Skin Refresh
A general skin refresh with advanced plasma technology.
- Treatment time
- About 45 minutes
- Results
- Glow after 1–2 weeks; firming develops over 3–6 months
- Longevity
- Long-lasting; differs between people
- Downtime
- 1–7 days, depending on energy
- Price
- £400
About Skin Refresh
Skin Refresh is NeoGen's all-round treatment for people who care most about the overall quality of their skin rather than one particular spot: dullness, patchy tone, fine lines, large pores, or skin that has lost its spring. We apply plasma energy over the whole face to kick-start renewal and collagen, so as the skin heals it becomes smoother and gains a healthy glow. It sits between a single targeted area and the full-face treatment aimed at lifting.
Inside the NeoGen handpiece, nitrogen gas is turned into plasma energy and released onto the skin in measured pulses. That heat travels beneath the surface to the deeper layers, setting off the body's own healing response and the production of fresh collagen. Meanwhile the top layer of skin stays in place and works as a built-in dressing while everything underneath renews. Reaching deep while keeping the surface protected is what makes NeoGen different from ablative lasers.
What is NeoGen?
NeoGen Plasma is a skin renewal treatment without surgery, made by Energist in Swansea. Instead of a laser, light or injections, it uses nitrogen plasma to repair and renew your own skin, so the results look natural: skin that is firmer, smoother and more even, with no added volume. It has US FDA clearance, and the manufacturer reports more than 500,000 treatments carried out around the world.
- How it works
- NeoGen changes nitrogen gas into plasma and sends it to the skin as very short pulses of controlled heat, each lasting milliseconds. The heat sets off your skin's own healing response, which makes new collagen and elastin. Unlike ablative lasers, it doesn't cut or vaporise anything: the treated top layer stays in place as a natural dressing while new skin grows beneath it, and then it flakes off.
- What it treats
- Crepey or loose skin, fine lines and wrinkles, rough texture and large pores, sun damage and patchy tone, acne scars, and slack skin around the eyes. It can be used on the face, eyes, neck, décolletage and body.
- Low or high energy
- Every treatment is planned for you. Lower-energy sessions are gentle, need little recovery and are usually booked as a course, often three sessions about four weeks apart. One higher-energy treatment makes a bigger change at once, with more recovery time.
- Downtime
- After low energy: pink, warm skin like mild sunburn, then light flaking, usually settled within 2–4 days. After high energy: the skin turns bronze and peels, usually over about a week and sometimes up to two. Hold off on make-up and exercise until the peeling has stopped, and wear SPF 50 every day afterwards.
- Results
- Once healed, skin looks fresher and brighter, and many people see a difference within weeks. As new collagen builds, firmness and texture go on improving for three to six months, and the manufacturer says improvement can continue for a year or longer.
- Who it suits
- NeoGen works for most skin types, and the settings are adapted for darker skin. It can't be used while you're pregnant or breastfeeding, on skin with an active infection or cold sore, or soon after a course of isotretinoin. Your free consultation and patch test confirm whether it suits you.
Before & after
These are the manufacturer's published NeoGen results, not Banana Beauty Lab clients. Results vary from person to person, and your consultation and patch test show how your own skin responds.
Key Benefits
- 01Smoother, more even texture
- 02A brighter, healthier glow
- 03Softer fine lines and finer-looking pores
- 04Helps sun damage and patchy tone
- 05Collagen boosted over the whole face
- 06Adjustable energy, from a low-downtime refresh to a stronger one-off session
Is this treatment right for me?
Skin Refresh is ideal if your skin looks tired, dull or patchy, or you want an overall lift in texture and tone without a specific tightening goal. It makes a great first full-face NeoGen treatment.
You may be suitable if…
- Your skin looks dull, tired or uneven
- You have fine lines, large pores or sun damage
- You want an overall refresh rather than one treated area
- You've had your consultation and patch test
Your consultation will consider…
- How your skin type reacts at the patch test
- Which energy level suits you: comfort and little downtime, or a stronger single session
- Your health history, including pregnancy, isotretinoin and any conditions sensitive to light or heat
- Whether one session or a course of three suits your goal better
What to expect
Before treatment
Your NeoGen journey begins with a free consultation and patch test. We look at your skin type, health history and what you'd like to achieve, settle on the area and energy level, and treat a small test spot so you can see how your skin reacts. For a week before treatment, keep retinol, acids, sun and fake tan away from the area, tell us about any medicines you take, and come in on the day with clean skin.
During treatment
After cleansing, a strong anaesthetic cream goes on for roughly 30–45 minutes. Your practitioner then moves the NeoGen handpiece over the skin, delivering a sequence of pulses; most clients feel warmth and a gentle snapping. At low energy it's very comfortable, while higher energy feels hotter and is kept short. Treatment lasts 20–60 minutes, depending on the area.
