Erbium laser skin resurfacing is an ablative treatment. The laser removes the outer layers of skin in a precise pattern. The healing that follows replaces them with new surface cells and fresh collagen underneath.
The mechanism comes down to water. An Erbium YAG laser emits light at 2,940 nanometers, a wavelength water absorbs very strongly. Skin cells are mostly water, so the energy gets used up in a thin layer right at the surface instead of spreading heat into the tissue around it. Each pass removes a measured depth. That control is what lets us keep a treatment shallow for tone and texture, or go deeper for acne scars and lines that have etched in.
Less spread heat is also why Erbium usually heals faster than a traditional CO2 laser. The trade off is real: CO2 heats more tissue and tends to tighten more. For spots, texture, and fine lines, many patients don’t need that extra heat or the longer recovery that comes with it.
A session takes 45 to 90 minutes, depending on the area.
Results depend on treatment depth, your skin, and how you heal, so we talk about what Erbium may do, not what it will do. For the right patient, it may:
You’re likely a good candidate if one of those is your main concern, your face isn’t tanned right now, and you can give your skin the better part of a week to heal. In South Florida that last part takes planning, because newly resurfaced skin needs strict sun protection while it recovers.
We won’t book resurfacing if any of these apply right now:
Tell us if you get cold sores at all, even rarely. Resurfacing can set off a flare, and a preventive antiviral is often prescribed before treatment.
A darker skin type or melasma doesn’t rule you out, but it changes the plan. If you have a darker skin type or a history of severe melasma, you may need to use medical grade skincare for 6 weeks before your appointment. This lowers the chance of dark patches as you heal.
Erbium isn’t always the best tool for the job. If your concern is color, such as redness, broken capillaries, or sun spots, and your texture is fine, IPL Laser Skin Rejuvenation treats it with less healing time, though it takes a series. If loose or crepey skin bothers you more than the surface, radiofrequency microneedling with PiXel8 works deeper, with 1 to 3 days of redness. And if you’re already coming in for microneedling, Erbium can be added to that visit for the face.
It starts with a consultation. We review your medical history, look closely at your skin, and decide on depth before anything is scheduled. If you need the 6 week skincare prep, you’ll leave with it.
On the day, you’ll wear protective eyewear, and we apply topical numbing before the laser work begins.
Afterward, expect your skin to be red and swollen for the first 24 to 48 hours. Deeper passes can leave pinpoint bleeding. Over the next several days the treated skin crusts or flakes as the new layer comes through, and it needs to come off on its own. Less common problems include infection, a cold sore flare, and darkening of the skin in darker skin types. Lasting lightening of the skin and scarring are rare.
You go home with written aftercare, sun protection instructions, and a follow up visit on the calendar.
Most concerns take 1 to 3 sessions. Acne scarring usually sits at the higher end.
Individual results vary with skin type, skin condition, age, and how closely aftercare is followed.
Your treatment is planned and performed by licensed medical providers led by Rachel Polazzi, CRNA, who owns the practice. Depth is set from your skin exam and history, never a preset.
The same team offers microneedling, PRP, and injectables in this office, so resurfacing can be timed around your other treatments instead of clashing with them. And if your consultation shows you’d get more from IPL or microneedling, we’ll say so.
We’re in Suite 101 of the Gregory Building at 2323 NE 26th Ave in Pompano Beach. Patients come to us for resurfacing from Fort Lauderdale, Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Coral Springs, and elsewhere in Broward County. Bring a wide brimmed hat for the ride home, because your skin will be red and sun sensitive when you leave.
How much downtime should I plan for after Erbium resurfacing?
Plan on 3 to 7 days. Your skin will be red and swollen for the first day or two, then it flakes as the new layer comes through. Deeper treatments sit at the longer end of that range, so book it ahead of a week without big events.
Does Erbium laser resurfacing hurt?
We apply topical numbing before we start. Most clients describe the sensation as mild and well tolerated.
How many Erbium sessions will I need?
Most concerns take 1 to 3 sessions. Acne scarring usually needs more than fine lines or uneven tone. We set the number at your consultation, after we’ve seen your skin.
Can I have Erbium resurfacing if I have darker skin or melasma?
Often, yes, with preparation. If you have a darker skin type or a history of severe melasma, you may need to use medical grade skincare for 6 weeks before treatment. We decide that at your consultation.
Is an Erbium laser the same as a CO2 laser?
No. Both resurface the skin, but Erbium energy is absorbed in a thinner layer at the surface, so it spreads less heat and usually heals faster. A CO2 laser heats more tissue and tends to tighten more, with a longer recovery.
How much does Erbium laser resurfacing cost?
Price depends on the area and depth, so we quote it at your consultation. Adding the neck and décolletage costs extra. If you’re booking microneedling, Erbium can be added to that visit for $800, face only.
Where is The Sandbar Beauty Company located, and do you serve clients outside of Pompano Beach?
The Sandbar Beauty Company is located in Pompano Beach, FL. We are not a mobile service and do not have satellite offices in other cities, all treatments are performed at our Pompano Beach location. That said, we welcome clients from across the surrounding Broward County area who are willing to make the short drive for the quality of care, expertise, and results we provide. We regularly see clients traveling in from:
Margate, Tamarac, Boca Raton, Lauderhill, Oakland Park, Wilton Manors, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hillsboro Beach, Sandalfoot Cove, Lauderdale Lakes, Lighthouse Point, North Lauderdale, Sea Ranch Lakes, Bay Colony, North Andrews Gardens, Coral Ridge Country Club, Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Silverlakes, and Miramar.
If you’re located in one of these areas, the trip to Pompano Beach is a short one, and many of our clients tell us it’s well worth it.
Pick a time online under the Laser menu, item “Erbium Laser Skin Resurfacing,” or call or text 954.440.6400. Still deciding between lasers? Book under “Consults” and we’ll look at your skin together.
2323 NE 26th Ave, Suite 101, Pompano Beach, FL 33062 · rtp@thesandbarbeautycompany.com
