Laser education center since 2008 · Zagreb & Daruvar
Laser Skin Rejuvenation in Croatia
A fractional Er:YAG laser works on uneven texture, enlarged pores, fine lines, and acne scars. At the Maletić Polyclinic we have performed laser procedures since 2008, and before the treatment we explain the expected recovery and the realistic extent of improvement.
Laser skin rejuvenation is intended to improve skin texture, enlarged pores, fine lines, surface pigmentation, and acne scars. Because this is an ablative fractional treatment, you should count on a few days of peeling afterwards and a gradual fading of redness.
Is this for me?
What laser skin rejuvenation is and what it really changes
Laser skin rejuvenation is an ablative treatment in which microscopic portions of the skin’s surface layer are removed in a controlled way, stimulating its renewal. The treatment is performed fractionally, meaning that areas of untouched skin remain between the treated points and take part in the healing.
The thermal effect of the laser stimulates renewal processes in the deeper layers of the skin and the formation of collagen. Because of this, the skin’s texture and surface evenness keep changing over the following weeks and months.
We perform the procedure with an Er:YAG laser with a scanner that guides the laser beam according to preset parameters. The depth, density, and pattern of the treated points are adjusted to your skin type and the problem being treated.
Which problems it makes sense for
The treatment is intended primarily for improving the surface and texture of the skin, not for lifting lax facial structures. It is used for:
- acne scars, especially shallow and medium-deep ones
- enlarged pores and uneven texture
- fine lines
- surface changes caused by sun exposure
- age spots and sun spots
- an uneven and tired-looking complexion
If the main problem is skin laxity and a loss of facial contour, a more suitable option may be 4D laser tightening, which does not remove the surface layer of the skin and has a different course of recovery. These are two different treatments for different indications.
How it is performed
What the treatment and the week after it look like
Before the treatment, anesthetic cream is applied to the face, and while the laser is working, cool air is blown onto the skin. The number of laser passes depends on what we are treating and how deep we need to go, so the duration differs from person to person.
After the treatment you go home the same day and receive written skin-care instructions. Proper care during the first days is important for orderly healing and for reducing the risk of complications.
- Duration
- depends on the extent of the treatment, assessed at the examination
- Anesthesia
- anesthetic cream and air cooling
- Recovery
- peeling for 2–3 days, redness fades gradually
- Performed by
- Physicians of the Maletić Polyclinic Laser Center
What you feel during the treatment
The sensation during the treatment depends on the depth of the work, the number of passes, and the area being treated. A milder protocol is most often felt as warmth and stinging, while deeper scar treatment can cause more pronounced discomfort and require an adjusted approach to anesthesia.
At the examination, the planned depth of the treatment and the expected sensation are explained. If you have a lower pain threshold or have had an unpleasant experience with laser treatments before, it is important to mention this before the procedure.
Day by day, what to expect
The timeframe differs from person to person, but the course is generally like this:
Treatment day
The skin is red and mildly swollen, with a feeling like after stronger sun exposure.
The first two to three days
The surface layer begins to peel, like flaking. The most important thing is not to help with your hands, because picking off the crusts carries a risk of scarring and pigmentation changes.
End of the first week
The peeling is mostly finished, and the skin can stay pinkish, delicate, and sensitive.
The next two to three weeks
The pinkish tone gradually fades, and with more sensitive skin it can last longer. In the meantime the result keeps building, because new collagen forms over weeks.
The technology behind the result
The lasers we use
At the Maletić Polyclinic we work exclusively with lasers made by Fotona — a cooperation that dates back to 2008, when we also became its education center. The device, however, is only one part, because the outcome of a procedure is decided by the knowledge with which it is applied.
Physicians from the United States, Canada, Australia, Dubai, Russia, Israel, Turkey and other parts of the world come to our polyclinic to learn about laser procedures and see how we work. Daruvar is home to a training hall with live broadcasts of procedures from the operating room, so learning happens on real clinical cases.
Our physicians — Ines Maletić, Duško Maletić, MD, MSc, and Mario Bartol — regularly take part in Fotona’s international meetings, which bring together experts in laser medicine. What they learn there, we apply in our work with patients.
For skin rejuvenation we use a fractional Er:YAG laser with a scanner, which guides the laser beam along a preset program.
- Education center since 2008
- Fotona Laser & Health Academy
- Live broadcasts from the operating room
Why us
Why choose us for laser skin rejuvenation
An education center since 2008
In cooperation with the Fotona Laser & Health Academy, we train physicians from other countries in laser procedures.
Fotona Laser & Health Academy
Our physicians take part in the academy’s education programs as Expert Clinical Lecturers.
