Lasers & Aesthetics in Tampa

Laser treatment may help with pigment, redness, acne and acne scarring, texture, fine lines, and unwanted hair. Dr. Alexandra Zelenka evaluates each patient individually and matches the platform and settings to your skin, your history, and the change you are actually hoping to see.

Studio portrait of a woman with clear, even-toned skin against a plain white background

What Are Laser & Aesthetic Treatments?

Aesthetic lasers deliver light energy at wavelengths chosen to be absorbed by a specific target in the skin, such as pigment in a sun spot, hemoglobin in a visible vessel, water in the tissue itself, or the pigment in a hair follicle. The absorbed energy prompts the body's own repair and remodeling response. Because each of those targets responds to different technology, no single device is the right answer for every concern, which is why our treatment rooms house more than one laser platform rather than one all-purpose machine.

The platforms in our treatment rooms include the Alma Harmony, a multi-technology system that brings several laser and light technologies together in one console, and the Alma Hybrid, a dual-wavelength system that pairs an ablative CO2 laser with a non-ablative 1570 nm laser in one applicator for resurfacing, rejuvenation and scar treatment. At your consultation, Dr. Zelenka will explain which platform suits your concern, what a realistic result looks like, and whether laser treatment is a reasonable option for you at all. Some concerns are better served by medical treatment, by a skin-cancer evaluation with a dermatologist, or by doing nothing for now, and we will say so.

Aesthetic laser services are self-pay and are not billed to insurance. The aesthetic consultation is $100, applied toward your treatment plan thereafter. Our insurance-based primary care panel is currently full, but the self-pay consultative track that includes aesthetics, hormones, and functional medicine is open to new patients.

Concerns Patients Commonly Bring to a Laser Consultation

Sun spots and other pigmented lesions
Melasma and uneven pigmentation
Facial redness and visible vessels
Active acne and acne scarring
Rough or uneven skin texture
Fine lines and wrinkles
Skin laxity
Unwanted hair
An unwanted tattoo

What to Expect

More than one laser platform in-office, so treatment is matched to the concern rather than to whatever device happens to be available
The Alma Harmony integrates diode, IPL, Q-switched, non-ablative, and fractional ablative laser technologies into a single FDA-cleared system
The Harmony supports a wide range of skin types (I through VI), with customizable energy settings
The Alma Hybrid is a dual-wavelength platform combining an ablative CO2 laser (10,600 nm) with a non-ablative 1570 nm laser in a single applicator, treating the surface and deeper layers at once
Its HyGrid technology lets the ratio of ablative to non-ablative energy be set per patient, balancing how much correction is attempted against how much downtime you can accept
The Harmony allows combination procedures to be performed in a single session
Physician-led candidacy review covering skin type, medications, recent sun exposure, and realistic expectations
$100 aesthetic consultation, applied toward your treatment plan

Our Approach to Laser & Aesthetic Care

A careful assessment first, then the smallest reasonable intervention that addresses what is actually bothering you.

Consultation and Skin Assessment

We start by looking at the skin and listening to what you want changed. We discuss your skin type, how your skin has responded to sun and to previous treatments, and what results are and are not achievable. The aesthetic consultation is $100 and is applied toward your treatment plan thereafter.

Candidacy and Safety Review

Candidates are evaluated individually. As a physician-run practice, we review your medical history and your full medication list, including anything that increases light sensitivity, along with recent sun exposure or tanning, a history of scarring or cold sores, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and any lesion that should be evaluated before it is treated cosmetically.

Matching the Platform to the Concern

Pigment, vascular concerns, hair, and texture each respond to different technology. We select the platform and the settings for your specific concern and skin type, and we may recommend a test spot before treating a larger area.

Treatment Plan and Follow-Up

You leave with a written plan: which treatment, how many sessions we anticipate, the spacing between them, the cost, and the aftercare. We reassess as we go and adjust the plan based on how your skin actually responds rather than on a fixed package.

The Laser Platforms in Our Office

We treat with more than one laser platform so the technology can be matched to the concern. Each platform is used only for what it is suited to, and Dr. Zelenka will tell you at consultation which one fits your skin and your goal.

Alma Harmony

Alma Harmony is a multi-technology aesthetic laser platform that integrates diode, IPL, Q-switched, non-ablative, and fractional ablative laser technologies into a single system. It combines five primary technologies, including a green diode laser for vascular lesions and a Q-switched laser for pigmentation and tattoos, and is used for hair removal, skin rejuvenation, acne treatments, pigmentation correction, vascular treatments, tattoo removal, and resurfacing. The system is FDA-cleared and supports a wide range of skin types (I through VI), offering minimal downtime and customizable energy settings. Its cleared indications span more than 65 different skin concerns, including hyperpigmentation, melasma, sun spots (solar lentigines), tattoo removal, acne, acne scars, psoriasis, overall redness, nail fungus (onychomycosis), hair removal, rough skin texture, wrinkles, fine lines, and skin laxity. Cleared indications describe what the platform is authorized to treat; they are not a promise of any individual result, and suitability is assessed patient by patient.

