Disadvantages of CO2 Resurfacing
Like dermabrasion, this type of laser resurfacing requires a good deal of recovery time. The patient's skin will be weepy for two weeks and will require thorough cleaning four to five times daily, along with application of ointment to keep the skin from scabbing.
Normal sequelae or side effects include temporary skin problems such as erythema, tightness, or drying of the skin. Milia or acne may occur at the 2- to 4-week interval.
Laser therapy can result in misdirected or excessively intense burns, bleeding from the choriocapillaris, damage to macular and other ocular structures, and breaks in Bruch's membrane.
Experts agree that the effects last for as long as eight years or even longer. CO2 laser skin resurfacing rarely requires any repeated treatment. If your doctor is doing a facelift, they may go over the same area on your skin very lightly once more. Otherwise, you no longer have to go through the procedure again.
Risks / Benefits
Acne flares may occur after laser resurfacing. This may resolve on its own, or can be treated with conventional acne therapies. Hyperpigmentation, and more rarely, hypopigmentation, may result in the laser-treated areas.
Whether you're looking to treat scars, stretch marks, or skin growths, or just trying to give your complexion the rejuvenation it deserves, the CO2 laser is certainly one of the most effective and powerful tools on the market.
Injuries resulting from staring into the laser beam include permanent damage to the eye and subsequent partial or total loss of vision. Injuries from lasers can also occur when the beam is shone into the eyes of unsuspecting people. This can result in a 'dazzle effect' where the exposure leads to disorientation.
These include both direct beam hazards such as tissue burns, eye damage, endotracheal tube fire, drape fire, and explosion of gases, or non-beam hazards (those that are secondary to the actual beam interaction) such as laser generated airborne contaminants (surgical plume), electrical damage, toxic dyes, and system ...
In contrast, the Erbium: YAG laser has a wavelength of 2,940 nm. This is 10 to 20 times better absorbed by water and human skin than the CO2 laser and was developed for this reason [5].
CO2 laser vaporization of scars that are proliferative, such as hypertrophic scars and keloids, is not advised due to the high rate of recurrence or worsening.
CO2 laser resurfacing is an increasingly popular procedure that can help reduce the signs of aging, improve skin texture, and even remove tattoos and other skin conditions. It is a non-invasive, safer-than surgery procedure that can provide long-lasting results.
High carbon dioxide levels can cause poor air quality and can even extinguish pilot lights on gas-powered appliances.
Lasers using CO2 and certain other materials emit beams that are not visible to the eye; hence, they are particularly hazardous. Biological damage caused by lasers includes thermal burns, photochemical injuries, and retinal injury. Electrical safety and fire are also important concerns.
Fraxel (CO2 Laser)
While more invasive than fillers, Thermage, and Ultherapy, Fraxel Re:Pair and other CO2 systems offer quick and dramatic results as they have the power to reduce the volume of jowl-causing sagging skin within a single treatment.
Can yo overdo laser? Yes, indeed you can overdo laser. Not only by having too many session in a short period of time, but even by overlapping the same area during a single session. Overdoing laser hair removal can result in skin irritation, redness, and swelling.
The most common accident scenarios involve: performing alignment while not wearing proper eye protection, stray beams reflected off optics; jewelry, badges, or other objects inserted or falling into the beam path; poor communication between users, wearing the wrong eyewear for wavelengths being used; inadequate or no ...
However recent amendments to the Weapons Prohibition Act 1998 require a permit be issued (or the person be eligible for an exemption) where the laser pointer exceeds one milliwatt. Regardless of the milliwatts, no laser pointer can be carried or used in a public place without a reasonable excuse.
Your skin will need a brief recovery period that can take up to three weeks, but once this period passes, you'll begin to notice a smoother texture and more even tone. Then, in the coming months, additional improvements will start to develop, including the reduction of: Age spots and sunspots. Scarring.
Hyper- and hypopigmentation after laser treatments are comparatively frequent complications, with hyperpigmentation occurring more commonly. The risk of dyspigmentation is highest in darker-skinned (Fitz Patrick type III-VI) or excessively tan individuals.
Even if you don't see immediate improvement, your initial results will continue to improve throughout the year. On average, most patients get to enjoy silky-smooth skin that lasts for anywhere between three and five years after undergoing laser therapy.
Fractional CO2 laser one needs 2 to 6 sittings depending on severity of scars , spaced 3-4 weeks apart for almost permanent results. In this time period, you need to undergo 3 to 5 sessions as mandated by your dermatologist.
The CO2 laser treatment is not a good option for people with dark skin. Laser light can be absorbed by melanocytes (melanin-producing skin cells) and damage them, causing discoloration of either hyperpigmentation or abnormal skin brightening.