Welcome back, everyone! I’m so excited to keep the promise I made a few weeks ago and share my experience for Fractional CO2 Laser with you all today. As mentioned in my other article, I did this treatment together with the Potenza Radio Frequency (RF) Microneedling treatment, as recommended by Dr Mark Lim from Halley Medical Aesthetics.
These treatments work together well to treat the following issues I faced:
- Skin Texture
- Enlarged pores and closed comedones over anterior cheeks
- Seborrhoeic keratosis (small) over sides of face
In layman terms, I wanted to improve my overall skin texture to give it the ‘glow’ and also to reduce the small bumps on my face!
First things first, what is Fractional CO2 Laser?
The Fractional CO2 Laser removes the superficial to middle layers of the skin in tiny dots all over the face to promote new skin growth, stimulate collagen, and remove superficial pigmentation. It works by using a computer-generated grid to target small areas across the skin’s surface.
Some of its key benefits include:
- Improving the appearance of acne scars
- Reducing fine lines and wrinkles
- Improving skin texture
- Tightening skin and reducing pore size
- Lightening pigmentation
Because the treated areas are tiny, the surrounding areas can help heal them, meaning it only takes about 5-7 days to recover instead of two weeks. Additionally, the CO2 laser can also remove skin lumps. Which was exactly what I needed!
The laser treatment usually treats the whole face. But since I only had skin lumps on one side of my face, I opted to receive treatment for only that particular area instead of the entire face.
The treatment process was surprisingly easy!
Firstly, the therapist at Halley Medical Aesthetics applied a numbing cream on the treatment area before we got started.
The laser treatment then went on for about 20 to 30 mins during which the targeted areas were subjected to computer-generated, pixelated grids of microscopic dots over the surface area of my skin.
I was able to lie back and relax as the laser resurfaced my skin. I felt mild heat and a tingling sensation from the treatment, but it wasn’t painful at all, it was at most a 3/10 for me! Afterward, I was given an ice pack to reduce inflammation and a moisturizing cream so that my skin could heal properly and quickly.
Post Treatment
After the laser treatment was complete, I could feel my skin being a little tender and warm. This feeling lasted for a few hours until I felt that my skin started to adjust itself better. Dr Lim had also warned me about slight redness of the skin which is completely normal and fades after a short while.
Dr Lim also advised me on the important post-treatment care that I needed to take in order to ensure my skin recovers quickly.
He said that it was important to keep the treated area moisturized throughout the recovery period and also use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 when going out.
Additionally, he also suggested avoiding any strenuous activities or workouts for at least a week and to refrain from using any harsh chemicals or products on the face. I was instructed to gently wash my face every 3-4 hours with a non-soap cleanser and keep it hydrated with cotton squares dipped in cool water for the next few days as this helps the recovery process.
Tiny scabs also appeared 1-2 days after the laser which dropped off after 5-7 days, so I had to make sure not to peel them off and avoid excessive exposure to the sun.
All in all, it was important for me to take extra care of my skin while healing from the treatment.
I decided to take things easy for about 5-6 days after my treatment, reducing my work and social commitments during that time. But am I glad I did! Together with the Potenza treatment, the results from these treatments were really visible and it’s something I would definitely recommend if you face similar concerns as me!
Overall, I can honestly say that Fractional CO2 Laser is definitely worth the experience for me! My complexion looks brighter now and any lumps or surface pigmentation have been reduced significantly. It’s been such an experience and I’m looking forward to including these treatments as part of my skincare journey moving forward.
Thanks for reading my experience with the Fractional CO2 Laser Treatment! Hope you found this helpful.
Until next time, stay beautiful. Love, Renee 🙂
One Response