CO2 (carbon dioxide) laser resurfacing is a minimally invasive cosmetic treatment that can help rejuvenate and repair the skin, providing a more youthful appearance. It can be used to treat various skin conditions, such as deep wrinkles, fine lines, excess skin of the lower and upper lids, photodamage, scars, warts, birthmarks, and rhinophyma (enlarged oil glands on the nose). The laser uses short-pulses light energy, delivered in a scanning pattern, to improve tone, texture, pigmentation, and overall rejuvenate skin. They work by removing layers of damaged skin to allow the growth of new, smoother, evenly toned, and tighter skin.
Various lasers used for this purpose have been around since the 1980s when there were advancements in laser technology. In the 2000s, however, fractional lasers were developed and they have drastically improved recovery times with dramatic and lasting results.
Partial-face laser resurfacing takes 30-45 minutes, whereas full-face treatment can take anywhere from 1 to 2 hours. After the laser procedure, you will be asked to use a recovery balm, this will improve your recovery and enhance your results. Recovery time is 1 full week. You should avoid any sun exposure until your skin is fully healed and always protect yourself with sunscreen.
In some cases, a single laser treatment will take care of your concerns but others might need multiple treatments. The results are long-lasting and very effective. CO2 laser also stimulates the growth of collagen, further improving skin firmness and texture, this process can further enhance your results over the next 6-9 months.
The best time to have laser resurfacing treatment is autumn, “laser season”. Your skin will be hypersensitive to the sun so summer isn’t the best time to have this procedure. Regardless of when you have your procedure, you should always wear sunscreen to protect not only against skin cancer but also to prevent additional premature aging.
Be sure to find a provider that is highly trained, knowledgeable, and an expert in their field, like your Oculplastic surgeon. In the hands of someone less experienced and less knowledgeable, lasers can be ineffective or even dangerous.
For more information, check out the references below:
Abcs. (2021, August 16). Laser skin resurfacing: Top 8 things you need to know. ABCS. Retrieved May 13, 2022, from https://www.americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org/skin-resurfacing/the-top-8-things-you-need-to-know-about-laser-skin-resurfacing/
Carbon dioxide laser resurfacing. Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Retrieved May 13, 2022, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/8314-carbon-dioxide-laser-resurfacing#:~:text=Carbon%20dioxide%20laser%20resurfacing%20is,Wrinkles%20(rhytides).
