Carbon Dioxide Laser Fractional Treatment - Cutting Edge Technology
This information is of a general nature only and is for public information and education. Your individual problem needs to be assessed by your family doctor who will advise you on appropriate further steps.
The CO2 Laser produces a very controlled burn, by an ablative process called PhotoThermoLysis(Laser light converting to heat to act on tissues).
For many years, the continuous wave CO2 Lasers available caused too many undesirable effects due to excessive heat diffusion. The great breakthrough was in the early 90s, when the UltraPulse CO2 Laser was developed by Coherent (now Lumenis). This was a superfast, high powered laser with ultrashort dwell time (laser skin contact time) and rapid Thermal Relaxation Time (diffusion time for the heat generated), enabling safe and predictable Facial Resurfacing. However, even this was too strong for the skin of the neck, back of hands and forearms, or for facial resurfacing in younger patients with minimal sun damage of the face.
Now with Fractional treatment, where the laser pattern is seen as microscopic thermal wounds, alternating with normal skin, healing within 3 to 5 days is possible on the face, neck, hands and forearms.
