Know that scaling, crusting, swelling, and slow healing can follow a fractional laser, and ask about scarring risk before you book. Two clinical sources describe what can go wrong.
Healing and scarring
Cleveland Clinic's laser skin resurfacing guidance says that where laser light penetrates more deeply than other lasers, there is a greater risk of complicated healing and scarring. So ask your provider how deep their laser goes.
Scaling, crusting, and swelling
DermNet lists side effects and complications that may occur after aggressive or ablative fractional laser treatments, particularly on neck skin. They include excessive desquamation (scaling, peeling), some crusting, and swelling for up to one week after treatment. DermNet adds that an ice pack applied at ten-minute intervals for the first 24 hours can help with the swelling.
More to read
The AAD page on skin conditions that lasers can treat and the ASPS article on skin resurfacing techniques for facial rejuvenation give the wider picture. For research, the PMC paper on radiofrequency microneedling with a thulium laser versus radiofrequency microneedling alone compares two approaches for photoaged skin.
Asking about healing
Ask the provider how they handle complicated healing, and get the aftercare steps in writing.