Fotona Laser Treatments at Thames Skin Clinic

Best for: hair thinning, reduced density, early hair loss, scalp health and male or female pattern hair loss.

HAIRestart® is a non-invasive laser treatment for men and women experiencing hair thinning, reduced hair density or early hair loss. It is designed to support natural hair growth without surgery, injections or damage to the skin surface.

How does HAIRestart® work?

HAIRestart® uses Fotona’s patented SMOOTH® laser technology to deliver controlled thermal energy into the scalp. This gently warms the scalp tissue, helping to stimulate dormant follicles, support scalp regeneration and encourage a healthier environment for hair growth.

The treatment is non-ablative, meaning it does not remove or damage the surface of the skin. HAIRestart is a 20–30 minute treatment with no downtime most patients benefit from a course of 8 treatments every 2 weeks.

Best for: fine lines, crepey under-eye skin, crow’s feet, early eyelid laxity, mild hooding and tired-looking eyes.

SmoothEye® is a non-surgical Fotona laser treatment designed to refresh the delicate skin around the eyes. It is suitable for patients who want a fresher, more rested appearance without surgery, needles or significant downtime.

How does SmoothEye® work?

SmoothEye® uses Fotona’s Er:YAG laser in non-ablative SMOOTH® mode to gently heat the skin around the eyes. This stimulates collagen remodelling, tightens existing collagen fibres and improves firmness and elasticity over a course of treatments.

SmoothEye is a 60-minute treatment, usually with minimal downtime, and recommends a course of 3 treatments spaced 4–6 weeks apart.

Best for: heavy brows, hooded upper eyelids, forehead lines and a tired or closed-looking eye area.

VectorLift® is a non-invasive laser treatment designed to lift and support the brow, upper eyelid and forehead area. It can be an excellent option for patients who want a more open, refreshed eye area without surgery, needles or toxin treatment.

How does VectorLift® work?

VectorLift® uses a 3-step Fotona laser protocol, delivering controlled energy from the eyelid and brow area towards the forehead and hairline. This stimulates collagen in key support structures, helping to create visible tightening and longer-term lifting effects.

VectorLift® is often combined with SmoothEye® for a more comprehensive non-surgical eye refresh. VectorLift is a 30 minute treatment, with minimal downtime and a recommended course of 3 treatments spaced 4–6 weeks apart.

Best for: mild to moderate facial laxity, early jowls, nasolabial folds, marionette lines, dull skin, fine lines, uneven texture and loss of firmness.

Fotona 4D® and 5D laser face lifting treatments are designed for patients who want to improve facial support and skin quality without surgery. This is not a surgical facelift and does not remove excess skin. Instead, it uses multi-layered laser energy to stimulate collagen, improve elasticity and create gradual, natural-looking tightening.

How does Fotona 4D® / 5D work?

Fotona 4D® combines multiple laser modes in one treatment session, typically including intraoral tightening, FRAC3®, PIANO® bulk heating and a light Er:YAG surface refresh.

Fotona 5D builds on this approach with further tailored collagen stimulation or resurfacing steps, depending on the patient’s skin and facial ageing pattern. The supplied 5D treatment information describes a bespoke multi-layered approach for tightening, volumising and restoring collagen in the mid and lower face, with a recommended course of at least 3 treatments.

Best for: subtle lip plumping, lip smoothness, definition, hydration and patients who want a needle-free alternative to filler.

LipLase® is a non-invasive Fotona laser treatment that stimulates collagen within and around the lips. It is designed to create a smoother, fuller and more hydrated-looking lip without needles, filler or bruising.

How does LipLase® work?

LipLase® gently heats the deeper layers of the lips and surrounding skin to stimulate collagen production from both the inner and outer lip surfaces. The result is gradual, natural-looking improvement in lip texture, definition and fullness.

LipLase® will not create the same volume as dermal filler, but it can be a good option for patients wanting a subtle, natural result. The supplied LipLase information describes a 45-minute treatment, no downtime and a recommended course of 3–4 treatments for longer-lasting results.

Best for: acne scarring, uneven texture, fine lines, sun damage, pigmentation, enlarged pores and rough or aged skin.

Fotona laser resurfacing is a more intensive treatment option for patients who want visible improvement in skin texture and quality. It can be tailored to different areas including the full face, lower face, perioral area, eyes or neck.

How does Fotona resurfacing work?

Fotona resurfacing uses Er:YAG laser energy to precisely treat the outer layers of the skin. Depending on the treatment plan, fractional resurfacing creates controlled microchannels to stimulate collagen while preserving surrounding tissue, while full spot ablation can be used to smooth more targeted imperfections.

The supplied resurfacing information describes a 60–90 minute treatment, a recommended course of 2–3 sessions, and approximately 7–10 days of social downtime, including redness, peeling, swelling and possible scabbing depending on intensity.

Best for: stubborn fat with skin laxity, abdomen, flanks, thighs, bra line, under-chin fullness, post-pregnancy laxity and post-weight-loss skin looseness.

Fotona body contouring and tightening can support patients who are close to a stable weight but want to improve firmness, contour and localised areas of fat or laxity.

How does Fotona body contouring work?

Fotona can combine deeper heating for fat reduction with more superficial heating for collagen remodelling and skin tightening. The L-Runner is used for deeper body sculpting, while the T-Runner can be used for larger-area skin tightening.

This is not a weight loss treatment. It is best suited to patients looking for improved contour, firmness and skin quality in specific areas.

