Laser Skin Treatments

Westlake Dermatology's Houston location provides a multi-platform laser menu including VBeam pulsed dye laser for vascular concerns and redness, UltraClear for fractional skin resurfacing and texture improvement, and Fraxel laser resurfacing for photodamage, scarring, and deep wrinkles. VBeam targets oxyhemoglobin in superficial vessels, treating rosacea, telangiectasia, spider veins, port wine stains, and angiomas with no external incision. UltraClear uses a non-ablative fractional approach for skin quality improvement with low downtime. Fraxel Repair and Restore provide ablative and non-ablative resurfacing options for patients seeking more significant improvement.

Laser and light-based treatments at Westlake Dermatology West University Houston are delivered through a clinical-grade multi-device platform offering precise, physician-performed treatments for a wide range of vascular, pigmentation, textural, and resurfacing indications. The VBeam pulsed dye laser (PDL) operates at a wavelength of 595 nm, which is selectively absorbed by oxyhemoglobin in the superficial dermal vasculature. The laser's energy causes photothermolysis of the targeted blood vessels — the vessel wall absorbs the thermal energy and collapses — while surrounding tissue is protected by the device's dynamic cooling system, which sprays cryogen onto the skin surface immediately before each pulse. VBeam is the gold-standard laser treatment for rosacea flushing and persistent erythema, facial telangiectasia and spider veins, port wine stains, cherry angiomas, poikiloderma of Civatte on the neck and chest, hypertrophic and red surgical scars, and keloids. Most patients tolerate VBeam well with only a sensation of brief warmth and mild post-treatment flushing; purpura (visible bruising from vessel coagulation) may occur with higher fluences and resolves over seven to ten days. The UltraClear 2,910 nm erbium laser provides non-ablative fractional resurfacing that balances meaningful epidermal and dermal remodelling with a low downtime profile compared to fully ablative systems. By targeting water in the skin's tissue at a wavelength that is highly absorbed, UltraClear delivers fractional columns of thermal coagulation into the dermis, stimulating new collagen synthesis while leaving surrounding tissue intact to support rapid healing. Treatment results in improvement of skin texture, mild laxity, fine lines, and irregular pigmentation over a series of sessions, with two to three days of redness and mild swelling per session. Fraxel laser resurfacing is offered in both non-ablative (Restore, 1550 nm and 1927 nm) and ablative (Repair, 10,600 nm CO2) formulations for patients requiring more significant resurfacing intervention — addressing deep wrinkles, significant photodamage, surgical and acne scars, and more pronounced textural irregularity. All laser treatments are performed or supervised by the clinic's board-certified dermatologists.