Laser & Light Treatments
Dr. Boxrud offers a comprehensive range of medical-grade laser and light treatments for pigment, rosacea, broken capillaries, fine lines, skin tightening, vascular lesions, tattoo removal, and skin tone. The right treatment is the one matched to the specific concern, not a default package.
No single laser treats every skin concern well. Different wavelengths and different technologies target different problems, and the difference between a great result and a disappointing one usually comes down to which tool was used. Dr. Boxrud’s practice offers a range of medical-grade laser and light technologies, so that the treatment is matched to your skin and your concern, not the other way around.
The treatments available include IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), often called a photofacial, for brown spots, sun damage, rosacea, diffuse redness, and broken capillaries. Fractional non-ablative resurfacing at 1565 nm for fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, stretch marks, and skin tightening. Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm in long-pulsed form for deeper vascular lesions and spider veins, and in Q-switched form for tattoo removal and skin toning in pigmentary conditions like melasma.
Skin concerns rarely come alone. A patient who comes in for sun damage often has diffuse redness underneath. A patient with rosacea often has visible broken capillaries that need a different wavelength than the diffuse component. A patient who wants smoother texture often benefits more from pigment clearing first, then collagen remodeling second. Most plans combine two or three different laser treatments over a course, sequenced for the best result.
As a board-certified oculofacial plastic surgeon, Dr. Boxrud has spent her career working on the thinnest skin on the body, the eyelid and periocular region. That training matters for laser treatment, where settings, fluence, and technique are different around the eye than elsewhere on the face. Every treatment plan is personally evaluated and personally performed. Patients across Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Beverly Hills see her for laser and light treatments specifically because the same hand evaluates, plans, and performs each one.
- Visit
- 30 to 60 minutes per session depending on treatment and area.
- Anesthesia
- Topical numbing for most treatments; none required for many IPL sessions.
- Sensation
- Snap or warmth during the pulse; brief and well tolerated.
- Downtime, IPL
- Minimal. Mild redness for a few hours; pigment may darken and flake over 7 to 10 days.
- Downtime, Fractional
- Pink, sandpaper-feel skin for 2 to 4 days. Most patients return to work the next day or shortly after.
- Downtime, Nd:YAG
- Variable. Vascular treatment: light bruising 1 to 2 weeks. Tattoo removal: frosting and some swelling for a few days.
- Series
- Best results come from a planned series, typically 3 to 5 sessions spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart.
- Sun protection
- Strict sun protection before and after every treatment is essential. SPF 30+ daily.
How do I know which laser I need?
You don’t need to. Patients come in with a concern, brown spots, rosacea, fine lines, a tattoo, a visible vessel, and Dr. Boxrud matches the right treatment to it. Most plans use more than one treatment over a course, sequenced for the best result.
How many sessions will I need?
For most concerns, three to five sessions spaced four to six weeks apart. Tattoo removal usually requires more, depending on ink color, depth, and age. Maintenance sessions once or twice a year keep results sustained.
What is the difference between IPL and a laser?
An IPL device emits a broad spectrum of light, filtered to target pigment and small blood vessels. A laser emits a single, specific wavelength. IPL covers a wider range of superficial concerns in one pass; lasers do one thing very precisely. Dr. Boxrud’s practice offers both.
Is this safe for darker skin types?
It depends on the treatment and the concern. Nd:YAG at 1064 nm is the wavelength that penetrates most deeply and is generally safest across a wider range of skin types; IPL and fractional lasers require more careful settings in deeper skin tones. The right choice is made at consultation.
Can these treatments be combined?
Yes, and they often are. A typical plan might use IPL to clear pigment and redness first, then ResurFX to remodel collagen, then Nd:YAG for any deeper vessels or residual pigment. Sequencing matters; doing the wrong tool first can blunt the result.
Does it hurt?
Most patients describe IPL as the snap of a rubber band; ResurFX feels warmer and is performed with topical numbing; Nd:YAG sensation depends on the application. None of these treatments require general anesthesia or sedation.
Can laser treatments be used around the eyes?
Yes, with appropriate intra-ocular eye shields and careful settings. Eyelid skin is the thinnest skin on the body and requires technique different from the rest of the face. Treating the periocular skin safely is part of Dr. Boxrud’s core specialty as an oculofacial plastic surgeon.
How soon will I see results?
IPL: pigment darkens then flakes over 7 to 10 days; redness clears progressively. Fractional resurfacing: surface improvement over weeks; collagen remodeling continues for three to six months. Nd:YAG vascular: vessels clear over 2 to 4 weeks. Tattoo removal: gradual fading over each session.