Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing in NYC
The right fractional laser, in the right hands. All procedures performed by a board-certified dermatologist.
Why Choose Fractional Laser Resurfacing
The most versatile rejuvenation tool in cosmetic dermatology.
Fractional laser resurfacing isn't one treatment — it's a category of treatments. The technology works by sending precise columns of laser energy through the top layer of skin into the dermis, where new collagen and elastin actually live. The skin in between those columns stays intact and acts as a healing reservoir, which is what gives "fractional" its name and what makes recovery dramatically faster than the old fully ablative resurfacing of the 1990s.
What separates results at our office from results at a typical NYC med spa is a combination of two things. First, every fractional laser treatment here is performed personally by Arash Akhavan, MD, FAAD — a board-certified dermatologist — never delegated to a nurse, physician's assistant, or aesthetician. Second, our practice runs three different fractional laser platforms (non-ablative, picosecond, and ablative CO2), which means we can match the device to your skin type, your concern, and your downtime tolerance instead of trying to make one machine work for everyone. Very few offices in Manhattan offer both of those advantages.
Medically reviewed by Arash Akhavan, MD, FAAD | Board-Certified Dermatologist | Founder, The Dermatology and Laser Group, New York City | Faculty, Mount Sinai Department of Dermatology
Last Medically Reviewed: May 3, 2026
As Featured In:
Over 300 media appearances as a national expert in cosmetic dermatology and body contouring.
What's Actually Happening Under Your Skin
Picture your face under a microscope. The fractional laser fires thousands of microscopic columns of energy — each one narrower than a human hair — straight down through the surface and into the dermis. Each column creates a tiny controlled wound called a microthermal treatment zone (MTZ). Around every MTZ, the skin stays intact, untouched, healthy. That untouched skin is what does the heavy lifting during recovery: it migrates inward, repopulates the wounded zones, and triggers your body's wound-healing cascade — fibroblasts wake up, new collagen and elastin get laid down, and old, damaged, sun-discolored cells are pushed out and replaced.
This is why fractional resurfacing actually remodels skin instead of just exfoliating it. A chemical peel removes the surface. Microneedling makes channels but doesn't deliver energy. Fractional lasers do something neither of those can: they reach the dermal layer where wrinkles are formed, where acne scars are anchored, and where pigment lives — and they tell your body to rebuild that layer from scratch.
"I tell patients on day one: fractional resurfacing is one of the few cosmetic treatments where you can actually see your skin getting younger. You're not masking the problem. You're rebuilding the layer underneath where the problem started." — Arash Akhavan, MD
Dr. Akhavan has been performing laser resurfacing on Manhattan patients for nearly two decades and has been recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for 13 consecutive years, named a Top Doctor by New York Magazine, and listed as a Super Doctor in The New York Times. He serves on the faculty of the Mount Sinai Department of Dermatology and is a frequently cited cosmetic-dermatology expert in national media.
The Three-Laser Approach That Sets Our Office Apart
No two faces should be treated with the same setting on the same machine.
The single most common mistake in laser dermatology is fitting the patient to the laser instead of fitting the laser to the patient. Most NYC offices invest in one fractional platform and use it for everyone — light skin, dark skin, mild sun damage, deep acne scars, melasma. That's not how skin biology works.
Our practice runs three distinct fractional laser platforms so Arash Akhavan, MD can choose precisely the right tool for what you actually need:
- Non-ablative fractional resurfacing — for tone, texture, fine lines, mild-to-moderate sun damage, and shallow acne scars, in patients who want results without aggressive recovery. (See our non-ablative fractional workhorse for the device-specific deep dive.)
- Picosecond fractional resurfacing — for pigment-dominant concerns, melasma-prone patients, and patients with medium-to-deeper Fitzpatrick skin types where photothermal lasers carry higher pigmentation risk. (See our picosecond fractional option.)
- Ablative fractional CO2 resurfacing — for deeper wrinkles, more advanced photoaging, severe acne scars, and patients who want maximum remodeling in fewer sessions and accept a real recovery week. (See our deepest ablative resurfacing treatment.)
You don't need to know which one is right for you before your consultation. That's our job.
"Patients sometimes ask me why we don't just use the strongest laser on everyone. The honest answer is that the strongest laser isn't the best laser — the right laser is. Matching device, depth, and density to the actual skin in front of me is where the artistry happens." — Arash Akhavan, MD, FAAD
Every laser pass at our office is performed personally by a board-certified dermatologist — never delegated to a nurse, a physician's assistant, or an aesthetician. This is non-negotiable. Energy-based devices in untrained hands cause the burns, hyperpigmentation, and demarcation lines we end up correcting for patients who got their first laser somewhere else.
