practitioner. Alternatives like RF microneedling might be recommended in some cases, as these also deliver excellent skin rejuvenation results without any pigmentation risk for darker skin tones.
The best way to decide if laser skin resurfacing is right for you? A professional consultation. At BodyTonic Cleveland, we’ll assess your skin type, goals, and lifestyle, and design the right plan for you.
What to Expect from Laser Skin Resurfacing?
The exact laser resurfacing treatment you choose will greatly influence what you can expect – both in terms of the treatment process and the results.
Traditional ablative lasers are generally more painful and require a longer healing time (sometimes as much as 3+ weeks), but results will be noticeable after just one treatment and can drastically improve more advanced skin damage.
Non-ablative lasers are generally faster treatments, pain-free (light topical anesthetics are sufficient), and have much shorter recovery times – usually just a few days, and up to one week maximum. You can expect to enjoy noticeably brighter, smoother, and younger-looking skin within a week of having the treatment, and while it won’t be quite as dramatic as from an ablative treatment, it will still be very noticeable.
Non-ablative treatments are usually recommended as a series of treatments to get the best results, and continuing with annual maintenance treatments is one of the best ways to ensure your skin will stay looking as young as possible for the long term.
With both ablative and non-ablative laser treatments, it’s vital you keep your face well protected against the sun. This is particularly important in the period just after your treatment, but your skin can remain more sensitive for a long period after, so if you don’t already, make sure you get into the habit of wearing sunscreen on a daily basis, even when cloudy.
Laser Skin Resurfacing at BodyTonic Cleveland
At BodyTonic Cleveland, we focus on offering the most advanced laser skin resurfacing options that deliver visible results with minimal downtime.
That’s why we offer:
- CoolPeel CO2 laser: the newest type of CO2 laser that offers deeper resurfacing results without the pain or downtime.
- MOXI laser: a gentle non-ablative fractional laser that offers the best “light” skin resurfacing and long-term “prejuvenation.”
And for those wanting something in the middle, we frequently pair MOXI with BBL Hero – its “sister” treatment, also from Sciton. BBL is an IPL light treatment that targets redness and pigmentation, and when paired with MOXI, offers a comprehensive skin rejuvenation and brightening.
Comparing Other Laser Skin Resurfacing Options: MOXI vs HALO, and More
If you’ve been researching laser resurfacing, you’ve likely come across other popular names – such as HALO® or ClearSilk®, and are wondering how they compare.
Here’s a breakdown of the main differences:
| Brand | Type | Best for | Downtime | Comparison vs other lasers |
| ClearSilk® | Non-ablative non-contact laser | Redness, rosacea, subtle skin boost | None to very minimal | Even gentler than MOXI – more like a “laser facial.” |
| MOXI® | Non-ablative fractional laser | Early signs of aging, fine lines, uneven tone, mild texture, “prejuvenation” and glow | None (possibly a little redness or roughness for a couple of days) | Gentle but effective. Great entry treatment or maintenance between stronger lasers. |
| CoolPeel® CO2 | Fractional ablative CO2 laser | More advanced skin concerns, including fine lines, wrinkles, uneven tone, texture, sun damage, and moderate scarring | Minimal (a little redness for a couple of days) | Stronger resurfacing than MOXI. More dramatic results, slightly more redness but still next-to-no downtime. |
| HALO® | Hybrid – ablative + non-ablative fractional laser | More significant skin concerns: deeper sun damage and wrinkles, scarring, tone, and texture | Moderate (redness, peeling, and mild swelling and tenderness for 5–7 days) | Similar resurfacing to CoolPeel but also targets the deeper skin levels, meaning deeper rejuvenation – but far more significant downtime. |
Essentially, while they’re all great options with their own benefits, we chose CoolPeel and MOXI because they offer the best results across a broad range of concerns – from early changes in tone and texture to deeper wrinkles and scarring – without any long, disruptive recovery time.
FAQs About Laser Skin Resurfacing at BodyTonic Cleveland
Still have questions about the different types of laser skin resurfacing, and which might be best for you? Or want a simpler summary of some of the things we’ve covered above?
