16 Oct 2024 | by Dr. Vickram Tandon
Most aesthetic procedures are not season-dependent. Many of my body contouring patients like to schedule during the colder months because they can hide their recovery under more clothes. But this is a personal preference, not a necessity. A CO2 laser treatment, on the other hand, can be ideal to schedule during fall/winter as it is critical for you to avoid the sun during recovery. And as we both know, there is significantly less sun in Boston during the winter months. So, what a gift to yourself to use this time for a CO2 treatment to radically improve your skin’s texture and tone.
Benefits of CO2 Laser Treatment in Boston
One of the many things that I like about the CO2 procedure is its ability to address so many different skin issues such as:
- Sun damage
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Hyperpigmentation
- “Crepey,” uneven skin texture
- Mild skin laxity
- Scars
- Dull, tired appearance to skin
Furthermore, a single CO2 treatment can not only provide immediate rejuvenation, but it also encourages your body to produce more collagen, a foundation of youthful-looking skin, so these beneficial effects will continue to build over time. Other benefits of a CO2 laser treatment include:
- Help treat precancerous lesions
- Even out skin tone and improve skin texture
- Produce a more youthful-looking glow
- Improve acne scars, fine lines, and sun damage
- Minimal downtime
CO2 Laser Procedure and Recovery
CO2 is performed as an outpatient procedure in my office. After washing and drying your skin, a trusted member of my staff will apply a topical anesthetic to ensure your comfort. This is a powerful procedure, but most patients do not find it to be painful. During your treatment, I will pass a handheld device over your areas of concern. Depending on the size of the treatment area, your CO2 procedure may take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Afterwards, you can expect some skin sensitivity for the first 12-72 hours. This may manifest as:
- Itching
- Stinging
- Mild swelling
- Redness
This is normal and is simply your body’s way of healing from the “injury” of the laser. Your skin will begin to peel after about a week. You need to fight the urge to pick and leave it alone. Furthermore, as mentioned, it is critical that you avoid the sun during your recovery and wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen all the time in order to protect your new emerging skin.
To find out more about a CO2 laser, or any other surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Vickram Tandon at the Boston Center for Plastic Surgery, contact us today or call 617-402-2768 to schedule a consultation.
