CO2 lasers are the gold standard for treating wrinkles, age spots, acne scars and other blemishes, loose skin, and uneven tone. Heat energy is applied to the skin, damaged skin is removed or ablated, and collagen production is stimulated. Traditional CO2 treatments require considerable downtime and risk while the damaged skin heals. At Meraki Medical Aesthetics, we use CoolPeel which is an advanced technology offered through the SmartXide Tetra CO2 laser. With CoolPeel, high energy is delivered in extremely short pulses to resurface superficial skin. There's no lingering heat to cause unintended damage to surrounding skin, resulting in less downtime and minimal risk of skin darkening (hyperpigmentation), demarcation or infection.

What does a fractional CO2/CoolPeel procedure involve?

• Avoid sun exposure in the days and weeks before and after treatment.
• A topical anesthetic may be applied to the area but is not always necessary.
• Throughout the treatment session, the patient must wear protective eyewear.
• IPL treatments are relatively painless. The sensation is often described as a hot static sensation.
• Treatment sessions usually last about 15 minutes. A course of 4-6 sessions every 4-6 weeks may be needed to achieve desired results.
• Most patient can return to work immediately after treatment.
• The procedure results in microscabs on the skin that feel like sandpaper and slough off within 5-7 days.

What are the side effects to fractional CO2 ablation?

Side effects include:

• Pain during treatment. This is reduced by topical numbing cream.
• Mild sunburn sensation that may last a few days after the treatment.
• Redness and/or swelling of the treatment area is common.
• Unintended damage to pigment cells that results in lighter or darker patches of skin (called hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation).
• Treatment can result in burning, blistering, or bleeding of the treated area(s), but is unlikely.
• Infection can occur but is rare with proper postcare treatment.
• Scarring is a rare occurrence, but is a possibility when the skin surface is disrupted.

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