If the effects of age have caused deep wrinkles, loose skin, and severe sun damage to your face and body then fractional CO2 laser treatment may be your answer. This results-oriented treatment will smooth deep wrinkles, and reduce uneven pigmentation and stretch marks. It will also remove the pitted look from old acne scars. Unlike many non–ablative laser treatments that typically require 4-5 sessions to achieve significant results, fractional CO2 laser treatment only requires 1 or 2 sessions. If you are willing to take some time to heal (5-7 days), you’ll see a dramatic improvement in the tone and texture of your skin in just one treatment. It is like combining multiple other non-invasive treatments at once.

The fractional CO laser rejuvenation treatment uses a CO2 DOT laser by SmartXide. The innovative design of fractional laser technology takes CO2 laser skin resurfacing to the next level. It makes the traditionally effective but invasive laser ablative resurfacing skin treatment a lot safer and significantly shortens its downtime while preserving its benefits. It offered a bridge between the high-risk full ablative approach of traditional CO2 and the limited scope of non-ablative lasers in the rejuvenation of photo and chronologically aged skin on and off the face. Simply put, CO2 laser vaporization is one of the best non-invasive anti-aging breakthrough treatments available.

Benefits of
Fractional CO2 Laser:

  • Clears sun-damaged skin
  • Reduce deep wrinkles and lip lines
  • Smoothes crepey skin.
  • Fill in acne scars
  • Shrink the appearance of pores
  • Blend uneven pigmentation
  • Diminish stretch marks.

Fractional CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing
Before & After Photos

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FAQ’s – Fractional CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing

What is the DOT Fractional CO2 Laser Treatment?
Fractional or “pixilated” carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers are one of the latest advances in non-surgical skin rejuvenation treatments. This technology allows you to semi-ablate the skin while leaving a protective barrier as your body produces the new skin. The Deka Smartxide “DOT” system is a leader in fractional CO2 technology and best-in-class fractional CO2 lasers. It has the best microdot” size, an essential feature for optimal results, and its versatile and customizable settings make it possible to tailor the delivered CO2 energy on a patient-by-patient basis to address their unique needs. It is the only system where pulse stacking is possible giving more depth to the controlled injury thus increasing the outcome of deeper wrinkles and acne scars.  The Smartxide CO2 can provide a much more comfortable experience than other popular fractional laser brands.

How Does the DOT Fractional CO2 laser treatment work?
The fractional CO laser safely vaporizes damaged skin to promote the regrowth of newer more youthful skin without damaging surrounding tissues. It fractionates the CO laser beams into small beams to create thousands of micro-injuries to the skin, applied in columns. These Micro Ablative Columns, MACs, leave the skin surrounding each column intact to create a barrier for the healing process to take place more rapidly and with less chance of complications compared to the traditional CO2 laser. This fractioned method triggers a healing process that minimizes and improves scars and skin texture, smoothes wrinkles, tightens skin, reduces “age spots” (aka sun freckles, liver spots, and lentigines), treats dull tone, and stimulates collagen in the face, chest, neck, and hands.

What is the Science behind Fractioned CO2 Laser High Efficacy?
Lasers have wavelengths that vary in type and differ according to their intended use. With its wavelength in the mid-infrared at 10,600 nm, CO2 laser energy is well-absorbed in water (CO2 laser tissue chromophores). When the CO2 laser is used on biological tissue, all the incident CO laser energy is absorbed in the tissue water down to a specific depth. Since skin contains a very high percentage of water, this makes the CO laser ideal for precise, safe skin ablation with good hemostasis. When the aqueous component of tissue is raised to the water boiling point of 100°C by the incident CO2 laser energy, it converts to water vapor and gasifies, and the volume expands. As a result, the skin is removed by fragmentation, vaporization, and ablation.

The addition of the fractionated technology compared to traditional CO2 laser not only improved its safety profile and reduced downtime but also made it possible to better control its irradiance and energy density to better address each patient’s needs. It also expanded its use beyond the face area. Another major advantage is that fractional CO2 laser works well with both pigmented and non-pigmented skin lesions.

How does the Fractional CO2 Laser Work for Acne Scars and other Scars?
The Fractional CO2 Laser creates injury within the scar which breaks up the scar tissue and stimulates collagen. It is an effective treatment for acne scars as well as surgical and traumatic scars.

