Sun damage, acne scars, rough skin, and deeper wrinkles can be tough to treat with skincare alone. CO2 fractional laser resurfacing can help smooth and refresh your skin while keeping your natural features. Dr. Michael Jazayeri uses DEKA laser technology to tailor each treatment for patients in Santa Ana and Orange County, aiming for real improvement without being harsher than necessary.
Renewing Skin From Within
CO2 fractional laser resurfacing is a type of laser treatment that uses carbon dioxide energy at 10,600 nm. The laser removes tiny columns of old or sun-damaged skin and creates controlled heat in the deeper layers.
A fractional CO2 laser treats the skin in small sections instead of resurfacing the whole area at once. Some skin is left untreated between the treated spots, which helps the skin heal faster. This process also boosts collagen production and remodeling. Fractional CO2 is gentler than traditional full resurfacing, but recovery time still depends on the laser settings, the area treated, and how deep the treatment goes.
Smoother Skin, More Even Tone
CO2 laser skin resurfacing can address several skin concerns at once. Benefits may include:
The treatment can make your skin a bit tighter as collagen rebuilds, but it cannot fix major sagging, tighten facial muscles, or move deeper facial structures like surgery can.
Precision Makes the Difference
DEKA CO2 laser technology lets Dr. Jaz adjust the settings based on your concerns, skin tone, medical history, treatment area, and how much recovery time you expect. Treating sun damage may need a different approach than treating deep wrinkles or acne scars. CO2 lasers are known as a top choice for ablative resurfacing, but the best results also depend on choosing the right patients and using good clinical judgment.
Is CO2 Resurfacing Right for You?
A good candidate is usually healthy, has realistic expectations, and can follow aftercare instructions. This treatment is often chosen for static wrinkles, sun damage, acne scars, and uneven skin texture that haven’t improved with lighter laser treatments.
Treatment might need to be delayed or changed if you have active acne, an infection, certain skin conditions, slow healing, or recent sun exposure. Be sure to tell Dr. Jaz about your medications, skincare products, medical history, cold sores, and any unusual scarring.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can happen after fractional CO2 treatment, especially in people with deeper skin tones. It’s important to review your pigmentation history, adjust laser settings, and follow aftercare instructions. Sometimes, a gentler treatment may be a better choice.
If you’re not sure if CO2 resurfacing is right for you, a consultation gives Dr. Jaz a chance to look at your skin, discuss if you’re a good candidate, explain what results to expect, talk about recovery, and go over other options before you decide.
Customized From the Start
Your skin will be cleaned and prepared, and a numbing cream or other comfort measures may be used depending on how strong the treatment is. Dr. Jaz will then use the CO2 laser on the areas being treated, adjusting the settings for your needs. The fractional pattern makes tiny treatment columns in your skin, leaving some areas untouched in between. This helps your skin heal faster than traditional full resurfacing and also boosts collagen in the deeper layers.
Healing in Stages
After CO2 laser resurfacing, it’s normal to have redness, warmth, swelling, peeling, and sensitivity. Most people should expect some visible recovery time, so this isn’t like a no-downtime facial.
Surface healing usually takes about 5 to 7 days. After about a week, most people start to see smoother new skin as peeling stops, though the skin may still look pink. Many return to normal activities in a week, but deeper treatments can take up to two weeks. Pinkness can last for several weeks.
Possible complications include pigment changes, infection, long-lasting redness, and scarring. Following Dr. Jaz’s aftercare instructions and protecting your skin from the sun can help lower these risks. If you’re worried about downtime, Dr. Jaz can explain how different laser settings affect healing and whether a lighter treatment or another option might work better for your schedule.
Protecting Your New Skin
Keep your treated skin clean, moisturized, and protected as instructed. Don’t pick at peeling skin or start using retinoids, acids, exfoliants, or other active products until Dr. Jaz says it’s okay. It’s very important to protect your skin from the sun, since new skin is sensitive to UV rays and pigment changes. Good skincare also helps maintain your results.