Best for: snoring caused by vibration of relaxed soft tissues, where clinically appropriate.

NightLase® is a non-invasive Fotona laser treatment designed to reduce snoring by gently heating and tightening the soft tissues at the back of the throat and soft palate.

How does NightLase® work?

NightLase® uses Er:YAG laser energy to create controlled tissue tightening in the soft palate and throat area. By reducing relaxation and vibration of these tissues, it may help reduce snoring and improve airway openness.

NightLase® is not a replacement for medical assessment where obstructive sleep apnoea is suspected. Patients with choking episodes, witnessed pauses in breathing, severe daytime sleepiness, uncontrolled blood pressure or significant fatigue should be medically assessed before treatment.
Most patients can eat, drink and return to normal activities after treatment.

Best for: acne-prone skin, post-acne marks, texture irregularity, acne scarring and inflammatory skin concerns as part of a wider medical skin plan.

At Thames Skin Clinic, acne is treated as a chronic inflammatory skin condition that often needs a structured, multi-pillar approach. Fotona laser treatment may be used as part of a wider plan to support inflammation, skin recovery, redness, texture and acne scarring.

How does Fotona support acne and scarring?

Depending on the concern, Fotona laser protocols may be used to calm inflammation, support collagen remodelling, improve texture and resurface acne scarring. Treatment may be combined with medical skincare, AviClear, peels, microneedling, exosomes, nutraceutical support or prescription treatment where appropriate.

Fotona is an advanced medical laser platform used for a range of non-surgical skin, hair, facial tightening, body contouring and wellness treatments. The SP Dynamis Max combines Er:YAG 2940nm and Nd:YAG 1064nm wavelengths, allowing treatment at different depths depending on the concern.

Yes. Fotona offers several non-surgical facial rejuvenation options, including Fotona 4D® and 5D for overall tightening and skin quality, SmoothEye® for the eye area, VectorLift® for brow and upper eyelid support, LipLase® for natural lip rejuvenation and resurfacing for texture and scarring. Dr Anna will assess which treatment or combination is most appropriate for your skin.

Fotona can be a non-surgical option for patients with mild to moderate laxity who want skin tightening, collagen stimulation and a fresher appearance without surgery. It is not the same as surgery and will not remove excess skin in the way a surgical facelift or blepharoplasty can. Dr Anna will discuss what is realistic for your anatomy, concern and goals.

Most Fotona treatments are well tolerated. Patients may feel warmth, heat, prickling or tightness depending on the treatment area and protocol. Some treatments may use topical anaesthetic. More intensive resurfacing treatments can feel more uncomfortable and involve more downtime than non-ablative tightening treatments.

Downtime depends on the treatment. HAIRestart®, LipLase®, NightLase®, SmoothEye®, VectorLift® and many Fotona 4D/5D protocols usually involve minimal downtime. Resurfacing treatments may involve redness, swelling, peeling, crusting or visible recovery for approximately 7–10 days, depending on intensity.

Fotona treatments can be adjusted for different skin types, but not every treatment is suitable for every patient. Skin type, pigmentation risk, tanning, medication, medical history and previous reactions must be assessed before treatment.

Fotona may not be suitable if you are pregnant, recently tanned or sunburnt, have an active infection, active inflammatory skin condition, history of poor wound healing or keloid scarring, photosensitivity, certain medical conditions or are taking medications that increase light sensitivity. Suitability is always assessed at consultation.

For many laser treatments, retinol, topical retinoids, acids and irritating active ingredients should be stopped before and after treatment. Dr Anna will advise exactly what to stop and when, based on your skin and planned treatment.

You must tell Dr Anna if you have a history of cold sores. Laser treatment can reactivate herpes simplex in some patients, and antiviral medication may be recommended before treatment.

Some tightening treatments may give an early refreshed or tightened appearance. Collagen-based results usually develop gradually over 4–8 weeks and can continue improving for several months. Resurfacing results often begin to show once redness and peeling have settled, with collagen improvement continuing afterwards.

This depends on the treatment, skin quality, age, lifestyle, sun exposure and maintenance. Many collagen stimulation treatments are maintained with periodic top-up sessions, often every 6–12 months or annually depending on the concern and treatment plan.

Yes. Fotona can often be combined with skin health programmes, injectables, polynucleotides, exosomes, PRP, microneedling, HydraFacial, medical skincare or nutraceutical support. Combination treatment is always planned carefully to protect the skin barrier and reduce the risk of irritation or pigment change.

You do not need to know before booking. The consultation is designed to assess your concern properly and guide you to the most appropriate treatment. Many patients come in asking for one treatment and discover that a different Fotona protocol, or a combination plan, will suit their skin better.

Thames Skin Clinic in Twickenham offers several non-surgical Fotona laser treatments for facial concerns. This includes a 4D and 5D facial laser treatment for overall tightening and texture, SmoothEye for the eye area and VectorLift for brow and upper eyelid lifting. Dr Anna Hemming will assess your skin and recommend the most appropriate treatment or combination of treatments, during your initial consultation.

Yes. Fotona laser treatments are often used as a non-surgical option for concerns that have traditionally required surgery, such as brow lifts, eyelid surgery or facelifts. Fotona offers a way to improve appearance and skin quality without incisions, anaesthetic or surgical recovery time. Dr Hemming will discuss what results are realistic for your individual concern during your consultation.