The Erbium Glass laser is a non-ablative fractional laser designed to gradually improve skin quality while preserving its integrity. Unlike ablative lasers, which remove part of the skin to renew the skin surface, the Erbium Glass laser acts directly within the dermis by creating fine zones of thermal coagulation without causing ablation. This technology stimulates the skin’s natural repair mechanisms, promotes the synthesis of new collagen, and progressively improves skin firmness, texture, and density.
In aesthetic medicine, the Erbium Glass laser is particularly indicated when the goal is to improve the early signs of aging, acne scars, enlarged pores, and skin density. Thanks to its non-ablative mode of action, it allows for a rapid return to daily activities and can easily be integrated into a comprehensive skin prevention and rejuvenation strategy.
The Erbium Glass laser belongs to the family of non-ablative fractional lasers. Its wavelength ranges between 1,540 and 1,550 nm, allowing it to pass through the epidermis and deliver its energy directly into the dermis. Unlike resurfacing lasers, its purpose is not to remove the skin, but to create thousands of microscopic, controlled thermal zones that trigger the skin’s natural tissue repair process.
The energy delivered by the laser activates fibroblasts, the cells responsible for the synthesis of collagen, elastin, and many components of the extracellular matrix. This stimulation progressively improves dermal density, skin firmness, and overall skin appearance.
Fractionation is a key element of this technology. Each micro-impact is surrounded by intact tissue, which accelerates skin repair, reduces downtime, and allows large areas to be treated with an excellent safety profile.
The Erbium Glass laser is therefore part of a skin biostimulation approach.
The main benefit of the Erbium Glass laser lies in its ability to sustainably stimulate the skin’s natural repair mechanisms without causing ablation. This characteristic allows skin quality to improve while requiring only a very short recovery time.
The treatment acts simultaneously on several components of skin aging. It progressively improves skin firmness, refines skin texture, reduces enlarged pores, softens certain superficial scars, and diminishes early fine lines. The skin becomes more even, denser, and more radiant.
The Erbium Glass laser also offers an excellent safety and tolerability profile. The after-effects are generally limited to temporary redness and mild swelling, allowing a rapid return to daily activities.
This technology can also be incorporated into skin aging prevention protocols or combined with other aesthetic medicine treatments to achieve an overall improvement in skin quality.
The Erbium Glass laser can be recommended for :
The Erbium Glass laser is primarily indicated for facial treatments, where it helps correct the early signs of skin aging and sustainably improves skin quality without significant social downtime. It is particularly effective on the cheeks, forehead, around the eyes, and around the mouth, where it stimulates skin renewal, leaving the skin smoother, more even, and more radiant.
This technology can also be used on the neck, décolleté, and hands to treat early skin laxity, pigmentation irregularities related to photoaging, and the progressive loss of skin firmness. In certain indications, the Erbium Glass laser is also an effective option for the treatment of superficial scars and stretch marks.
The treatment always begins with a consultation to assess the quality of the skin, the signs of aging, and the patient's expectations. This step makes it possible to determine the number of sessions and the most appropriate treatment settings.
After cleansing the skin, a topical anesthetic cream may be applied depending on the patient's sensitivity and the area being treated. The laser beam is then passed evenly over the treatment area. The energy is delivered as thousands of microscopic thermal impacts that stimulate the fibroblasts without removing the epidermis. The session usually lasts between 20 and 45 minutes, depending on the size of the treated area.
During the treatment, a sensation of warmth or tingling is commonly experienced. This sensation is generally mild and disappears quickly.
At the end of the session, a soothing cream is applied. It is recommended to moisturize the skin regularly, use a high-SPF sunscreen every day, and avoid significant sources of heat (sauna, steam room, very hot baths) for a few days. Exfoliating products, topical retinoids, and irritating cosmetics should be discontinued for 3 weeks.
Sun exposure is possible one month after the session.
The Erbium Glass laser treatment is performed as a protocol consisting of several sessions.
Depending on the indication, 3 to 5 sessions, spaced 3 to 6 weeks apart, are recommended to achieve optimal stimulation of collagen production.
Thereafter, maintenance sessions may be recommended, most often once a year, to preserve the results obtained and slow down the effects of skin aging.
The after-effects of the Erbium Glass laser are generally mild and involve minimal downtime. Redness similar to a mild sunburn appears immediately after the session and usually subsides within 24 to 72 hours. Mild swelling may also occur, particularly in areas where the skin is thin.
Unlike ablative lasers, the Erbium Glass laser preserves the surface of the skin and does not cause significant peeling. This characteristic allows for a rapid recovery and an immediate return to social and professional activities.
During the following months, the dermal regeneration process continues invisibly.
The Erbium Glass laser has an excellent safety and tolerability profile when the treatment is performed correctly.
The most common side effects are redness, a sensation of warmth, mild swelling, or skin sensitivity. These reactions are expected and usually resolve within a few hours to a few days.
In rare cases, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation may occur, particularly following early sun exposure or in certain skin phototypes. Infections, scarring, and persistent pigmentary changes are exceptional when medical recommendations are followed and the treatment is performed by an experienced physician.
The results of an Erbium Glass laser session are not immediate. The first effects gradually appear over the 3 to 4 months following the treatment, as the stimulated fibroblasts produce new collagen and elastin fibers.
Dermal remodeling then continues for 3 to 6 months after the final session, allowing for a progressive improvement in skin quality.
The following results can be observed :
The price of an Erbium Glass laser treatment in Geneva ranges from CHF 250 to CHF 800 and depends on the area being treated, the duration of the session, and the personalized treatment protocol established during the consultation.
A detailed quotation is provided after the clinical examination.
The number of sessions is determined during the consultation according to the quality of the skin and the indication.
Although their names are similar, these two technologies are based on very different principles. The Erbium (Er:YAG) laser is an ablative laser that precisely removes a thin layer of skin to perform skin resurfacing. In contrast, the Erbium Glass laser is a non-ablative fractional laser that stimulates collagen production without removing the epidermis. The choice between these two treatments depends on the indication, the desired recovery time, and the aesthetic goals.
The Erbium Glass laser is generally well tolerated. A sensation of warmth or tingling may be experienced during the session, but it remains mild and disappears quickly after the treatment. A topical anesthetic cream may be applied when necessary.
The skin often appears more radiant a few days after the session. The benefits related to the stimulation of collagen synthesis gradually become visible over the following weeks and continue to improve over several months.
Yes. Daily activities can generally be resumed immediately after the session. Mild redness may persist for one to three days, but it is usually compatible with normal professional activities.
Yes. It is frequently incorporated into a comprehensive treatment plan combining Skinboosters, hyaluronic acid injections, botulinum toxin, radiofrequency, or regenerative medicine treatments to simultaneously improve skin quality, volume, and the signs of aging. These treatments are not performed on the same day.