Live broadcasts of procedures
In the training hall in Daruvar, course participants can follow procedures from the operating room in real time.
Exclusively Fotona lasers
At the Polyclinic we work with Fotona devices, which we also use in training physicians from other countries.
A fractional Er:YAG with a scanner
The scanner guides the laser beam according to the set parameters of depth, density, and pattern of treated points.
Written skin-care instructions
Before going home you receive clear instructions for caring for your skin during the first days of recovery.
A family polyclinic since 1998
Today two generations of the Maletić family work at the Polyclinic, in Zagreb and Daruvar.
Assessment before the treatment
At the examination we assess whether the treatment matches the condition of your skin and the result you want to achieve.
Honest about the limits
How much improvement you can realistically expect
The extent of improvement depends on the problem being treated and its depth. Surface irregularities, uneven texture, and enlarged pores can be visibly softened. With shallow and medium-deep acne scars, the goal is to reduce how pronounced they are — not to remove them completely. Deep scars can require several treatments, a combination of methods, or a different procedure, and even then the complete disappearance of scars is not guaranteed.
The result and how long it lasts differ according to the initial condition of the skin, the depth of the treatment, the number of visits, sun exposure, and the aging process. The treatment can improve the appearance of the skin, but it does not stop its future changes.
The result is not assessed as soon as the peeling ends. The redness and peeling relate to the healing of the surface, while the renewal processes in the deeper layers of the skin continue for months, and changes can be followed for up to six months after the procedure. The treatment does not lift lax facial structures and does not replace procedures intended for skin tightening.
“The goal is not to remove every irregularity, but to improve the skin’s texture and soften the changes that can be treated with a laser. At the examination we assess how realistic such an improvement is in your case.”
When a laser is not the right choice
The treatment is not suitable, or is not enough on its own, in the following situations:
- The scars are too deep for a result achievable with a fractional laser alone. Then another method or a combination of procedures is considered.
- The main problem is laxity, not texture. Then a different treatment is involved — or a facelift if the laxity is advanced.
- The expected result cannot be achieved with this treatment. A laser can soften irregularities, but it cannot create skin without pores, scars, and all signs of aging.
- The acne is active. The acne is treated first, and only then the scars it left behind.
When the treatment should be postponed
- Tanned skin, as well as planned sun exposure in the near future, call for moving the appointment.
- A few free days for recovery need to be planned because of the peeling, redness, and skin sensitivity.
- Isotretinoin within the last year changes how the skin reacts, so tell us if you have taken it.
- An autoimmune disease, weakened immunity, or an active infection require assessment first.
- A tendency to cold sores should be mentioned before the treatment, because an ablative laser procedure can trigger reactivation of the virus, including in people without frequent earlier episodes.
“After the treatment, count on a few days of visible peeling and redness. The appointment should therefore be coordinated with your business and private commitments.”
After the treatment
Care after the treatment and sun protection
During the first days, care for the skin according to the instructions you receive. The crusts are not picked off, the skin is not rubbed, and only products agreed with the physician are used. You receive detailed written instructions before going home.
After an ablative treatment the skin is more sensitive to ultraviolet radiation, so consistent sun protection is an important part of recovery. Intense exposure can increase the risk of long-lasting uneven pigmentation. The treatment is therefore planned for late autumn, winter, or early spring, and avoiding the sun is recommended during the first month after the procedure.
Who we are
Who performs the treatment
Laser treatments at the Maletić Polyclinic are performed by the physicians of the Laser Center. We have worked with lasers since 2008, the year we also began operating as an education center in cooperation with the Fotona Laser & Health Academy.
Ines Maletić, MD is a co-founder of the Polyclinic and one of the two physicians who opened it in Daruvar in 1998. She is a specialist in anesthesiology, reanimatology, and intensive care, trained further in the Czech Republic and Austria, and serves as an Expert Clinical Lecturer with the Fotona Laser & Health Academy. She has performed facial laser treatments since the Laser Center began.
Mario Bartol, MD is a specialist in surgery and a subspecialist in traumatology and orthopedics, a member of the Polyclinic’s team since 2008, and a permanent court expert witness. He performed the first laser vein surgery in Croatia, and alongside laser surgery he also performs laser treatments and aesthetic medicine procedures.
Both regularly take part in Fotona’s international meetings dedicated to laser medicine.
The nurses take part in preparing you for the treatment, give care instructions, and follow the course of recovery at the check-ups.
Meet the whole teamPrice
The price of laser skin rejuvenation
The price depends on the extent of the treated area and the planned number of visits. After the examination you receive a proposed therapy plan and an approximate total cost.
The full price list is available on the prices page, and you will find the other laser treatments in the Laser Center.
