Fractional laser treatment in Gurgaon
Fractional laser resurfacing for acne scars, uneven texture, enlarged pores and fine lines, planned by dermatologist Dr. Tanya Kochhar. Density and energy are chosen for your skin type, because in Indian skin the safest setting is usually the one that works.
What is fractional laser treatment and how many sessions are needed?
Fractional laser treats a grid of microscopic columns of skin and leaves the skin between untouched, so it heals quickly while new collagen smooths scars and texture. At Le Dermaire, Dr. Tanya Kochhar plans typically 3 to 5 sessions about 4 to 6 weeks apart, with conservative settings for Indian skin and several days of redness after each.
Fractional laser, in short
Typical figures for a course. Your own plan depends on the concern, the laser settings and your skin type.
How fractional laser works
A traditional resurfacing laser treats the whole surface of the skin at once, which gives strong results but a long, risky recovery. A fractional laser splits the beam into a grid of microscopic columns, each a fraction of a millimetre wide, and treats only those columns. The untouched skin between them acts as a reservoir of healthy cells, so the treated columns heal within days.
Each column is a controlled injury that the skin repairs with new collagen. Over a course, this remodelling smooths rough texture, softens the edges of depressed acne scars, tightens the skin around enlarged pores and improves fine lines. Results build gradually over months, not overnight.
Fractional lasers come in two broad types. Ablative fractional lasers vaporise tiny columns of skin and give a stronger effect per session with longer recovery. Non-ablative fractional lasers heat the columns while leaving the surface intact, so recovery is shorter but more sessions are needed. Which is right depends on the concern and, in Indian skin, on how much heat the skin can tolerate without darkening.
Fractional laser is postponed over active acne, infection or cold sores, on freshly tanned skin, in pregnancy and after recent isotretinoin until assessed.
What fractional laser is used for
Fractional laser is a resurfacing tool. It is strongest on texture and sharp-edged scars, and less useful where the problem is pigment alone or tethering under the skin.
Boxcar and ice pick scars
Sharp-edged boxcar scars and narrow ice pick scars respond to resurfacing that softens edges and remodels the scar base.
Rough, uneven texture
Bumpy or coarse skin, including texture left after acne has settled, becomes smoother as the surface renews.
Enlarged pores
New collagen firms the skin around pores so they look smaller, alongside a home routine for oil control.
Fine lines and rejuvenation
Fine lines, crêpey skin and early signs of sun ageing improve with a course of gentler settings.
Other scars
Flat or depressed scars from injury, surgery or chickenpox may be included in a scar plan, as the scar treatment guide explains.
Less suited
Melasma, active acne, rolling scars held down by bands, and raised or keloidal scars are treated in other ways.
Ablative or non-ablative fractional laser: what is the difference?
Both work in microscopic columns. The difference is whether those columns are removed or only heated, which changes strength, recovery and risk.
| Non-ablative fractional | Ablative fractional | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Heats columns of skin beneath an intact surface. | Vaporises tiny columns of skin from the surface down. |
| Strength per session | Milder; more sessions needed. | Stronger; fewer sessions for a similar change. |
| Downtime | Typically a few days of redness, swelling and fine flaking. | Typically about a week or more of oozing, crusting and peeling. |
| In darker Indian skin | Generally preferred; lower risk of prolonged darkening. | Higher risk of post-inflammatory darkening; used cautiously, at low density. |
| Suits | Texture, pores, fine lines and mild to moderate scars. | Deeper scars and marked texture, in carefully selected skin. |
| Not suitable for | Active acne or infection, tanned skin, pregnancy, recent isotretinoin until assessed. | The same, with stricter caution in darker skin and keloid tendency. |
Which fractional laser is used for you, and at what density, is decided after examining your skin and, where needed, a test area.
Fractional laser or MNRF: which suits acne scars?
