What does Clear and Brilliant laser treat in Los Angeles?

Clear and Brilliant laser treats sunspots, sun damage, uneven skin tone, large pores, fine lines, and overall dull skin texture. It is ideal for patients seeking a gradual, cumulative improvement in skin quality with no meaningful downtime. At Kare Plastic Surgery in Santa Monica, both the original 1440nm handpiece and the Permea 1927nm handpiece are available, allowing Dr. Sierro to select the most appropriate wavelength for each patient's specific skin concerns.

How many Clear and Brilliant sessions are needed?

Most patients see noticeable improvement after 3-5 Clear and Brilliant sessions spaced 3-4 weeks apart. Many patients then maintain results with quarterly or biannual treatments. Dr. Sierro personalizes the number of sessions based on the patient's skin concerns, age, and the degree of sun damage or texture irregularity present.

Clear + Brilliant Laser Specialists in Santa Monica

Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center · Santa Monica, Beverly Hills & Los Angeles

Clear & Brilliant Laser in Los Angeles

Q: How is Clear and Brilliant different from Fraxel or CO2 laser?

Clear and Brilliant is a low-intensity non-ablative fractional laser that operates at lower energy levels than Fraxel or fractional CO2, producing mild, progressive improvement with zero meaningful downtime and suitability for all skin tones. Fraxel and CO2 lasers treat deeper at higher energies, producing more dramatic results in fewer sessions but requiring 5-10 days of social downtime. At Kare Plastic Surgery, the full resurfacing spectrum is available: Clear and Brilliant for maintenance and prevention, fractional Erbium and CO2 for more significant correction.

The leading no-downtime fractional laser facial for sunspots, large pores, and fine wrinkles — performed by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Tiffany Sierro and board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian at Kare Plastic Surgery in Santa Monica

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BoardCertified Dermatologist

FACSBoard-Certified Plastic Surgeon

ZeroMeaningful Downtime

AllFitzpatrick Skin Types

Santa Monica804 7th Street

The No-Downtime Laser Facial

Clear & Brilliant in Los Angeles: Radiant Skin With No Interruption to Your Life

Los Angeles residents live one of the most UV-intensive lifestyles of any metropolitan population in the world. Year-round sunshine, beach culture, outdoor fitness, and the omnipresent Southern California sun create a cumulative UV burden that accelerates skin aging significantly faster than comparable patients in other U.S. cities — producing earlier appearance of sunspots, enlarged pores, uneven skin tone, and fine lines in patients in their late twenties and thirties who would not yet be experiencing these changes in a less sun-exposed environment.

Clear & Brilliant is the answer to this challenge: a gentle, non-ablative fractional laser designed specifically for patients who want meaningful, cumulative skin quality improvement without the 7–10 days of downtime required by fractional CO2 or the 3–7 days required by fractional Erbium. At Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center on 7th Street in Santa Monica, Clear & Brilliant treatments are performed under physician supervision by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Tiffany Sierro and board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS — bringing the diagnostic precision and skin science knowledge of formal medical training to a treatment that many Los Angeles competitors administer through aestheticians or nurses without on-site physician oversight.

This physician-supervised distinction matters. Understanding which Clear & Brilliant handpiece is appropriate for each patient, how to sequence Clear & Brilliant within a broader skin health program, when to escalate to a more powerful laser platform, and how to manage the rare adverse event requires medical training that no aesthetician-run laser clinic in Santa Monica or Beverly Hills can provide. At Kare, every Clear & Brilliant patient is evaluated by a physician before their first session and monitored throughout their treatment series.

What Clear & Brilliant Treats at Kare

Sun damage and sunspots from Los Angeles UV exposure
Uneven skin tone and sallow, dull complexion
Large, visible pores especially on the nose and cheeks
Fine lines and early surface wrinkles
Rough or uneven skin texture from photoaging
Mild acne scarring and superficial PIH
Early prevention of photoaging in patients in their 20s and 30s
Skin quality maintenance between CO2 or Erbium sessions
Post-procedure skin enhancement and serum absorption (Permea handpiece)
Neck, chest, hands, and forearms in addition to the face
Melasma maintenance with appropriate post-treatment topicals

The Science

How Clear & Brilliant Works: Fractional Photothermolysis Without Downtime

Clear & Brilliant (developed by Solta Medical, a subsidiary of Bausch Health) is a non-ablative fractional laser — meaning it creates controlled zones of thermal coagulation within the skin without removing the surface epidermis. Like all fractional lasers, it delivers thousands of microscopic treatment columns of laser energy surrounded by untreated skin bridges. The untreated bridges contain viable keratinocytes that rapidly heal the treated columns, producing progressive skin quality improvement without the exposed wound that requires 7–10 days of wound care after ablative CO2 resurfacing.

