Laser Therapy
How Laser Treatment Is Chosen Here
Laser therapy covers three distinct technologies in this practice, and they're not interchangeable — each is matched to what a patient's skin is actually showing, not offered as a default add-on to a surgical visit. Dr. Doshi's broader approach to skin and facial rejuvenation has moved away from layering on products and treatments and toward doing less, more precisely: identifying the one or two things actually driving how a face reads as tired or aged, and addressing those directly rather than treating everything at once. The same thinking applies to choosing between the three options below.
Fractional CO2
Fractional CO2 is the most aggressive of the three and is generally reserved for deeper concerns — fine lines, more pronounced sun damage, and textural scarring, including some acne scarring. Because it creates controlled micro-injury in the skin to stimulate new collagen, it comes with real downtime: redness and peeling for several days to a couple of weeks, depending on the depth of treatment. It's generally not recommended for patients with deeper skin tones without careful pre-treatment planning, given the risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation changes.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
IPL is not technically a laser — it uses broad-spectrum light rather than a single wavelength — and it's used here for surface-level concerns: sun spots, redness, and uneven pigmentation. Downtime is minimal, typically some temporary redness or darkening of treated spots that fades within a week. It's a maintenance-type treatment more than a one-time fix, and most patients need a short series rather than a single session to see a meaningful change.
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal targets the hair follicle directly and requires multiple sessions spaced several weeks apart, since it only affects hair that's in an active growth phase at the time of treatment. Results vary by hair color, skin tone, and area treated, which is why this is assessed individually rather than quoted as a fixed number of sessions before an in-person evaluation.
Where Laser Treatment Fits With Surgery
Laser therapy is sometimes used to refine a scar after surgery — including scar revision cases and scars from a previous hair transplant elsewhere — and sometimes stands alone as a non-surgical option for patients who aren't ready for or don't need surgery. Which path makes sense depends on what's actually being treated, which is why this is discussed as part of a regular consultation rather than sold as a package.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between fractional CO2 and IPL?
Fractional CO2 treats deeper concerns like fine lines and textural scarring using controlled micro-injury, with real downtime. IPL treats surface-level pigmentation and redness with broad-spectrum light and minimal downtime.
How much downtime does fractional CO2 require?
Typically several days to a couple of weeks of redness and peeling, depending on the depth of treatment, which is discussed during consultation.
Is laser treatment safe for darker skin tones?
It depends on the treatment and the specific skin tone. Fractional CO2 requires careful planning in deeper skin tones due to pigmentation risk; this is assessed individually before any treatment is scheduled.
How many laser hair removal sessions are needed?
It varies by hair color, skin tone, and the area being treated, since treatment only affects hair in an active growth phase at the time of each session. A specific number is given after an in-person evaluation.
Can laser treatment be used on surgical scars?
Yes, laser therapy is sometimes used alongside or after scar revision to further refine appearance, depending on the scar.
Do I need to be a surgical patient to get laser treatment?
No. Laser therapy is available as a standalone non-surgical option; a consultation determines which of the three technologies, if any, fits what you're looking to address.