NON-SURGICAL FACIAL LASER RESURFACING
Fotona Er:YAG Laser Resurfacing
The Most Precise Ablative Wavelength in Aesthetics
RESURFACING WHERE YOU CHOOSE THE DEPTH — AND THEREFORE CHOOSE THE DOWNTIME.
Ablative resurfacing has always involved a trade: the deeper you go, the better the result and the longer you’re hiding at home. Fotona Er:YAG laser resurfacing at Alpha Medical Aesthetics changes the terms of that trade. Because this wavelength is absorbed so completely by water, it removes tissue with extraordinary precision and leaves behind dramatically less residual heat than CO2 — which means faster healing at every depth, and a genuine ability to dial the treatment to the recovery you can actually afford.
What is Fotona Er:YAG Laser Resurfacing?
Fotona Er:YAG is a 2940 nm laser wavelength, and it has the highest absorption in water of any wavelength used in aesthetic medicine. Since skin is mostly water, essentially all of the energy is consumed in the top few microns of tissue.
Laser resurfacing is one of the most established treatments for aging and sun-damaged skin, according to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.
That has a direct clinical consequence: Er:YAG ablates cleanly and leaves very little residual thermal damage in the tissue underneath. CO2, by comparison, is absorbed far less efficiently and deposits substantially more heat beyond the ablation zone — which is what drives its longer, redder recovery.
Ablation depth with Er:YAG is directly dependent on fluence, which means it is genuinely adjustable. We can take off a whisper or we can take off a meaningful layer, and we can predict what happens either way.
We offer Er:YAG resurfacing in three forms:
- Full-field (full-beam) resurfacing — the entire surface is treated for maximum change
- Fractional resurfacing — narrow-diameter channels are created through the skin, leaving untreated tissue between them for rapid healing
- Patterned resurfacing — a middle path using a patterned handpiece
How Does Fotona Er:YAG Resurfacing Work?
Ablative resurfacing works by controlled removal. The laser vaporizes a precise layer of damaged tissue, and the wound-healing response that follows replaces it with new, organized collagen and a fresh epidermis. Wrinkles soften, scars flatten, pigment clears and texture refines — because the damaged tissue is no longer there.
Fractional Er:YAG applies the same principle in columns. Instead of removing the whole surface, it creates narrow channels through the skin and leaves healthy tissue between them. Those untreated bridges act as reservoirs of intact cells, so healing is far faster — and downtime is a function of channel depth. Fotona’s own downtime testing at a 35 µm ablation depth demonstrates just how controllable this is.
The SMOOTH® mode adds a fourth option: fluences held below the ablation threshold, producing purely thermal tightening with the epidermis left entirely intact and no downtime at all.
Er:YAG’s Variable Square Pulse (VSP) technology gives us the widest available spectrum of precise pulse durations — from micro-short pulses for pure cutting and ablation, through combined ablation-and-thermal settings, to very long pulses that produce deep thermal effects without any ablation at all. In practice, that means one wavelength covers the entire range from a no-downtime glow treatment to serious resurfacing.
Why Choose Fotona Er:YAG Resurfacing at Alpha Medical Aesthetics?
Alpha Medical Aesthetics already offers Ablative CO2 Resurfacing with UltraPulse Alpha and Non-Ablative ResurFX. Adding Er:YAG isn’t redundant — it fills the space between them.
CO2 remains the right tool for the most severe photodamage and the deepest textural change, and we’ll recommend it when it’s warranted. Er:YAG is the better choice when you want real ablative results with meaningfully less thermal injury and a shorter, less red recovery — and for patients whose skin type makes the prolonged erythema of CO2 a real risk.
Dr. Sassan Kaveh selects the wavelength, the modality and the depth after examining your skin — not after checking which machine is available. Having three resurfacing technologies in one practice is only an advantage if someone is genuinely choosing between them, and that’s exactly what happens here.
Every Fotona treatment at our Las Vegas clinic is overseen by Dr. Sassan Kaveh, who completed hands-on manufacturer training on the Fotona® SP Dynamis Max laser system.. See his training and credentials →
Physician-Led Med Spa
Procedure at Alpha Medical Aesthetics are performed under the direction of Dr. Sassan Kaveh, who personally tailors every treatment to your facial anatomy.
Comprehensive Expertise
Innovative Technology
At Alpha Medical Aesthetics, we invest in proven, medical-grade technology so you get real results with as little downtime as possible.
What to Expect During Fotona Er:YAG Resurfacing Treatment
Your Fotona Er:YAG resurfacing treatment experience at Alpha Medical Aesthetics includes:
- Consultation: Dr. Kaveh assesses your photodamage, wrinkle depth, scarring, skin type and — critically — how much recovery time you can realistically take. That last answer shapes the plan.
- Preparation: Topical anesthetic is applied for most treatments. Protective eyewear is worn throughout. Smoke evacuation is used, since ablative procedures generate a plume.
