Why You Need CO2 Laser Treatments

The world of laser resurfacing is a vast one with endless treatment types and benefits. But which one suits your unique needs and skincare goals? To keep you from spending the rest of your day online trying to find out (who has time for that?!), we’re here to answer your questions about highly beneficial CO2 treatments.

What is a CO2 treatment?

CO2 treatments are a type of carbon dioxide laser resurfacing. CO2 lasers work very precisely and safely to remove thin layers of damaged skin. 

What are the benefits of a CO2 treatment? 

These lasers treat a large variety of skin conditions, including: fine lines and wrinkles, sun damage, warts, age spots, and more.

Not only do they reduce the appearance of damaged skin, CO2 lasers go one step further, providing skin tightening and even balancing skin tone. A two-fold treatment that treats and rejuvenates makes CO2 laser treatments a unique favorite. 

What can I expect during my CO2 treatment appointment?

The duration of your appointment largely depends on what type of CO2 treatment you’re receiving. While some treatments can last an hour or so, the advanced devices used at Mint & Needle cut this time down to a fraction of that. Keep reading for more on the expected timing. 

During your treatment, our medical team will walk you through each step of the procedure, keeping you both educated and comfortable. 

The medical team at Mint & Needle uses topical numbing and provides post-treatment skincare to shorten the duration of skin redness. (The redness will depend on the depth and strength of the treatment, and can last between four and 10 days, though our care will help to shorten that duration.)

When should I schedule my CO2 treatment?

Any time! Though you might hear that autumn is often considered “laser season.” After your treatment, your skin will be more sensitive to sunlight, so seasons with cooler (or shorter, less sunny) days are sometimes preferred. 

You’ll need to avoid direct sunlight for two weeks prior to your appointment, and between two and four weeks after your treatment. Keep this in mind when you schedule your appointment. (If you’re planning that beach trip soon, you’ll want to schedule for CO2 treatment at least two weeks later.)

What type of CO2 treatments should I get?

Mint & Needle brings you two great CO2 treatment options to resurface and rejuvenate damaged skin.

• CoolPeel — Rejuvenate your skin, reduce fine lines, sun damage, and pore size, while improving skin texture and balancing skin tone with our CO2 CoolPeel device. By targeting just the superficial layer of skin tissue, damaged skin is removed, revealing younger and healthier looking skin.
  
• Treats: Fine lines, age spots, acne scars, and other blemishes.
  
• Timing: A full-face laser peel only takes up to 15 minutes, and a series of 3 treatments is recommended for best results.
  
• Post Care: Avoid hot water and exercise for 1 week. Use Tylenol (not Aspirin) for any bruising. Keep area clean.
  
• Cost: $800-1000
  
  
• Deep Fully Fractionated CO2 — This CO2 laser skin resurfacing treatment goes deeper than the CoolPeel treatment, targeting deeper scars, hyperpigmentation, and wrinkles. This treatment is ideal for moderate-to-severe sun damage, texture, and acne scarring. This treatment promotes the production of collagen, while smoothing out scars and wrinkles and improving skin texture, leaving you with smooth and soft skin.
  
• Treats: Deeper scars, hyperpigmentation, sun damage, enlarged pores,  and large wrinkles.
  
• Timing: Quick 45-minute appointment. 1 to 2 treatments are recommended, 6 weeks apart, depending on goals. 
  Post Care: Soak with water-vinegar mixture every 3 to 4 hours for 3 days. Avoid strenuous exercise/lifting for 1 week. Sleep slightly elevated for a few nights. Avoid sun exposure for at least 6 months. A sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher should be applied every day. Use a hat and sunglasses. Your skin is extremely vulnerable to the sun after having a laser treatment.
  
• Cost: Consult Required
  
  
• Best of both worlds — Looking for the results of the Deep Fully Fractionated CO2 without the downtime? Combine RF Microneedling with CoolPeel to address both the superficial and deeper layers. You can even receive both treatments on the very same day. RF Microneedling is a minimally-invasive microneedling treatment that delivers radiofrequency energy deep into the dermis layer of skin and stimulates the natural skin healing process to increase collagen and elastin for a younger, firmer and rejuvenated skin. 

Bottom line: These CO2 lasers can do a lot. Before you spend your whole day on the internet trying to determine if they can address your unique needs, give the Mint & Needle team a call or schedule a consultation in our Middletown, DE, or Lewes, DE, offices. Note that these services should only be performed by a highly trained and knowledgeable professional, so only choose an aesthetics company that is medically-driven. Our goal is to ensure you’re completely informed… not overwhelmed!