The thermal coagulation within each micro-treatment zone triggers a cascade of skin renewal responses: fibroblast activation leading to new collagen and elastin synthesis in the papillary dermis, melanocyte regulation that normalizes pigment distribution and reduces sunspot intensity, tightening of the pore channel walls as new collagen forms around follicular openings, and epidermal renewal as the superficial treated zones are replaced by fresh keratinocytes from the adjacent untreated bridges. These cumulative effects build progressively with each treatment session, producing measurably improved skin quality within the 2–4 week interval between appointments and reaching their full visible impact at 2–3 months after completing a treatment series.

The Two Clear & Brilliant Handpieces: Original vs. Perméa

Clear & Brilliant is available in two distinct handpiece configurations that target different skin depths and primary concerns. Dr. Sierro selects the appropriate handpiece for each patient based on their skin concerns and Fitzpatrick skin type at consultation.

1,440 nm — Original Handpiece

Clear & Brilliant Original (1440nm)

The original Clear & Brilliant handpiece operates at 1,440nm — a wavelength with strong water absorption in the mid-infrared spectrum that targets the junction between the epidermis and superficial dermis. It is the preferred handpiece for patients primarily concerned with pore size reduction, skin texture refinement, and early fine line improvement. The 1,440nm wavelength creates micro-coagulation zones at a depth that stimulates dermal collagen remodeling immediately beneath the skin surface — tightening the collagen surrounding each pore opening and smoothing the surface texture irregularity that produces the dull, rough appearance of photodamaged skin.

The Original handpiece is Dr. Sierro’s choice for patients with predominantly textural concerns, enlarged pores, and overall dull complexion seeking to restore a luminous, smooth skin surface without any ablation or wound care.

1,927 nm — Perméa Handpiece

Clear & Brilliant Perméa (1927nm)

The Perméa handpiece operates at 1,927nm — a wavelength more strongly absorbed by water in the epidermal layer, producing micro-channels that simultaneously improve superficial pigmentation and dramatically increase the skin’s permeability to topically applied active ingredients. Immediately after a Perméa treatment, the treated skin absorbs pharmaceutical-grade topical serums (including vitamin C, growth factors, hydroquinone, and brightening agents) at up to 3–4 times the baseline penetration rate — delivering therapeutic concentrations of actives to the dermis that would otherwise remain at the skin surface with conventional application.

The Perméa is the preferred handpiece for patients with pigmentation concerns — sunspots, mild melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation — and for those seeking overall skin luminance and tone evenness. It is also notably effective for patients with darker Fitzpatrick skin types (III–V), where its lower thermal energy profile and primarily epidermal action produce meaningful pigmentation improvement with a much lower risk of treatment-induced hyperpigmentation than more aggressive resurfacing platforms.

1,440 / 1,927nm dual wavelength options for texture vs. pigmentation

0–24hTypical redness duration after Clear and Brilliant

3–5Sessions for optimal initial results series

AllFitzpatrick skin types treated safely

What It Treats

Six Ways Clear & Brilliant Improves Skin Quality in Santa Monica & Los Angeles

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Sunspot & Sun Damage Correction

The concentrated UV exposure of living in Los Angeles produces solar lentigines (sunspots) and diffuse dyspigmentation at an accelerated rate. The Perméa handpiece’s 1,927nm wavelength targets epidermal melanin deposits and stimulates a pigment normalization response, progressively lightening sunspots and evening skin tone across treated areas. Combined with a physician-prescribed brightening protocol of vitamin C and hydroquinone applied through the enhanced permeability created by each treatment, the pigmentation-correcting effect of Clear & Brilliant is significantly amplified beyond what the laser alone achieves.

