CO2 Laser Treatment

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CO2 Laser Before & Afters

Carbon Dioxide Laser Resurfacing

CO2 laser treatment utilizes carbon dioxide lasers to precisely remove thin layers of skin with minimal damage to the surrounding structures. These lasers can be used to effectively treat sun damage, wrinkles, scars, birthmarks, warts, and other skin concerns.

CO2 Laser Treatment Areas

Wrinkles (rhytides)

Photodamage

Scars

Warts

Linear epidermal nevi (birthmarks)

Rhinophyma (enlarged oil glands on the nose)

CO2 Laser Technology

Woman with glowing skin after co2 facial

This type of laser has been used for many years to treat non-cancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant) skin conditions. The latest carbon dioxide lasers deliver very short-pulsed light energy (ultrapulsed) or continuous light beams in a scanning pattern.

Advanced technology utilized by carbon dioxide lasers has given aestheticians the ability to rejuvenate sun-damaged, wrinkled skin. Carbon dioxide laser resurfacing can be used in conjunction with other treatment options, including tretinoin, alpha hydroxy acids, vitamin C lotion, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, collagen or fat augmentation, and botulinum toxin (Botox®) for minimizing the appearance of facial lines and scars.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the laser treatment like?

The treatment areas are numbed with a local anesthetic before the treatments begins. Wrinkles around the eyes, forehead, or mouth may be treated individually, or the patient may undergo full-face laser resurfacing. A partial-face laser resurfacing takes 30 to 45 minutes, while the full-face treatment will require one-and-a-half to two hours.

How long will it take my skin to fully heal?

In general, the treated areas take 10 to 21 days to heal, depending on the type of condition treated and the intensity of the laser settings. The stronger the settings, the longer the recovery time.
Once the treated areas have healed, individuals can wear oil-free makeup to camouflage the pink-to-red color that generally occurs after laser resurfacing. Green-based makeup is most effective for addressing redness in the skin. The redness in the treatment sites generally fades within two to three months, but may take as long as six months to completely disappear.

Are there any risks associated with CO2 laser treatment?

Patients with darker skin tones have a greater risk of developing darker pigmentation, or hyperpigmentation, although anyone can be affected by this side effect after laser treatment. Using a bleaching agent before and after treatment can help minimize the risk of developing hyperpigmentation.