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Fractionated CO2


What is Fractionated CO2?

Moy-Fincher-Chipps Facial Plastics and Dermatology has a variety of state-of-the-art anti-aging procedures to rejuvenate your appearance. Laser skin resurfacing with the Fractional Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Laser is one of the most effective procedures to improve skin quality and texture, while reducing fine and moderately deep lines. Because CO2 laser resurfacing relies on stimulating collagen synthesis, results are very impressive and more natural appearing than when relying on injectable fillers alone.

More specifically, fractionated CO2 laser resurfacing yields dramatic improvement in skin tone and texture; evens out pigmentation and eliminates sunspots, as well as smoothes lines, including those around the mouth and eyes. By physically removing the top layers of damaged skin, CO2 laser resurfacing also has medical benefit, removing pre-cancers and stimulating growth of healthier younger skin.


Because fractionated CO2 laser resurfacing targets lines, texture, tone, and brown spots, it’s used to globally rejuvenate the skin. It corrects color problems, eliminates fine lines and tightens the skin, giving the entire face a younger, refreshed appearance. Although it is most often used to treat the face, the CO2 laser can be used to improve neck, chest, arms, and hand skin. It is also frequently combined with surgical lifting procedures. If a facelift or neck lift is performed alone, the skin often doesn’t match the newer lifted appearance, making it look “done.” By rejuvenating the skin at the same time as surgery, the final result is a much more natural. The laser also beautifully softens and eliminates vertical lines around the mouth and tightens eyelid skin, which no surgical or injectable filler procedure can accomplish well.

How Does it Work?

In the 1990s, fully ablative CO2 laser resurfacing was the only technology available, and because this laser removed the entire skin’s surface at once, healing was prolonged and there was a higher chance of scarring or permanent pigmentary changes after treatment. More recently, fully ablative devices have been replaced with fractionated devices that offer both a faster recovery and fewer side effects. The fractionated CO2 laser works by focusing microscopic beams of light into the skin in a grid pattern. Because the laser targets water, a major component of the skin, it immediately vaporizes tissue when fired. Vaporized tissue removes brown spots and sun damage, and the resulting micro-wounds created by the laser stimulate a wound healing process that leads to collagen synthesis. Ultimately, this smoothens lines and tightens skin. Because there are small areas of “normal” skin between the micro wounds, healing is accelerated. Typically, pink new skin is visible 5-10 days after the procedure.

Who is a Good Candidate?

Healthy patients with realistic expectations who are seeking total skin rejuvenation or treatment of scars from surgery or acne are excellent candidates for fractionated CO2 laser resurfacing. Patients with active inflammatory skin conditions may require treatment of these conditions before lasering, and those with very dark skin are not good candidates because of a risk of changing the skin’s native color.

Your Consultation?

During your evaluation, your board-certified dermatologist will review your medical history and medications as well as evaluate your skin and discuss your expectations. Certain medical conditions and medications can increase procedure risks and recovery time. If you smoke, it is best to stop or reduce your smoking before treatment as smoking can slow the recovery process. We may also recommend prophylactic anti-viral medication to prevent any cold sore outbreaks after your procedure.

Laser Resurfacing – Fractionated CO2 - Case 1 - Before Laser Resurfacing – Fractionated CO2 - Case 1 - After

Your dermatologist will define the problem areas and the treatment pattern to be used and take baseline pre-procedure photographs. Typically, we recommend wearing comfortable clothing and having a family member or friend with you to drive you home after the procedure.  Before treatment you will receive an entire briefing of what to expect, potential risks and side effects, and how to care for yourself after the procedure.

A combination of topical and injected local anesthetic will be used to maximize your comfort before the procedure. We use many specialized techniques to minimize discomfort during the numbing process. If you are anxious, you may be offered a medication to help decrease anxiety, but you will be awake during your treatment. General anesthesia is unnecessary and puts you at increased risks. Once numb and comfortable, your dermatologist will use a combination of treatment settings specifically tailored to your skin type and degree of rejuvenation desired. Following treatment, an emollient is applied and post-care instructions are re-reviewed. The whole procedure from photos to post-treatment typically takes 1.5-2 hours.

You will receive detailed instructions for postoperative care. Following these instructions is essential for maximizing your comfort, for achieving best results, and to avoid complications.