Alma Hybrid

The Alma Hybrid is a dual-wavelength laser platform for skin resurfacing, rejuvenation and scar treatment. It combines two distinct laser technologies in a single applicator so the surface and the deeper layers of the skin are treated at the same time: an ablative CO2 laser at 10,600 nm, which vaporizes damaged tissue at the surface to improve texture, fine lines and superficial scars, and a non-ablative 1570 nm laser, which reaches deeper into the dermis without disrupting the surface and stimulates collagen and elastin for firmness. Its HyGrid technology allows the ratio of ablative to non-ablative energy to be set precisely, which is how a treatment gets balanced between how much correction is attempted and how much recovery you are willing to take on. It is FDA-cleared, is used across a wide range of skin types including darker skin tones, and is applied to concerns such as acne scars, wrinkles, sun damage, uneven pigmentation, stretch marks and skin laxity. Recovery is shorter than with traditional ablative CO2 lasers; mild redness and peeling for roughly five to seven days is typical, though this varies with the settings used and with the individual. An advanced cooling system and an ergonomic applicator are built in for comfort during the procedure.

Benefits

Technology Matched to the Concern

Because we work with more than one platform, treatment can be selected for pigment, vascular concerns, hair, or texture specifically, instead of applying one device to every problem.

Broad Cleared Indications

The Harmony's cleared indications cover more than 65 skin concerns, from pigmentation and redness to acne, scarring, texture, and unwanted hair, so several concerns can often be discussed in one visit.

A Range of Skin Types

The Harmony supports a wide range of skin types (I through VI) with customizable energy settings. Settings are still chosen individually, and your skin type is part of what determines whether a given treatment is appropriate.

Efficiency in a Single Session

The Harmony allows for combination procedures in a single session, which can reduce the number of separate appointments a plan requires.

Physician-Led Assessment

Your history, your medications, and your skin are reviewed by a physician before any device is used. Concerns that are medical rather than cosmetic are identified and directed appropriately.

Clear Expectations and Pricing

You are told before you begin what is realistic, how many sessions are anticipated, and what it costs. These are self-pay services, so there are no insurance surprises afterward.

What to Expect

Consultation

A $100 visit, applied toward your treatment plan thereafter. We assess your skin, review your medical history and medications, discuss sun exposure, and talk through what laser treatment can and cannot do for your particular concern. If you are not a good candidate, or if a concern should be evaluated medically first, this is where we say so.

Preparation and Test Spot

You may be asked to stop certain products or medications beforehand, and to avoid sun exposure and tanning in the weeks before treatment. Depending on the treatment and your skin type, we may perform a small test spot first to see how your skin responds before treating a full area.

The Session

Sessions vary in length depending on the area and the technology used. Eye protection is worn throughout. Sensation varies by treatment and by person, and is often described as brief heat or a snapping feeling; cooling and topical numbing are used where appropriate. Many patients find sessions comfortable, but comfort varies and we adjust as we go.

Aftercare and Downtime

Downtime depends on the platform and the settings. The Harmony is designed for minimal downtime, while resurfacing treatments generally involve a recovery period with redness and peeling. You will receive specific aftercare instructions, and diligent sun protection afterward is not optional; it helps protect your result and your skin.

Series and Maintenance

Most concerns are treated in a series of sessions spaced weeks apart rather than in one visit, and results build gradually. The number of sessions varies by concern, by skin type, and by individual response, so we set expectations at consultation and reassess as we go. Some results benefit from periodic maintenance.

Candidacy: Who Laser Treatment Suits, and Who It Does Not

Candidates are evaluated individually, and not everyone who wants a laser treatment should have one. The assessment covers skin type and how your skin has historically responded to injury and to sun, recent sun exposure or tanning, a history of keloids or abnormal scarring, a history of cold sores in the treatment area, current medications and supplements that increase light sensitivity, and recent use of certain acne medications. Pregnancy and breastfeeding, active infection or inflammation in the area, and certain medical conditions may mean deferring treatment.

Any lesion that is changing, bleeding, or otherwise suspicious is not a cosmetic problem and should be evaluated before it is treated. Because this is a physician's office, that evaluation happens as part of the conversation rather than being someone else's job. Where a concern is better addressed medically, or by a dermatologist, we will tell you.

Realistic expectations are part of candidacy. Laser treatment may improve the appearance of pigment, redness, texture, scarring, and unwanted hair, and many patients are pleased with the change. It does not stop skin from aging, results vary from person to person, and no result can be guaranteed. Melasma in particular is a chronic, recurring condition that is managed rather than cured, and it can worsen with the wrong energy or with sun exposure afterward. We would rather be candid about that up front than have you be disappointed later.

