Fractional iPixel Laser — Face

Ablative fractional laser resurfacing using the iPixel erbium laser (2940nm), creating controlled micro-ablation channels in the skin to stimulate collagen remodelling, reduce acne scars, and improve overall skin texture and tone.

The iPixel fractional laser at Neonia uses erbium:YAG technology at a 2940nm wavelength — the peak absorption wavelength for water in skin tissue. Unlike the non-ablative thulium laser, the iPixel creates true micro-ablation: each pixel of laser energy vaporises a tiny column of skin tissue from the surface down into the dermis, surrounded by a zone of thermal coagulation. The fractional pattern treats 15-25% of the skin surface per pass, leaving intact tissue between ablation channels to accelerate wound healing. The erbium 2940nm wavelength offers a significant advantage over CO2 fractional lasers in terms of thermal collateral damage. Because water absorbs erbium energy approximately 10 times more efficiently than CO2 energy, the laser achieves tissue ablation with a much narrower zone of residual thermal damage around each channel. This translates to faster healing, less post-inflammatory erythema (redness), and lower risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation compared to CO2 fractional resurfacing. During treatment, each pulse of the iPixel handpiece delivers a grid of micro-beams that simultaneously ablate hundreds of microscopic channels per square centimetre. The immediate wound-healing response fills these channels with new collagen over the following 4-8 weeks, while the surrounding undamaged tissue provides growth factors and stem cells that accelerate the remodelling process. The cumulative effect over a course of treatments is progressive improvement in scar depth, pore size, fine lines, and overall skin smoothness. Post-treatment, the skin appears red and feels warm, with pinpoint bleeding at the ablation sites that resolves within hours. A thin layer of micro-crusts forms over the treated area and naturally exfoliates over 3-7 days. Patients should avoid direct sun exposure and apply SPF50+ for at least 2 weeks following treatment. The iPixel is particularly effective for acne scarring, surgical scars, stretch marks, and moderate-to-severe textural irregularities where deeper tissue remodelling is required.