CO2 Laser: How to Prepare & Post-Treatment Instructions

Aspirin, aspirin-containing drugs, ibuprofen and other blood-thinners should be stopped 7 days before surgery. This includes herbs, all vitamins, and certain other drugs: we will give you a list which covers most such thinners. If you are on prescription blood-thinners like Coumadin or Plavix, we will advise you and your physician about possible changes in that medication prior to and after surgery. HOWEVER, if you are only having laser treatment to the face (without surgery), you do not need to stop these medications. 

If you are only having laser treatment to the face, the swelling will definitely affect your eyelids, making it difficult for you to see clearly for the first few days. The swelling responds to the use of ice. You may also use artificial tears in your eyes as you need them. 

Because the level of the laser treatment is varied to give you the best result, the degree of pinkness will also vary. Furthermore, some areas like vertical lip lines and deep pores need a more aggressive treatment, which makes the area around the mouth more pink. Eyelid skin is very thin and will invariably be pink and swollen. Once you are healed, there will not be differences from one part to the next. 

Skin that is lasered needs a lot of moisterizer, both in the form of topical moisterizer, as well as good hydration with liquid intake. The skin tends to become very dry for the first week, gradually becoming more normal in the subsequent few weeks. It is always a good idea to keep the lasered skin moist and properly protected with a sunscreen. 

Absolutely not. Of course, the first week, while you are healing, it is important to use a moistrizer and avoid direct sun exposure. Most of my patients will resume normal activities within a few days, even going out to the shops with a broad-rimmed hat on. Avoid direct biting cold or hot winds to the face. After the first week, you can use topical moisterizer and sunscreen and resume sports, jogging, etc. Makeup is able to hide the residual pinkness after the first week. We find that our patients become much more diligent about protecting their skin with an SPF 30 sunscreen after our laser treatment, which makes for healthier skin in the long term!

If we started you on the Retin-A and Hydroquinone 4% cream prior to your laser, we will ask you to resume these about four weeks after your treatment. In some patients, they are restarted sooner: we will guide you. It is fine to use your normal line of makeup that you used to use. If you use creams with glycolic acid or lactic acid in them, please show them to us so we can review when you can restart those creams. 

As you know, it is very confusing for the lay public these days as there are new lines of creams and lotions and potions coming out daily. Of course, everyone claims to have the best products, often the most expensive. Although there are many good brands like SkinMedica, Obagi, BioMedic, and others, skin care really requires four basic things: a good moisterizer, a good sunscreen, an exfoliant (like retin-A or creams containing glycolic acid or lactic acid), and around the eyelids, hydrating Vitamin C serums. All of these are available in many different brands. 

Laser treatment works by treating the superficial but also the deeper structures in the skin. Because we are relying on heat causing tightening of collagen and making new collagen, there will invariably be swelling. Eyelids and the lower part of the face swell the most, and the swelling is often asymmetric (depending upon how one sleeps). Using ice on-and-off (20 minutes on and 20 minutes off works well) for the first two days helps reduce bruising and swelling more quickly. Sleeping with two or three pillows for the first couple of nights helps reduce swelling. Many patients tell me they find the use of ice very soothing and continue to use ice for several days. 

Bruising occurs where local anesthetic injections may be administered. However, the laser treatment also causes some small blood vessels to leak fluid and this can look like a bruise. As with most bruises, this dissipates over the first few days. 

Everyone experiences a sensation of tightness and tingling. Some patients experience a “burning” sensation for the first two to three days, especially when using the water-and-vinegar soaks.  You may need the prescription pain medication for one or two days; thereafter, simple over-the-counter pain medication like Tylenol suffices.

Most patients try to get a full week off work. Thereafter, makeup may be used. You can, of course, work on your computer from home even the day after the treatment. 

Preparation, applying local anesthesia and application of the laser take a total of about an hour, but we do not rush anything. When you come for your treatment, please do not make any other appointments for the day as the duration of treatment is not always predictable. Also, by the nature of Medicine, emergencies are seen almost daily and may delay more routine cases. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for the surgeon to take longer (or shorter) on some cases, depending upon findings: therefore, procedure times are ESTIMATES ONLY.

Fractionated CO2 laser and Erbium lasers give excellent improvement in pores, fine lines, deeper lines around the lips and forehead and skin tightening. The skin actually feels tight in the first few weeks. Although this relaxes, you keep the improvement in the appearance of the skin long-term. Please remember that there are no lasers that actually lift and reposition tissues like we can do with a brow lift or a facelift or a necklift. The improvement and tightening are visible on the surface (skin): please see some of the photos of our patients on this page. 

If you have jowls or a loose neck or drooping brows or baggy eyelids, we will discuss other options with you. We often combine surgery with the use of the CO2 laser to give our patients the best possible results. 

In the “old” days (not so long ago, actually), aggressive laser applications gave very good results, but there would be loss of pigment giving the skin a porcelain-white sheen. These days, we fractionate the laser. In order to give you the best result, without the loss of natural skin color, we generally perform two treatments with the CO2 laser, separated by about six months. Some patients prefer to have lighter treatments, in which case the treatments are repeated more than twice. 

With the Erbium laser, two to four treatments are generally needed. The Eribium laser has quicker healing, but also gives more moderate tightening of the skin and wrinkles. 

1. You may wash/bathe the day after your surgery and even get your lasered skin wet. You can also use soap on the face. 
2. Do not rub your skin vigorously for the first two weeks.
3. Expect some oozing of blood-stained fluid for the first two to three days: this is normal.
4. No swimming in a swimming pool for two weeks please.
5. No vigorous exercise for one week (tennis, skiing, etc).
6. Most patients can drive/walk/etc the day after surgery. Sometimes, swelling can make driving difficult for a couple of days.
7. You will have trouble wearing contact lenses for about a week.
8. Remember to read our instructions on the use of water-and-vinegar soaks and the use of a moisterizer several times a day. 

1. Absolutely not! Laser treatments are chosen by the surgeon and by you with specific aims in mind. We may use these lasers to improve wrinkles, lines, pores, smokers’ lines around the lips, acne scars, trauma scars, etc. We can all live with all of these changes, so you have the choice of having or not having this treatment: it is entirely your choice.  

In certain circumstances when we are treating scars on the face following trauma, we are able to submit the laser treatment to your insurance company or workman’s compensation fund, if the injury was work-related. However, whether they cover it or not is entirely dependent upon your insurance contract. We always work for our patients and will always try to get coverage for you whenever possible. However, treatment of cosmetic blemishes like wrinkles, lines, pores, etc cannot be submitted to the insurance company. 

We keep photographs of patients we have treated for many conditions using laser beams. When one knows the physics of the different lasers, and the physiology of skin, one can predict fairly accurately what is and is not possible. To that end, we will always see and examine you to determine if the laser alone or a combination of surgery and laser might be best for your needs. 

Please be sure to ask us any questions you may have whilst you are being seen in clinic so we can help you understand the procedures. You may also contact us: (801) 413-3599 (SLC) and (435) 215-0014 (St. George)

Thank you for coming to see us.

Sincerely,

Prof. BCK Patel MD, FRCS