Prior to CO2 laser resurfacing
Two weeks prior to your CO2 laser resurfacing treatment it’s important to avoid more than 30 minutes of sun exposure, Retin-A and any harsh chemicals on your skin. We also don’t recommend Botox or fillers within two weeks of treatment. A Valtrex prescription is given to help prevent cold sores and needs to be taken one day before treatment.
Lustra is a prescription cream that contains hydroquinone, an ingredient that helps lighten pigmentation in the skin. This is prescribed for patients to begin using ahead of time and needs to be stopped one week prior to laser resurfacing. Lustra should be resumed on day 7 and will greatly enhance the overall result.
Day of CO2 Laser Resurfacing
Please come to your appointment with a clean face for us to apply numbing cream. We let this sit on the skin for approximately 45 minutes to make the laser treatment as comfortable as possible. A prescribed antibiotic to help prevent infection will need to be started the morning of treatment and continued until gone.
The actual procedure takes approximately 30-45 minutes and possibly longer if the neck and chest are treated as well. While the CO2 laser feels hot on the face, we have a cooling device that is used immediately on the treated areas to keep the skin cool.
After CO2 Laser Resurfacing
After CO2 laser resurfacing, the skin will feel hot, like a sunburn, for a few hours. Some pinpoint bleeding is normal with possible swelling that may be noticeable the next day. Pigmentation in the skin will become much darker over the next 3-4 days and will peel off between days 4 and 7. Once peeling is complete, the skin will likely be pink as it continues to heal. At this point, regular activity can be resumed. Collagen production has been stimulated and the skin will continue to improve in appearance over the next three months.
For more information on CO2 laser resurfacing in Draper and Layton, Utah, call (801)776-2220 or contact us HERE.