The gold standard in deep skin resurfacing. Erase years of severe sun damage, smooth deep acne scars, and aggressively stimulate fresh collagen with our advanced, controlled fractional ablation technology.
Instead of removing the entire surface layer like older lasers, the beam is fractionated into a grid. This leaves "bridges" of healthy skin intact around the treated columns, drastically speeding up the healing process.
The intense thermal energy penetrates deeply enough to shrink existing collagen fibers instantly while triggering continuous new collagen synthesis for up to 6 months post-treatment.
| Feature | CO2 Fractional Laser | Standard Microneedling |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanism | Vaporizes tissue with intense thermal energy | Physical micro-punctures without heat |
| Depth of Impact | Deep dermis; actively shrinks and tightens skin | Superficial to mid-dermis |
| Deep Scars/Wrinkles | Highly effective; physically remodels the scar floor | Only effective for very mild surface texture |
| Session Requirement | Typically 1 to 3 sessions for dramatic results | Often requires 6+ sessions for moderate changes |
| Downtime | Significant (5–10 days of peeling and redness) | Minimal (1–2 days of mild pinkness) |
We perform this clinical procedure under strict protocols to maximize your comfort and ensure flawless healing.
For weeks prior, you may be asked to prep your skin with specific inhibitors. On the day of treatment, a strong, medical-grade topical anesthetic is applied for 45 minutes to deeply numb the face.
The laser scanner is systematically moved across the treatment area. You will hear a loud snapping sound and feel intense heat, akin to a hot prickling sensation, as the laser vaporizes the microscopic columns.
Immediate cooling devices are used to extract heat from the skin rapidly. The treatment itself is fast, usually taking only 20 to 30 minutes for a full face.
Because the skin barrier has been intentionally broken, we coat your face in a thick, occlusive medical ointment (like Aquaphor) to lock in moisture and prevent infection.
Over the next week, the vaporized grid of old skin will turn dark, crust, and peel off heavily, revealing pristine, pink, newly generated baby skin beneath.
This is an aggressive treatment. Understanding and committing to the downtime is essential for a beautiful outcome.
We use very strong topical anesthetics to manage discomfort. During the procedure, you will feel intense heat and a prickling sensation. Post-treatment, it feels like a bad sunburn for the first 24-48 hours, managed easily with cool compresses and prescribed soothing ointments.
It depends on the severity of the scarring. Some patients with moderate scarring see transformative results after a single aggressive session. Those with severe, deep rolling or boxcar scars typically need 2 to 3 sessions spaced a few months apart.
It can be, but it requires extreme caution. CO2 generates immense heat, which can easily cause Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) in skin types IV-VI. We often recommend gentler, non-thermal alternatives (like Pico Lasers or RF Microneedling) for dark skin, or we implement a very strict, multi-week prep routine.
You must not wear any makeup while the skin is open and peeling (usually days 1 through 7) to prevent severe infection. Once the skin has fully peeled and the surface is intact (usually around day 8), you can apply clean, mineral-based makeup.
Absolutely not. Your new "baby skin" has zero defenses against UV radiation. Sun exposure during the healing phase will almost certainly result in severe hyperpigmentation. Strict sun avoidance and SPF 50+ are mandatory for months.
Yes. The thermal injury deeply penetrates the dermis, causing immediate contraction of existing collagen fibers and stimulating long-term elastin production, resulting in a noticeable tightening and lifting effect over several months.
