Non-Ablative Procedures
What to Know & What to Expect

Procedures Covered in This Guide

Where Is My Procedure?

Dr. Innes performs procedures at three locations. We will have confirmed your specific location verbally at your appointment. If you're unsure, text us before you come.

Before Your Procedure

Stop Active Skincare Products

Discontinue the following 3 days before your procedure:

• Retin-A, Tretinoin, Retinol, Adapalene, and other retinoids
• Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, or any exfoliating AHAs/BHAs
• Vitamin C serums
• Any prescription topical that causes irritation or sensitivity

If you haven't stopped these before the procedure, don't panic — the worst case is slightly more irritation than average.

Avoid Sun Exposure

• Avoid deliberate sun exposure for at least 2 weeks before your appointment
• Arrive without a tan or sunburn — tanned skin is more reactive and may heal unevenly
• Apply SPF 30+ daily in the weeks leading up to your appointment
• If you arrive with a fresh tan or sunburn, we may need to reschedule — for IPL specifically, we will need to reschedule. IPL targets unwanted pigment; a tan means it will also target that pigment and leave stripes

Arrive with Clean Skin

• Come with a freshly washed face — no makeup, lotion, sunscreen, or perfume on the treatment area
• Do not apply any topical products on the morning of your appointment

Cold Sore History

What to Expect: By Procedure

Find your procedure below. Universal post-procedure care that applies to all procedures follows in the next section.

MultiFrax Fractional Laser

Dual-wavelength fractional resurfacing — 1550nm + 1927nm — for sun damage, wrinkles, acne scarring & skin texture

MultiFrax fires two wavelengths simultaneously, each targeting a different depth:

• 1550nm — penetrates deep into the dermis to stimulate collagen remodeling, smooth wrinkles, and improve acne scarring and skin texture
• 1927nm — works at the surface to target pigmentation and sun damage, causing old discolored cells to surface and shed

Together they replace old, tired skin with fresh new tissue by triggering a controlled wound-healing response. This is the same wavelength platform as Fraxel Dual — the recovery experience and results are equivalent.

Plan on 5–7 days of social downtime. The 1927nm wavelength in particular produces a visible darkening and peeling phase that most patients prefer to ride out at home.

Timeframe	What's Happening
Day 1	Hot and tight, like a significant sunburn. Usually subsides within 2–4 hours. Red and possibly swollen. Apply ice packs (10 min on / 10 min off). Sleep with head elevated.
Days 2–3 "Bronze Phase"	Heat resolves; skin feels tight and dry. Redness shifts to a bronzed or darkened tone — this can be quite pronounced. You may see a grid pattern of darkened dots as the 1927nm-targeted pigment surfaces. Normal to wake up puffy, especially around the eyes.
Days 3–5 "Sandpaper Phase"	The most distinct part of recovery. Skin feels rough like fine-grit sandpaper — microscopic crusts (MENDs) shedding from the treated zones. Skin may look dark or "dirty" during this phase. Do NOT scrub, pick, or exfoliate. No washcloths, sonic brushes, or scrubs. This phase is why most patients prefer to stay home for the first week.
Days 5–7 "Fresh Skin Phase"	Roughness sloughs off naturally during gentle cleansing, revealing smooth, pink skin.
Months 1–6	Collagen remodeling continues for up to 6 months. Your best results are still developing.

Microneedling & RF Microneedling

Collagen induction for skin texture, pore size, fine lines & acne scarring

Microneedling and RF Microneedling follow a very similar recovery course to MultiFrax: expect 1–3 days of redness and mild swelling, followed by a few days of tight, slightly rough skin as the micro-channels close and the skin remodels. The post-procedure care instructions in the next section apply equally to these procedures.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

Sun damage, brown spots, rosacea, facial redness & broken capillaries

IPL delivers pulses of broad-spectrum light that target both pigmentation and blood vessels without breaking the skin surface. Recovery is milder than fractional laser — but what you see in the days after depends on which targets were treated.

