As we begin to age, our collagen production begins to decline which leads to the breakdown of the skin’s underlying support structure. Time, heredity and gravity all do their part to create fine lines and wrinkles, especially around the mouth and eyes. Daily exposure to the sun’s UV rays and other environmental factors can cause the skin to become discolored and age prematurely as well.

CO2 laser is one option to help reduce the appearance of lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. CO2 stands for carbon dioxide and is considered an ablative laser. During the treatment, the laser uses extremely quick bursts or ultra-pulses of light delivered in a scanning pattern to remove thin layers of the epidermis and dermis. You can treat the whole face or smaller areas like under the eyes and around the mouth. Depending on the area being treated, twilight sedation may be recommend. Following the procedure, the treated area will be swollen, red and tender. For the first week, the area will need to be washed 4-5 times a day and covered with a thick layer of Aquaphor™. After one week the area can be covered with makeup. CO2 laser is a very effective treatment but you will be pink for three to four months following the treatment. This is one reason why patients will wait until the fall and winter months to have this procedure done. We suggest scheduling a consult appointment to see if laser resurfacing is right for you.