The advent and popularization of the fractional CO2 laser has been a big step forward in reduced downtime laser peels that actually work. Since purchasing the latest, Premium model of the fractional eCO2 laser, we have amassed a significant clinical experience with the laser.

As with any tool, the CO2 laser can be used in many different ways. This is akin to giving a surgeon a scalpel. A facelift can be performed with this tool, as much as a rhinoplasty or a removal of an appendix. The laser is no different as there are multiple combinations of energy, density, and methods of delievery of the pulses.

This being said, over the past year we have used this laser with remarkable results and only 4-5 days of downtime. However, some of our patients could not even afford that kind of recovery due to there busy schedules. This has led us to develop a protocol for a no downtime fractional CO2 laser peel that works! The laser settings that we have developed allow the procedure to be performed with none of the downtime of the already low down time fractional peel.

The Express CO2 Peel is performed over a course of 3 treatments. These treatments are performed 3 weeks apart. The settings are tweaked with each treatment in order to provide the best results with no downtime. The procedure takes a total of 20 minutes to perform each time. Thus far, every patient that had this peel performed has referred friends in for the remarkable results.

After a very thorough review process we have introduced the latest addition to our practice, a fractional CO2 laser for skin resurfacing.  Aside from the technical and clinical reasons I chose this particular laser, I want to review why I think this technology is the biggest thing to come out in lasers since the first CO2 laser was introduced for skin resurfacing.

CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) laser skin resurfacing has been around since the 80′s.  The CO2 laser revolutionized skin resurfacing.  There is no question that CO2 laser skin resurfacing is by far and away the best laser method for facial skin rejuvenation and laser skin resurfacing.  ANY laser developed today for purposes of improving skin tone, texture, color, lines, wrinkles, sun damage and uneven skin pigmentation has to be compared to the CO2 laser because it is the GOLD standard.

So why develop new lasers if the CO2 works so well? Quite simply- the downtime and negative effects of the laser .  There is an arduous and involved 10 day healing phase after full face CO2 laser skin resurfacing. During this healing phase, new skin reforms and collagen is produced. The skin stays red for about 1 month and pink for up to 3 months after the procedure.  In addition, this laser should only be used on lighter skinned individuals as the laser itself will cause a permanent lightening of the skin called hypopigmentation.

A huge leap in laser technology came about when the idea of fractionation was introduced. Fractionation refers to the principle of dividing the laser beam into multiple tiny beams that will only treat a set percentage of the skin.  Fractionated lasers only affect a certain percentage of the skin rather then the ENTIRE surface.   1% to 100% of the skin can be treated depending on what settings are used and the laser’s capabilities.  Leaving small bridges of unaffected skin in-between the treated skin allows for a much quicker recovery. Many patients can go back to their full activities the next day and they can start wearing makeup within 4 or 5 days to resume their social activities. In addition, it virtually eliminates the risk of losing skin pigment.  In fact, fractionated technology is safe in darker skinned patients that would normally not be laser candidates.

The latest lasers combine the best of both worlds.  The power of the CO2 laser for skin rejuvenation along with the minimal downtime of the fractionated technology.  Rather then treat 100% of the skin as in with the traditional CO2 laser, a smaller percentage of the skin is treated in a grid-like pattern.

There are several of these lasers on the market including but not limited to the Lumenis Active FX and Deep FX, the MiXto laser, the Lutronic eCO2 laser, etc.  Our evaluation of the fractionated  CO2 laser is complete and we are proud introduce this technology in the platform whch we think is best based on the latest technology.  Fractional laser CO2 is safely performed in tthe comfort of our office.