What Fractional Laser Resurfacing Treats
Fractional laser resurfacing is one of the most versatile tools in cosmetic dermatology because the treatment depth, density, and wavelength can all be dialed in. The same broad category of technology that softens fine lines on a 35-year-old can rebuild scarred, sun-damaged skin on a 60-year-old — when the right device and parameters are selected.
Indications fractional laser resurfacing addresses well:
- Fine lines and wrinkles — particularly around the eyes, mouth, and forehead, by stimulating new dermal collagen.
- Acne scars — including rolling, boxcar, and shallow ice-pick scars. Deeper, more advanced acne scarring is typically referred to our ablative platform.
- Sun damage and photoaging — uneven tone, leathery texture, and the cumulative damage of decades of UV exposure.
- Hyperpigmentation and brown spots — age spots, freckling, and post-inflammatory pigment from old breakouts.
- Melasma — only with a carefully selected picosecond device; many traditional fractional lasers worsen melasma and should not be used.
- Enlarged pores — by remodeling the surrounding collagen scaffold that lets pores stretch.
- Dull, rough, or thickened texture — the "I don't look glowy anymore" complaint, which is almost always a dermal collagen issue.
- Surgical and traumatic scars — including older, hypertrophic, and depressed scars on the face.
Treatment areas commonly addressed at our office: face, neck, décolletage (chest), and the backs of the hands. Other areas — including stretch marks on the body and surgical scars elsewhere — may be appropriate; we'll review during consultation.
You are likely not a candidate if you are pregnant, if you've taken oral isotretinoin (Accutane) within the past 3 months, if you have an active herpes simplex outbreak in the treatment area, if you have an active bacterial or fungal skin infection at the treatment site, or if you have certain photosensitizing conditions. We screen every patient for these during consultation. Honest "you're not a candidate right now" advice — and a clear plan for what to do instead — is part of how we work.
Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing Before & After
Laser Skin Resurfacing Cost in NYC
The cost of fractional laser skin resurfacing at The Dermatology and Laser Group in New York City starts at $1,350 for a single full-face treatment, with significant discounts available for multi-session packages and combination treatments. Final pricing depends on three things: which of our three laser devices is the right match for your skin and concerns, the size and number of treatment areas (face, neck, décolletage, hands), and whether you choose a single session or a discounted multi-session package.
Because every patient receives a different device-and-protocol combination, we don't quote a one-size-fits-all price online. What we can commit to is full transparency at the consultation: Dr. Akhavan personally evaluates your skin, recommends the appropriate device and number of sessions, and you receive a written, itemized quote before you book anything. There are no hidden add-ons and no upselling — that's part of how a dermatology-led practice operates differently from a corporate med spa.
What drives cost up or down:
- Device choice: Ablative CO2 sessions cost more per treatment than non-ablative or picosecond sessions, but typically require fewer of them.
- Treatment area size: Spot treatment of a single scar costs significantly less than a full-face treatment.
- Multi-area combinations: Patients who treat face + neck + décolletage in the same session receive package pricing.
- Series vs. single session: Most non-ablative and picosecond protocols require 3–5 sessions for optimal results; package pricing applies.
Feel free to reach out to us ahead of your visit for an estimated quote.
Patient Testimonials and Reviews
Choosing the Right Laser for Your Skin
A clinical, side-by-side look at the three fractional platforms used at our office.
The right device for fractional resurfacing depends on your Fitzpatrick skin type, the depth of your concern, and how much downtime you can budget. The chart below summarizes the practical differences between the three fractional platforms used at The Dermatology and Laser Group. This is informational, not a substitute for an in-person consultation — final device selection always happens after Dr. Akhavan evaluates your skin in person.
| Device | Type | Best Suited For | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| ResurFx | Non-ablative | Mild to moderate wrinkles Scars, acne scars Stretch marks |
1–3 days |
| PicoWay Resolve | Picosecond | Melasma Mild wrinkles Texture and tone |
Hours |
| AcuPulse CO2 | Ablative CO2 | Moderate to severe wrinkles Acne scars, scars Tightening |
7–10 days |
Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing FAQs
Fractional laser skin resurfacing is a category of laser treatment that delivers thousands of microscopic columns of energy into the skin while leaving the surrounding tissue intact. Each column triggers a controlled wound-healing response in the dermis — the layer where collagen and elastin live — which leads to new collagen production, smoother texture, more even tone, and a reduction in fine lines, scars, and sun damage. Because only a fraction of the skin is treated at a time, recovery is dramatically faster than the older fully ablative resurfacing techniques used in the 1990s.
