When it comes to worthwhile in-office treatments, there are dozens of options. But one stands out as a longtime favorite of cosmetic surgeons. The original CO2 laser and every subsequent variation of the technology is the best cosmetic laser for specialists like Denver CO2 plastic surgeon Philippe A. Capraro, MD. Able to erase mild to moderate wrinkles, Dr. Capraro uses the original CO2 laser as well as the fractionated version, the Tetra CO2 DOT laser, to address concerns about aging, collagen generation, and skin resurfacing.
The Original CO2 Laser: A Game-Changer for Skin Rejuvenation
“The CO2 laser, or carbon dioxide laser, was one of the first to come out,” says Dr. Capraro. “And as a laser ablative, it removes 100 percent of the top layer of skin, addressing wrinkles, improving skin quality and reducing hyperpigmentation.
An immediate success, practitioners have seen incredible results in the right candidates, particularly in facial treatment.
“The skin on your face has a large amount of pilohistorical units, which protect the skin from environmental aggressors and allow the skin to heal quickly,” says Dr. Capraro. “Other areas of the body don’t have the same level of protection and as a result the skin may never heal completely or scar.”
The other problem with CO2 removal lasers is who is a good candidate, as the resulting skin whitening makes it a poor choice for anyone with dark or deep skin tones.
“In the right candidate, the CO2 laser provides an incredible result,” explains Dr. Capraro. “But to treat the rest of the body and a wider variety of skin tones, fractional lasers were developed.”
Fractionated Laser: Precision for faster healing
“The fractionated laser that we use just recently came out,” says Dr. Capraro. “The Tetra DOT CO2 Fractionated Laser uses only a fraction of the actual CO2 laser, leaving dots of untreated skin in between.”
The untreated skin bridge allowed faster healing by opening up more of the body to be treated. This includes the neck, décolleté and arms.
“The reduced redness time makes the fractionated laser an excellent choice for those patients who don’t have a lot of downtime,” notes Dr. Capraro. “While the results are not as dramatic as a full CO2 laser, they are still quality results that prompt collagen production.”
Which CO2 laser is right for you?
According to Dr. Capraros, a fully ablative CO2 laser is what he recommends for patients who have deep wrinkles or significant exposure to the environment. Severe discoloration, roughness, wrinkles, and large pore size are all great reasons to choose a CO2 laser ablative.
“This is a one-time treatment,” he adds. “Redness can last over three to four months, reducing the intensity of the extension, but the results are spectacular. When a patient takes good care of their skin, these results can also last for over a decade.”
But not everyone has months of downtime.
“The fractional laser is the perfect choice for anyone who wants results but doesn’t have the downtime,” says Dr. Capraro. “You can also do it on almost anyone because you can control the intensity of the laser and how much skin is left untreated. That means you can treat anyone from 20 to 70 or 80 with this one tool.”
CoolPeel: The Low Downtime Alternative
“Our Tetra Fractional Laser has a CoolPeel setting,” explains Dr. Capraro. “It’s a very low potency that still stimulates collagen in just a 5-15 minute treatment.”
With only a day or two of redness, CoolPeel is a great option for patients who can continue treatments every three months or so.
“This is the third level of treatment,” says Dr. Capraro. “The fully ablative laser gives you the best results, the fractional laser gives you shorter recovery time with still significant improvement, and the CoolPeel gives you that glowing, good quality skin with just a few days of downtime.”