After your CO2 laser resurfacing treatment, you will look like you have a bad sunburn and your skin will be warm. Initially, swelling is usually most significant around the eyes. It is normal for the skin to be moist and even contain some crusting. Over the course of 3-5 days, the old damaged skin will begin to come off and light flaking will continue for up to 10 days. Although your skin can remain pink for a few weeks, most patients are able to apply make-up in 7-10 days post-treatment. We will watch your healing closely to make sure you are progressing well and that you are healing as expected. Our staff and dermatologist are available for any questions you may have during your recovery period.

Although your skin will be visibly tighter and smoother in 1 week after the procedure, final results are typically seen at 3-6 months later as it takes time for new collagen to synthesize.

As with all cosmetic procedures, the skill and expertise of your cosmetic surgeon will determine your outcome. At Moy-Fincher-Chipps we have the skills, experience and expertise to deliver superior, individualized results.


Fractionated CO2 Applications


Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing is the gold standard for rejuvenation of aged and damaged skin. The laser’s intense light beam safely penetrates the skin down to the dermis to rejuvenate aging and damaged skin without invasive surgery.

How Does Skin Age?

Collagen is the substance that gives the skin strength and elasticity and plumps the skin, keeping it tight and smooth. After age 20, we produce about 1% less collagen every year which leads to thinner and more fragile skin and wrinkling.

In addition to aging, years of sun exposure and environmental damage accelerate collagen loss and cause the skin to take on a rough texture and discolorations like sun and age spots and freckles form. Sun damage can cause skin cancer and precancerous lesions called actinic keratoses which are scaly, crusty growths. Factional CO2 laser treatment can help to rebuild collagen and remove discolorations, lines and wrinkles, and improve the tone and texture of the skin.


How Does the Fractional CO2 Laser Work?

The fractional CO2 laser breaks up the laser bean into microscopic beams of laser energy to create tiny holes in the skin that go down to the dermis where collagen is made. The laser energy stimulates the production of new collagen. As your body generates new collagen, deep lines and wrinkles smooth out, and the skin tightens.  The old damaged skin is vaporized, and healthy new skin replaces the damaged skin damage as you heal. This refines the skin’s texture, further smooths line and wrinkles, eliminates sun damage, discolorations, scarring and even precancerous lesions on the face, neck and chest, arms and hands. Treatment is fully customizable to your needs.

Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing is available to treat:

Acne scarring is permanent damage to the deep layers of skin and changes the texture of the skin. Fractional CO2 treatment generates new collagen to smooth acne scars. Discolorations may fade with time but can become permanent, and can be removed with this treatment.

These scars can be disfiguring and may restrict normal movement of the skin. When the skin is injured the body tries to fix it with collagen. Treatment can improve the appearance of these scars through formation of new collagen and new healthy skin.

Fractional CO2 treatment can treat photodamage and pigment changes improving texture and tone, and eliminating age spots, pigmented spots and liver spots also called lentigines (small brown patches on the skin) caused by sun damage.

Resurfacing can refresh and rejuvenate the eyelids, erase upper and lower eyelid wrinkles and crepiness, and lift droopy upper eyelids.

Smoker’s lines, pucker marks and wrinkles around the mouth can be softened and smoothed.

Deep wrinkles, crosshatching on the cheeks, dullness, roughness, leathery skin, and discolorations can all be removed.

Many types of skin lesions can be removed with fractional CO2 treatment. Treatment is safe and effective to remove moles, seborrheic keratosis (common noncancerous skin growths that appear as brown, black and tan growths on the face, chest, neck that may be mistaken for a wart or mole), actinic keratoses (Precancerous scaly, crusty growths caused by sun damage), skin tags (harmless skin growths that appear on the eyelids, and other areas), and warts.

However, this laser cannot treat dilated blood vessels and red splotchy neck discoloration.

Moy, Fincher and Chipps is the leading cosmetic surgery practice in Beverly HillsEncino and Torrance. They have a variety of lasers that target the hallmarks of aging and sun damage. Schedule an appointment to discuss your concerns. Our board-certified dermatologists and dermatologic surgeons are dedicated to personalized patient care. They will create a customized anti-aging program for you employing the fractional CO2 laser and other advanced laser technologies to restore and rejuvenate your appearance.

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