Pixel laser treatment documentation template

Key takeaways

Pixel is Alma Lasers’ fractional delivery brand, not a single laser. The handpiece may be ablative CO2, ablative Er:YAG, or non-ablative Er:Glass.

Fractional describes how the beam is split into micro-treatment zones. It says nothing about whether the laser ablates tissue.

Record the handpiece, wavelength, fluence, and number of passes in every treatment note, because the word pixel alone is not a treatment parameter.

Recovery follows the wavelength. Non-ablative 1540 nm settles in one to two days, while ablative CO2 resurfacing peels for roughly five to ten days.

Practice management software like Pabau keeps consent, laser settings, and aftercare messaging together in one patient record.

Pixel laser is Alma Lasers’ brand of fractional resurfacing handpieces, and the name covers several different wavelengths. That matters for your records. An ablative CO2 treatment and a non-ablative 1540 nm treatment share the brand name. They do not share the recovery, the settings, or the consent conversation.

This guide covers what each Pixel handpiece does and how to prepare patients. It also sets out what to record at the point of treatment, and the aftercare each wavelength calls for. The template below gives your practice one consistent form to work from.

What is pixel laser resurfacing?

Pixel laser resurfacing is fractional skin resurfacing performed with one of Alma Lasers’ Pixel handpieces. Pixel is a brand and a delivery platform rather than a single modality. The same name sits on handpieces that emit very different wavelengths and produce very different recoveries.

Fractional describes how the energy reaches the skin. A diffractive optical element splits one beam into a grid of narrow columns, so each pulse creates micro-treatment zones with untreated skin between them. Those untreated bridges are what speed up healing compared with treating the whole surface.

Fractional delivery is independent of whether the laser ablates tissue. Ablation depends on the wavelength and how strongly water absorbs it. A fractional laser can be ablative or non-ablative, and every Pixel handpiece is clearly one or the other.

Which Pixel handpiece are you documenting?

Three energy sources carry the Pixel name, and your notes should always say which one was used. The manufacturer, Alma Lasers, also sells its 1540 nm module under the ClearSilk name on some platforms. Check the label on your own system before you write the protocol.

Whichever handpiece you run, the treatment note should name it alongside the wavelength, the fluence, the number of passes, and the treated area. Written that way, the record supports a follow-up practitioner, an insurer query, and any future comparison of results.

How fractional resurfacing works on the skin

During treatment the handpiece delivers energy in a fractional pattern across the area. Each micro-treatment zone reaches the target depth while the surrounding tissue stays intact. That controlled injury triggers the wound-healing cascade, and collagen synthesis continues for weeks afterward.

What the patient sees next depends on the wavelength. Ablative handpieces vaporize tissue in each column, so the skin bronzes and then sheds. Non-ablative 1540 nm energy heats the dermis without breaking the surface, so patients get redness and swelling instead of peeling.

Setting that expectation is a consultation task, not an aftercare one. Record the recovery you described and the patient’s acknowledgment in a consultation form before treatment begins.

Conditions these handpieces treat

Fractional resurfacing suits skin concerns where collagen remodeling improves appearance and texture. Integrated patient records should document the specific diagnosis, the treatment goal, and the handpiece chosen before each session.

• Atrophic acne scars. Depressed scars improve as new collagen fills and levels the surface.
• Fine lines and wrinkles. Periorbital and perioral lines respond well to collagen stimulation.
• Solar elastosis and sun damage. Photoaging, rough texture, and sun-induced dyschromia all improve with fractional resurfacing.
• Uneven skin texture. Large pores, roughness, and surface irregularity become smoother and more refined.
• Mild post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Pigment can fade as the skin exfoliates and renews.
• Surgical scars. Scars older than six months benefit from texture and color correction.
• Striae. Non-ablative 1540 nm treatment is the usual choice for stretch marks on the body.

Contraindications and assessment. Absolute contraindications include active infection such as herpes simplex or impetigo, current isotretinoin use, and uncontrolled inflammatory acne. Relative contraindications depend on Fitzpatrick skin type and the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which matters most for types IV to VI.

Capture skin type, baseline pigmentation, and hypersensitivity history on the aesthetic intake form. Higher Fitzpatrick types need lower fluences and fewer passes, and many practices choose the non-ablative 1540 nm handpiece for them rather than an ablative one.

Preparing a patient for treatment

Pre-treatment preparation improves results and reduces complications. Give patients a clear checklist at least one week before their appointment. Add antiviral prophylaxis for anyone with a history of cold sores who is booked for an ablative handpiece.

