How Safe Are Different Types of Lasers?

I've read scores of reviews from patients who have suffered scars, milia, leathery skin, burns and laser imprints for years after their procedure. Why are so many doctors confidently using/marketing lasers when there is such a significant number of patients with terrible outcomes? How much control do doctors have over these outcomes? And is fractional laser really safer than fully ablative CO2? (on this site, Fraxel has a 55% approval, and CO2, 76%) Any docs out there who WON'T use lasers?

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1 Doctor Answer | Asked by donna2000

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Medical Lasers are safe and effective but not free from potential complications

As with any medical procedure (from taking an aspirin to brain surgery), risk is unavoidable. Any medical procedure's risks and benefits must be weighed by doctors and patients alike before consenting to proceed. Lasers have been a boon to many areas of medicine, but none more than aesthetic medicine. The vast majority of patients who undergo these procedures (literally millions of procedures annually in the US and Canada alone) have favourable outcomes... more