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Large Pore Reduction

Enlarged pores are one of the most common skin concerns in Los Angeles — exacerbated by chronic sun exposure, excess sebum production, and the collagen depletion of photoaging that allows pore walls to relax and dilate. Clear & Brilliant’s 1,440nm Original handpiece deposits collagen-stimulating thermal energy precisely in the perifollicular dermis surrounding each pore opening — tightening the collagen scaffold around the pore channel and visibly reducing pore diameter. Most patients report noticeable pore size reduction within 2–3 weeks of their first session, with progressive improvement through the treatment series.

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Fine Line & Early Wrinkle Improvement

Clear & Brilliant is not the right tool for deep wrinkles — that requires fractional CO2. But for the fine-caliber surface lines that represent early photoaging — fine crow’s feet, perioral fine lines, forehead texture lines — Clear & Brilliant’s collagen-stimulating thermal coagulation zones produce meaningful improvement over a series of sessions by thickening the superficial dermis and improving epidermal surface regularity. Prevention is also a key benefit: initiating Clear & Brilliant treatment in the late 20s or early 30s maintains the dermal collagen density that prevents these fine lines from deepening into the more significant rhytides that require ablative treatment.

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Skin Luminance & Glow Restoration

The “dull” or “tired” appearance that many patients describe — the loss of the fresh, reflective quality that characterizes youthful skin — is a combination of epidermal surface irregularity (rough texture that scatters rather than reflects light), pigmentary unevenness, and reduced dermal collagen that diminishes the plump, turgid quality of young skin. Clear & Brilliant addresses all three: smoothing the surface texture, normalizing pigmentation, and stimulating the new collagen that restores the skin’s structural fullness and light-reflecting surface quality. Patients consistently report that friends notice they “look refreshed” or “well-rested” after a Clear & Brilliant series without being able to identify what specifically has changed.

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Safe for All Skin Tones

The Perméa handpiece’s 1,927nm wavelength and lower energy output make Clear & Brilliant one of the safest fractional laser options for the full spectrum of Fitzpatrick skin types I through VI — including the darker skin tones that make up a significant portion of Los Angeles’s diverse patient population. Unlike the 10,600nm CO2 laser, which poses meaningful post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation risk in Fitzpatrick IV–VI patients at standard settings, Clear & Brilliant’s gentle energy profile produces pigmentation improvement rather than risk for darker skin tones, making it Dr. Sierro’s preferred no-downtime laser platform for diverse skin types.

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Prevention & Long-Term Skin Health

Clear & Brilliant is one of the few cosmetic laser treatments designed explicitly as a preventive strategy as well as a corrective one. By stimulating collagen production before significant photoaging has occurred, maintaining epidermal turnover rate, and correcting early pigmentary changes before they mature into established sunspots, regular Clear & Brilliant sessions beginning in the mid-to-late 20s create a compounding skin health investment that significantly reduces the intensity of corrective treatment required in the 40s and 50s. Dr. Karamanoukian and Dr. Sierro advocate for proactive skin health programs that use Clear & Brilliant as the maintenance tool between more intensive annual or biennial laser resurfacing sessions.

Choosing the Right Laser

Clear & Brilliant vs. Deeper Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing

At Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center, Clear & Brilliant is one of more than 30 laser and energy platforms on-site. Dr. Sierro selects the appropriate platform for each patient’s specific concerns, skin type, and downtime tolerance at consultation.

Platform	Depth / Type	Downtime	Skin Types	Best Indication
Clear & Brilliant 1440 / 1927nm	Superficial non-ablative fractional	0–24 Hours	Fitzpatrick I–VI	Prevention, sunspots, pores, fine lines, maintenance
Lutronic Thulium 1927nm	Non-ablative fractional	1–3 Days	Fitzpatrick I–V	Pigmentation, melasma, tone; safe for darker skin
Fractional Erbium 2940nm	Ablative fractional, medium depth	3–7 Days	Fitzpatrick I–IV	Moderate acne scars, fine–medium wrinkles, texture
Fractional CO2 10600nm	Ablative fractional, deep	7–10 Days	Fitzpatrick I–III	Acne scars, deep wrinkles, significant photoaging
Morpheus8 RF Radiofrequency	Subdermal RF, 1–8mm	1–3 Days	Fitzpatrick I–VI	Skin laxity, acne scars, deep remodeling, all tones

