CO2 Fractional Laser — Face

CO2 fractional laser resurfacing for the full face, ablating microscopic columns of skin tissue to trigger a wound-healing response that resurfaces the epidermis and remodels the dermis. Treats fine lines, deep wrinkles, acne scars, sun damage, and uneven skin tone. Requires 5 to 7 days of recovery.

CO2 fractional laser resurfacing at dr Paradowski Klinika uses a fractional carbon dioxide laser to create thousands of microscopic ablative columns — called microthermal treatment zones (MTZs) — in the skin, while leaving the surrounding tissue intact. This fractional approach preserves enough untreated skin to accelerate healing dramatically compared to fully ablative CO2 resurfacing, while still achieving the deep dermis remodelling that makes CO2 laser the gold standard for wrinkle reduction and scar treatment. The laser's CO2 wavelength (10,600nm) is strongly absorbed by water in skin cells, converting to heat that vaporises the targeted tissue columns. In the ablative zones, the laser removes damaged epidermis and delivers heat energy into the dermis. The surrounding untreated skin acts as a reservoir of healthy cells that migrate inward to resurface the ablated columns within 3 to 5 days. In the dermis, the heat triggers immediate collagen contraction (producing an immediate skin-tightening effect) and initiates a prolonged fibroblast-mediated collagen synthesis response that continues for 3 to 6 months. For the face, CO2 fractional laser is particularly effective for addressing textural irregularities caused by acne scarring (including ice-pick, boxcar, and rolling scar subtypes), photodamage including lentigines and actinic texture changes, perioral and periorbital fine lines, and generalised skin roughness and enlarged pores. Compared to ablative non-fractional CO2 resurfacing, the fractional approach produces comparable results with significantly less downtime and a lower risk of prolonged erythema or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. A topical anaesthetic is applied under occlusion before the session. Recovery involves 5 to 7 days during which the skin progresses through a predictable healing sequence: redness and swelling immediately post-treatment, followed by the formation and natural shedding of a thin crust as the ablated columns heal. Sun protection is critical for 4 to 6 weeks post-treatment. Final skin quality improvement continues to emerge over 3 to 6 months as new collagen matures.