The two most common collagen procedures for acne scars deliver energy at different depths, which changes recovery and risk.
| Fractional laser | MNRF | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A laser that treats a grid of microscopic columns, leaving the skin between untouched. | Microneedling radiofrequency: fine needles release radiofrequency heat at their tips. |
| Where it works | From the surface down, with a stronger effect on texture. | The deeper skin where scar collagen sits, largely sparing the surface. |
| Scars it suits | Sharp-edged boxcar and ice pick scars, and rough texture. | Moderate boxcar and rolling scars. |
| Sessions typically needed | Typically 3 to 5, about 4 to 6 weeks apart. | Typically 3 to 6, 4 to 6 weeks apart. |
| Downtime | Redness and fine bronzing, typically for several days. | Pinpoint marks, swelling and a sunburnt feel, typically for 2 to 4 days. |
| In darker Indian skin | Higher risk of dark patches; conservative density and strict sun care reduce it. | Less heat at the surface, so generally a lower risk of dark marks. |
Neither is better in every case. Many acne scar plans use both, alongside subcision for tethered scars; the MNRF and microneedling guides are linked below.
Fractional laser for Indian skin
Most skin in India is Fitzpatrick type III to V. Melanin absorbs laser energy, so darker skin is more likely to respond to heat with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, dark patches that can take weeks to months to fade. This does not rule fractional laser out, but it changes how it is done.
Lower density, meaning fewer columns per session, matters more than lower energy alone. Longer gaps between sessions, skin priming with creams that calm pigment cells for two to four weeks beforehand, cooling during treatment and strict sunscreen afterwards all reduce the risk. A small test area treated at planned settings and reviewed after a week or two is often the single most useful safety step.
Season matters too. Heat, humidity and outdoor exposure in a Gurgaon summer make post-laser darkening more likely, so a stronger course is often better timed for the cooler months, or started with gentler settings and built up.
How a fractional laser course works
Nothing is lasered on the first visit unless the plan is clear and the skin is ready.
Consultation
Dr. Tanya examines your skin, maps scars by type, checks for active acne and melasma, and reviews isotretinoin, light-sensitising medicines and cold sores. You get a plan and a written quote.
Preparation and test
Where needed, the skin is primed with creams and sunscreen for a few weeks, and a small test area is treated and reviewed before the full session.
The session
The skin is cleansed and numbed, eyes are shielded and the laser is passed over each area with cooling. The skin feels hot and tight for a few hours afterwards.
Recovery and review
Redness and fine bronzing settle over several days. Settings are recorded and adjusted at each visit according to how your skin healed last time.
Fractional laser cost in Gurgaon
The cost of fractional laser depends on the area treated, the number of sessions and whether other methods such as subcision or MNRF are combined. You receive a written quote for the course after the consultation, before anything is booked.
Why stronger is not always better
A more aggressive session can look like better value, but in Indian skin it raises the risk of dark patches that take months to settle and delay the rest of the course. Steady, well-tolerated sessions usually reach the goal sooner. Compare the full course at settings safe for your skin, not the price of one session.
Is fractional laser safe, and what are the side effects?
Expected effects are redness, a hot, tight feeling and swelling for the first day or two, followed by a fine grid of bronzed dots that flake off over several days. The skin may feel dry and rough during this time, and it should not be scrubbed or picked.
The main risk in Indian skin is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, managed with conservative settings, priming and sun protection, and treated promptly if it appears. Less common problems include prolonged redness, acne flares, infection, cold sore outbreaks in people prone to them and, rarely, scarring. Treatment is planned more cautiously in anyone with a history of keloids.
Fractional laser is usually postponed in pregnancy, over active acne, infection or cold sores, on tanned skin, and after recent isotretinoin until assessed. Tell the clinic about every medicine you take, including anything that makes skin sensitive to light.
Before and after fractional laser
Before
- Avoid sun exposure and tanning for two to four weeks before each session.
- Use any priming creams exactly as advised.
- Stop retinoids and exfoliating acids a few days before, as advised.
- Tell the clinic about cold sores, isotretinoin and light-sensitising medicines.
After
- Cleanse gently and apply the bland moisturiser advised, several times a day.
- Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily and avoid direct sun completely for the first week.
- Avoid makeup until advised, and saunas, swimming and heavy workouts until the skin settles.
- Let the bronzed dots flake off naturally; restart actives only when advised.
