LaseMD Ultra in Outremont: what laser skin resurfacing does and who it suits

Laser skin resurfacing covers a wide range of devices, from ones that need two weeks of recovery to ones you can fit around a work week. LaseMD Ultra sits at the gentle end of that range. This guide explains how it works, what it is used for, what recovery looks like day by day, and how to tell whether it suits your skin.

What LaseMD Ultra is

LaseMD Ultra is a fractional, non-ablative laser that works at a wavelength of 1927 nanometres. Fractional means the beam is split into a grid of microscopic points, so only a fraction of the skin is treated in each pass and the skin between the points stays intact. Non-ablative means the surface of the skin is heated but not removed.

Each point creates a tiny column of controlled heat in the upper layers of the skin. Over the following days the skin sheds those treated cells and replaces them with new ones. The intact skin around each point is what keeps recovery short. At Clinique Medix, LaseMD Ultra skin resurfacing is offered for four areas: a small area, the neck, the full face, and the face and neck together.

What it treats, and what it does not

This wavelength acts mainly on the surface layers, so it is used for concerns that live there: sun spots and uneven tone, a dull or rough texture, fine surface lines, and the general look of sun-exposed skin on the face, neck and chest.

It is not a treatment for deep folds, loose skin or lost volume. It does not relax the muscles that create expression lines. Those concerns belong to other lines on the clinic's menu, and they are often discussed in the same evaluation.

Melasma deserves a separate word. It is a chronic form of pigmentation that tends to return, and heat can aggravate it in some people. A laser may be part of a plan for melasma, but only after a medical assessment and usually alongside skin care and strict sun protection.

Who is a good candidate

Good candidates want a gradual improvement in tone and texture and can protect their skin from the sun before and after each session.

The treatment is usually postponed if you are tanned or recently sunburned, if you have an active skin infection or cold sore in the area, if you are pregnant, or if you have recently taken isotretinoin. Skin that pigments easily can be treated, with adjusted settings and more caution, which is one reason the settings are chosen after an assessment and not from a chart. A history of cold sores should be mentioned, since preventive medication is sometimes prescribed.

At Clinique Medix every plan starts with an evaluation by Dr. Andrew Gyopar, physician, before any treatment is offered.

What a session is like

A numbing cream is usually applied first and left on for a while. The laser pass itself is short, often 15 to 30 minutes depending on the area. Most people describe warmth and a prickling feeling that builds toward the end of the pass.

Right after, the skin is pink and feels hot, much like a sunburn. A soothing product and sunscreen are applied before you leave. You can go home on your own, and most people return to normal activities the next day.

Recovery, day by day

Day one: redness and warmth, which usually ease within hours and sometimes last into the next day.

Days two to four: the skin feels dry and rough, a little like fine sandpaper. It may look slightly bronzed as pigment rises to the surface. Makeup is generally fine once the heat has settled.

Days five to seven: the roughness sheds on its own. Let it. Scrubbing or picking is the main way people irritate their skin at this stage.

Throughout: a gentle cleanser, a plain moisturizer and broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning. Retinoids, exfoliating acids, saunas and hot yoga wait about a week, or as long as you are advised. Swelling that increases, blisters, or pain after the first day are not expected and are a reason to call the clinic.

How many sessions, and why autumn is a good time

Results build over a series. A common plan is three sessions spaced about four weeks apart, then an occasional maintenance session. Some concerns need fewer, some more, and the plan is revisited as your skin responds. No laser stops new sun damage, so sunscreen remains the long-term part of the treatment.

Timing matters. Treated skin is more sensitive to ultraviolet light for several weeks, and a tan raises the risk of unwanted pigmentation. In Montreal, late autumn and winter are the easiest months to stay out of strong sun, which is why many people start a series now.

Questions to ask at your evaluation

Is my pigmentation the kind that responds to this laser? What settings suit my skin tone? How many sessions do you expect, and how far apart? What should I stop using beforehand, and for how long?

Clinique Medix is at 1220 Bernard Avenue in Outremont. To start, request an evaluation and the clinic will call you back.

FAQ

What is LaseMD Ultra?

A fractional, non-ablative laser working at 1927 nanometres. It treats a grid of microscopic points in the upper layers of the skin and leaves the skin between them intact, which keeps recovery short.

What does LaseMD Ultra treat?

Surface concerns: sun spots, uneven tone, dull or rough texture and fine surface lines. It does not treat deep folds, loose skin or lost volume.

How long is the recovery after LaseMD Ultra?

About a week. Redness and warmth on day one, then dry, rough skin that sheds on its own between days five and seven. Most people return to normal activities the next day.

How many LaseMD Ultra sessions are needed?

A common plan is three sessions about four weeks apart, then occasional maintenance. The number depends on the concern and on how your skin responds.

Why is autumn a good time for laser skin resurfacing?

Treated skin is more sensitive to ultraviolet light for several weeks, and a tan raises the risk of unwanted pigmentation. Late autumn and winter make sun avoidance easier.