What does CO2 laser treatment do?
The fractional CO2 laser machine is applied to treat acne scars. Moreover, it can do a wide range of skin problems and vaginal treatments.
- Age spots
- Mild and severe atrophic scars
- Wrinkles removal
crow’s feet
Enlarged oil glands (especially around the nose)
Fine lines and wrinkles
Hyperpigmentation treatments
Improve Sagging skin
Treat Sun Damage and uneven skin tone
Warts and moles
- Vaginal tightening and rejuvenation
- Skin surgery
The treatment is often done to the face, neck, hands, arms, and vaginal.
CO2 laser procedure
When doing a CO2 fractional laser treatment, we should well prepare before starting the procedure. After the procedure, we should pay attention to the after-care steps.
Before treatment
Before starting a fractional CO2 laser procedure, we suggest you prepare according to the following rules:
- In order not to affect the results, don’t use products that contain retinoids.
- Avoid sun exposure at least 2 weeks prior to the laser treatment.
- Stop taking medications such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and even vitamin E as this can lead to prolonged clotting.
- Don’t do the treatment if there is an open wound.
- We advise that for seven days pre-treatment you moisturize your skin in the morning and evening.
- Consult your doctor to find out if you’re a good candidate for the fractional CO2 laser treatment.
- Stop sexual life 2 weeks ahead if you are going to take a vaginal treatment.
During treatment
Don’t be nervous, this treatment will definitely improve your skin tone.
First, we should apply a local anesthetic cream to the target area 30 to 45 minutes prior. The whole treatment spends around 15 to 25 minutes.
The fractional CO2 laser machine produces a 10600nm wavelength (known as ultra pulse). Through a scanning pattern, in order to remove thin, continuously blasted outer layers of damaged skin.
Once the dead skin cells are removed, the procedure activates the production of multiple microthermal zones that reaches deep into the skin. Through this, it can stimulate your body’s natural healing process and boost collagen production. This ultimately replaces the old, damaged cells with new, healthy skin.
After treatment
After the fractional CO2 laser procedure, you should apply sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Do make sure to also use a gentle cleanser and moisturizer twice a day and avoid any harsh products. It’s best to limit the use of makeup products as well because they can irritate the skin even more.
To ease the swelling around your face, you can try putting an ice pack or compress to the treated area in the first 24 to 48 hours after the fractional CO2 laser treatment. Apply ointment as necessary in order to prevent scabs from forming. Lastly, you may need to adjust your daily activities and avoid situations, such as swimming and workouts, where you can get an infection.
How do avoid or reduce the Side Effects?
Due to the fractional CO2 laser procedure delivering heat (through the laser) into the skin, patients may find some redness or swelling in the treated area. Some may even experience discomfort and scabs.
The side effects you will experience:
Redness on the face – Redness is expected after the fractional CO2 laser procedure but it usually heals within three to four days. If redness hasn’t ceased after a month, you might be suffering from prolonged erythema.
Hyperpigmentation – Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is most commonly experienced by patients with darker skin. It usually occurs after an injury or inflammation of the skin.
Infections – Getting bacterial infections is rare with only a 0.1% chance in all treated cases. However, it’s still best to properly identify them and their treatments to avoid further complications.
- Scars– If the operator didn’t do the co2 laser treatment properly, a scar may happen.
But a good CO2 laser machine could minimize the risk of the above side effects.
CO2 fractional laser machine VS Fraxel, which is better?
The two technologies are both applied to treat wrinkles and scars. The main difference is we use each laser to treat different cases.
Fractional CO2 is the best choice for sun damage, wrinkles, and anti-aging while Fraxel is the optimal option for acne scars. Fractional CO2 brings perforations in the skin, it will cause crusting and you may look bad for 7 days. The Fraxel laser heats up columns of skin without “perforating”, it has almost no crusting and you just look redness for a few days.
Comparisons:
Application | Fractional CO2 | Fraxel |
1st choice | sun damage/ wrinkles/ texture | acne scars |
2nd choice | acne scars | sun damage/ wrinkles/ texture |
Sessions | 1 to 3 sessions | 4 or 5 sessions |
Downtime | 5 to 8 days | none |
Treatment price | $1,200 to $2,000 | $900-$1,500 |