For the right patient and the right concern, yes — fractional laser resurfacing is one of the few cosmetic treatments that produces measurable, biopsy-confirmed remodeling of the dermal layer rather than surface-level cosmetic improvement. Most patients see noticeable improvement in tone, texture, fine lines, and pigmentation within 4 to 6 weeks of treatment, with continued improvement for 3 to 6 months as new collagen matures. The treatment is worth it when the device is correctly matched to the skin and concern, when expectations are realistic, and when the laser is performed by a board-certified dermatologist who can dial in the parameters safely.
At The Dermatology and Laser Group in NYC, fractional laser skin resurfacing starts at $1,350 for a single full-face treatment. Final pricing varies based on which of the three fractional laser devices is selected, the size and number of treatment areas, and whether you book a single session or a discounted multi-session package. Citywide, fractional resurfacing in Manhattan typically ranges from roughly $800 per session for small-area non-ablative treatments at low-volume offices up to $5,000 or more per session for large-area ablative CO2 resurfacing at expert dermatology practices.
It depends on the device and the concern. Non-ablative and picosecond fractional protocols typically require 3 to 5 sessions spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart for optimal results. Ablative CO2 fractional resurfacing typically requires 1 to 2 sessions because each session does substantially more work and triggers a deeper remodeling response. During consultation, Dr. Akhavan will give you a specific session count and interval based on the device chosen and the depth of your concern.
The new collagen produced by fractional laser resurfacing is permanent — it doesn't go away. What does continue is normal aging: ongoing UV exposure, gravity, and the natural slowdown of collagen production over time. Most patients enjoy the primary results of a fractional laser series for over 1 year before considering a maintenance touch-up, and patients who follow a strict daily SPF routine, use medical-grade topicals, and avoid excessive sun exposure tend to extend that window meaningfully.
Discomfort during fractional laser resurfacing is well-controlled at our office. We apply a prescription-strength topical numbing cream for 30 to 45 minutes before treatment, and most patients describe the sensation during treatment as a warm, mild prickling or a series of quick pinpricks. Ablative CO2 sessions produce more sensation than non-ablative or picosecond sessions and may include additional comfort measures. After treatment, the skin typically feels like a mild-to-moderate sunburn for the rest of the day, which over-the-counter analgesics manage easily.
Recovery depends entirely on which fractional device is used. Picosecond fractional sessions (lowest-downtime option) typically produce only mild redness and swelling for a few hours to one day. Non-ablative fractional sessions cause more visible redness and a sandpaper feel for 1 to 3 days, with most patients returning to normal social activities within 2 to 4 days. Ablative CO2 fractional resurfacing has the most significant recovery — 7 to 10 days of redness, mild swelling, peeling, and crusting — but produces the most dramatic results in a single session.
Yes — but only with the correct device. Traditional non-ablative and ablative photothermal fractional lasers carry meaningful risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in patients with Fitzpatrick IV through VI skin. Our office uses a picosecond fractional platform that delivers energy through a photoacoustic rather than photothermal mechanism, which dramatically lowers pigmentation risk and makes resurfacing-style results safely achievable for medium and darker skin tones. Device selection is determined by Dr. Akhavan after evaluating your Fitzpatrick type and clinical history.
Melasma is one of the most challenging pigmentation conditions in dermatology, and most fractional lasers either do nothing for it or actively make it worse by triggering rebound pigmentation. A correctly chosen picosecond fractional device is one of the few laser-based options with a track record of improving melasma without flaring it. Successful melasma treatment also requires a strict topical regimen, daily SPF, and management of hormonal triggers — laser alone is rarely a complete solution. Dr. Akhavan reviews every melasma patient's history before recommending any laser-based approach.
All three treatments aim to improve tone and texture, but they work differently and produce different results. Chemical peels exfoliate the surface using acids and reach a limited depth — best for superficial concerns. Microneedling creates thousands of tiny mechanical channels in the skin, which triggers some collagen response but does not deliver thermal or pigment-targeting energy. Fractional laser resurfacing uses precise columns of laser energy to reach specific depths in the dermis — the layer where wrinkles, scars, and pigment actually live — and produces the most significant remodeling response of the three. For many patients, the right answer is a combination: fractional resurfacing for the deeper work, with peels or microneedling as maintenance between sessions.
Steps from Park Avenue — A Private Manhattan Laser Suite
The Dermatology and Laser Group is located at 110 East 60th Street, Suite 606, in the heart of Manhattan's Upper East Side, just steps from Park Avenue and a short walk from Central Park South, Lenox Hill, Sutton Place, and Midtown East. The office is intentionally designed to feel more like a private dermatology suite than a clinical center — discreet, quiet, and built for the kind of patient who expects their cosmetic care to match the standard of the rest of their life. Manhattan, Hamptons, and visiting international patients regularly fly into NYC specifically to have their fractional laser resurfacing performed by Arash Akhavan, MD personally — and our team coordinates consultation, treatment, and recovery scheduling around your travel.
