Smiling woman in protective eyewear with a clinician explaining the laser handpiece

Aftercare

Aug 27, 2026

2 min read

What to expect from your first laser session

What to expect from your first laser session

Patch test, settings, the feeling itself and the week after, from the person who runs the laser room.

Portrait of Lucía Ferrer

Lucía Ferrer

Laser & light

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Iris Calloway

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Your first session starts with a patch test, usually a week before. We use it to choose settings for your skin tone and the time of year.

In short

A patch test comes first, about a week before.

Expect a warm snap and a day or two of redness.

Sun protection is not optional in the week after.

During

Most people describe a warm snap. Cooling takes care of most of it, and sessions are shorter than people expect.

  • Arrive with clean skin and no makeup

  • You wear eye protection throughout

  • We can pause at any point

Eye protection stays on from the first pulse to the last.

Eye protection stays on from the first pulse to the last.

The week after

Expect some redness for a day or two. Pigment can darken before it lifts, which is normal. Sun protection is not optional during this week.

Keep your routine plain until the skin has settled, and leave acids and retinoids for later.

The first session is the cautious one. We learn how your skin answers, and every session after that starts from there.

Lucía Ferrer, laser and light

Settings are logged at each visit, so nothing starts from a default.

Settings are logged at each visit, so nothing starts from a default.

Between sessions

We log the settings from each visit, so your next session starts from what worked rather than from a default. Most plans leave four to six weeks between sessions.

When to come in

Blisters, or redness that lasts beyond three days, deserve a call. We would rather see you early.

Fractional laser treatment at the clinic

In this article

Fractional laser

From $1,100

Per session

General information, not medical advice. Your clinician will confirm what suits your skin.

Visit

64 Perry Street

New York, NY 10014

Hours

Tue–Fri

9:00–19:00

Sat

9:00–15:00

Sun–Mon

Closed

Find us

Open today · 9:00–19:00

Line drawing of the clinic building on Perry Street
Line drawing of a tree beside the clinic

64 Perry Street · Ring Satin

Begin with a conversation

Tell us what you notice. We’ll take it from there.

We reply within one business day. This is a request, not a booking. Already a patient? Book online

Satin

Medical director: Dr. Iris Calloway, MD, FAAD

New York · Eastern Time

© 2026 Satin Skin Clinic

Satin

Visit

64 Perry Street

New York, NY 10014

Hours

Tue–Fri

9:00–19:00

Sat

9:00–15:00

Sun–Mon

Closed

Find us

Open today · 9:00–19:00

Line drawing of the clinic building on Perry Street
Line drawing of a tree beside the clinic

64 Perry Street · Ring Satin

Begin with a conversation

Tell us what you notice. We’ll take it from there.

We reply within one business day. This is a request, not a booking. Already a patient? Book online

Satin

Medical director: Dr. Iris Calloway, MD, FAAD

New York · Eastern Time

© 2026 Satin Skin Clinic

Satin

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