Topic intro
"Laser" and "light" are the words most menus lead with, and they cover devices that do different jobs. A treatment named after a device does not tell you what the device is meant to do, so the first step is to separate the uses from the names. This page sorts the questions we have seen into skin resurfacing and hair removal.
Cleveland Clinic's explainer on laser skin resurfacing, the types of lasers and what to expect is a useful footnote when a menu item uses the word "resurfacing" without saying which laser is involved.
Question list
These are the questions we collected for this topic, in the order we read them.
- Will my insurance cover laser skin resurfacing?
- Can I do laser hair removal at home?
- Is laser hair removal safe?
- Is laser hair removal permanent?
- How does laser hair removal work?
Expert guidance
We have not run these devices ourselves, so we do not state outcomes. The ASPS piece on seven ways to undo sun damage, discoloration and other sins of summer shows where light-based options sit among other choices.
When a provider quotes a laser or light treatment, ask for the device name and what it is intended to treat. Ask what the aftercare involves, and ask how the provider decides whether a device suits your skin. This page sorts device names and gives no medical advice, so answers that depend on your own skin and history belong with a licensed provider.