This page describes how we plan
Here you will find the logic of choosing and combining technologies and what we take into account at the assessment. It does not replace the descriptions of individual treatments.
Looking for a particular problem? Go to pigmentation, redness and thread veins, scars or hair removal. Combined therapy is not the right answer for everyone; for some patients one well-chosen treatment is enough.
On this page
Why laser therapies are combined
Laser therapies differ in how they work, in the depth at which they act and in the range of indications. The approach is planned differently for pigmentation, differently for redness, for enlarged thread veins, post-acne scars, uneven texture or signs of photoageing. In many cases the skin does not have one isolated problem.
Different technologies act on different structures: some on pigment, others on vessels, on the surface of the skin, on scars or on its general quality. Combining means using several of them to a plan, so that each answers a particular element of the problem.
Not every skin needs a more intense treatment. More often what settles it is a precise choice of method, the order of procedures and aftercare. Sometimes it is safer to start with one procedure, prepare the skin or put the therapy off.
What we take into account at the assessment
Planning begins with a consultation. An aesthetic medicine doctor or a cosmetologist, depending on the kind of procedure, assesses the skin and discusses the possible approach. Only on that basis are the technologies, settings and intervals between treatments chosen.
The state of the skin
The current condition, phototype, sensitivity and tendency to pigmentation.
Type of lesions
Vascular and pigmented changes, scars, enlarged pores, uneven texture.
History of treatments
Earlier procedures and how the skin reacted to them, including healing and post-inflammatory pigmentation.
Medicines and cosmetics
Medicines taken, retinoids, acids and photosensitising preparations.
Lifestyle
Exposure to the sun, the season and the real ability to follow the recommendations after a treatment.
Contraindications
Absolute and temporary ones, ruling the treatment out or putting it off.
The aim of the therapy
What is to change and what scope of improvement is realistic with the given indications.
A problem visible today as pigmentation or redness may have a more complex basis than the change on the surface alone. That is why in planning it matters not only what the patient wants to reduce, but also why the change appeared and whether the skin is ready for a particular procedure. In some cases the first stage is calming the skin and rebuilding the hydrolipid barrier.
An example staged plan
Below is a plan for skin with photoageing and pigmentation. It is a guide: it shows a way of thinking about the order, not a ready scheme to repeat.
Months 1 and 2
Reduction of superficial pigmentation
Picosecond laser and IPL
Month 3
Stimulating collagen and elastin, improving texture
Erbium glass laser 1550 nm and CO2 laser
Month 4
Stimulating collagen and improving the facial contour
Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser and microneedling RF
Month 5
Smoothing the texture
Er:YAG laser 2940 nm or thulium 1940 nm
Ongoing
Maintaining the results
Photorejuvenation every 6 months
Why this is not a plan for everyone
The order and kind of procedures is decided by an aesthetic medicine doctor or a cosmetologist after assessing the skin and ruling out contraindications. The plan is sometimes modified after each stage, because the skin's response is individual. If the skin needs longer to regenerate, the following procedures are moved back.
Once a course is finished, top-up treatments, in-clinic care or supporting therapy are considered: Laser photorejuvenation, mesotherapy, platelet-rich plasma, biostimulators, exosomes or microneedling radiofrequency. The choice depends on the current condition of the skin.
Indications
Combined therapy is considered with complex problems covering several kinds of change at once.
When a staged plan is worth considering
When several kinds of change occur at once, for example pigmentation together with redness and a loss of firmness.
When single treatments have not brought the improvement expected.
When the skin needs an orderly, staged approach rather than one stronger procedure.
This does not mean combined therapy suits everyone. The decision is preceded by a consultation, an assessment of the skin and a discussion of contraindications.
Suitability is decided not by age but by the current state of the skin, the phototype, the kind of changes, earlier treatments, the medicines taken and the ability to follow the recommendations after a treatment. Therapy is planned differently for skin with melasma, differently for couperose skin, and differently again for skin with post-acne scars.
Our range of lasers and the chromophores
The ability to combine follows from what we have: at the clinic we work with twelve technologies, covering ablative, non-ablative, vascular, pigment and picosecond lasers and light filtered in two bands. Below they are grouped by chromophore, that is the structure that absorbs the energy, because it is the chromophore that settles what a given wavelength is suited to.
Water
Contained in every cell. The target of lasers that rebuild the surface and structure of the skin.
10 600 nm
CO2 laser
Resurfacing and remodelling, making post-acne scars shallower, reducing hypertrophic scars.
