CO₂ laser face and neck resurfacing is an advanced laser skin resurfacing procedure designed to improve skin texture, tone, and laxity while reducing visible signs of aging. This treatment uses precise, fractional, ultra-pulse, CO₂ laser technology to remove damaged skin layers and stimulate collagen production for smoother, tighter, and more youthful-looking skin.
CO2 laser procedures may be focused to address specific issues, such as tissue laxity around the eye or mouth, or to reduce rhinophyma (enlarged, oily tissue on the nose), or to rejuvenate and tighten skin and address benign, elevated lesions of the entire face and superficial neck skin.
Patients seeking CO₂ laser resurfacing often want to improve wrinkles, skin quality, and overall facial rejuvenation without undergoing traditional surgery.
What Is CO₂ Laser Resurfacing
A CO₂ laser emits a wavelength that is strongly absorbed by water and water-containing tissues, such as skin. CO₂ laser skin resurfacing is a rejuvenation treatment that uses controlled CO₂ laser energy to precisely remove tiny columns of the outer layers of damaged skin while stimulating deeper collagen remodeling. The untreated skin adjacent to the vaporized columns promotes rapid healing and rejuvenation, and the entire skin surface responds.
This procedure can address:
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Skin laxity and crepiness
- Sun damage and uneven skin tone
- Acne scars and texture irregularities
- Thickened or irregular skin, including rhinophyma
When applied around the eyes, CO₂ laser resurfacing can improve periorbital skin laxity, tighten delicate skin, and reduce crepey texture, helping to avoid or delay surgical intervention.
How the Procedure Is Performed
During CO₂ laser face and neck resurfacing, the laser is applied in a controlled manner across the treatment areas.
The procedure typically includes:
- Preparation and cleansing of the skin
- Application of topical, local or tumescent anesthesia
- Conscious sedation for larger cases or General Anesthesia if preferred
- Precise laser resurfacing of the target areas that blends or feathers into untreated areas to minimize demarcation between treated and untreated skin
- Lower-energy treatment of neck skin, if included, to reduce the risk of adverse healing
- Focused treatment around the eyes, mouth, and earlobes for skin tightening and laxity reduction
- Vaporization of benign elevated skin lesions if desired
- Optional rhinophyma reduction, reshaping thickened nasal tissue
- Application of your own high-density PRP and/or exosomes to speed healing of larger treated areas
The depth and intensity of treatment are customized based on skin condition and desired results.
Procedure Details
- Duration: 90 minutes or more, depending on the extent of the procedure
- Anesthesia: Twilight Sedation, local or tumescent anesthesia
What It Can Help With
CO₂ laser resurfacing is ideal for patients seeking non-surgical facial rejuvenation and skin improvement. It can help:
- Reduce fine lines and wrinkles
- Improve skin texture and tone
- Tighten mild to moderate skin laxity
- Improve crepey skin around the eyes
- Reduce vertical “bar-code” creases around the mouth
- Treating acne scars and sun damage
- Reduce and contour rhinophyma (enlarged nose)
Pre-Procedure Guidelines
To prepare for CO₂ laser skin resurfacing, patients should:
- Avoid sun exposure and tanning prior to treatment
- Discontinue certain skincare products as directed
- Follow all pre-treatment instructions provided during consultation
- Maintain good skin health leading up to the procedure
- Prepare the area for best healing with Redvive Red/NIR light therapy
- Consider deploying IV-administered umbilical-derived stem cells during surgery to communicate with your cells to speed healing and reduce inflammation.
- Do not apply any makeup or sunblock to the treatment area on the day of your procedure
What to Expect and After Care
Recovery from CO₂ laser resurfacing varies depending on treatment depth and areas treated. After the procedure:
- Redness, swelling, oozing, and a sunburn-like sensation are expected
- Skin will peel and regenerate over several days to a week
- Treated areas may feel tight or sensitive
Patients should:
- Keep the skin clean and well-moisturized per instructions
- Avoid sun exposure and use strict sun protection
- Avoid picking or peeling the skin
- Follow all post-procedure care instructions carefully
- If you are using Redvive Red/NIR light therapy, you can restart after being cleared by Dr. Z
Recovery Timeline
- Initial healing: 5–10 days
- Back in tinted SPF or makeup in 7-10 days
- Flaking can continue for weeks. You are exfoliating old skin that is being replaced by new skin
- Redness may persist for weeks to months depending on your skin pigmentation and the depth of treatment
- Return to normal activity: 1–2 weeks
- Continued collagen remodeling over several months
Results
CO₂ laser resurfacing provides significant improvement in skin quality, texture, and tightness, with both immediate and progressive results.
Patients often notice smoother, clearer, and more youthful-looking skin. When treating peri-ocular (eye) and peri-oral laxity, the skin appears tighter, firmer and more elastic.
When rhinophyma reduction is performed, nasal contour and skin thickness are significantly improved and remodel for up to a year.
Results continue to improve over time as collagen production increases.
To Rejuvenate Your Face and Neck, Schedule a Consult in Las Vegas for CO2 Resurfacing
CO₂ laser skin resurfacing is a highly customizable skin rejuvenation procedure. During your consultation, Dr. Z will evaluate your medical history, skin type, concerns, and goals to determine whether CO₂ laser resurfacing is appropriate for you and whether it can help you achieve a safe, natural, long-lasting result.
