Which of the following is a type of non-ablative procedure?

Non-ablative procedures are those that do not remove the outer layer of skin, instead targeting deeper layers to stimulate collagen production and improve skin tone and texture without significant downtime. Laser hair removal is classified as a non-ablative technique because it uses laser technology to target hair follicles beneath the skin's surface without damaging the surrounding skin. This procedure specifically reduces hair growth by delivering energy to the hair follicle, leading to its destruction while maintaining the integrity of the surrounding tissue.

In contrast, the other procedures listed do involve some form of skin alteration or are classified differently. Chemical peels involve the application of a solution that causes the skin to exfoliate and peel off, which is an ablative action since it removes the outer layer of skin. Micro-needling, while minimally invasive, creates controlled micro-injuries to the skin to promote healing and collagen production, which also could be considered more invasive than non-ablative methods. Dermaplaning physically exfoliates the skin by scraping off dead skin cells and vellus hair, which is again an ablative technique as it removes surface skin layers.

Therefore, laser hair removal stands out as the procedure that aligns with the characteristics of a non-ablative approach, focusing on deeper