How We Keep You Comfortable and Safe During Laser Procedures

At our clinic, your comfort and safety are our top priorities. Laser treatments can be life-changing — improving everything from persistent redness and broken capillaries to acne scars, pigmentation, and signs of aging — but we understand they can also feel a little daunting at first.

Whether you’re visiting for a vascular laser like the Candela Vbeam, a CO2 resurfacing procedure, or another advanced energy-based treatment, we’ve designed every step of the process to keep you as calm, comfortable, and safe as possible.

Creating a Calm Environment

From the moment you step into our treatment room, we want you to feel relaxed and well cared for. You’ll be invited to lie down comfortably on a treatment bed, with pillows, blankets, and a quiet, private space designed to help you feel at ease. For many patients, this moment of stillness is a welcome pause in a busy day.

We also offer comfort aids such as a soft therapy bear or stress ball, which many patients find grounding and reassuring — especially during their first treatment.

Numbing and Anesthesia Options

To minimise discomfort during your procedure, we offer several effective options — tailored to the type of laser being used and the treatment area.

1. Topical Numbing Cream

For most laser treatments, such as Vbeam, Nd:YAG, or Clear + Brilliant, we apply a topical numbing cream to the treatment area approximately 45–60 minutes before your session. This helps significantly reduce the sensation of the laser, which is often described as a quick snap (like a rubber band flick) against the skin. While it doesn’t create complete numbness, it makes the experience much more tolerable.

2. Local Anaesthetic Injections

For deeper or more intense procedures, such as fractional CO₂ laser resurfacing, we may also use local anaesthetic injections. These provide profound numbing for more invasive treatments, especially when we’re treating areas like deeper acne scarring, eyelid skin, or around the mouth.

3. Inhaled Nitrous Oxide (Happy Gas)

We also offer inhaled nitrous oxide (commonly known as “happy gas”) for patients who feel nervous or are undergoing longer or more sensitive procedures. This safe, fast-acting option helps relieve anxiety and discomfort without the need for sedation, and it wears off quickly, so you can return to your normal routine shortly after the treatment.

Ongoing Cooling and Distraction Techniques

During your procedure, we use several techniques to make you feel more comfortable in the moment:

• Cooling: We apply cold air, cryogen spray, or cooling devices before, during, and after laser pulses to reduce heat buildup on the skin and ease discomfort.

• Distraction techniques: Light tapping on the skin with fingers or using gentle pressure during treatment can help distract your nerves and reduce perceived pain.

• Communication: We keep you informed throughout the session so you know exactly what to expect — no surprises, no confusion, just step-by-step care.

Eye Protection: Tailored to the Laser and Location

Laser light can be intense, so we take strict precautions to protect your eyes during every treatment.

• For facial lasers like Vbeam or IPL, we use metal eye shields that rest comfortably over your closed eyes to block the bright flashes of light.

• For treatments around the eyelids or upper face using ablative lasers (such as CO₂ laser blepharoplasty), we use internal eye shields (made from surgical-grade stainless steel or plastic) inserted after topical anesthetic and lubricating drops. This allows us to treat the delicate skin safely while fully protecting your vision.

Aftercare and Recovery

Comfort doesn’t stop when the laser turns off. We’ll provide you with clear aftercare instructions, soothing balms or recovery masks, and recommendations for cooling, sun protection, and skin care at home.

In some cases — particularly after fractional CO₂ treatments — you’ll be given oral analgesics, cold packs, and skin repair creams to ease any temporary swelling, warmth, or tightness in the hours or days that follow.

We also check in with you after your treatment to ensure your skin is healing well and that you’re feeling supported at every stage.

Every Patient is Unique

No two people experience discomfort the same way, and that’s why we tailor every laser treatment plan — and every comfort strategy — to you. If you’re feeling nervous, please let us know. We can adjust your numbing time, offer nitrous oxide, or simply take things more slowly so you feel more in control.

We believe that effective treatment and genuine care go hand in hand. When you’re comfortable, relaxed, and informed, your skin responds better — and so do you.