For an examination in Zagreb or Daruvar, reach us through the contact page. At the examination we assess whether laser rejuvenation suits the condition of your skin, or whether another method might give a more appropriate result.
Patient reviews
What our patients say
Reviews taken from our Google Business profiles, Zagreb and Daruvar, translated from Croatian.
★★★★★
“Laser acne treatment is the only treatment that has helped me, and I would not choose any other facial treatment over it. Dr. Ines is one of the kindest people I have ever met and always has useful advice. Kind staff and excellent service — I warmly recommend it to everyone!”
★★★★★
“Since high school I watched the double chin I inherited from my father become more and more pronounced — and 15 years later, it is gone. A big thank you to Dr. Maletić and the whole team for granting my wish. The procedure was painless, as was the recovery, and the results were visible within a few days. The entire team was exceptionally kind and cheerful, and the atmosphere very pleasant. I left the polyclinic satisfied, and when the swelling went down two days later and I saw the double chin was gone, my satisfaction knew no bounds. I warmly recommend the Maletić Polyclinic.”
★★★★★
“My experience with breast augmentation with Dr. Maletić in Daruvar was excellent. I am extremely satisfied with the result. All the nurses are very kind and professional. I absolutely recommend them.”
★★★★★
“All praise for the Maletić Polyclinic in Daruvar! I had my lips enhanced with fillers and I am very satisfied with the result. I would especially like to commend Dr. Mario Bartol, who is exceptionally kind, professional, and has a wonderful approach to patients, which made me feel comfortable and safe throughout the treatment. All the nurses are also very kind, helpful, and professional. I warmly recommend them to anyone considering aesthetic treatments!”
★★★★★
“I had a wart on my face removed with a laser. A very professional service with excellent results. The wart was quite large, but after just one treatment it was gone. Highly recommended!”
★★★★★
“I recently had a varicose vein procedure. All praise to the entire team.”
★★★★★
“Blepharoplasty, 4D laser and double chin. Perfect. Highly recommended!”
★★★★★
“The best team of physicians, exceptionally professional and kind. I have been loyal to the Maletić Polyclinic for more than 10 years and I am always satisfied with the results. Thank you.”
★★★★★
“I can only recommend Dr. Maletić’s practice, both in Daruvar and in Zagreb — and I have had several procedures there — because I felt very comfortable and in expert hands!”
★★★★★
“An exceptionally professional, pleasant, and skilled team who know and love their work. It is good to be in the hands of some of the greatest experts in their field, who provide the kind of service I would wish for and recommend to anyone.”
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions
Does laser skin rejuvenation hurt?
During the treatment you may feel warmth, stinging, and discomfort, whose intensity depends on the depth and parameters of the work. Anesthetic cream is applied before the treatment, and the skin is cooled with air during the procedure. If you are more sensitive to pain, tell the physician so the approach can be adjusted.
How many days does recovery take?
Immediately after the treatment the skin is red and mildly swollen, and over the next two to three days the surface layer peels. After that the skin can remain pinkish and sensitive for another week or two. It is therefore wise to plan the treatment several days before important business or private commitments.
How much improvement can I expect?
The extent of improvement depends on the problem being treated and its depth. Surface irregularities, uneven texture, and enlarged pores can be visibly softened. Shallow acne scars can become less pronounced, while deep scars most often require several treatments or a combination with other methods. Complete removal of scars cannot be promised.
How many treatments are needed?
The number of treatments and the intervals between them depend on the problem being treated, the depth of the work, and how the skin responds. An approximate plan is therefore set at the examination and adjusted during therapy if needed.
Can the treatment be done in summer?
The treatment is usually planned for late autumn, winter, or early spring. After the procedure the skin is more sensitive to the sun, and exposure increases the risk of uneven pigmentation. A summer appointment is therefore postponed when the sun cannot be reliably avoided.
Will I get pigmentation after the treatment?
Temporary lightening or darkening of the skin is possible after the treatment, and the risk is higher with darker phototypes and tanned skin. The parameters are therefore adjusted to your skin type and condition. Consistent sun protection is important for reducing the risk of pigmentation changes.
Who should not have this treatment?
The treatment is postponed if the skin is tanned, if you are planning intense sun exposure soon, or if you do not have a few days for recovery. Special assessment is required for isotretinoin use within the last year, autoimmune diseases, weakened immunity, an active infection, active acne in the treatment area, and a tendency to cold sores. It is important to tell the physician about these circumstances before the treatment, because they can change the plan or the appointment.
Book a consultation for laser skin rejuvenation
Zagreb and Daruvar, weekdays 8:00–20:00.