Improvement That Continues
You’ll start to see early improvement as the outer layers heal, usually after about a week. Collagen keeps building under the surface, so your skin’s texture and firmness can keep getting better for up to six months. Results from CO2 laser resurfacing can last for several years, often three to five, though aging, new sun damage, skincare, and how strong the treatment was all play a role.
Knowing When Laser Isn't Enough
Laser skin resurfacing can improve your skin’s quality, but it can’t replace surgery for major sagging. If you’re mainly worried about jowls, loose neck skin, or deeper tissue drooping, a facelift or neck lift might be a better option. If you’ve lost facial volume, fat transfer or fillers may work better. Some deep or tethered acne scars may need a combination of treatments. Dr. Jaz looks at your overall appearance and recommends what’s best for you, not just the laser because it’s available.
An Artistic Eye. A Thoughtful Approach.
Dr. Michael Jazayeri is a board-certified plastic surgeon with decades of experience working with the face, skin, and underlying anatomy. This experience helps him decide whether resurfacing or another treatment is best for your needs. He focuses on choosing the right treatment, customizing it for you, and aiming for natural-looking results. During your consultation, he’ll explain why he recommends a certain approach and what you can realistically expect.
Find Out What Makes Sense for Your Skin
If you’re thinking about CO2 fractional laser resurfacing, the best next step is to find out if it’s right for your skin and goals. Dr. Jaz can look at your skin concerns, talk about what results you can expect, and explain how the strength of the treatment affects recovery and risk.
Your consultation is a chance to compare CO2 resurfacing with other options, look at before-and-after results that matter to you, and get a personalized treatment plan and pricing. Contact Dr. Jaz’s Santa Ana office to schedule your visit.
Meet With Dr. JazThe cost depends on the area treated, how strong the treatment is, whether you’re treating your whole face or just a small area, and how many sessions you need. After looking at your skin and talking about your goals, Dr. Jaz can make a treatment plan and give you an exact price.
No. 'Fractional' refers to the way the laser energy is delivered. Fraxel is a brand name for other fractional laser systems, but Dr. Jaz uses DEKA CO2 laser technology.
For many people, one well-chosen treatment can make a real difference. Others may need more sessions, especially for deeper scars or if a gentler approach is used.
The healing process can boost collagen and tighten mildly loose skin. However, it can’t lift sagging skin or deeper facial tissues the way surgery can.
Yes. Hyperpigmentation, or less often hypopigmentation, can happen after treatment. The risk depends on your skin tone, how strong the treatment is, sun exposure, and how your skin heals.
Peeling and most of the early healing usually happen in the first week, but redness or pinkness can last for several weeks after deeper treatments. Recovery time is different for everyone.
Embrace Comfort & Convenience
Dr. Michael A. Jazayeri, a distinguished plastic surgeon in Santa Ana, California, strongly advocates for patient comfort and safety during all procedures. His comprehensive approach to patient care includes using local anesthesia for various surgical procedures.
Local anesthesia is a type of anesthetic used to numb a specific area of the body where a surgical procedure will be performed. It allows the patient to remain awake and comfortable while avoiding the potential risks and side effects associated with general anesthesia. In Dr. Jazayeri's hands, an array of procedures can be carried out under local anesthesia, often leading to quicker recovery times and lower complication rates. These procedures include many facelifts, liposuctions, neck lifts, Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs), mini tummy tuck and, in certain cases, even breast and arm lift.
By taking advantage of local anesthesia's potential, Dr. Michael A. Jazayeri strives to make cosmetic and reconstructive surgery more accessible, comfortable, and patient-centered. His commitment to this safe anesthesia approach in Santa Ana, California, signals a new era in plastic surgery where patient comfort and safety are at the forefront.
Schedule your one-on-one plastic surgery consultation in Orange County with Dr. Jaz
Many people may hesitate about making their first phone call to a plastic surgeon’s office. Dr. Jazayeri would like you to know that for most patients, getting a procedure is only one aspect of helping themselves look and feel more like the person they really are. Information is power. Why not call and schedule a consultation with Dr. Jazayeri today? Contact us now by calling the phone number above or visiting our contact page.
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