How Dr. Sierro decides: Clear & Brilliant is the right choice for patients with mild concerns, a no-downtime requirement, or a preventive goal. When sunspots are darker and more established, Dr. Sierro may recommend the Lutronic Thulium laser for greater pigmentary correction. When texture concerns are more significant or acne scars are present, the fractional Erbium or CO2 becomes the appropriate escalation. The ability to sequence these platforms across a patient’s lifetime skin program — beginning with Clear & Brilliant in the 20s, adding Erbium in the 30s, and incorporating CO2 when significant photodamage warrants it — is the hallmark of a physician-led skin health practice.

Complementary Treatment

Microneedling at Kare: The Perfect Complement to Clear & Brilliant

While Clear & Brilliant delivers collagen stimulation through laser energy, medical-grade microneedling achieves a similar biological endpoint through a different mechanism — and the two treatments are highly complementary components of a comprehensive skin maintenance program. Microneedling uses a medical-grade device with fine needles (0.5–2.5mm) to create thousands of controlled micro-puncture channels in the dermis, triggering the wound healing cascade that drives fibroblast activation and new collagen synthesis. Unlike Clear & Brilliant, which works through thermal energy absorbed by tissue water, microneedling works through mechanical stimulation — meaning the two treatments engage different collagen-stimulating pathways and their effects are additive rather than redundant.

At Kare Plastic Surgery, microneedling is offered as a standalone treatment and as a combination protocol with PRP (platelet-rich plasma) or pharmaceutical-grade exosome preparations applied immediately after needling creates the microchannels. The PRP or exosome biological payload is delivered to the dermis through the needle channels at 3–4 times the penetration depth achievable by topical application alone — delivering growth factors (PDGF, TGF-β, VEGF, EGF) or exosomal stem cell signals directly to the fibroblasts and keratinocytes where they produce maximum collagen induction and tissue regeneration.

For Santa Monica and Los Angeles patients building a comprehensive skin health maintenance program, Dr. Sierro frequently recommends alternating Clear & Brilliant and microneedling sessions on a monthly schedule — laser one month for superficial texture and pigmentation, microneedling with PRP the following month for deeper dermal collagen stimulation and biological regeneration. This alternating protocol maintains continuous collagen remodeling pressure without requiring downtime for any individual session, making it ideally compatible with the active Los Angeles lifestyle.

“Clear and Brilliant and microneedling work through different biological pathways and produce complementary results. A patient who alternates monthly between the two gets the surface improvement of laser and the deep dermal regeneration of microneedling — a combination that sustains skin quality improvement year-round with zero downtime for either treatment.”

— Dr. Tiffany Sierro, MD — Board-Certified Dermatologist, Kare Plastic Surgery

Who We Treat

Who Is a Good Candidate for Clear & Brilliant in Los Angeles?

✓ Ideal Candidates for Clear & Brilliant at Kare Plastic Surgery in Santa Monica

Adults in their late 20s and 30s beginning to notice the first signs of sun-related skin change — mild uneven tone, occasional sunspots, early pore enlargement, and subtle loss of skin luminance — who want to intervene during the early photoaging phase when preventive treatment produces the highest long-term benefit
Active Los Angeles professionals with busy schedules who cannot commit to the 7–10 days of social downtime required by fractional CO2 laser and want a meaningful skin improvement option that is fully compatible with a full work and social calendar
Patients with darker Fitzpatrick skin types (III–VI) who want fractional laser benefits without the post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation risk of ablative resurfacing — the Perméa handpiece’s gentle 1,927nm energy is safe and effective for all skin tones
Those who have completed a fractional CO2, Erbium, or other ablative laser series and want a no-downtime maintenance program to sustain and build on the collagen remodeling achieved with the more intensive treatment
Patients with mild acne post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation who want to accelerate the normalization of pigmentation left by healed acne lesions, particularly when combined with physician-prescribed topical brightening agents applied through the enhanced skin permeability created by the Perméa handpiece
Santa Monica and coastal Los Angeles residents who prioritize year-round skin health maintenance as a lifestyle investment — scheduling Clear & Brilliant sessions quarterly or every 6 weeks as a regular skin care appointment rather than a treatment for a specific acute concern
Pre-event or pre-season patients seeking a visible “refresh” in skin quality with no recovery period — many patients schedule Clear & Brilliant the week before a major professional event, a wedding, a beach vacation, or the beginning of the social season
Patients who are not yet appropriate candidates for more intensive lasers due to recent Accutane use, mild active acne, or borderline skin tone (Fitzpatrick III–IV) where ablative laser carries more risk than the conservative energy of Clear & Brilliant