No problem! Here are answers to some of the most frequent questions we’re asked…
What are the different types of laser skin resurfacing?
The main types of laser skin resurfacing are ablative and non-ablative lasers:
- Ablative lasers remove the outer layers of skin, making them highly effective for deep wrinkles, scars, and more significant sun damage, but they (usually) require longer recovery.
- Non-ablative lasers work beneath the skin, stimulating collagen and skin renewal to improve fine lines, uneven tone, skin laxity, and more, all without removing tissue. This means zero or minimal downtime, but more subtle results.
- A third option is fractional lasers – these can be either ablative or non-ablative and work by targeting microscopic treatment zones, meaning faster healing and a reduced recovery period.
What does the MOXI laser do?
MOXI is a gentle non-ablative fractional laser that brightens tone, smooths texture, and softens fine lines by stimulating collagen and cell renewal from within, without damaging the outer skin. It’s ideal for correcting early signs of aging, sun damage, and overall skin maintenance, and is also one of the safest options for year-round use, even in summer.
What to expect post MOXI laser treatment?
After a MOXI laser treatment, skin may look slightly pink and feel a bit rough like sandpaper for a day or two. But you can return to normal activities right away and can wear makeup after 24 hours. Results start to show within 5–7 days.
What does the CoolPeel CO2 laser do?
CoolPeel is a cutting-edge ablative fractional CO2 laser that deeply resurfaces the skin to reduce fine lines, sun damage, uneven tone, and rough texture. It delivers the benefits of traditional CO2 lasers without the same heat, meaning none of the painful recovery time.
Is CoolPeel the same as traditional CO2 laser skin resurfacing?
No, CoolPeel is a newer and less invasive version of CO2 laser. It uses ultra-short pulses with minimal residual heat, which allows it to produce similar CO2-level resurfacing results, but without the long, painful recovery typical of traditional CO2 lasers.
What to expect post CoolPeel laser treatment?
After CoolPeel your skin may be a little red for a few days, but you can usually wear make-up after 24 hours and resume normal activities straight away. Results are noticeable within a few days and continue to improve as the skin heals and new collagen forms.
MOXI vs HALO vs CoolPeel: which is better?
They’re quite different. MOXI is ideal for light rejuvenation and has zero downtime, whereas HALO is a much deeper skin resurfacing treatment, with more noticeable results but more significant downtime. CoolPeel fits between the two, offering deeper resurfacing results than MOXI, without the downtime of HALO.
Which laser skin resurfacing treatment helps most with deep wrinkles?
For deeper wrinkles and more pronounced texture, we recommend the CoolPeel CO2 laser. Combining this with RF microneedling or fillers can also be very effective.
How many laser resurfacing sessions will I need?
At BodyTonic Cleveland, for the best results, we typically recommend at least 3 or 4 sessions for both MOXI and CoolPeel – although you can usually expect visible results after just one session. But your exact plan should always be tailored to you and your unique needs, and personalized as part of your initial consultation.
As it’s so gentle, MOXI is ideal for regular use – it’s known as one of the best “prejuvenation” lasers, to keep your skin looking its best long term.
Is laser skin resurfacing safe for darker skin tones?
Yes – thanks to modern technology, there are now resurfacing options that are safe for all skin tones. The main risk in darker skin comes from older, more aggressive ablative lasers, which can trigger post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation during healing.
Gentler non-ablative treatments like MOXI, and more controlled, less-aggressive ablative treatments like CoolPeel, are designed to deliver results with minimal damage to the skin, making them suitable for every skin type.
Rejuvenate Your Skin at BodyTonic Cleveland
Laser skin resurfacing is one of the most effective ways to keep your skin looking fresh, radiant, and youthful – whether you’re addressing sun damage, early signs of aging, deeper wrinkles, acne scarring, or skin laxity.
At BodyTonic Med Spa Cleveland, we offer MOXI and CoolPeel CO2 lasers, plus BBL Hero and a range of other complementary skin rejuvenating treatments – all carefully selected to deliver maximum results with minimal downtime.
Come and see us for a personalized consultation, and find out how laser skin resurfacing could transform your skin, and get your glow back.
