CO2 Laser in NYC

Following the CO2 laser procedure most patients face approximately 10 days of recovery. Areas treated are typically red and swollen and the skin is is slightly crusted.  This crusting increases for several days until the treated skin slowly starts to slough off starting around 5-7 days after the procedure.

About 10 days following the procedure the skin is typically much smoother but still slightly pink.  At this point it is much easier to mask the recovering skin with makeup or tinted sunscreen.

Using sun protections and/or practicing sun avoidance is extremely important following the laser procedure.

Although CO2 laser is a versatile and very powerful device for the skin, there are some limitations to its use.  Because of its power, CO2 laser procedures must be performed directly by a highly trained physician, ideally a board-certified dermatologist, who would have the highest level of expertise on laser technology for the skin and skin anatomy and physiology.

Patients undergoing CO2 laser must be willing to deal with prolonged downtime following the procedure as compared to other laser procedures.  Social downtime is typically about 10 days following a face treatment.

And finally, proper patient selection is of great importance with CO2 laser procedures.  CO2 laser can only be safely performed on lighter skin tones (Fitzpatrick Scale 1-3).

The most common use for CO2 laser is rejuvenation of the skin on the face and neck.  CO2 laser produces collagen to treat wrinkles and fine lines. Because of its power and highly effective collagen generation we see great skin tightening in treated areas. Some patients even have enough skin tightening to get a lift in the face and neck area, making CO2 laser a great option for those wishing to delay cosmetic surgery procedures.

The most aggressive and effective treatment for atrophic acne scars is fractional CO2 laser treatment.  For patients with lighter skin tones who are able to have 10 days of down-time, CO2 laser is a great option.