Self-Pay Aesthetic Services and Fees

Aesthetic and laser services are self-pay and are not billed to insurance. This is deliberate: it keeps the visit focused on what you actually want rather than on what a payer will authorize, and it means you know the cost before you begin. The aesthetic consultation is $100, and that fee is applied toward your treatment plan thereafter. Treatment pricing depends on the area and the plan, and is quoted in writing at your consultation.

Our insurance-based primary care panel is currently full, and new primary care patients are accepted only by special request. The self-pay consultative track is open. If your visit touches on our other consultative services, those carry their own fees: hormones, peptides, and weight management are $200 for the initial consultation and $100 per follow-up, and functional medicine is $400 for the new-patient consult and $200 for a follow-up or phone visit.

To book, call (813) 814-4204 or email premier@zelenkamd.com. The office is at 13015 W Linebaugh Ave, Suite 101, Tampa, FL 33626, open Monday through Friday, 10am to 5pm.

Common Questions About Lasers & Aesthetics

Are laser and aesthetic treatments covered by insurance?

No. Aesthetic and laser services at Premier Internal Medicine are self-pay and are not billed to insurance. The aesthetic consultation is $100, applied toward your treatment plan thereafter, and treatment pricing is quoted in writing at that visit so you know the cost before you commit to anything. Our insurance-based primary care panel is currently full, with new primary care patients accepted only by special request, but the self-pay consultative track that includes aesthetics is open to new patients.

Which laser will be used on me?

That is decided at your consultation, not before. We work with more than one platform because pigment, vascular concerns, unwanted hair, and skin texture respond to different technologies. The Alma Harmony brings together diode, IPL, Q-switched, non-ablative, and fractional ablative technologies for concerns such as pigmentation, redness, acne, tattoo removal, and hair removal. The Alma Hybrid pairs an ablative CO2 laser with a deeper non-ablative 1570 nm laser in a single applicator, which is what makes it suited to resurfacing, scar treatment and skin laxity; its HyGrid control sets how much of each is delivered, so the same platform can be run gently or intensively depending on the downtime you can accept. Dr. Zelenka will explain which one suits your skin and your goal, and why.

Can I be treated if I have darker skin?

Possibly, and it depends on the treatment. The Harmony platform supports a wide range of skin types (I through VI) with customizable energy settings. That said, skin type meaningfully affects which treatments are appropriate and at what settings, and the risk of pigment changes is real when a device or setting is mismatched to the skin. Candidates are evaluated individually, and a test spot is often used before treating a larger area.

How many sessions will I need?

It depends on the concern, the platform, your skin type, and how your skin responds, and honest answers here are individual rather than standard. Most concerns are treated in a series spaced weeks apart rather than in a single visit, with results building gradually. We will give you our expectation at consultation and revise it as we see how you respond. We do not sell fixed packages that assume a result we cannot promise.

What is the downtime?

It varies by platform and by the settings used. The Harmony is designed for minimal downtime, and many patients return to normal activity quickly, often with some redness for a short period. Resurfacing treatments are different: they generally involve a recovery period with redness, swelling, and peeling as the skin renews. We tell you what to expect for your specific treatment before you schedule it, so you can plan around it.

Does laser treatment hurt?

Sensation varies by treatment and by person. Patients often describe brief heat or a snapping feeling against the skin. Cooling and topical numbing are used where appropriate, and more intensive resurfacing settings are more uncomfortable than gentler treatments. Tell us during the session if it is too much; settings can be adjusted.

What should I do before my appointment?

Avoid sun exposure, tanning beds, and self-tanner in the weeks before treatment, since recently tanned skin raises the risk of burns and pigment changes. Bring a complete list of your medications and supplements, including anything that increases light sensitivity and any recent acne medication. Tell us if you get cold sores, scar easily, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have had previous laser treatment. Specific instructions are given at your consultation.

Related Services

Hormone Optimization & Replacement

Skin, energy, and body composition often track with hormonal changes. Self-pay: $200 initial consultation, $100 per follow-up.

Functional Medicine

A root-cause look at inflammation, nutrition, and the internal factors that show up in the skin. $400 new-patient consult, $200 follow-up or phone visit.

Peptide Therapy

Physician-supervised peptide protocols, evaluated individually. Self-pay: $200 initial consultation, $100 per follow-up.

Medical Weight Management

Medically supervised weight management for patients whose goals include body composition. Self-pay: $200 initial consultation, $100 per follow-up.

Ready to Talk About Laser Treatment?

Start with a $100 aesthetic consultation, applied toward your treatment plan thereafter. We will assess your skin, tell you honestly what laser treatment can and cannot do for your concern, and quote the plan in writing before you commit. Call (813) 814-4204 or book online.

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