RF microneedling and CO2
Fractionated CO2 skin rejuvenation
What is Fractionated CO2?
Fractionated CO2 is a type of laser made of carbon dioxide that removes the outer layer of damaged skin.
It uses blasts of high energy through a scanning pattern in order to remove the outer layers of damaged skin.
Once the damaged skin cells are eliminated, this is followed by new skin production and collagen formation.
What conditions does CO2 laser treat?
Fractional CO2 laser is commonly used to treat
- Age spots
- Acne scars
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Hyperpigmentation
- Sagging skin
- Uneven skin tone
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Is Fractional CO2 worth it?
The CO2 fractional laser is a great treatment for those patients who are suffering from severe sun damage, deeper wrinkles, uneven tone and texture, as well as acne scars. It also offers the benefits of skin tightening, a smooth and even complexion, and a radiant glow with just one session
What are the risks of Fractional CO2?
When carbon dioxide laser treatments were first approved, there was a risk of scarring, burning, and hypopigmentation. Because the laser pulses are now “fractionated”, negative side effects are rare but possible. “Fractionated “laser implies that the laser is fractionated in microcolumns in a grid pattern so that the laser targets only a portion of the skin’s surface as opposed to the entire skin surface. This allows for better healing. It is important to discuss this with your practitioner before your treatment.
For most fractionated CO2 treatments, treatment redness is expected to fade to a light pink and then resolve within several weeks to 2 or 3 months. For full field CO2 laser resurfacing, redness takes longer to resolve and some pink may still be noticeable 4-6 months after treatment
Is CO2 better than microneedling?
Laser treatments can often provide quicker, more dramatic and long lasting results than microneedling treatments. Because lasers deliver heat to the skin we see more side effects (such as temporary darkening or bruising) and longer downtime due to post-treatment swelling and redness.
There’s a big difference between laser resurfacing and microneedling and it all comes down to how the two treatments work. By design, lasers use light as energy. This allows lasers to have a specific target to treat in the skin, such as broken red veins or brown spots, without damaging surrounding unaffected tissue. It’s a very selective treatment.
Microneedling is the mechanical method of creating thousands of tiny channels of injury all over a treatment area that force the skin to heal. The results are not selective to a specific problem, but you can see improvement in many issues by nature of causing collagen regeneration and skin turnover. Both treatments are used to heal certain types of concerns, such as acne scarring and rejuvenation.
The beauty with Cutera’s Secret Pro is that we can combine the two treatments in a single session and get the added benefits of both treatments with little downtime.
How long does it take to see results from fractional CO2?
Results can be seen almost immediately after a treatment, however as new collagen is created results continue to be seen up to 3 months post procedure.
How many sessions are needed?
Depending on the severity of the condition, you may need to undergo several (average 1-3) sessions to treat the skin condition.
Is the procedure painful?
The procedure involves application of a numbing cream 30-45 minutes before the procedure.
Most patients report minimal discomfort with the treatment.
Who is a good candidate for CO2?
A CO2 laser skin resurfacing treatment is the best choice for women and men concerned about significant wrinkling and sun damage that require a more aggressive laser procedure. It’s ideally suited for patients with lighter skin tones who have skin discoloration.
This laser is not recommended on darker skin types.
Does fractionated CO2 tighten skin?
CO2 laser is the gold standard for tissue rejuvenation and tightening.
The CO2 laser is well known for its capacity to tighten skin.
What is the downtime associated with this treatment?
Typically, the patient will have swelling and redness in the area treated for a few days.
The dead skin cells will slough off over 5- 7 days depending on the aggressivity of the treatment performed.
Thanks to the fractional technology of the laser, recovery time is usually around 5-7 days.
How long do the results last?
On average, most patients get to enjoy silky-smooth skin that lasts for anywhere between three and five years after undergoing laser therapy. Many patients maintain treatments by returning every so often for a touch-up or supplementary skin treatment.
What is Secret Pro?
SecretTM PRO offers multiple treatment options that work through various combinations of RF microneedling and CO2 resurfacing. Your options include:
- SecretTM PRO Ultra Light: This approach addresses photodamage on the superficial layers of the skin with a gentle, full-face fractional CO2 micropeel. You may need multiple sessions to see your best results.
- SecretTM PRO Ultra: A more aggressive treatment, this targets photodamage, crepey skin, and uneven texture in a single session with CO2 resurfacing.
- SecretTM PRO Refine: Stimulate deep dermal remodelling with RF microneedling.
- SecretTM PRO Revive: Combined RF microneedling and CO2 resurfacing for the ultimate anti-aging transformation.
How many treatments are required?
Most people see their best results after 1 to 3 sessions, each spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart.
What Can I Expect?
SecretTM PRO treatments are minimally invasive and require minimal downtime, providing a quick and effective skin rejuvenation solution.
The Treatment Experience
Treatments typically take between 30 and 60 minutes. Secret PRO treatments cause minimal discomfort, and most people easily tolerate their sessions with just a topical numbing cream.
Each treatment is customized to suit the individual, and recovery time varies depending on the intensity of the treatment. Most treatments involve little to no downtime and allow you to return to your usual activities right away.
Before and after gallery