2940 nm
Er:YAG laser
The peak of absorption by water: the most precise ablation and the shortest healing. Fractional microablation for scars and wrinkles, laser peel, removal of benign skin lesions.
1940 nm
Thulium laser
Non-ablative remodelling of collagen and reduction of pigmentation.
1550 nm
Erbium glass laser
Biostimulation and smoothing of wrinkles, working under an intact epidermis.
10 600 and 1550 nm
A hybrid platform, emission into one point
Both wavelengths in the same point of skin, simultaneously or in sequence, with an adjustable proportion between ablation and coagulation. Scars, resurfacing, wrinkles. The treatment is carried out by a doctor.
Melanin
The pigment of the epidermis, the hair and pigmentation. The target in hair removal and in work on pigment.
1064 and 532 nm
Picosecond laser
Photoacoustic breaking up of pigment, pigmentation, melasma, dyes and tattoos.
530 to 750 nm
IPL, pigment applicator
Sun-related pigmentation, photorejuvenation and inflammatory acne lesions.
810 and 940 nm
Diode laser
Hair reduction at two wavelengths, across a wide range of phototypes.
755 nm
Alexandrite laser
Hair removal for lighter and finer hair on fair skin.
694 nm
Ruby laser
Removal of dyes and tattoos, including colours difficult for other ranges.
Haemoglobin
The pigment of the blood in vessels. The target with redness and vascular changes.
1064 nm
Nd:YAG laser, all pulse durations
From picoseconds to tens of milliseconds. Closing vessels lying deeper, revitalisation and lifting in the micropulse technique, hair removal for darker phototypes, dyes and tattoos.
532 nm
Laser KTP
Reducing redness and shallow vascular changes, epidermal pigmentation and red tattoo dyes. It is produced by doubling the frequency of the 1064 nm wavelength.
555 to 950 nm
IPL, vascular applicator
Redness, telangiectasia and superficial vascular changes. The band also covers vessels lying deeper.
Lasers are not the answer to every problem. Each treatment is assessed by the person carrying it out, and with some indications the right approach is a referral to a dermatologist or deciding against the treatment.
Where the names „thulium” and „erbium glass” come from
They are simplifications established in practice. In the platform we work with, the source of radiation is a diode module, so the wavelengths are shifted relative to classic solid-state lasers doped with thulium or erbium. The action on the tissue stays the same, which is why we keep the names in common use and give the wavelengths actually emitted by our devices.
The bands of the IPL applicators are given after the platform manufacturer's specification; the clinic's source gave them only as trade designations. We do not give the trade names of devices, because the regulations limit advertising of medical devices addressed to the public.
Hair removal carried out using several technologies
The same logic applies to laser hair removal. Hair differs in thickness, colour and density, and skin in phototype, sensitivity and how it reacts afterwards. One area may respond well to a particular technology, while another needs a different approach.
Different settings work on the bikini line, different ones on the underarms, and different ones again on the legs or the face. It happens that the strategy has to be adjusted during a course, which may mean changing the laser within a cycle or package that has already begun. For hair reduction we use the diode laser, the alexandrite and the Nd:YAG.
Being able to change technology during a course matters in practice: it allows us to respond to how the skin and hair react, rather than running the therapy to one scheme to the end of a package.
Skincare between treatments
How the skin looks over the following days and weeks depends largely on what is done after the treatment. In staged therapy this counts twice over: home care prepares the skin for the next stage.
1
Sun protection
An SPF 50 plus cream every day, no strong sun and no sunbeds. The foundation of the whole therapy, not an addition to it.
2
Calming care
No exfoliants, sonic brushes, acids or retinol. Instead, regenerating preparations that support the rebuilding of the hydrolipid barrier.
3
Coming back to active ingredients
Antioxidants, vitamin C and peptides come back gradually, once the skin has calmed. The person leading the therapy sets the order.
4
Preparing for the next stage
Skin without irritation responds more evenly to the next treatment. If it needs more time, the next stage is moved back.
Once the skin has calmed, care supporting its quality can gradually be introduced: antioxidants, vitamin C, peptides. Consistent care at home helps the result last longer and shortens the preparation for the next stage.
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Responsible for the content
NL Clinic, Katowice
How the content is created
Last updated
14 August 2026
This material is informational in nature and does not replace a consultation or qualification.
The questions we are asked most often
Is melasma a good indication for laser therapy?
It can be, but not in everyone and rarely as a solution on its own. Melasma is usually chronic and recurrent, which is why lasers are considered as part of a combined therapy, especially in cases resistant to topical treatment. Recurrences are common if the triggering factors persist: exposure to the sun and hormonal factors. With melasma we reach for the picosecond laser.
