Vancouver skin tone, texture and colour treatments (in Surrey) with lasers and more

The ‘ouch factor’ of facial laser treatments can be mild or strong. It depends on a lot of specifics.

For example, we can perform laser peels, which can feel milder than a chemical peel. With hyperpigmentation lasers like the Fraxel® DUAL, we can use different settings that work deeply, or more shallowly in the skin. This can affect how much you’ll feel the treatment. And, when it comes to ‘the big one’ – the Fractional CO2 laser – you may even be given anaesthetic to relieve pain during the procedure.

The other thing to note is that everyone’s pain tolerance is different. Some people barely twitch with laser treatments for hyperpigmentation and rosacea. Others have a harder time with the slightest ‘pinch’ or ‘poke’ on their face.

So, while not all laser treatments are painful, we would say that you should expect some amount of pain when seeking these solutions for skin discolouration.

That said, if lasers are not your ‘thing,’ we have other options that may work for you.

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It is rare to experience serious side effects when treating skin tone issues. However, a lot of this (and we mean, a lot) depends on the practitioner doing the procedure.

Lasers can burn the skin, or cause more damage, if they are used inappropriately. Some skin tones can be more sensitive to the effects of laser treatments, than others. A professional should be analyzing your skin (preferably using tools like the VISIA® skin analysis), before suggesting laser treatments.

Prescriptions can also be very strong. In many cases, they are not recommended for long-term use. This is why cosmeceutical solutions are available on the market today. They contain effective, but less intense ingredients, which are safer for long-term use.

Finally, when it comes to hyperpigmentation and rosacea, it will be critical that, to avoid side effects from any treatment, you are diligent to wear a high SPF, broad-spectrum sunscreen daily (even indoors, and when it’s cloudy outside). Proper sun protection also means reapplying sunscreen every 2 hours.

Skin tone issues start from UV exposure. So, even if you just don’t want your skin concerns to get worse, you’ll need to adopt a sunscreen regimen.

However, lasers, exfoliating facials and topical products targeting these issues can make your skin extra sensitive to UV light. Therefore, while aiming to treat skin discolouration, it will be ever more important to protect yourself from the sun, tanning beds and other sources of damaging light rays.

If you are looking for specifics about the potential side effects of various treatments we offer, we recommend reading our pages that address the concerns or treatments you are interested in (there are many). They explain more on each topic.

During your consultation with us, you will be told of any potential side effects, so you can decide which treatment path is right for you.

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Cosmetic lasers are not ‘toys’ (obviously). As noted above, they can cause side effects if used inappropriately, or without caution. So, we will not rush to use these tools on you. We will ask you to prepare your skin by using specific products for at least two weeks before any major laser treatment.

You will also need products to help you with aftercare, so you can heal properly from laser treatments.

Plus, in some cases, high-quality cosmeceuticals alone can be enough to clear up mild skin browning or redness. So, why ask you to undergo an expensive, ‘fancy’ procedure for no reason? It’s best to try skin care products first.

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To answer this question, it’s important to note, again, that skin discolouration – whether it is brown or red – often comes from UV exposure, or a genetic predisposition to discolouring. Part of the solution will depend on the lifestyle you adopt before and after treatments at our skin and laser clinic.

For example, we may be able to use a laser that will get rid of your existing brown spots and red patches. But, if you continue to expose your skin to the sun, or fail to avoid rosacea triggers, it is more likely that you’ll develop recurring skin problems.

The other side of this ‘coin’ is that not everyone responds to treatments the same way. For example, with many people, birthmark treatments or redness treatments can be a one-time thing. The problem takes years to come back, if it ever does. But with others, this is not the case. For this reason, treatment results can never be absolutely guaranteed.

And still, some skin discolouration problems are simply not ‘curable’ at all, such as dark under eye circles. They can be reduced. But, it is hard to solve some of these issues forever. We know that they take ongoing treatments, and will tell you so, beforehand.

So, while our technologies and solutions have done wonders for many patients, we would say that the permanency of results can vary a lot.

We can also say, without a doubt, that any high-end, aesthetic technology can only get you so far. To fully treat skin tone or discolouration in the long term, a lot will depend on you, at home. We’ll ask you to use skin care products that can help to keep your condition at bay.