What can be expected during and after carbon dioxide laser resurfacing?
Carbon dioxide laser resurfacing is usually performed on an outpatient basis, using local anesthesia in combination with sedative medications given by mouth or through a vein.
The areas to be treated are numbed with a local anesthetic. General anesthesia may be used when the entire face is treated. Wrinkles around the eyes, mouth or forehead may be treated individually, or a full-face laser resurfacing may be performed.
A partial-face laser resurfacing takes 30 to 45 minutes, and the full-face treatment takes one-and-a-half to two hours.
Following the laser resurfacing procedure, a non-stick dressing is applied to the treatment sites for 24 hours. You may be instructed to clean the treated areas two to five times a day with saline or a dilute vinegar solution. You can then apply Vaseline®, Eucerin®, or Aquaphor® to the area. This wound care is intended to prevent the forming of any scabs, which can increase the chance of scarring and prolong the healing time.
In general, the areas heal in 10 to 21 days, depending on the nature of the condition that was treated and the intensity of the laser settings. The stronger the settings, the longer the recovery time.
Once the areas have healed, you can wear oil-free makeup to camouflage the pink-to-red color that is generally seen after laser resurfacing. Green-based makeup is particularly suitable for the redness in the skin. The redness in the laser-treated sites generally fades in two to three months, but may take as long as six months to disappear. It generally persists longer in blondes and redheads.
Patients with darker skin tones have a greater risk of healing with darker pigmentation (hyperpigmentation), although anyone can be affected by this condition after laser treatment. This may be minimized by the use of a bleaching agent before surgery. It also may be reduced with the continued use of this agent after healing.
You should avoid sun exposure for four weeks before laser treatment and liberally apply sunscreens pre- and post-procedure.
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FAQs
Typically, most people will see optimal results after 2 to 3 treatments. In general, higher power laser skin resurfacing may require only one treatment but several days of downtime. A lighter, more superficial treatment may require several treatments, but each will have minimal downtime.
How long does it take to see results from a CO2 fractional laser? ›
After your skin heals, which may take up to 3 weeks, patients will experience a period of their skin appearing slightly pink. During this time, you will see improvements of skin texture and tone. Full results can be seen 3-6 months after the initial treatment, once the skin has completely healed.
What is the downside of CO2 laser resurfacing? ›
Disadvantages of CO2 Resurfacing
The patient's skin will be weepy for two weeks and will require thorough cleaning four to five times daily, along with application of ointment to keep the skin from scabbing. The areas can take up to three weeks to heal. After that, the skin will remain pink or red for more time.
Does a CO2 laser actually work? ›
One study found patients who had used CO2 laser resurfacing saw an average of 40% to 45% reduction in wrinkle depth after two years compared with a control group who used traditional treatments such as Botox injections or dermabrasion.
How much younger does a CO2 laser make you look? ›
How much younger will I look? This is different for each client. A typical result is an 8-10 year reduction in age appearance when laser treatment on the face is done on a highly effective setting so that a 55 year old may look 46 after treatment and healing is complete.
How many years does a CO2 laser take off your face? ›
After the treatment, you will notice improvements in your skin texture, tone, and appearance. Fine lines, wrinkles, and sunspots noticeably diminish, revealing smoother, younger-looking skin. On average, results from your CO2 laser resurfacing treatment can last between 3 and 5 years.
How to speed up CO2 laser healing? ›
Top 10 CO2 Laser Recovery Tips for Fast Recovery & Best Results
- Listen to Your Doctor's Advice. After your CO2 laser treatment, it's important to do what your doctor says. ...
- Keep Skin Moist. ...
- Stay Out of the Sun. ...
- Drink Lots of Water. ...
- Don't Pick Your Skin. ...
- Use Gentle Skin Products. ...
- Sleep with Your Head Up. ...
- Eat Healthy Foods.
After the laser treatment the skin is pink. This can be covered by makeup at about 8-10 days and generally resolves in most patients by 4-6 weeks. Some patients may remain a very light pink for several months but it is always a temporary situation.
What is the best moisturizer after CO2 laser resurfacing? ›
In conclusion, Oxygenetix Hydro-Matrix moisturizer is an excellent choice for post-procedure hydration and skin protection. By following the sanitation tips and best practices outlined in this blog post, you can ensure that your skin stays healthy and hydrated after your cosmetic procedure.
Is there anything better than CO2 laser? ›
Erbium laser:
In contrast, the Erbium: YAG laser has a wavelength of 2,940 nm. This is 10 to 20 times better absorbed by water and human skin than the CO2 laser and was developed for this reason [5].
CO2 laser resurfacing can lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It may prove especially effective on: crow's feet, or lines and wrinkles under and around the eyes. lines and wrinkles on the forehead.
Does CO2 laser tighten jowls? ›
While more invasive than fillers, Thermage, and Ultherapy, Fraxel Re:Pair and other CO2 systems offer quick and dramatic results as they have the power to reduce the volume of jowl-causing sagging skin within a single treatment.
Is CO2 laser as good as a facelift? ›
However, laser procedures can't provide the same results as a traditional facelift for those who have considerable skin laxity or heavy wrinkling, making it a poor choice for patients who wish to improve these issues.
Who is not a good candidate for CO2 laser? ›
You may not be a good candidate for laser skin resurfacing if you have: Active acne. Very dark skin. Deep wrinkles.
Can CO2 laser get rid of deep wrinkles? ›
CO2 laser treatment can minimize the appearance of deep wrinkles, lines, and uneven pigmentation. The term “fractional laser” means that the beam of light only targets a fraction of the skin at a time. Rather than resurface the entire area being treated, specialists focus microscopic beams of light in multiple areas.
How many sessions are required for a CO2 laser? ›
It takes three to four weeks for proper healing and effective results. This laser technology normally requires three to five sessions during these four weeks or as suggested by the dermatologist.
What are the results of CO2 laser one session? ›
You may notice some immediate results after healing from your CO2 laser service at Touch MedSpa. This can include smoother skin, a more even skin tone, and a reduction in pore size.
Can one laser session be enough? ›
Generally, clients need about two to six laser treatments in order to completely get rid of hair. You can expect to see about a 10% to 25% reduction in hair after your first treatment.
How many sessions of CO2 laser for scars? ›
One to four sessions.
Deeper scars require more treatments. Downtime. Shorter recovery means more sessions.
