What is CO2 laser?
CO2 laser resurfacing is a cosmetic procedure to improve the appearance of the skin. This procedure is extremely effective at treating a variety of skin conditions, including deep wrinkles, fine lines, sun damage, signs of aging, acne and other types of scarring, and uneven skin tone or texture. CO2 skin resurfacing is the most aggressive and most effective laser resurfacing procedure that we utilize in our office. This minimally invasive procedure can conveniently be performed on an outpatient basis.
During your CO2 laser treatment, the laser emits short pulses of light that remove the outer layer of damaged skin while also stimulating the production of collagen, a protein that helps keep the skin firm and smooth. This process encourages the growth of new, healthy skin cells, resulting in a rejuvenated and youthful-looking complexion. The procedure can cause mild to moderate discomfort but we use a topical numbing agent on your skin for 45 minutes prior to the treatment to ensure you are as comfortable as possible. After numbing, the procedure takes about 30 minutes for a full-face treatment. Scar treatments can be more or less time, depending on the size and location of the scar. For the best results and for most issues, a series of 3 treatments is recommended. Some people may opt to come in every 1-5 years for a single treatment for maintenance of their desired outcome.
What Is The Procedure Like?
What Does Recovery
Look Like?
While this procedure is our most effective for resurfacing, as one might expect, it does have the most downtime out of our treatment options. You can expect a few days of swelling after your procedure and approximately 1-2 weeks of being red/pink like a sunburn. Sometimes, a grid pattern can be seen but this resolves as your skin heals. Some individuals have no issues with recovering from this procedure, and do well with makeup and tinted sunscreen. Others will plan this procedure in the fall or winter or a holiday break when there is usually less sun exposure for clients.
We will send you home from your treatment with a care package to help aid you through recovery and our staff will reach out to check on you after your procedure to make sure you don’t have any questions or concerns.
Risk and Benefits
Benefits?
How long do results last?
The results offered by AviClear are permanent changes to the skin. Laser energy shrinks the glands that produce excessive oil that results in breakouts, and this change lasts forever. This is the first FDA approved energy device to treat acne. Clinical trials are showing reduced or eliminated breakouts greater than 1 year after completing the series of 3 treatments.
Risks?
What to do before the procedure?
RISK:
The most common side effect of AviClear is the risk of developing blisters after being treated with the laser device. These are typically small, resolve after a week or two, and usually don’t leave behind scarring. All skin types are safe to treat with this device.
What to do before the procedure?
We recommend coming into the office with a face clean of any makeup or products. Let your provider know if you have used Accutane in the past 6 months. Avoid excessive sun exposure before, during, and after your procedure. Men should be clean shaven. Let your provider know if you have a history of cold sores, as this can be pretreated with an antiviral medicine to avoid an outbreak.
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