The pros and cons of laser resurfacing for acne scarring can often depend upon the user of the technology as well as the individual patient.
I've published an article on the improvement of acne scarring with the CO2 laser which you can read but I will summarize some of the key points.
The pros consist of a bimodal degree of improvement where the skin is first sanded down and the heat injury actually confers additional improvement over the course of six months. It is by far in my opinion the best treatment for significant acne scarring of the face since it can safely penetrate the deepest into the middle layer of skin. It can also be repeated in patients with severe acne scarring.
The major cons include a longer period of healing, typically two weeks and it requires wound care by the patient which can sometimes be painful during the healing process. Also, in darker skinned individuals it can result in loss of pigmentation and a line of demarkation at or near the jaw line especially in females; this is less likely to occur in males. Finally, it is not for African or Indian Americans due to the darker skin type and risk of skin lightening.
Finally, if you are of the proper skin type and willing to put up with the down time, there is in my opinion no better treatment for acne scarring.