How Long Will The DOT Fractional CO2 Laser Procedure Take?
Most fractional CO2 laser surfacing treatments take approximately 60 minutes. A numbing cream will be applied 60 minutes before the start of the procedure to lessen the stinging effects during the treatment.

Is The DOT Fractional CO2 Treatment Safe?
Yes. If the pre-treatment and post-treatment protocols are followed, side effects are minimal. All potential side effects will be thoroughly discussed with you before your laser procedure. Your CO2 laser practitioner will monitor you closely during the first few days of post-laser treatments to ensure the success of your treatment.

What Should I Expect After Fractional CO Laser Treatment?
You can expect your skin to be flushed and red after the fractional laser resurfacing treatment for 5- 7 days which is the normal downtime for this procedure considering it is a more invasive laser treatment compared to nonablative skin rejuvenation lasers. During this time, you will experience crusting, minor bleeding, and oozing depending on treatment depth. Keeping the skin moist with Aquaphor after treatment is extremely important. After the first week dryness, peeling and flaking may occur which a good moisturizer will help to decrease. Slight redness might persist for up to 1-3 months, but could easily be covered by makeup. A diligent skin regimen and avoiding sun exposure are essential to ensure healing and optimal results during the first 6 months following treatment.

Can I Go Back to Work & to Social Activities Immediately After the Fractional CO2 laser procedure?
No, you will need to take the rest of the day off following your CO2 laser treatment to ice and care for the treated area. Plan on 5-7 recovery days before you can go out in public. You can of course work from home if your circumstances allow it.

Do I need Multiple CO2 Laser Treatments?
At the Laser Image Company, we prefer to administer a more aggressive single laser treatment. This is because the small increase in downtime gives substantially better results.

Will the DOT Fractional CO2 laser hurt?
Most patients say the fractional CO2 treatment feels like a stinging sunburn. The topical numbing agent applied to fractional CO2 laser treatment areas before the procedure along with the use of a cold chiller alleviates most of the discomfort. A sunburn sensation will continue for about 24 hours after the treatment in which over-the-counter pain medication is all that is usually needed to make the patient comfortable.

Do I need to undergo multiple fractional CO2 laser treatments?
At the Laser Image Company, we prefer to administer a more aggressive single laser treatment with a Fractional CO2 laser. We can get results comparable to the full laser ablative approach with decreased risk and downtime.

Are the results of the Fractional CO2 Laser Instantaneous? 
Laser skin resurfacing treatment results vary from patient to patient. They also depend on the skin issue being treated. If the target is hyperpigmentation, for example, you will experience results instantly following your CO2 laser ablation treatment. But results for acne scars, wrinkles, skin tightening, and stretch marks will take longer to take place because the body needs to produce collagen. Results will continue to improve for 3-6 months after the procedure.

Is there an Alternative Treatment to Get the Same Benefits?
There are no other treatments that can give you as much of an overall benefit with only one treatment session. You would have to combine multiple other laser treatments with fillers or tissue tightening devices and in some cases surgery, to achieve similar effects. It’s what makes the cutting-edge fractional co2 lasers unique and separates them from other current medical lasers.

Is it safe to drive after having Fractional CO2 laser treatment?
We use prescription pain medication during the Fractional CO2 Laser ablative resurfacing treatment, therefore it is best that driving should be done by a friend or relative.

Can Fractional CO2 Laser be combined with other treatments?
The fractional laser rejuvenation treatment can be optimized with other treatments. A time frame of 2-4 weeks before adding other treatments is recommended, however, to allow for proper healing. Wrinkle relaxers such as Botox, Jeuveau, or Dysport are a popular choice amongst many patients. Dermal Fillers such as RHA Designer Collection, Lyft, Voluma, or Restylane to fill areas and contour the face where volume has been lost such as lips, the cheeks, nasolabial folds, and lower eye area are also a great option for some patients to achieve comprehensive results.

How much does fractional laser treatment cost? 
Fractional CO2 laser price is dependent on the area being treated and the number of procedures required for the desired result. For example, laser treatment of full-face costs $1750. Your Fractional CO2 laser practitioner will discuss the estimated cost specific to your concern so you can make an informed decision.

Ask Us A Question About
Fractional CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing

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