It is done in five to ten sessions at two to six week intervals. Oil and pigment tidy up from the third session, because it builds up over many passes at low power and no single session brings a large change. The applied substance also needs time to absorb, so each session takes a while.

A substance that responds well to laser is applied and left to absorb before firing. That substance concentrates the laser energy, so less power is needed for the same result and the stimulus is correspondingly lower. Which substance is used also changes what it targets.

There is no downtime and you can wear make-up the same day, because it runs at low power and leaves no wound on the surface. Heated skin is more vulnerable to UV, though, so sun protection is essential, and the combination of applied substance and laser differs by clinic, so check in advance.