- Treatment: Passes are made across the area with the selected handpiece. Clinical endpoints — a whitish, then yellowish coloring, and eventually pinpoint bleeding at the deepest settings — tell us exactly where we are in the tissue.
- Duration: 30 to 90 minutes, depending on area and modality.
Downtime varies deliberately by depth:
- SMOOTH mode: essentially none
- Light fractional peel: a few days of mild redness and roughness
- Deeper fractional: roughly a week of redness, swelling and flaking
- Full-field resurfacing: approximately 7 to 10 days of visible healing, with pinkness persisting longer
We will tell you honestly which of these you’re signing up for before you book.
The Benefits of Fotona Er:YAG Resurfacing
- Highest water absorption of any aesthetic wavelength — exceptional precision.
- Because Er:YAG energy is absorbed so efficiently by water, it removes tissue with less surrounding heat than CO2, a difference noted in this clinical review of laser facial rejuvenation.
- Far less residual thermal damage than CO2 — faster, less red recovery.
- Ablation depth controlled by fluence — predictable, adjustable results.
- You choose your downtime by choosing your depth.
- Treats wrinkles, sun damage, scars, texture and benign lesions.
- Full-field, fractional, patterned or non-ablative on the same platform.
- Excellent for periocular and perioral areas, where precision matters most.
- Can be combined with fractional and full-field passes in a single session.
Is Fotona Er:YAG Resurfacing Right for You?
Er:YAG resurfacing is a strong option for people who:
- Have fine to moderate wrinkles, particularly around the eyes and mouth.
- Have sun damage, uneven texture or enlarged pores.
- Have acne scars, surgical scars or traumatic scars.
- Want ablative results with less downtime than CO2.
- Want a resurfacing plan calibrated to a specific recovery window.
It may not be suitable for:
- Anyone with an active skin infection, cold sore outbreak or inflammatory lesion in the area.
- Patients with a recent tan or sunburn.
- Anyone who has taken isotretinoin within the past 6–12 months — we’ll want a clear interval.
- Patients with a history of keloid or hypertrophic scarring.
- Patients with darker skin types, who carry a higher risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation — this needs a careful discussion and often a more conservative or non-ablative plan.
- Anyone pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Patients who genuinely cannot accommodate downtime — though we can usually offer SMOOTH mode or a light fractional peel instead.
Important: any suspicious skin lesion must be evaluated before treatment. We do not treat lesions that could be malignant with a cosmetic laser — they require proper diagnosis first.
Before and After Pictures
Before and after laser resurfacing of perioral lines. Photo courtesy of Oksana Naumova, MD, via Fotona. Not an Alpha Medical Aesthetics patient. Individual results vary.
Explore our Before and After gallery at Alpha Medical Aesthetics. See real transformations and the remarkable results achieved with our advanced treatments in Las Vegas.
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Pre-Care Recommendations for Fotona Er:YAG Resurfacing
- Avoid sun exposure and tanning beds for four weeks before treatment; stop self-tanner two weeks prior.
- Stop retinoids, glycolic acid and physical exfoliants for one week.
- If you have any history of cold sores, tell us — antiviral prophylaxis is standard before ablative resurfacing.
- Arrange your recovery time before you book.
- Arrive with clean, makeup-free skin.
- Disclose all medications, supplements and medical conditions — especially any history of isotretinoin use.
Post-Care Recommendations for Fotona Er:YAG Resurfacing
- Follow the written aftercare protocol you’re given precisely. Ablative resurfacing results depend heavily on aftercare.
- Keep the treated area continuously moist with the occlusive ointment provided — do not let it dry out or crust.
- Do not pick, scratch or peel flaking skin. Let it shed on its own.
- Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen daily once cleared to do so, and avoid direct sun for at least four weeks.
- Cleanse gently with the products recommended, and nothing else.
- Avoid saunas, steam, hot tubs and very hot showers until fully healed.
- Avoid strenuous exercise and sweating for the first several days.
- No makeup until we clear you for it.
- Resume retinoids only when advised.
- Contact us immediately if you notice increasing pain, spreading redness, pus or fever.
Fotona Er:YAG Resurfacing Cost in Las Vegas
Fotona Er:YAG laser resurfacing at Alpha Medical Aesthetics is $4,750 per treatment.
Er:YAG resurfacing removes damaged outer layers of skin with precision and stimulates new collagen. It improves fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, uneven texture and scarring. Dr. Kaveh will assess your skin, set the right treatment depth for your goals, and confirm your pricing at your consultation.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and receive a personalized quote.
Ready to Resurface on Your Own Schedule?
Choose the depth, choose the downtime, and get a plan built around the recovery you can actually take. Dr. Kaveh and his medical team will tell you honestly which resurfacing technology — Er:YAG, CO2 or ResurFX — will serve your skin best.
Schedule your consultation today and take the first step toward revitalizing your appearance!