After treatment
Expect the skin to be red, warm and tight, rather like sunburn; we apply a soothing balm before you go home. Over the following days the treated skin turns a light bronze and then sheds by itself, uncovering fresh skin underneath. Your practitioner explains the aftercare step by step and arranges a follow-up.
Results & longevity
You'll see results in phases. As soon as the skin has healed, within a week or two, it looks brighter and smoother and fine lines appear softer. Deeper change follows as collagen is rebuilt: most people notice firmer skin and better texture between three and six months, and the improvement continues through the first year. How long it lasts differs from one person to the next, and sun protection plus good skincare help it last longer. Either one higher-energy session or three lower-energy sessions can get you there, and your practitioner will suggest the better fit for you.
Recovery, side effects & aftercare
How long recovery takes depends on the energy setting. After a low-energy session you can expect a day or two of redness and some light flaking, and most people look settled within two to four days. Higher-energy sessions bring more redness, a bronzed look and peeling, usually lasting about a week and sometimes up to two, so it's sensible to plan social events around them. Whichever level you have, the top layer of skin stays intact as a protective dressing, which makes healing quicker and more comfortable than ablative resurfacing.
Side effects
You can expect redness, warmth, tightness, a little swelling, bronzing and peeling, and these follow a predictable pattern. While it sheds, the skin may feel dry or itchy. Less often, the skin can temporarily become darker or lighter (the reason sun protection matters so much), you may get a breakout, or a cold sore may flare around the mouth if you're prone to them. Blistering, infection and scarring are rare, and the patch test, sensible energy settings and careful aftercare all help keep them that way.
Aftercare
Wash the area softly with a gentle, non-foaming cleanser and keep it well hydrated with the balm we suggest, never letting it dry out. Leave the flaking skin alone: no picking, scrubbing or exfoliating, as it needs to come away naturally. Hold off on make-up until peeling has stopped, skip exercise, saunas and swimming while you heal, and keep out of direct sunlight. Wear SPF 50 every day for at least four weeks, and ideally from then on, because new skin picks up pigment easily.
Get in touch with the clinic if you see blistering, weeping, redness that spreads, pain that gets worse, or healing that seems to have stopped. Advice given early really helps.
- Downtime
- 2–4 days at low energy; around a week, sometimes two, at high energy
- Redness
- A day or two at low energy; up to a week at high energy
- Swelling
- Slight, for the first day or two
- Bruising
- Unusual
- Normal activities
- Gentle activity from the next day; skip exercise, saunas and swimming until the peeling is over
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NeoGen painful?
Once the numbing cream has worked, a low-energy session feels warm with a gentle snapping and is very comfortable. Higher-energy sessions bring brief bursts of stronger heat, and your practitioner tunes the settings so you stay comfortable.
How soon will I notice a difference?
Your skin looks fresher as soon as it has healed, giving you a 'glow' in the first week or two. Firmer skin and smoother texture then develop over three to six months as collagen is laid down, and the improvement can keep going for up to a year.
How long will the results last?
Because NeoGen prompts your skin to produce new collagen, better tone, texture and firmness can stay with you for a long time, although everyone is different. Protecting your skin from the sun and looking after it well helps, and your practitioner will talk you through maintenance.
How much downtime is there?
At low energy: a day or two of redness and some light flaking, usually settled within two to four days. At high energy: bronzing and peeling, normally for about a week and sometimes up to two. The outer skin stays in place the whole time, which keeps recovery comfortable.
How many treatments will I need?
That depends on the area, the energy level and what you want to achieve. Some clients get a good result from one higher-energy session, while others choose a course of three gentler ones. We agree your plan together at consultation.
Why is a patch test needed?
It's routine for any energy-based treatment. Treating a small test spot first shows how your skin reacts before a full session and helps us choose the correct energy for you. It costs nothing and only takes a few minutes.
Your Practitioners
John Dixon
Founder & Aesthetician
John founded Banana Beauty Lab and runs his aesthetics practice, Trusted Touch Aesthetics, here. He specialises in facial balancing and harmonisation, alongside wrinkle reduction and skin rejuvenation. His training is CPD-certified, he is fully insured, and is known for taking the time to assess your face properly, explaining every option honestly and never over-treating — the aim is always a natural result that still looks like you. Clients regularly mention his calm manner, attention to detail and the aftercare follow-up that checks in on how you're healing.
Elspeth
Nurse — NeoGen Plasma
An experienced nurse known for a calm, caring and thorough approach, Elspeth carries out NeoGen Plasma treatments at the clinic.