Laser resurfacing is an expensive scar treatment. The total cost of laser resurfacing may vary widely from $3,000 to $10,000 or more. While laser resurfacing is more expensive than some other scar repair procedures, cost must be weighed against safety and efficacy, and laser treatment is the gold standard in scar treatment.
Laser resurfacing is considered to be a cosmetic procedure, so your health insurance is unlikely to cover the cost. Check your insurance coverage before scheduling a treatment.
The total cost of laser resurfacing depends on the type of laser. The type of laser determines the cost of one treatment session:
- Treatment with an ablative laser is typically more expensive per session compared to a non-ablative laser.
- In other words, a single treatment session with an ablative non-fractional laser should be the most expensive, and a single treatment session with a non-ablative fractional laser should be the cheapest.
- Even in a specific category, like ablative fractional lasers, prices vary widely depending on the specific subtype of laser used. For example, treatment with an Er:YAG fractional laser is generally cheaper than treatment with a CO2 fractional laser, even though both are ablative fractional lasers.
Number of treatments: With all laser types except ablative non-fractional lasers, multiple (4-10) treatments are usually necessary to achieve desired results. Since most doctors charge per treatment, the more treatments, the higher the costs will be.
Size of skin area to be treated: The larger the area of skin that will be treated with laser resurfacing, the higher the price is likely to be. The table below shows the estimated total cost of treating the entire face with different types of lasers.
| Average cost per session (whole face) | Typical number of sessions needed | Average total cost (whole face) | |
| Ablative fractional | $1,250 | 6-10 | $7,500-$12,500 |
- Geographic location of medical facility: Laser resurfacing is more expensive in some cities and countries than in others.
- Physician’s experience: Doctors who have more experience with laser resurfacing may charge a higher fee. With all laser resurfacing, but especially with ablative non-fractional laser treatment, it is important to select a highly experienced doctor for your treatment.
If you decide to undergo laser resurfacing, ask multiple doctors for their price estimates before scheduling a treatment.