Co2 Laser
CO2 laser has a carbon dioxide as an element to produce laser. It has a different capacity or affinity towards the water and the depth of penetration of CO2 laser is different as compare to other laser technologies.
We use this technique at Dr Monisha Kapoor Aesthetics to treat a verity of conditions. We use it for skin resurfacing modality for combining kit with the facelift for improving the textural damage and photodamage that has happened over the years while ageing.
Also, we use it for acne scars because it levels down the scarring of the acne by collagen synthesis and the skin look more evened out.Depending upon what skin condition needs to be treated carbon dioxide can be used as a totally ablative or a fractional laser.
When we use a total ablation of a full block of superficial tissue is vaporized by CO2 laser, when we break the beam of the laser into small (tiny) packets of energy that is called fractional laser treatment. Fractional means that it is not a complete ablation of the surface but it is the fraction of the surface that is 30% of the surface treated by the laser so that in between normal tissue heals up faster.
The result of the fractional laser and the downtime is short so instead of complete ablation for skin resurfacing people who have less time for healing they can go for a fraction laser treatment that is treating only 30% of the area at a time.
Is Fractional co2 laser permanent?
No medical treatment can guarantee permanent results because the skin is a dynamic tissue, it is living tissue, it keeps on changing so whatever result you get from CO2 laser in terms of collagen synthesis will be permanent but whatever results you get out of CO2 laser in terms of tone, texture pigmentation will not be permanent because it depends on a lot of other factors like exposure of UV radiation and the internal condition of the body and other medical factors.
How many co2 laser treatments sessions are needed?
The number of treatments is required for a particular condition is decided by the strength of the treatment in the first session and body’s healing response to it and it is the doctor who decide the number after seeing the skin condition. Majority of the factors like depth of the scar and the skin type because in darker skin type like 4 and 5, we cannot give high energy and we cannot treat large areas at one time because of the risk of high PIH. so, the energies need to be settled in a way where we can avoid complications so the doctor will decide after the seeing condition that how many sessions would be required depending upon the severity of the disease and skin condition.
How long does it take to heal from co2 fractional laser?
In fractional laser it takes 5-7 days to heal from one laser session and one needs to Indoors for 3 weeks because any direct sunlight expo sure can lead to post inflammatory hyperpigmentation and in case accidently a PIH happens it takes 3-6 months for that PIH to settle down.
Does co2 fractional laser tighten skin?
Yes, fractional CO2 tighten up the skin because the carbon dioxide laser beam vaporizes the tissue and it decreases the surface area resulting in the tightening of the remaining skin.
