Face · A few days
Erbium laser resurfacing
Ablative resurfacing with a lighter touch and a shorter recovery than CO2.
- Session
- About 30 to 45 minutes with numbing
- Plan
- One session, repeated if needed
- Downtime
- A few days
- Where
- Logan Square
Facts describe a typical plan. Candidacy and expectations are set at consultation.
About the treatment
Erbium laser resurfacing removes the outer layers of skin with less heat than CO2, so recovery is shorter.
Erbium lasers are absorbed by water in the skin more efficiently than CO2, so they remove tissue with less surrounding heat. That means a more precise ablation and a faster recovery, usually a few days of redness and peeling rather than a full week. It also means less collagen remodeling than CO2, which is the trade-off.
Dr. Olivo turns to Erbium when the goal is smoother surface texture, fine lines around the eyes and mouth, or sun-damaged skin, and when a week of downtime is not an option. Treatment can be light or full-field depending on what you need.
Whether Erbium, Opus Plasma, or CO2 is the right tool depends on your skin, your goals, and your schedule. Dr. Olivo sets that at your consultation, along with how deep to treat, how many sessions to plan, and what recovery to expect for your skin type.
- Shorter recovery than CO2
- Fine lines, mild texture, sun damage
- Precise, with less heat to surrounding skin
- Depth adjusted per area
- Single session or a short series
Often chosen for: fine lines and wrinkles, skin texture and scars, sun damage and pigmentation.
What it feels like
Heat and stinging under topical numbing
When people notice change
Smoother texture as the skin peels and settles over the first two weeks
Good candidates
- Adults with fine lines or mild texture who want a shorter recovery
- People with sun damage on the face, neck, or hands
- Anyone cleared at consultation, with skin type reviewed
Individual results vary.
Not sure this is the one?Take the two-minute treatment quiz.
What to expect
- 1
Consultation
A conversation with the clinical team about what you want to change, a candidacy check, and a written plan.
- 2
Treatment
A Erbium laser resurfacing session in the clinic, on the schedule the plan sets.
- 3
Aftercare
Plain-language instructions and a number to call or text.
- 4
Follow-up
A check on the result and what, if anything, comes next.
Often paired with
Skin resurfacing
CO2 fractional laser
The deepest resurfacing in the clinic, for texture, scars, and lines that lighter treatments do not reach.
Learn moreSkin resurfacing
Opus Plasma
Fractional plasma resurfacing for texture, lines, and scars, with recovery measured in days.
Learn moreSkin resurfacing
Opus Colibri
Precision plasma for small areas: eyelids, around the mouth, and other spots a full pass would miss.
Learn more
Erbium laser resurfacing, answered
Erbium or CO2, which do I need?
Erbium for surface texture, fine lines, and sun damage when you need to be back in a few days. CO2 for deeper scars and etched lines when you can take a week. Dr. Olivo makes the call at consultation after looking at your skin.
How long will I be red?
Usually three to five days of redness and peeling, then pinkness that fades over a week or two and covers easily. Deeper passes take a little longer.
What areas can be treated?
The full face is most common. The neck, chest, and hands can be treated with adjusted settings, as can smaller zones like the upper lip or under the eyes.
When can I wear makeup again?
Once the skin has finished peeling and is fully closed, often within a few days to a week. Your written aftercare gives specific timing for your treatment depth.
Ask about Erbium laser resurfacing.
Book online any time, or text us and the team will reply during clinic hours.
Financing available through Cherry. Terms are set by Cherry at application.