ResurFX Skin Resurfacing
Non-ablative fractional skin resurfacing for lines, texture and tone
- Treatment time
- 20 to 30 minutes for a full face
- Anaesthetic
- Topical numbing cream
- Downtime
- Redness and swelling for 1 to 3 days
- Sessions
- Typically 3 to 5, around 4 weeks apart
- Results
- Build over 3 to 6 months as collagen remodels
What is ResurFX skin resurfacing?
Skin loses quality gradually. Fine lines appear, the surface roughens, pores look larger, old acne scars stay put and everything reads slightly less smooth than it did. The underlying problem is collagen: production slows from the mid-twenties and what remains becomes disorganised. Fractional resurfacing exists to restart that process.
ResurFX is a fractional fibre laser working at 1565 nanometres. Fractional means it does not treat the whole surface at once. Instead it delivers hundreds of microscopic columns of heat into the skin per square centimetre, leaving healthy untreated tissue in between. Each column triggers a controlled wound-healing response, and the surrounding intact skin acts as a reservoir of healthy cells that drives rapid repair. Treat a fraction of the skin at a time and you get the biological response of resurfacing without the recovery of resurfacing everything.
It is also non-ablative, which is the second half of the story. Where an ablative laser removes the surface layers entirely, ResurFX passes through the surface and deposits its energy beneath it, leaving the outer skin intact. Nothing is removed, so there is no open wound, no weeping and no lengthy healing. What you get instead is a controlled heat injury deep enough to stimulate new collagen while the surface stays sealed.
The scanner delivers its microbeams non-sequentially rather than in a straight line, so heat does not accumulate in one spot, and the treatment tip cools the skin on contact. In practice, one pass is enough, and a full face takes around twenty to thirty minutes.
Because the work is rebuilding rather than removing, results appear gradually. Skin looks fresher within a week or two, but the meaningful change in texture and firmness accumulates over three to six months as new collagen matures, and builds across a course of sessions.
Why patients choose ResurFX Skin Resurfacing
- Softens fine lines and improves overall skin texture
- Reduces the appearance of acne scarring and other scars
- Refines enlarged pores and evens out skin tone
- Stimulates the skin to build fresh collagen
- Leaves the skin surface intact, so recovery is short
- Only one pass required, keeping treatment times brief
ResurFX suits people who want a genuine improvement in skin texture, fine lines, pores or scarring but cannot commit to the recovery that ablative resurfacing involves. Because it is non-ablative it is generally a better fit for a wider range of skin tones than surface-removing lasers, and it is a good option for treating scarring on the body as well as the face. Where the concern is deeper or more advanced, ablative laser resurfacing will deliver more in fewer sessions, and your practitioner will say so.
What to expect from ResurFX Skin Resurfacing
- Step 1
Consultation and assessment
Your practitioner assesses your skin type and concern, reviews your medical history including any tendency to cold sores or pigment change, and agrees the settings, the area and the number of sessions likely to be needed.
- Step 2
Treatment
A topical numbing cream is applied and left to work for around half an hour. The handpiece is then passed over the skin, delivering microscopic columns of heat beneath the surface while the cooled contact tip protects it. One pass is enough, and a full face takes around 20 to 30 minutes. Most people describe a hot prickling sensation that eases quickly.
- Step 3
Recovery and results
The skin is red, warm and mildly swollen for one to three days, rather like sunburn, and may feel slightly rough or sandpapery for a few days after that as the surface turns over. Freshness appears within a week or two, and the real change in texture and firmness builds over three to six months and across the course.
For the first 24 to 48 hours the skin will be red, warm and a little swollen, much like moderate sunburn, and the swelling is often most noticeable on the morning after treatment. Use cool compresses if it feels hot, and keep your routine to a gentle cleanser, a plain moisturiser and nothing else. Avoid make-up for 24 hours. Over the following days the surface may feel rough or sandpapery and can bronze slightly before flaking gently; let that shed on its own and do not exfoliate, scrub or pick at it. Leave retinoids, vitamin C, acids and any other active ingredients out of your routine for around a week, and avoid saunas, steam rooms, hot baths, swimming pools and strenuous exercise for 48 hours. Sun protection matters enormously here: use a high-factor broad-spectrum SPF every day and avoid direct sun and sunbeds for at least four weeks before and after each session, as freshly treated skin pigments very easily. If you are prone to cold sores, tell your practitioner beforehand so preventative treatment can be arranged. Contact the clinic if you develop blistering, crusting, spreading redness or unusual pain.
Frequently asked questions about ResurFX Skin Resurfacing
What does non-ablative fractional mean?
Fractional means the laser treats microscopic columns of skin at a time rather than the whole surface, leaving untreated tissue in between to speed healing. Non-ablative means it passes through the surface layer and deposits its energy beneath it rather than removing the surface. Together they give you a genuine collagen-building response with a short recovery.
How is this different from laser skin resurfacing?
Laser skin resurfacing with UltraClear is ablative: it removes the damaged outer layers of skin, which delivers more in fewer sessions but involves more recovery. ResurFX leaves the surface intact and works underneath it, so each session does less but you are back to normal within days. Which is right depends on your concern, your skin and how much downtime you can accommodate, and your practitioner will talk you through the trade-off.
Does it hurt?
A topical numbing cream is applied beforehand, and the treatment tip cools the skin as it works. Most people describe a hot prickling or stinging sensation during treatment that eases quickly once each pass is finished, followed by a warm sunburnt feeling for a few hours.
How much downtime is there?
Expect redness and mild swelling for one to three days, with the swelling often most obvious the morning after. The skin may then feel rough or slightly sandpapery for a few days as the surface turns over. Most people are comfortable wearing make-up and going about normal life after 24 to 48 hours.
How many sessions will I need?
Typically three to five, spaced around four weeks apart, though this depends on your concern. Textural refinement and fine lines often respond in fewer sessions than established acne scarring, which usually needs a longer course. Your practitioner will set out a realistic plan at consultation.
When will I see results?
Your skin will look fresher within a week or two of each session, but the substantive change is slower. New collagen takes months to form and mature, so texture and firmness continue improving for three to six months after your final session. This is a treatment that rewards patience.
Can it treat scars on the body?
Yes. Because it is non-ablative and does not create an open wound, it is used on areas beyond the face, including scarring and stretch marks. Body skin heals more slowly than facial skin, so more sessions are often needed and expectations should be set accordingly.
How much does ResurFX fractional laser treatment cost?
Pricing depends on the number of sessions agreed for you and is confirmed in writing at your consultation, with no obligation to proceed.
Considering ResurFX Skin Resurfacing?
Book a consultation with our specialist team to discuss whether this treatment is right for you.
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