Laser Skin Treatment in Harley Street, London
Private Laser Skin Surgery
Laser treatments are often used in cosmetic dermatology for the removal of blemishes such as thread veins and birth marks, as well as to stimulate the skin’s natural repair process to combat wrinkles and sun damage. Our qualified dermatologists provide laser skin surgery from our clinic in the Harley Street area of London.
What is laser skin surgery?
Laser surgery is sometimes used as an alternative to traditional surgery involving scalpels to cut the skin. Lasers can cut and cauterise simultaneously with incredible precision, minimising blood loss and scarring and retaining the maximum amount of healthy tissue around the surgery site.
Dermatologists also use lasers to eliminate specific cells on the skin surface to reveal the smoother, newer skin underneath. Laser light can also be focused deeper within the skin to stimulate cell repair with no apparent visible effects on the surface.
Which conditions can be treated with laser surgery?
Different types of laser treatments are used to treat different types of skin condition, and which one is chosen depends on the action of the laser.
These cosmetic skin conditions can all be treated using laser surgery:
- Scarring in the skin due to acne, stretch marks or injury
- Birthmarks, including port wine stains and cafe au lait birthmarks
- Problems with de-colouration or discolouration – age spots, hyperpigmentation, skin redness and tattoos
- Skin cancer: lasers are combined with a cream or injected drug that kill cancer cells when the laser is used at the tumour site. This is photodynamic therapy (PDT)
- Wrinkles, sagging skin, crow’s feet
- Vascular problems, including leg veins, thread veins, facial redness, angiomas, haemangiomas, venous lakes (blood vessel enlargement on the lips) and telangiectasiae (enlarged blood vessels found anywhere in the skin)
- Acne scarring
- Unwanted excess hair
- Warts, seborrhoeic keratoses
What are the advantages of laser skin surgery?
- Less invasive treatment so shorter recovery time
- Less risk of infection
- Precise control, which protects the surrounding healthy skin
- Smaller, neater incisions mean less scarring
- Faster treatments can often be done as out-patient procedures
What kind of lasers are used?
Two types of laser are used in skin surgery, ablative lasers, which either cut into or vaporise the surface layer of the skin along with any surface blemishes, and non-ablative lasers, which penetrate into the skin without damaging the tissue.
Different lasers use different sources for the laser beam. For example, KTP (potassium titanyl phosphate) lasers are used to treat vascular skin lesions, while Alexandrite lasers are used for hair removal. Laser surgery for skin cancer normally uses a carbon dioxide or erbium YAG laser. Other laser sources include erbium, alexandrite and organic dyes.
Lasers also differ in the way the laser beam is delivered. For example, Q-switched lasers produce very short, intense pulses for as little as 5 nanoseconds. Lasers may also be categorised as single beam or fractional, where the light is split into hundreds of smaller beams to spread the effect more widely within the target tissue.
When you come to our London clinic for laser treatment, whether for medical or cosmetic needs, we will explain which type of laser is to be used, how it works and the effects that it will have on your skin.
Are lasers safe?
In the hands of trained and experienced dermatologists, modern lasers are very safe, have few side effects and allow patients to recover very quickly.
Our dermatologists at The Devonshire Clinic are skilled in selecting the correct laser and the most appropriate laser treatment and technique for your condition to deliver the best results.
Enquire about
Laser Skin Treatment in Harley Street, London
Frequently Asked Questions Laser Treatments
Laser treatment can be life-changing. Lasers are a proven and popular form of treatment for an array of medical and cosmetic skin issues and, like other medical technologies, are subject to strict regulation to ensure they’re as safe as possible.
Lasers are used for skin resurfacing, reducing wrinkles and fine lines, and treating scars, lesions and other signs of ageing. They’re also used to treat acne, facial redness, thread veins, rosacea and remove unwanted hair. However, your consultant dermatologist will explain some risks and side-effects/complications before you agree to go ahead with treatment at The Devonshire Clinic.
Laser skin treatment is delivered in several different ways, depending on the type of laser. Although results may be long-lasting (3-5 years), they aren’t always permanent. You can achieve longer-lasting results if your treatment is delivered by an experienced consultant dermatologist and if, following your treatment, you follow their skincare and lifestyle advice, including preventing sun damage.
Laser treatments target specific areas of your skin with short, concentrated bursts of light. The laser beam heats the underlying skin while destroying the outer layer of the skin. The light energy triggers a response that produces new collagen.
Keeping your skin hydrated and protected after a fractional laser treatment is essential. You’ll need to keep the area clean and protected from the sun by applying a gentle cleanser, non-irritating moisturiser, and sunscreen (SPF 30+ with UVA and UVB protection). For best results, avoid smoking, alcohol consumption, perspiring, excessive exercise, and swimming.
Your consultant dermatologist at The Devonshire Clinic will tell you everything you need to know about caring for your skin after your treatment, and you can usually go back to your normal skincare routine once your skin has fully healed.
Yes, laser skin treatments (using either ablative or non-ablative lasers) help tighten and smooth wrinkled skin. Laser skin treatment to tighten skin is commonly used on the neck, face, stomach, and upper arms. You might need three to five treatments to achieve the best results.
- Laser treatment is an alternative to invasive cosmetic surgery and, as with other skin-tightening treatments, has advantages and disadvantages
- Other skin tightening treatments include radiofrequency, ultrasound, IPL therapy, and chemical peels
- Following an initial in-person consultation, our experienced dermatologists will advise the best treatment to tighten your skin
Read our
Patient Stories
I can’t recommend this clinic highly enough. The treatment I received for my skin cancer was first class
AL, LondonThe team at the Devonshire Clinic were excellent. From booking my appointments to every part of my treatment, I felt that I was in the very best hands.
CH, LondonBefore visiting the clinic I had quite high expectations, but I was blown away by just how brilliant the experience was. I felt like I was the only patient in the clinic. Simply the best medical treatment.
SF, London
