Southern Californians are spoiled with sunny skies year-round. All that sun though ages the skin. Sun damage that occurred in our teens and twenties starts to show up in our thirties and forties as fine lines, wrinkles, uneven pigment, large pores, and skin laxity. That’s because the sun is one of the leading causes in the breakdown of collagen and elastin, structural proteins in the extracellular matrix of connective tissue.
— Dr. Mark Anton, Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon
As collagen is damaged and its production slowed down with age, the signs of aging start to show on our face. The secret to maintaining youthful skin is collagen stimulation. Fractionated CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing is still one of the most requested and effective skin rejuvenation, collagen-stimulating treatments that aesthetic medicine has to offer.
A well-known and results-driven modality, fractionated CO2 works by selectively and partially ablating the top layer of the skin (epidermis) with a controlled heat that penetrates down to the deeper layers of the skin (dermis) to stimulate collagen which in turn tightens tissues, and creates a more even and youthful skin tone. Fractionated CO2 also treats certain types of acne and other scars. Acne patients need to make sure they wait at least one year after completing Accutane before they have a fractionated CO2 laser treatment.
Fractionated C02 Laser Newport Beach
Fractionated CO2 laser resurfacing is best suited for light to medium skin types 1-3 on the Fitzpatrick Scale, presenting with signs of aging skin including fine lines, deep wrinkles, sun damage, along with acne scars, irregular or uneven skin texture.
Some darker skin types may be candidates for our Brilliance Laser Peelt (see below), which is a less intense procedure but still effective for removing brown spots and treating fine lines along with overall skin texture. Fractionated CO2 laser resurfacing can also be used in combination with other treatment options like Fractora, and Morpheus 8, and other Injectables, for those seeking a total, non-surgical, facial rejuvenation.
Newport Beach Fractionated CO2 Laser
Fractionated CO2 Laser works by delivering a precise beam of energy into the epidermis that creates a microchannel of trauma just below the skin’s surface. As the skin heals, it produces new supplies of collagen and elastin that help to resurface your skin. This is why when a wrinkle is treated with CO2 it becomes less pronounced.
The new collagen actually works to fill in the depression from where the wrinkle developed. The same is true for fine lines and acne scars. Deeper wrinkles and more severe acne scars require multiple treatments to achieve optimal results, but immediately following Fractionated CO2 laser treatment, you will notice a dramatic improvement in the way your skin looks and feels. Fractionated laser resurfacing can be applied to the face, neck, chest, hands, and arms to improve fine lines, wrinkles, uneven coloration, skin laxity, textural irregularities, dull tone, and large pores.
At Aesthetics MD we customize every CO2 laser procedure to match the patient’s skin type with the safest and most effective treatment. Not everyone is a candidate for Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing. Darker skin types, those of Mediterranean or Asian descent, people who spend a lot of time in the sun either for work or play, and some medical conditions are not candidates for the treatment. Alternative treatments like Fractora and Morpheus8 (radio frequency) microneedling are safer procedures for collagen stimulation and skin rejuvenation.
You will meet with one of our Aesthetic MD nurses to determine if you are a candidate. During your skin care consultation, your beauty concerns will be addressed along with other considerations such as budget, available recovery time, lifestyle, plus long and short-term aesthetic goals.
Fractionated CO2 Treatment Areas
Face, neck, perioral, decollate, hands and arms
Fractionated CO2 laser resurfacing treatments are considered a non-surgical treatment and can be done in the office with a topical numbing cream and nitrous gas for added comfort. The treatment takes from 30 minutes to one hour depending and patients can drive themselves home afterward. All our fractionated laser packages include an AnteAge Cytokine solution treatment.
Cytokines are peptides (proteins) that target aging factors like inflammation plus work to communicate with the body’s cells to optimize their performance, like those that produce collagen and elastin. AnteAge Cytokine solution is derived from the stem cells of young, healthy adult men and women donors then purified in a laboratory to produce a topical solution consisting of biosignals and growth factors that will engage in skin repair and rejuvenation. After treatment, we recommend the AnteAge 2 step Stem, Growth Factor & Cytokine serum for daily home care.
Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing Newport Beach
Treatment area(s) is numbed with a topical numbing cream for 30 minutes before the treatment begins. Nitrous gas is available for added comfort. You may feel a slight snap and intense heat as the laser makes contact with the skin.
A Zimmer cooler is on hand if needed for additional comfort. Our Newport Beach Factionated CO2 Laser patients opting for the Nitrous gas will be able to drive themselves home after waiting an appropriate amount of time after the treatment is completed. Note: Patients with a history of cold sores will be proactively treated pre and postoperatively with prescription medication.
The treated area is moderately to significantly red immediately following treatment and can remain red for up to 7 days post-treatment. Moderate to significant swelling is typical and usually subsides within 3-10 days. Skin can be is dry and after several days may flake and slough.
It is important to hydrate the skin sufficiently and not pick or rub the face. We recommend CORE raindrops be applied as needed during the first 14 days after treatment. Sunscreen, like CORE made in the shade, must be worn at all times during and after recovery when the skin is exposed to sunlight, including indirect sunlight such as driving.
Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing Newport Beach
The skin’s appearance improves significantly after a 7-14 day healing period with just one treatment. Improvements continue with optimal results seen at three months, as new collagen growth is stimulated. Expectations need to be realistic for a non-surgical procedure such as a Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing and will be reviewed with our Aesthetics MD nurses before treatment.
Younger tissue tends to heal more quickly and the results may last longer. Each patient’s results will vary depending on their own body’s healing process. Smoking, a diet high in processed foods and sugar along with alcohol consumption affect the body’s ability to produce collagen and elastin.
After the post-procedural healing period, the skin will be noticeably tighter, brighter, softer, with less pronounced wrinkles, acne scars will be less noticeable, and the overall complexion more luminescent.
After three months, when optimal results are achieved, your new younger-looking skin can stay looking that way for months and even years. Of course, the aging process never stops so to maintain the results you get with Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing, limit sun exposure and continue to stimulate collagen with monthly treatments like those provided in the Beauty Bank and home care skin products like CORE by Anton MD.
Like the Fractionated CO2 laser resurfacing, The Brilliance Laser Peel uses the same energy from a laser beam to penetrate the epidermis in order to stimulate collagen and elastin for overall skin resurfacing. The difference is Brilliance Laser Peel is a spray technique that does not concentrate the delivery of energy into one place as with the stamping technique used in the Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing, resulting in less skin ablation and a lesser downtime and recovery.
The treatment is still customized to your particular skin type as well addressing your primary concerns such as fine lines, deeper wrinkles, sun spots, texture, and skin tone. Because Brilliance is a less invasive treatment, expectations need to be realistic. The results will not be as dramatic as the Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing. However, multiple Brilliance treatments may yield similar results to a single Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing.
The Brilliance CO2 Laser Peel is best described as a dusting of the CO2 laser to lightly ablate the skin. It is best suited for light to medium/dark skin types 1-4 on the Fitzpatrick Scale presenting with signs of aging skin, including fine lines, sun damage, pigment issues, irregular or uneven skin texture.
People who spend some time in the sun can still be considered a candidate for this treatment depending on other factors such as skin type and discipline with sun protection. During your skincare consultation, your beauty concerns will be addressed along with other considerations such as budget, available recovery time, lifestyle, plus long and short-term aesthetic goals. Some medications, lifestyles, and medical conditions may restrict or prohibit treatment.
Treatment area(s) is numbed with a topical numbing cream for 30 minutes before the treatment begins. Nitrous gas (laughing gas) is available for added comfort. You may feel a slight snap and a warmth as the laser quickly brushes across the skin’s surface. A Zimmer cooler is on hand if needed for additional comfort.
Patients opting for Nitrous gas can drive themselves home after waiting the appropriate amount of time, approximately 15 minutes, from the completion of treatment. Note: Patients with a history of cold sores will be proactively treated pre and postoperatively with prescription medication.
The treated area is slightly to moderately red immediately following treatment and can remain so for up to 7 days post-treatment depending on skin type. Slight swelling can occur but usually subsides within 3-5 days. Skin can be dry and after several days peels in light flakes. It is important to hydrate the skin sufficiently and not pick or rub the face free of dead skin. Sunscreen must be worn at all times during and after recovery when the skin is exposed to sunlight, including indirect sunlight such as driving.
Consultation in Newport Beach
Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing treatments remove layers of skin tissue in a fractionated method (columns of skin are removed, leaving the skin surrounding each column intact to aid in healing) to help reduce fine lines, wrinkles, scarring, uneven coloration, skin laxity, textural irregularities, dull tone, and a thinned collagen layer of the face, neck, and chest.
At AestheticMD, we strive to offer patients customizable treatment options that are carefully catered to suit their unique needs. Together with our lead plastic surgeon, Dr. Anton, our skin enhancement experts will work closely with you to plan a Fractionated CO2 Laser treatment in Newport Beach that can help you achieve your desired results. Call us today or contact us online to get started.
After three months, when optimal results are achieved, your new younger-looking skin can stay looking that way for months to come.
Of course, the aging process never stops so to maintain the great results you get with the Brilliance CO2 Laser Peel limit sun exposure, wear sunscreen daily (even on rainy days) and continue to stimulate collagen with monthly treatments like those provided in the Beauty Bank and home care skin products like CORE by Anton MD.
The skin presents with a moderate improvement after a 7-14 day healing period with just one treatment. Improvements continue with optimal results seen at three months as new collagen growth is stimulated.
After the post-procedural healing period, the skin will be noticeably brighter, softer, luminescent and overall more youthful-looking and feeling. For more dramatic results the Brilliance CO2 Laser Peel can be combined with Fractora orMorpheus8 (radio frequency) microneedling, which is safe for all skin types and can be an effective tightening and resurfacing option.
Get a private and personalized consultation with Dr. Anton in his beautiful practice in Newport Beach, CA.
20331 Irvine Avenue Suite E6, Newport Beach, CA 92660
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