Your Treatment Experience

What to Expect: Clear & Brilliant at Kare Plastic Surgery in Santa Monica

Physician Consultation & Skin Assessment

Every new Clear & Brilliant patient at Kare Plastic Surgery begins with a physician consultation — Dr. Sierro evaluates the skin concerns, establishes the Fitzpatrick skin type, reviews the patient’s skincare history and current regimen, and selects the appropriate handpiece (Original 1440nm or Perméa 1927nm) for the specific concerns presented. Patients with concurrent active acne, recent isotretinoin use, or any skin condition that requires medical management before laser treatment are identified at this consultation and appropriately managed before proceeding. A treatment plan specifying the handpiece, session interval, number of sessions, and any complementary microneedling or topical protocols is provided in writing.

Pre-Treatment Preparation

Patients are asked to arrive with a clean, makeup-free face on the day of treatment. A topical numbing cream is applied 20–30 minutes before the session for patients who prefer additional comfort, though most patients find Clear & Brilliant easily tolerable without numbing. SPF 50 sunscreen application to the treatment area for 2 weeks before each session is recommended. Retinoids and active exfoliants (AHAs, BHAs) are discontinued 3–5 days before treatment. Patients who are receiving the Perméa treatment are asked to bring or will be provided with the physician-selected topical serum for application immediately post-treatment to take advantage of the enhanced skin permeability window.

Treatment Session (30–45 Minutes)

The Clear & Brilliant handpiece is moved across the treatment area in systematic passes, delivering the fractional laser energy in thousands of microscopic columns across the full facial surface (or the specific treatment areas selected). Patients feel a mild warmth and slight prickling sensation during treatment — consistently described as more comfortable than microneedling and significantly more comfortable than any ablative laser resurfacing. The full-face treatment takes approximately 30–45 minutes. For Perméa sessions, physician-selected topical serums are applied immediately after treatment while skin permeability is maximally enhanced. Sunscreen is applied before the patient leaves the office.

Post-Treatment & Immediate Recovery

Immediately after treatment, the skin has a mild pinkness and warmth consistent with a very light sunburn — most patients describe this as subtle and easily camouflaged. This mild redness typically resolves within 4–24 hours. Some patients notice a very fine, subtle bronzing or micro-texture in the skin over days 2–4 as the treated microcolumns undergo the natural replacement process — this is imperceptible to others and resolves completely. Patients can apply mineral-based makeup immediately after treatment, return to all normal activities the same day, and continue their regular professional and social schedule without restriction.

Results, Series Completion & Maintenance

Visible improvement in skin luminance and texture typically appears within 1 week of the first session as the fresh skin cells replacing the treated microcolumns produce a noticeably smoother, more reflective surface. Pore size reduction, sunspot fading, and fine line improvement build progressively over the series of 3–5 sessions spaced 3–4 weeks apart. After completing the initial series, most patients maintain their results with quarterly sessions that sustain the collagen remodeling response and continuously address new UV-related pigmentary changes. Dr. Sierro reassesses each patient’s skin at follow-up appointments and adjusts the maintenance schedule based on individual response and ongoing lifestyle sun exposure.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions: Clear & Brilliant in Los Angeles

How is Clear and Brilliant different from Fraxel or CO2 laser in Los Angeles?

