CO2 Laser Treatment
CO2 Laser Treatment
The carbon dioxide laser, better known as the CO2 laser, was invented way back in the 1960s. Initially, it was used to cut, drill, and engrave materials like ceramics, metal, and plastic. It was also used by militaries to carry out certain tasks like range finding.
But as time went on, the fractional CO2 laser also found a home in the medical world. At first, it was used mostly during surgeries, but doctors soon discovered that fractional CO2 laser treatment could also help to improve a person's skin in so many ways.
Are you looking for a quick way to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, age lines, scars, and other skin imperfections? If so, CO2 laser resurfacing might be a great option for you. You'll be astonished when you compare images of people who have had the CO2 fractional laser treatment before and after.
Before you consider having full-face laser resurfacing or another CO2 laser treatment done, though, you should make sure you know what you're getting yourself into from the start. Gather all the information regarding the CO2 laser that is essential.
What Is CO2 Laser Resurfacing?
CO2 laser resurfacing is a procedure that involves utilizing a resurfacing laser to improve a person's skin. During the procedure, a doctor will use targeted light beams from the laser to remove the top layer of a person's skin, called the epidermis or superficial skin layer.
Once this layer of skin is gone, the dermis layer that sits beneath it will begin to heat up. This will increase the production of collagen in the area and eventually leave behind a new top layer of skin that is much firmer and smoother than the skin that was there before.
Doctors can use a CO2 laser on acne scars and any other imperfections that might exist with your skin. You'll be pleasantly surprised to see CO2 laser before and after acne scars photos as the results will be unmistakable.
How Does CO2 Laser Treatment Work?
If you decide to move forward with CO2 laser treatment, it'll be important for you to know what to expect before, during, and after it. Although this treatment won't take very long, you'll need to take specific number of sessions to get the best results.
To start, you'll need to prepare for CO2 laser treatment in advance. To do this, you will have to:
- Avoid exposing your skin to too much sun for about a month before you get CO2 laser treatment
- Stay clear of taking any medications that might make you more sensitive to sunlight than usual
- Speak with your doctor about potentially taking an antiviral medication prior to CO2 laser treatment
- Stop smoking in the weeks leading up to CO2 laser treatment
As long as you make the proper preparations, you should be all ready to go on the day of your CO2 laser treatment. You should prepare for your procedure to take anywhere from half an hour to two hours depending on how extensive your skin treatment will be.
Here are the steps that will be involved in the procedure itself:
- Your doctor will provide you with a topical or local anesthetic to help with the pain associated with CO2 laser treatment
- Your skin will be thoroughly cleaned and you'll be provided with special eyewear to put on
- Your doctor will move laser beam over the area that's being treated slowly until they're all finished
After the procedure is over, your doctor might provide you with an ice pack to put on the treated area to prevent swelling. They'll then put an antibacterial ointment on your skin and ask you to reapply this ointment and keep your treated skin covered over the course of 24 hrs to promote healing.
What Are the Benefits of CO2 Laser Treatment?
The benefits of Non ablative laser treatment will be obvious to you once you see the results that you're able to get. Following just a single treatment, you should notice a big difference in the way that your skin looks and feels.
CO2 laser treatments can help those dealing with any number of skin blemishes. Here are just a few of the skin issues that can be treated with a CO2 laser:
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Acne scars Treatment
- Sagging skin
- Sunspots
- Age Spots
- Stretch Marks
- Baggy eyes
- Sebaceous hyperplasia
- Warts
CO2 laser treatments have even been shown to help those suffering from skin cancer. This is the most common type of cancer, but it's also one of the forms of cancer that is easiest to treat as long as you catch it early. You may want to explore using CO2 laser treatment to stop skin cancer from taking a toll on your skin's appearance.
What Are the Side Effects of CO2 Laser Treatment?
CO2 laser treatments are considered to be safe as long as people call on the right doctors to perform them. If you're thinking about having laser treatment done, you should do your due diligence on the different doctors that can do it for you and select the best option of the bunch.
There are, however, some side effects of CO2 laser treatment that you may suffer from regardless of which doctor you choose. Here are several side effects that will need to be on your radar:
- Swelling
- Skin discoloration
- Raw skin
- Itching and dryness
- Sensitivity to sunlight
The good news is that most people don't suffer from any side effects of CO2 laser treatment.
There are also others who might experience severe complications like infections, scarring, hyperpigmentation, and even burns if the treatment is carried out incorrectly. Choosing the right dermatologist should help you avoid these complications.
What Is the CO2 Laser Treatment Recovery Time?
You will need to spend up to two weeks recovering from the treatment. You're usually going to have some itching in the aftermath of treatment, and you might even notice your skin oozing at times. This is all part of the healing process.
Patience is going to be the key when it comes to recovering from CO2 laser treatment. You're also going to need to do things to help move the recovery process along, like:
- Trying not to itch or rub your skin at all if you can avoid doing it
- Cleaning your skin while following instructions provided to you by your doctor
- Staying clear of wearing any tight clothing that will irritate your skin
- Applying special ointments to your skin to promote healing
You will also need to wait anywhere from a few months to possibly even a full year for the skin in the treated area to become the same color as the rest of your skin. It is recommended that you consult with your dermatologist to ensure that your skin recovers optimally.
How Much Does CO2 Laser Treatment Cost?
There will clearly be a cost that'll come along with this laser treatment. But the CO2 laser treatment cost in India is going to depend on so many factors.
Here are several key factors that'll have an impact on your CO2 laser treatment cost:
- The amount of skin that you need to have treated
- The specific types of blemishes that you'd like to have removed
- The doctor that you call on for CO2 laser treatment
- The amount of aftercare that you'll need following your laser treatment
A doctor will be able to give you a much better idea of what kind of fractional CO2 laser cost you're going to face during your initial consultation with them.
Who Should You Trust to Perform CO2 Laser Resurfacing?
Are you intrigued by the idea of using full face CO2 laser resurfacing to restore your skin? The next step should be to look for a dermatologist who can provide assistance.
You can locate a list of options by Googling something like "CO2 laser treatment near me." It is essential to take your time when selecting a dermatologist and not hastily choose the first one you come across.
Instead, you should create a list of doctors who can provide you with this treatment and research each one. You'll want to figure out how much experience they have and look at some of the CO2 laser treatment before and after photos they have to show.
Doing these things should help you inch your way closer to finding dermatologist you can rely on for CO2 laser treatment for acne scars and other skin conditions. It'll also help you pinpoint which doctors can provide you with the best fractional CO2 laser treatment price in India.
At the end of your search, the only thing left to do is to select the dermatologist you like the most and schedule a consultation with them for CO2 laser treatment.
CO2 Laser Treatments for the Win
As you've seen here, CO2 laser treatment can work wonders for those doing battle with a number of skin care issues. You should seriously consider taking advantage of the many CO2 laser benefits.
Skinos has a team of dedicated doctors who can help you make the most of CO2 laser treatment. Reach out to us today to make an appointment with our lead dermatologist.