Fractional laser set by a skin specialist
A fractional laser is only as safe as the decisions behind it: whether the skin shows scars, melasma or active acne, which type of fractional laser to use, how dense to go for your skin type, and when to stop. A dermatologist can also treat a dark patch or infection properly if one occurs, which is why each fractional laser plan at Le Dermaire is made and supervised by Dr. Tanya.
Dr. Tanya Kochhar holds an MBBS from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, an MD in Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy from MGM Medical College, a DNB, and a post-doctoral fellowship in Aesthetic Dermatology (FRGUHS). She is registered with the National Medical Commission and the Delhi Medical Council.
Fractional laser FAQs
How many fractional laser sessions are needed for acne scars?
Typically three to five sessions, about four to six weeks apart. Deeper or widespread scars may need more, and are usually treated with a combination such as subcision and MNRF alongside. Collagen keeps remodelling for months, so improvement continues after the last session.
How much does fractional laser cost in Gurgaon?
At Le Dermaire the cost depends on the area, the number of sessions and any methods combined, and is quoted in writing after the consultation. The consultation fee is Rs 1,800. There are no charges that are not quoted to you first.
Is fractional laser safe for Indian skin?
Yes, when the type of laser, density and energy are chosen for darker skin. The main risk is temporary darkening, which is reduced by priming, conservative settings, longer gaps between sessions, a test area and strict sun protection. Most problems after laser come from settings that were too aggressive.
What is the downtime after fractional laser?
With non-ablative or gentle settings, expect redness and swelling for a day or two and fine bronzing that flakes off over several days. Stronger ablative settings can mean about a week or more of crusting and peeling. Your expected downtime is explained before booking.
Is fractional laser better than MNRF for acne scars?
Neither is better in every case. Fractional laser resurfaces the surface more strongly and helps sharp-edged and ice pick scars. MNRF delivers heat deeper with less surface injury, which suits many Indian skin types and rolling or boxcar scars. Many plans use both.
Is fractional laser painful?
Numbing cream and cooling are used, so most people feel heat and prickling rather than pain. The skin feels hot and tight, like strong sunburn, for a few hours afterwards, then settles.
Is fractional laser the same as CO2 laser?
Not necessarily. Fractional describes how the laser is delivered, in a grid of columns. Fractional CO2 is one ablative type; there are also fractional erbium and non-ablative fractional lasers. Which type suits you depends on your concern and skin type and is decided at consultation.
Can fractional laser treat pigmentation or melasma?
Fractional laser is mainly a texture and scar treatment. Brown spots are usually treated with pigment lasers, peels or creams, and melasma can darken with heat-based lasers, so it is generally avoided or used only with great caution. Laser toning and pigment lasers are explained on their own page.
When will I see results from fractional laser?
The skin often looks smoother within a couple of weeks as the surface renews, but scar improvement comes from collagen remodelling over three to six months. Results are usually judged a few months after the last session.
Where is the clinic in Gurgaon?
Le Dermaire is at 10P, 3rd Floor, Sector 28, Chakkarpur, Golf Course Road, Gurugram, opposite Phase 1. It is open Monday to Saturday from 3:30 PM to 9:00 PM and on Sunday from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
Fractional laser on Golf Course Road, Gurugram
Easy to reach from DLF Phases 1 to 5, Sushant Lok, South City and Sohna Road. Evening and Sunday slots leave room for a few quiet days of recovery after each session.
Golf Course Road, opposite DLF Phase 1,
Sector 28, Chakkarpur, Gurugram
Often considered alongside
Laser Skin Treatments
Resurfacing, fractional, pigment and toning lasers matched to Indian skin.
Explore 02Acne Scar Treatment
Subcision, MNRF, fractional laser and PRF combined according to scar type.
Explore 03MNRF Treatment
Microneedling radiofrequency for boxcar and rolling scars with less surface heat.
Explore 04Microneedling
Dermapen microneedling for mild scars, pores and texture, with shorter downtime.
Explore 05Laser Toning
Q-switched and pico laser for pigment, uneven tone and dark spots.
Explore 06Open Pores Treatment
Why pores look larger and what can realistically tighten their appearance.
ExploreFind out whether fractional laser suits your skin
You will leave with a diagnosis, a clear view of whether fractional laser is the right tool, the sessions to expect and a written quote.