This is education, not advice
The information here is written for the general reader and does not replace a personal medical consultation. It cannot tell you how deep your problem sits, which option is appropriate for your skin, or how you would heal.
No outcome is guaranteed
No treatment can be guaranteed. How much pigment lifts, how much texture improves, how long the redness lasts and how the skin settles vary between individuals. A clinician who promises a specific result before examining your skin is describing something other than medicine.
Pigment change is a real risk
Any treatment that injures the skin can leave it darker or lighter than before, and the risk is greater with depth and in darker skin tones. It may take months to settle and may not settle completely. Treating it is harder than preventing it, which is why conservative settings are the plan rather than a compromise.
Sun damage is not reversed for good
Neither option undoes sun damage permanently. The skin continues to age and to be affected by sun exposure, and a result that is not protected with sun avoidance and sunscreen will not hold. Maintenance is part of the plan rather than an optional extra.