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Confused About Laser Resurfacing Treatments After Disappointment with CO2

I am Mexican and Filipino, but the Mexican side is questionable, as I may have French roots because I'm very fair and have had freckles as a child through adulthood. When I had hyperpigmentation/melasma and fine lines under my eyes I went to get a CO2 treatment. The results were less than satisfying; I ended up having more lines on my lower lids plus hypopigmentation on the area, as well as above my upper lip. I have consulted various doctors, and I am overwhelmed with their suggested treatments: Fraxel Restore, fraxel Re:Pair, Plasma, and Cool touch, can't remember the rest. Is there anything that can help me get rid of the fine lines without causing more undesirable effects like the ones from my CO2 experience, which made me wary of laser treatments. I was told that I would have smooth skin--but I didn't. It would be two years in December since my treatment (2006) and I am still red/brown on the lower side of my lips. Thank you for any help.

Asked 41 months ago by desperateinthebay in Bay Area California

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Confused About Laser Resurfacing Treatments After Disappointment with CO2

Unfortunately, it sounds like you have had a bad experience with laser resurfacing. CO2 laser is great for some skin types, but not for others. Obviously, it wasn't good for you. I would recommend that whatever you choose next, you do it very conservatively. If further laser resurfacing is indicated I would treat very lightly and would proceed from there. That way you can see how your skin responds. More treatments may be necessary.... more

Doctor's Website

Sam Goldberger, MD

Beverly Hills Oculoplastic Surgeon

Pigmentation Irregularities After Laser Can be Made Better

Sorry to hear of your undesirable results. CO2 laser procedures are fraught with risk in dark-pigmented individuals. Pigmentation problems can often be made better with diligent and patient care in the hands of an expert specialist. Find someone who specializes in skin rejuvenation and Photo-medicine, usually a Dermatologist. Your treatments will take time, require patience, and involve combination therapy (topical creams or lotions, different light- or laser therapies, and/or... more

Paul C. Zwiebel, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

CO2 Laser on Darker Skin Types

CO2 laser and similarly used dual mode Er:Yag lasers are excellent choices for patients of northern European skin types who have significant age and sun related damage. Hands-down, nothing gives better results when it comes to wrinkles. Asian and Hispanic skin types are rarely suited to this type of laser because of the de-pigmentation (and oddly enough opposite hyperpigmentation) that can result. In addition, darker skin types tend also to be thicker which is less... more

Louis W. Apostolakis, MD

Austin Facial Plastic Surgeon

Laser Resurfacing

With your ethnic background, treatment around your mouth is a higher risk procedure. Thus, I would not treat you with CO2 laser there. You will need a full evaluation with a Board Certified Dermatologist and Plastic surgeon to evaluate what risk profile you present, and your list of options. Your skin type is high risk so you must go to someone familiar with ethnic skin, and your type of problem who uses lasers that are safe with ethnic skin.* more

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Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD

San Francisco Dermatologic Surgeon

CO2 laser requires expert hands.

I am so sorry that you had such a disappointing outcome from your CO2 laser treatment. At this point it is important that you consult with a physician with a great deal of experience. It is difficult to give suggestions without actually examining your skin. Given that I can say that Fraxel Restore is very helpful and low risk for treating under eye wrinkles. Loss of pigment and persistent redness after CO2 are much more concerning and difficult to treat.... more

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Susan Van Dyke, MD

Paradise Valley Dermatologist

The CO2 laser is the most agressive of laser resurfacing techniques.

The CO2 laser is the most aggressive of resurfacing laser techniques. It can produce great results but also significant unwanted collateral. The results are directly related to patient selection. CO2 lasering is limited, for the most part, to fair skinned individuals. Loss of skin pigment is a common side effect and darker skinned individuals can look most unusual after this treatment. It sounds like you little effect and lots of collateral. You,... more

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Non-ablative fractional Erbium laser resurfacing best for persistent pigmentation

Dark skinned individuals should not be treated with CO2 lasers, flat beam or fractional. The CO2 creates a thermal damage profile that always results in hyperpigmentationj and can also lead to hypopigmentation. It sounds as though you have persistant hyperpigmentation after laser resurfacing. If you truely have melasma, it is very difficult to treat. The Fraxel Restore (NOT Repair-it is a CO2) and the Lux1540 are both good non-ablative fractional Erbium lasers which can improve-but not... more

Brooke R. Seckel, MD

Boston Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Laser choice is not simple

First of all, with your ethnic background, lasers can have greater potential side effects. Hypopigmentation is just one problem which happens to be permanent (in most cases). The first step is find a facial plastic surgeon, plastic surgeon or dermatologist who truly specializes in lasers and has a variety of lasers at their disposal. Most people have one or two different types of lasers and try to treat everyone in the same way. It takes a wide range of laser devices to treat the even... more

Amir M. Karam, MD

San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon

Laser resurfacing with CO2 laser.

I don't blame you for being confused about laser resurfacing since there are many lasers and even more claims about lasers. I no longer use the CO2 laser because many patients develop bleaching of the skin after resurfacing with the CO2 laser. If, on the other hand, you are disappointed because there was not enough correction following the laser resurfacing, then perhaps the energy settings used were too low. By far the best laser available to treat wrinkles and discoloration of the... more

George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Fraxel Re:store is best option

My experience is that Re:store is the best for skin type IV for both melasma and scars. The settings must be conservative, so more sessions (6-9) would be necessary. Cooltouch has no benefit for melasma, but may help scars. Topical tazarotene and TriLuma may also help melasma and hyperpigmentation. Hypopigmentation is, unforunately, a complication of CO2 lasers, and it can be very long-lasting. I am not aware of any modality that really helps this complication.