How long is recovery after laser therapy?
Usually 1 to 7 days, depending on the kind of treatment, the area, the settings and the individual response of the skin. With fractional lasers flaking, redness and swelling may appear, and they settle on their own within a few days. After gentler procedures redness or a feeling of tightness lasts a short time.
Can laser therapies be carried out in summer?
Some of them can, especially non-ablative lasers. The condition is consistent sun protection with SPF 50 plus, and with areas not exposed to the sun the limits are smaller. We carry out laser hair removal all year round.
Can laser therapies be combined with other treatments?
Yes, after an assessment. We combine lasers with mesotherapy, platelet-rich plasma, medical peels and biostimulators. Some combinations require an interval of time, which the person leading the therapy decides on.
How long do the results of laser treatments last?
The changes achieved in the tissue last, but the ageing of the skin goes on, and with some indications, for example melasma, recurrences are possible. To maintain the results we usually suggest a top-up treatment every 6 to 12 months.
Do lasers damage the skin?
The energy acts selectively, in the places where the chromophore occurs, such as melanin, haemoglobin or water. With ablative lasers the epidermis is deliberately broken and rebuilds over the following days; with non-ablative ones it stays closed. A risk of complications exists, and it is reduced by a proper assessment, the choice of settings and following the recommendations.
How should I prepare for a laser treatment?
Stop retinol, acids and photosensitising medicines 7 days before the treatment. The skin should be clean, untanned, without active inflammation. Alcohol and the sauna are not advised before the treatment.
Can I go back to work after the treatment?
Usually yes. Most laser therapies require no recovery time, and the skin can be slightly red or feel tight. After ablative procedures, however, it is worth planning a few quieter days, because flaking and swelling are more visible then.
Does a darker skin phototype rule out laser treatments?
No, but it calls for a more careful assessment, the right choice of wavelength, settings and aftercare. In people with phototypes III to VI, post-inflammatory pigmentation is seen more often, which is why we work conservatively, carry out a laser test more often and approach ablative procedures more cautiously. In hair removal for darker phototypes the 1064 nm range matters particularly.
Can a laser treatment be done on tanned skin?
Only with selected technologies and after assessing the skin. The settings are chosen so as to limit the risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation and of overheating the skin. A fresh, deep tan puts the treatment off.
How often are laser treatments repeated?
Usually every 3 to 6 weeks, depending on the kind of therapy. A course usually covers 3 to 5 treatments, after which a maintenance treatment once or twice a year is considered.
Can anyone have laser therapy?
No. The contraindications include pregnancy, breastfeeding, autoimmune conditions, skin infections, taking photosensitising medicines and an active tan. We go through the full list at the consultation.
Does a laser help with acne?
Selected technologies limit the activity of the sebaceous glands and act against inflammation, which can support the treatment of acne lesions. Acne remains, however, a condition led by a dermatologist, and laser therapy is an accompanying approach, not a substitute for treatment.
Can a treatment be done during a course of acids or retinol?
No. Retinoids and strong exfoliating acids should be stopped at least 7 to 10 days before the treatment, to avoid the skin becoming oversensitive.
Can a laser treatment be done on the whole body?
Yes. Lasers are used on the face, neck and décolletage, and also on the body: arms, back, abdomen, thighs and hands. The choice of technology depends on the problem and on the thickness of the skin in a given area.
What changes can be expected after a course of treatments?
Depending on the indications and the skin's response: smoothing of wrinkles, a reduction of pigmentation and redness, shallower scars, better firmness and a more even tone. The scope of improvement is individual and we assess it after the whole course, not after the first treatment.
Can the treatment be combined with fake tan or spray tanning?
No. These products may disturb how the skin absorbs the energy. It is advised to wait at least 10 days after using them.
Are laser therapies carried out for men?
Yes. Most often with post-acne scars, redness and in reducing hair on the torso and back. The assessment is the same: what counts is the kind of changes, the phototype and the history of healing.
Does a tendency to keloids or post-inflammatory pigmentation rule out therapy?
It does not always rule it out, but it changes how the assessment is made. With a tendency to keloids, to poorer healing or to post-inflammatory pigmentation, the technology and settings are chosen more carefully, and sometimes we decide against the treatment. The history of healing after earlier injuries, burns, inflammation and aesthetic treatments matters.
The content is for information. It does not replace a consultation, an examination or an individual assessment.