Clear and Brilliant operates at substantially lower energy than Fraxel or fractional CO2, producing a gentler, superficial thermal coagulation effect with zero meaningful downtime rather than the 5–10 days required by more intensive resurfacing platforms. A single Fraxel or CO2 session produces dramatically more improvement than a single Clear & Brilliant session, but requires significant recovery. Clear and Brilliant’s advantage is its ability to be performed monthly without downtime — allowing patients to accumulate collagen stimulation continuously across multiple sessions without any social or professional disruption. At Kare Plastic Surgery, patients who want maximum results use Clear & Brilliant as their monthly maintenance tool and escalate to CO2 or Erbium annually or biannually for deeper correction.

How many Clear and Brilliant sessions do I need to see results?

Most patients notice improved skin luminance, smoother texture, and beginning sunspot fading within 1 week of their first Clear & Brilliant session. Meaningful, objectively measurable improvement in pore size, pigmentation, and overall skin quality is typically visible after 3–5 sessions spaced 3–4 weeks apart. Published consumer data on Clear & Brilliant report visible improvements in 4–6 treatments for most patients. After completing the initial series, quarterly maintenance sessions sustain and progressively build on the achieved results. Dr. Sierro assesses each patient’s response at every visit and adjusts the session interval and handpiece selection based on individual improvement trajectory.

Is Clear and Brilliant safe for darker skin tones?

Yes — Clear & Brilliant, particularly the Perméa 1,927nm handpiece, is one of the safest laser skin improvement options for patients with darker Fitzpatrick skin types including III, IV, and V. The low energy output and primarily non-ablative action mean that the melanin-rich epidermis of darker skin tones is not significantly disrupted, dramatically reducing the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that limits the use of more aggressive lasers in these patients. Dr. Sierro evaluates every patient’s Fitzpatrick type at consultation and selects the handpiece and settings appropriate for the safest and most effective treatment for their skin tone.

Can Clear and Brilliant be combined with microneedling?

Yes — and this combination is one of the most effective no-downtime skin maintenance programs available for Los Angeles patients. The two treatments engage different collagen-stimulating mechanisms (laser thermal coagulation vs. mechanical wound healing) and are highly complementary. Dr. Sierro recommends alternating monthly Clear & Brilliant and microneedling with PRP sessions for patients who want year-round continuous skin quality improvement without any single session requiring downtime. This alternating protocol provides both superficial laser texture and pigmentation improvement and deep dermal collagen regeneration from PRP growth factors — addressing all layers of the skin within a comfortable, no-recovery monthly appointment schedule.

How long do Clear and Brilliant results last in Los Angeles?

Clear & Brilliant results are durable when combined with ongoing sun protection and a maintenance treatment schedule. The collagen stimulated by each session continues to produce dermal thickening and surface quality improvement for 2–3 months after each treatment. Without any maintenance, the collagen remodeling naturally slows and the ongoing UV exposure of the Los Angeles lifestyle will continue to produce new pigmentary changes and surface aging. With quarterly maintenance sessions and daily SPF 50+ use, the skin quality improvements accumulate year-over-year, producing a progressively healthier skin baseline compared to what would have developed without treatment.

What is the Permea handpiece and how does it differ from the original Clear and Brilliant?

The Perméa handpiece uses a 1,927nm wavelength that primarily targets the epidermis, creating micro-channels that improve pigmentation and simultaneously increase skin permeability to topically applied active ingredients by 3–4 times baseline. This enhanced permeability allows physician-prescribed brightening serums, growth factors, and hydroquinone preparations to penetrate to therapeutic dermal concentrations immediately after treatment — producing a combined laser and topical treatment effect. The original 1440nm handpiece targets slightly deeper and is preferred for pore size and texture concerns. Dr. Sierro often uses both handpieces in the same patient at different sessions based on the changing priority between pigmentation and texture concerns throughout the treatment series.

Schedule Your Clear & Brilliant Laser Consultation in Los Angeles

Join Los Angeles’s most discerning patients in maintaining their skin with the no-downtime fractional laser that delivers visible results without disrupting your life. Dr. Sierro and Dr. Karamanoukian at Kare Plastic Surgery in Santa Monica are ready to design your personalized skin health program. Contact our office today.

(310) 998-5533 Request a Consultation

Laser Skin Resurfacing in Los Angeles