Carbon dioxide (CO2)laser resurfacingtreatment is a cosmetic and medical treatment for the skin.
Healthcare providers use it to treat cosmetic concerns like wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and loose skin.
This article will cover the benefits and potential side effects of CO2laser treatments.
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It will also discuss costs and how to find the right provider to perform the treatment.
The frequency of the beam determines what will absorb it.
The CO2 laser is absorbed by water.
On average, the body is 60% water.
The heat also helps stimulate skin cell production deep within the skin.
CO2 lasers can treat deeper skin concerns as well as more superficial concerns.
These can include:
One common use of CO2 lasers is for scar appearance reduction.
Below is a list of potential CO2 laser treatment results.
Even Skin Tone
CO2 laser treatment can even out the appearance of the skin.
Tighter Skin
One benefit of CO2 lasers is that it stimulates collagen production totighten the skin.
This reduces the appearance ofwrinklesand gives the skin better elasticity and support to reduce sagging.
The laser also stimulates collagen production under the scar.
Compared todermabrasion, another treatment for scar reduction, the CO2 laser causes less bleeding and crusting.
Reduced Wrinkle Appearance
Wrinklereduction is another benefit of the CO2 laser.
With the top layers of skin removed, thewrinkle’s appearancebecomes less pronounced and looks smoother.
CO2 Laser Treatment Areas
The face is the most popular area for CO2 laser treatment.
Scarring will occur if the laser is over-applied and removes too much of the dermal layers.
This can cause severe disfigurement, requiring treatment such as steroid injections and surgical scar revision.
Infectionherpetic, bacterial, and yeastcan also pose problems.
Skin After Treatment
After CO2 laser treatment the skin may feel tight, raw, andsunburned.
Skin will also peel from the layers of skin removed.
The doctor will apply creams to the laser-treated skin for seven to 10 days until the skin heals.
Average Cost
The cost of full-face CO2 laser resurfacing varies greatly across the United States.
How Does CO2 Laser Treatment Feel?
An anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse anesthetist performs this.
For the first five to seven days, theskinwill feel red and raw.
After that, the skin will dry out and begin topeel.
When the peeling is complete, the new skin will become slightly pink.
Infection Symptoms
CO2 laser treatments remove the top layers of the skin.
Removing layers of the skin poses a risk of infection.
However, due to the laser’s heat, a CO2 laser poses a less serious risk.
Healthcare providers use it in clinical options and can perform it on almost any area of the body.
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