Timeframe	Pigment Targets (Brown Spots, Sun Damage)	Vascular Targets (Redness, Rosacea, Vessels)
Day 1	Brown spots may immediately appear darker — this is exactly what we want. Skin feels warm and flushed.	Treated vessels and redness may look more prominent or slightly darker. Skin feels warm and flushed.
Days 2–5	Brown spots darken significantly — may look like coffee grounds or dark flakes. This is old pigment being expelled. Do not pick at these.	Redness and vessels may look slightly worse before fading — treated vessels are in the process of closing down. This is normal.
Days 7–14	Pigment flakes off naturally and skin tone begins to even out.	Redness and vessels fade progressively. Some areas resolve faster than others.
Weeks 3–4	Final pigment results fully visible.	Final vascular results fully visible. Multiple sessions often needed for significant rosacea or vessel networks.

Varilite Laser

Broken blood vessels on nose · Venous lake (lip) · Spider veins on face

The Varilite is a targeted vascular laser used to seal unwanted blood vessels. Precise, fast, and minimal recovery — most patients return to normal activities the same day.

Timeframe	What's Happening
Day 1	Treated vessels may look darker purple or bruised — the vessel reacting to the laser. Mild stinging or warmth at treatment sites resolves within hours.
Days 2–14 Fading Phase	Treated vessels gradually turn from purple/red → gray → invisible over 1–2 weeks. Some bruising is normal. Concealer is fine once initial redness settles (24–48 hrs).

Multiple sessions are typically needed for complete clearance. Allow 4–6 weeks between sessions.

Post-Procedure Care: All Procedures

1. Sun Protection — Non-Negotiable

Every procedure in this guide stimulates fresh new skin, removes pigment, or treats blood vessels — leaving skin more vulnerable to UV damage. Sun exposure during recovery can cause hyperpigmentation that takes months to resolve and can undo your results entirely.

• Apply a broad-spectrum physical sunscreen (SPF 30+) every morning — even if you plan to stay indoors. Wide-brimmed hats earn you bonus points.
• Reapply every 2 hours if outdoors
• Seek shade and avoid peak sun hours (10am–4pm) for the first 2 weeks
• Even brief incidental exposure (walking to the car, driving) can cause darkening in freshly treated skin

2. Moisturizing

• Apply a bland, fragrance-free moisturizer at least twice daily
• Apply more frequently if skin feels tight or dry
• Avoid anything with irritating active ingredients for the first 3 days

3. Gentle Cleansing

• Use a gentle, non-soap cleanser: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser or Avène Tolerance Extremely Gentle Cleanser
• Cool or lukewarm water only — hot water increases redness and swelling
• Hands only — no washcloths, scrubs, or sonic devices until fully healed
• Pat dry gently — never rub

4. Products to Avoid During Recovery

These products won't cause dangerous side effects, but during the inflammation phase (roughly the first 3 days) skin is more reactive and these ingredients can cause irritant dermatitis — redness, stinging, or peeling on top of the normal recovery process. Waiting 3 days before reintroducing them is ideal.

• Retin-A, Tretinoin, Retinol, Adapalene, and other retinoids Wait 3 days
• Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, or any exfoliating acids Wait 3 days
• Vitamin C serums Wait 3 days
• Physical exfoliants or scrubs of any kind Until fully healed
• Self-tanner or UV tanning Until fully healed
• Makeup over actively inflamed or peeling skin — for MultiFrax and microneedling, fine starting the next day once redness has settled. For IPL and Varilite, fine as soon as you're comfortable. If skin looks irritated or feels raw, hold off another day.

5. Comfort Measures — Optional but Helpful

These can make the first 24–48 hours significantly more comfortable and are available at our office:

6. It's Normal to Look Worse Before You Look Better

Especially after MultiFrax and IPL, the first week can feel discouraging. Brown spots darken before they shed. Skin looks rough and "dirty" before it reveals fresh skin underneath. This is the process working. Trust it — and reach out if you have concerns.

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When to Contact Us

Most of what you experience after these procedures is expected and normal. Contact us right away if you notice:

• Pain worsening after Day 2 rather than improving
• Signs of a cold sore: tingling, blistering, or clusters of small sores on or near the lips
• Honey-colored crusting, oozing, or green/foul-smelling discharge (signs of infection)
• Fever over 100.4°F
• Blistering after IPL or Varilite
• Any concern that doesn't feel right — when in doubt, text us