Laser treatments can reduce wrinkles, but they don’t erase them completely. Modern CO2 lasers improve facial wrinkles by roughly 45%, and studies show about 80% of patients report a satisfactory reduction in visible wrinkles. The degree of improvement depends on the type of laser used, the depth of your wrinkles, and how many sessions you undergo.
How Lasers Reduce Wrinkles
Lasers work by delivering heat into the deeper layers of your skin, which triggers two things. First, the heat damages old, stiff collagen fibers on purpose. Second, your body responds to that controlled damage by producing fresh collagen and elastin as part of its natural wound-healing process. This new collagen fills in the skin from below, making the surface smoother and firmer over the following weeks and months.
Non-ablative lasers do this without breaking the skin’s surface. They pass through the outer layer and heat only the tissue underneath. Ablative lasers are more aggressive: they vaporize thin columns of skin, removing damaged tissue while simultaneously triggering deeper remodeling. Because ablative lasers do more damage, they produce more dramatic results, but the tradeoff is a longer, harder recovery.
Ablative vs. Non-Ablative Results
Ablative lasers, particularly CO2 lasers, remain the strongest option for wrinkle reduction. They work best on fine wrinkles, especially around the eyes and mouth. Deeper creases and folds are improved but not completely removed. In clinical use, a modern CO2 laser delivers around a 45% improvement in facial wrinkles. Erbium lasers are a slightly gentler ablative option with about one week of recovery compared to up to two weeks for CO2.
Non-ablative lasers are the milder choice. They minimize the appearance of finer wrinkles and produce a more moderate response overall. One study found 72% of volunteers had some improvement, with an average wrinkle reduction of 40%, and 80% reported they were satisfied with the results. The catch is that non-ablative treatments require multiple sessions, typically four to six, spaced about three weeks apart, to achieve even moderate effects. Some research suggests non-ablative wrinkle improvement is limited enough that these lasers are now used more often for acne scarring than for wrinkles.
What Lasers Can and Cannot Fix
Fine lines respond best. The shallow creases around your eyes (crow’s feet) and the vertical lines above your upper lip are the classic targets for laser resurfacing, and they see the most noticeable improvement. These wrinkles sit in the upper layers of skin where laser energy is most effective at stimulating new collagen.
Deep wrinkles and folds, like nasolabial lines running from your nose to the corners of your mouth, are a different story. Lasers soften them but rarely eliminate them. These creases are caused by repeated muscle movement and volume loss beneath the skin, problems that collagen remodeling alone can’t fully address. For deep wrinkles, dermatologists often combine laser treatments with fillers or other procedures.
What Recovery Looks Like
Immediately after treatment, your skin will be red, sensitive, and feel sunburned. Swelling, itching, and stinging typically last a few days. The treated areas heal in 5 to 21 days depending on the laser type and intensity. Fractional and erbium lasers generally require about one week of downtime, while full CO2 resurfacing can take up to two weeks before the skin has healed enough to resume normal activities.
Redness lingers much longer than most people expect. The pink or red tone in treated areas typically fades over two to three months, but it can persist for six months to a full year in some cases. During this period, the skin is actively remodeling underneath, so final results aren’t visible right away. Most patients see continued improvement for several months after the procedure as new collagen builds up.
How Long Results Last
On average, results from laser skin resurfacing last 3 to 5 years. You can extend that timeline with consistent sun protection, which alone can add up to 2 extra years. Sun exposure is the single biggest factor that undoes your results, because UV radiation breaks down the same collagen fibers that the laser stimulated your body to produce.
Regular use of antioxidant-containing skincare, staying hydrated, eating a balanced diet, and exercising all support ongoing collagen production. Exercise in particular stimulates growth hormone, which helps your body keep making collagen. Chronic stress works in the opposite direction: cortisol accelerates skin aging and can speed the return of lines and dullness.
Skin Tone and Safety Considerations
Darker skin tones face a higher risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, where the treated areas develop patches that are darker than the surrounding skin. This risk is present with both ablative and non-ablative lasers, though ablative treatments carry more risk because they cause greater tissue disruption. If you have medium to dark skin, a dermatologist experienced in treating deeper skin tones can select laser settings and types that minimize this risk.
Certain medications also affect laser safety. Photosensitizing drugs and supplements, including St. John’s Wort, can increase the chance of an adverse skin reaction. St. John’s Wort should be stopped at least four weeks before treatment. If you’re taking any medication that increases sun sensitivity, your provider will likely want to do a test patch first and wait several weeks before proceeding with a full treatment.
Setting Realistic Expectations
Lasers are one of the most effective non-surgical tools for wrinkle reduction, but they don’t turn back the clock entirely. A 40 to 45% improvement in wrinkle appearance is a realistic benchmark for a single ablative session. Fine lines around the eyes and mouth respond most noticeably. Deep creases improve but remain visible. Non-ablative options offer a gentler path with less downtime, but the results are more subtle and require multiple treatments to achieve. The best outcomes come from matching the laser type to the severity of your wrinkles and committing to sun protection afterward to preserve what the treatment accomplished.