CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing in Phoenix

Ablative, Fractional and Non-Ablative: What the Terms Mean

Ablative, non-ablative and fractional describe different, and sometimes overlapping, aspects of a laser treatment, so they are not interchangeable. Fractional treatments can be either ablative or non-ablative.

Fully ablative resurfacing removes surface skin across the entire treated field. Fractional ablative resurfacing leaves untreated “islands” of skin between treatment columns to support healing.

Ablative CO2 Laser Resurfacing

Ablative CO2 laser resurfacing is the general category. Its intensity ranges from fractional ablative to fully ablative, depending on the device, settings, coverage and treatment plan.

• Treats: deep wrinkles, pronounced photoaging, acne scars and other atrophic scars, uneven skin texture, enlarged pores, select benign skin lesions, sun-damaged skin and textural irregularities.
• Downtime: often several days to two weeks or longer, depending on the depth, density and area treated. Redness may persist for weeks.
• Comfort: more intensive treatments may need topical anesthesia, local nerve blocks or other analgesia. Nitrous oxide may be used as an adjunct.

Fractional Ablative CO2 Laser

Fractional ablative CO2 provides substantial resurfacing and collagen remodeling while preserving untreated skin between the treatment columns, so healing is generally faster than with fully ablative resurfacing.

• Treats: acne scarring, fine to deep wrinkles, skin laxity and textural irregularities, surgical or traumatic scars, and photodamage.
• Downtime: commonly several days to about two weeks. Residual redness may last longer, and more aggressive settings increase recovery time.
• Comfort: a topical anesthetic may be enough for some treatments. Deeper or more extensive treatments may need additional pain management.

Fractional Non-Ablative Laser Treatments

Fractional non-ablative treatments stimulate collagen remodeling while preserving the surface skin: they do not remove surface tissue. They generally cause less surface disruption and have a shorter recovery than ablative CO2 resurfacing.

• Treats: fine lines, mild to moderate photoaging, uneven skin tone and texture, select acne scars, and early textural changes.
• Downtime: often one to several days of redness, swelling or a rough, sandpaper-like texture, depending on the device and settings.

CoolPeel CO2 Laser Treatment

CoolPeel is a type of fractional ablative CO2 treatment, with less residual heat and typically less downtime than more aggressive CO2 treatments. CoolPeel is not a non-ablative treatment. It is a milder, more controlled fractional ablative CO2 treatment, but it can still deliver meaningful results.

• Treats: fine lines and superficial wrinkles, enlarged pores and uneven texture, mild photodamage, dull skin, and superficial textural irregularities.
• Downtime: often mild redness and swelling for a few days, sometimes with temporary roughness or pinpoint crusting. It varies with the settings, skin type and intensity.

Fully Ablative CO2 Laser Resurfacing

Fully ablative resurfacing removes the epidermis across the entire designated treatment field; how deep it reaches into the dermis depends on the treatment parameters. It is generally more aggressive than fractional resurfacing, because no untreated islands of skin are kept within the field.

• Treats: selected cases of advanced photoaging, pronounced wrinkles and significant textural irregularities, when the benefits justify the recovery and risk.
• Downtime: often two weeks or longer for initial healing, and redness may be prolonged.
• Comfort: often requires more substantial pain control, such as local anesthesia or nerve blocks. Nitrous oxide may be an adjunct, but it is not a substitute for an appropriate anesthesia plan.