• Discontinue retinoids and vitamin C serums. Pause them for three to five days before treatment to avoid irritation.
• Avoid sun exposure. No tanning beds or direct sun for at least one week, and use SPF 50 or higher daily.
• Discontinue isotretinoin. Treatment is contraindicated during a course and within six months of finishing one.
• Avoid other resurfacing treatments. No chemical peels, microdermabrasion, or other laser treatments within two weeks.
• Cleanse gently. No harsh exfoliation or astringent products for three days before treatment.
• Offer a patch test. For hesitant patients, treat a small test area two to four weeks before a full-face session.
• Take baseline photographs. Use fixed lighting and angles, and remember that photo consent is separate from treatment consent.
• Capture informed consent. A signed medical consent form should name the handpiece, the expected recovery, and the activity restrictions.

Aftercare and healing timeline

Recovery tracks the wavelength, so give patients the timeline for the handpiece that was used on them. The table below covers the ablative handpieces, Pixel CO2 and Pixel 2940, where the skin bronzes and sheds.

Hand out written CO2 laser aftercare instructions after an ablative session, and swap the wording for the 1540 nm handpiece. One sheet cannot serve both, because one wavelength peels and the other does not.

Non-ablative 1540 nm recovery is much shorter. Expect erythema and swelling on the day of treatment, easing within 24 to 48 hours. There is no shedding phase, most patients wear makeup the next day, and sun protection still applies for two weeks.

What to avoid after any pixel laser treatment:

• Hot baths, showers, saunas, and swimming for at least 48 hours, since heat increases inflammation and infection risk
• Strenuous exercise and heavy sweating for three to five days after an ablative treatment
• Direct sun exposure for at least two weeks, with a mineral or hybrid SPF 50 sunscreen
• Makeup for 24 to 48 hours after ablative treatment, then only non-comedogenic products
• Picking, scratching, or rubbing skin that is peeling
• Retinol, vitamin C, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid for at least seven days
• Other laser or resurfacing treatments for at least four weeks

Expected results and treatment series

Results build over 8 to 12 weeks as collagen remodels. Texture and redness improve first, usually by weeks three and four. Scar depth, fine lines, and firmness keep improving for three to six months while new collagen matures.

Session counts follow the handpiece. Ablative fractional treatment typically needs one to three sessions spaced six to eight weeks apart. Non-ablative 1540 nm treatment usually needs four to six sessions spaced three to four weeks apart, because each pass does less per visit.

Some practitioners prefer two lower-fluence passes over one aggressive pass, particularly on sensitive or higher Fitzpatrick skin. Record the passes and fluence for every session, and take before-and-after photos at baseline and at weeks 4, 8, and 12.

Fractional resurfacing versus full-field ablative resurfacing

Patients often ask how pixel laser compares with “a CO2 laser”, and the honest answer starts with the terms. Pixel CO2 is a carbon dioxide laser, delivered fractionally. The useful comparison is fractional delivery against full-field ablation, with the wavelength named separately.

Full-field resurfacing has largely given way to fractional devices in aesthetic practice, and Pixel CO2 sits on the ablative end of that shift. Choosing between Pixel handpieces is a wavelength decision, so write the reasoning into the treatment plan.

How Pabau supports pixel laser documentation and aftercare

In many practices the laser settings and the consent live in different places. Parameters go in a paper log beside the machine, consent sits in a filing cabinet, and aftercare leaves as a printed sheet. Answering “what was she treated with in March” then means hunting through all three.

Practice management software like Pabau keeps all three together. In laser clinic software, the handpiece, wavelength, fluence, and pass count become fields on a digital treatment form. They are structured data rather than a scribble in a machine log, and consent is signed on screen against the same patient record.

Aftercare then goes out on its own. Automated pre- and post-care messaging can send one sequence after an ablative session and a different one after a non-ablative session. Pabau Scribe, drafts the note while you talk the patient through their recovery.

Adapt the downloadable template with your own branding, machine settings, aftercare products, and emergency contact details. Store it in an aesthetic EMR as a patient handout, and send it the moment treatment ends. Practices running a wider skin menu can slot it into their skin clinic workflows alongside every other consent form.

Record every laser parameter with the consent it belongs to

Pabau's digital forms, patient portal, and automated aftercare messaging keep the handpiece, wavelength, settings, and consent in one patient record. Your team can answer any question about a past session in seconds.

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Conclusion

The single change worth making to your pixel laser paperwork is naming the device. A record that says “pixel laser, 3 passes” tells a colleague almost nothing. One that says “Pixel CO2, 10,600 nm, 3 passes” tells them what they need.

That precision costs one extra field at the point of treatment. It pays back whenever a patient reacts badly, changes practitioner, or asks why this course looks different from the last one. The trade-off is a slightly longer form for a far shorter investigation.

Download the template, adapt it to the handpiece you run, and let your software carry the consent and aftercare. Book a demo to see how Pabau keeps laser parameters, consent, and follow-up in one patient record.

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Frequently asked questions