At the hands of a qualified and experienced practioner, unwanted results and complications following either skin resurfacing procedure (chemical peel or laser) are infrequent or insignificant. Sometimes, however, a patient's physical makeup predisposes him or her to poor healing or scarring. This cannot be known in advance. In these cases, further corrective steps may be necessary. In some skin types, uneven pigmentation can be a problem following laser resurfacing. The lasered skin can appear lighter in color than the surrounding skin areas. With time this condition normally is minimized and can usually be covered by makeup. In more extreme cases, a second procedure can be performed to soften the line of demarcation. Certain infections, such as fever blisters, can be activated by laser treatment, and can take a long time to resolve. Poor laser directioning can result in poor scarring, corneal injury and/or loss of sight. Dental injury can also occur if teeth are exposed, and burns could occur if there is contact with flamable clothing or gases. Most importantly, the patient's complete cooperation in following post-treatment instructions is essential to a smooth recovery period and good, longlasting results.

In either approach to skin resurfacing, as in cosmetic surgery in general, the results are determined by several factors related to the patient's level of participation. The changes are not permanent, but can be longlasting through good self care and following medical advice. Keeping appointments in the postoperative period can prevent many of the complications associated with these techniques. And by following a recommended skin care regimen by the aftercare team, the younger, fresher look achieved through skin resurfacing can last many years.