Four devices. The one that suits your skin.
No single laser does everything, and any practice telling you otherwise owns one machine. Two of ours treat every skin type; one is limited to lighter ones and we’ll say so before you book. What you need depends on your concern and your Fitzpatrick type — in that order.
Two questions, in this order.
First: what is the concern — something you can see, something you can feel, or hair? Second: what is your skin type? The second question rules devices in and out before the first one gets a say.
On skin type: Lumecca is an IPL, and IPL is not appropriate for Fitzpatrick V or VI — the light can’t distinguish a brown spot from brown skin, and the risk of burns and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is too high to accept. That is precisely why we own the Aerolase pair. The Neo and the Era treat pigment, acne and texture across all six Fitzpatrick types, so nobody gets told we can’t help them.
Before you book
- Which laser do I need?
- If the concern is something you can see but not feel — redness, brown spots, acne — start with the Neo or Lumecca. If you can feel it, scarring or rough texture, the Era is likely part of the plan, though rarely as the first step. For unwanted hair, it is laser hair removal, planned as a series.
- What’s the difference between the Neo and the Era?
- The Neo is a 1064 nm Nd:YAG that treats color and inflammation without touching or numbing the skin, and without downtime. The Era is a 2940 nm erbium laser that resurfaces the skin’s surface to treat texture and scarring, and does involve recovery time.
- Is IPL suitable for darker skin tones?
- No. Lumecca is appropriate for Fitzpatrick I through IV. IPL targets contrast between the lesion and the surrounding skin, so in Fitzpatrick V and VI it cannot reliably tell a brown spot from brown skin, which risks burns and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. In those skin types we use the Aerolase Neo and Era instead, which treat pigment, acne and texture across all six types. We assess your skin type before booking, not on the day.
- What is IPL best at?
- Reds and brown spots — broken capillaries, diffuse flushing, freckling and sun damage — across larger areas like the face, chest and hands. Denver earns you more sun damage than most places: at altitude, UV exposure is meaningfully higher than at sea level, and a summer of it usually shows up on the chest first.
- How much downtime should I plan for?
- The Neo is designed around having none — some warmth and flushing for an hour or so, and you can wear makeup the same day. IPL typically darkens brown spots for a few days before they flake away. The Era resurfaces, so plan for several days of redness, swelling and peeling. We’ll tell you what to expect for your settings before you book.
- How many treatments will I need?
- The Neo is nearly always a series — commonly four to six, spaced two to four weeks apart, with maintenance after. IPL is often three to four sessions for sun damage. Hair removal is a longer series timed to the growth cycle. Resurfacing is usually fewer sessions spaced further apart. Results vary with the concern, your skin and how consistent the home routine is.
- Can these be combined with other treatments?
- Yes, and they usually are. The Neo sits alongside microneedling, peels and biostimulators in most of our protocols, and the Era is often paired with TCA CROSS on individual scars. What goes in which order matters more than which devices are on the list.
Denver’s RiNo, five minutes from most of it.
We’re on North Downing between Five Points and City Park, with free street parking outside the door. Virtual consults are free if you’d rather start there.
Skin! Medical Aesthetics
Neighborhoods we see patients from
RiNo · Five Points · Curtis Park · Cole · Whittier · City Park · City Park West · Park Hill · Uptown · Ballpark · LoDo · Downtown Denver · Highland · Berkeley · Congress Park · Cherry Creek · Baker · Washington Park · Central Park · Globeville, and across the Denver metro.
Booking
Laser plans start with an assessment of your skin type and what’s driving the concern — treating pigment without identifying its cause is how pigment comes straight back.
Book a skin consultStart with the skin, not the device.
Which laser you need depends on what’s actually driving the concern and how your skin behaves. We’ll look first and plan second.