Cosmetic Procedures

CO2 Laser Ablation

The goal of laser skin resurfacing is simple: replace damaged skin with new, fresh skin. Techniques for skin resurfacing have made enormous advances, allowing nearly everyone to achieve close to flawless complexions. Many systems allow for light, moderate or deep laser resurfacing. The primary targets of laser skin resurfacing include:

Fine lines and wrinkles of the face, especially around the upper lip, cheeks and forehead
Loose eyelid skin
Crow's feet around the eyes
Pucker marks (smoker's lines) and frown lines
Brown spots and splotchy, uneven skin tone
Scars, especially acne scars
Loose skin around the neck and jowls

                                                                     Before                                                                  After


                                                                                 Before                                               After

How it Works

The gold standard of laser resurfacing systems, the UltraPulse� CO2 laser delivers thousands of tiny laser pulses in a pattern over the skin. Each pulse heats a column of tissue eliminating pigment discolorations at the surface and creating a zone of heating deep in the tissue. Unique to the UltraPulse Encore, these zones of heating shrink collagen immediately*. The CO2 laser also offers the benefits of heating deeper layers of skin tissue, thereby stimulating collagen remodeling the skin further. Patients can select from a range of treatments depending on the needs of your skin and lifestyle. View a video of the procedure.

What is ActiveFX� fractional laser resurfacing?

ActiveFX� is a fractional laser procedure performed in a single treatment with minimal patient downtime. During the procedure, a high-energy beam of laser light is used to smooth out lines, wrinkles and scars, remove brown spots and other irregularities. It also stimulates formation of new underlying collagen to continue improvement over time. With fractional laser treatment, only a fraction of the skin's surface is treated by the laser, leaving small "bridges" of untouched skin. This technique makes the healing process much faster and enables you to get back to normal activities sooner. Download the informational ActiveFX� brochure [pdf].

Is ActiveFX� right for you?

ActiveFX� is ideal for you if you:

Have a busy lifestyle or cannot be away from work for a long time
Want noticeable results with minimal downtime
Want to treat dyschromia, fine lines, wrinkles and skin laxity*

What you can expect from ActiveFX�

ActiveFX� requires general anesthesia. You must arrange for someone to drive you home afterward. There is little to no pain associated with the procedure - most patients say they feel warmth similar to sunburn. With a gentle washing and moisturizing regimen, your photo-damaged skin will begin to flake off within 2 days. After about 3-5 days, your doctor will probably let you wear make-up. Pinkness should be gone in about a week.

ActiveFX� benefits

ActiveFX� treatment produces a dramatic effect on the skin:

Reduces wrinkles and fine lines, and softens deeper frown lines
Noticeably improves skin tone and texture
Stimulates new collagen formation and plumps the skin

The results of ActiveFX� laser treatment are long-term and, with proper sun protection, can persist for many years. Most effects of treatment become visible right away, whereas others - such as new collagen formation - build up gradually and become more evident over time. Therefore, most people look even better 3-5 months after the procedure.