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
Risks / Benefits
Acne flares may occur after laser resurfacing. This may resolve on its own, or can be treated with conventional acne therapies. Hyperpigmentation, and more rarely, hypopigmentation, may result in the laser-treated areas.
How much does CO2 laser resurfacing cost in the US? ›
The cost of full-face CO2 laser resurfacing varies greatly across the United States. Fees can range from $3,000–$7,000, including the surgeon's fee, facility fee, and anesthesia.
How long does it take for skin to heal from CO2 laser? ›
Recovery times will vary depending on your treatment
CO2 laser resurfacing: Generally up to two weeks. Erbium laser resurfacing: One full week.
How much does CO2 laser operation cost? ›
Ablative lasers: CO2 lasers have higher procedural costs of Rs. 20,000 - Rs. 35,000 per session. Better for deeper scars.
Is a CO2 laser worth the money? ›
Advantages of CO2 Resurfacing
It delivers excellent improvement in fine lines, general texture, and a reduction in troublesome pigmentation areas. It has a dramatic effect on deep wrinkling. Acne scarring also responds to CO2 laser resurfacing; most of our patients notice a 50% improvement in their acne scars.
How much younger does CO2 laser make you look? ›
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. Milder treatments can be done, but are not as effective. Healing is fastest, however, with milder treatments.
How painful is a CO2 laser? ›
Pain or discomfort from this type of laser surgery is best described as moderate at the most. Following the completion of the procedure, the patients face will feel very hot. It is best described as a sunburn sensation.
Who is not a good candidate for CO2 laser resurfacing? ›
You may not be a good candidate for laser skin resurfacing if you have: Active acne. Very dark skin. Deep wrinkles.
What is the life expectancy of a CO2 laser? ›
With a brand like Reci, you can typically expect the laser tube to last up to 10,000 hours with proper care and maintenance.
Which is better, microneedling or CO2 laser? ›
Conclusions: Combination of AMSC-CM and vitamin c using fractional CO2 laser can improve photoaging and is better compared to microneedling.
You might experience some redness for 2-3 weeks after the treatment, after which new and finer skin that's wrinkle-free will emerge. You can begin to use makeup 3-10 days after one treatment. Apart from redness, you might notice that the treated areas are tender and require protection.
What foods to avoid after CO2 laser treatment? ›
Avoid alcohol, caffeine, cigarettes, high-sodium foods, high sugar foods, Niacin supplements, refined carbohydrates, and spicy foods for 48 hours after treatment.
How many sessions of CO2 laser are needed? ›
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.
Will CO2 laser remove wrinkles? ›
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.
What are the disadvantages of CO2 laser? ›
All in all, CO2 laser cutting machines are powerful tools with numerous advantages, but they do have some disadvantages, including high cost, maintenance requirements, material compatibility and thickness limitations, and safety concerns.
Who is not a good candidate for CO2 laser? ›
CO2 laser helps to correct issues of dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles that are more superficial. If you have a deep scar or discoloration, it may not be possible for the laser to reach these points. Therefore, deep scars, acne, wrinkles, and other skin issues may need a different remedy.
Can CO2 laser cause permanent damage? ›
Complications include infection by bacterial, viral, yeast, or fungal organisms and may result in hypertrophic or keloid scarring. Unusual hypersensitivity reactions are not uncommon. Hypopigmentation is permanent. Ectropion and tooth enamel injury may also be permanent.
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].
