Pros and Cons of CO2 Laser Treatment

As the days get shorter and colder weather settles in, laser resurfacing season starts to heat up. Let me just say that I love lasers. I think they’re the closest thing to a magic wand we have to treat a lot of skin issues. I mean, who would have ever guessed that heating up skin while burning a very specific percentage of tissue would reap such amazing results. It doesn’t sound like the most appealing treatment when I read back on that last sentence, but you can be the judge. As much as I love this procedure, it isn’t for everyone. Here are some pros and cons to help you weigh whether or not this might be something you’d like to have done.

PROS

CO2 laser resurfacing has the ability to correct and improve many different skin issues and concerns by inducing an injury. At our office we mostly do fractionated CO2 which means that a specific percentage of tissue is damaged while leaving healthy tissue in between as a bridge to help with healing. Through the body’s natural healing process, skin cells are regenerated and new collagen and elastin are formed. CO2 laser treatments can:

  • Reduce pigmentation and visible UV damage giving the skin a more even color.

  • Lessens the visibility of both surgical and acne scarring. In these cases, multiple treatments are typically needed.

  • Excellent improvement in fine lines, softening them dramatically.
    Smooths rough texture.

  • The heat helps to stimulate collagen and elastic production giving a slight tightening effect.

  • Deep wrinkles are lessened, however, not erased completely.

  • One treatment can garner results that last months to years.

  • CO2 works well with other skin treatments, injectables, and surgical procedures.

CONS

With all that good comes some less than ideal things that might be deal breakers for some patients.

  • Patients with darker skin color may not be ideal candidates due to a higher risk of side effects like post inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

  • The treatment can be painful and uncomfortable. We try our best to control the pain with several different options but nothing is perfect.

  • There is social downtime of 10-14 days. During this time you’re swollen, red, and covered in goop.

  • There are strict pre and post treatment protocols that need to be followed to help ensure good outcomes. This can be a commitment that some people are unwilling to follow.

  • CO2 treatments are costly.

  • Patients can’t work out for a couple weeks while they are healing.

  • The heat from the laser can stimulate cold sores especially if you’re prone to them. We can prescribe prophylactic antiviral medication in these cases.

  • Redness can persist for months afterwards but does eventually resolve. After getting a treatment skin is hypersensitive especially to sun so the utmost care must be taken to protect it.

  • This is not necessarily the best treatment option for someone with severe laxity.

  • Final results happen on average 12 weeks after the initial treatment. That’s not to say that you won’t see a visible improvement in color and texture a week or two after having CO2 done. It takes weeks for the body to make collagen and elastin.

The ability of CO2 lasers to harness the power of light and energy in order to improve the skin is an absolute wonder. The fact that the skin can then heal itself and be healthier on the other side is incredible! A laser treatment is a precise, efficient, and safe way to accomplish a lot of change in one session but as a patient you need to wrap your head around the inevitable downtime and discomfort. This is a treatment that you don’t want to rush into. It’s important that you have a consultation, weigh your options, and make sure this is the right next step for you. At Aesthetics by Design in Englewood, Colorado we’d be happy to talk to you about CO2 laser resurfacing in more detail.

Sarah Rutherford