Hypopigmentation is a lightening of the normal skin color. It can occur for many reasons and can be permanent. When seen after laser skin resurfacing, it is typically due to damage to the melanocytes (pigment producing cells) which do not grow back. Fully ablative CO2 laser skin resurfacing of the face in the 1990's commonly caused hypopigmentation that left an obvious line of demarcation along the jawline. I published an article in the medical literature in 1996 describing this complication. It is because of this complication and others that led to the "fractionation" of laser beams now employed in modern lasers. So these days, it is very uncommon to see true hypopigmentation with Fractional Laser Resurfacing. However, it can still occur especially in cases in which too much energy was applied or too many passes were performed.
CO2 Laser Resurfacing: Recognizing and Minimizing Complications, Roberts, T.L., Lettieri, J.T., Ellis, L.B., Aesthetic Surgery Quarterly, 2:16, 142-8. 1996

I’m asking because I’m reading very conflicting opinions online. Some say it’s a very rare risk while others claim it does not ever happen. I found only one article on Google Scholar stating it as a side effect but was completely reversible. I already had one procedure but I’m scheduled to have five more and I’m concerned.

Can fractional CO2 laser actually cause hypopigmentation?

Fractional Laser

Sadly, those of us in our 50's and beyond frequently did not use sunscreen. We enjoyed a "healthy-looking" tan and even used tanning accelerators! If you compare the skin on your breasts to the skin on your chest, it's the same age skin but the exposed, tanned chest skin is crepy, thin and blotchy. It's prematurely aged. To get back to the real skin you should have for your age (as much as possible) there are several treatments to consider.
To improve thinning/crepey skin, energy-based skin remodeling modalities should be used. Those include sub-lative or fractionated laser treatments such as Lumenis' ResurFX and MiXto CO2 laser, Ultherapy ultrasound treatments and radiofrequecy tissue remodeling treatments such as Inmode's Morpheus8. 
For brown and red blotchy discolorations, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and vascular laser treatments work well.

What Can be done About Extensive Sun Damage to my Skin?

Skin Rejuvenation

Mature skin is often thinning, crepey, blotchy and lax. These issues are due to the aging process itself typically complicated by past sun damage and other forms of environmental damage that produce free radicals breaking down the tissue. Tanning and smoking produce the most damaging effects. 
The best treatments are based on many considerations including location of the treatment area. For example: face vs neck, chest, arms, abdomen, legs...
In my practice, I often use a combination of treatments. For upper eyelids I use CO2 laser resurfacing. For very thin skin on the face I begin with a collagen building supplement and Ultherapy or a sublative laser treatment. For most other patients I treat with Morpheus8 Radiofrequency skin remodeling which can be applied to skin just about anywhere on the body with the exception of upper eyelids. I treat a lot of arms, thighs and abdomens with this modality.
And as with all energy-based tissue remodeling/resurfacing treatments, living a healthy life-style is a must for the best outcome and preservation of results. Eat a healthy diet, sleep well, drink water-at least 1/2 your ideal body weight in ounces every day. Manage stress and ensure you are getting enough micronutrients.

My skin is lets say, 'mature' ;) i'd like <a href="/Skin-care/info">skin care</a> experts to suggest best ways to rejuvenate and repair from years of ignoring skin maintenance.

What's the Best Skin Rejuvenation Treatment?

Vitamin C serum is one of the best at-home skin care treatments. It protects your skin from the destructive action of free radicals. 1. Cleanse with a non-soap cleanser, then 2. Apply Vitamin C serum, then 3. Moisturize. 4. Use a physical sunscreen (zinc and/or titanium) as your last step, EVERY DAY. Don't forget your neck, ears and chest. 5. You may apply makeup after sunscreen if you like

I started hyaluronic acid in the A.M., which also has vitamin C. After reading about C, I wonder if a C serum would be helpful as well, but am not sure how to use it.

How Do I Use Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C Serum?  Which Goes on First?

Crepey, saggy under eye skin is primarily due to loss of collagen and thinning of the skin related to aging and past sun damage. Correction involves promoting collagen production and tissue remodeling which is best achieved with energy-based treatments. There is no doubt that the current gold standard in tissue remodeling is radiofrequency microneedling. I often use a combination of CO2 laser resurfacing for the upper eyelid with Morpheus 8 RF microneedling for the lower lid. This give beautiful, enduring results that look natural.

My skin looks pretty good except under my eyes- I have crepey loose skin directly under my eyes when I smile. (Crows feet are minimal.) I've read that filler won't help. Can anything be done?”

What Can Be Done for Crepey, Saggy Skin Under the Eyes?

Laura Ellis, MD

medAge

Monica Alvarez, MPAP, PA-C

Mommy Makeover

Restylane

Ptosis Surgery

Panniculectomy

Nonsurgical Neck Lift

Nonsurgical Facelift

Nipple Surgery

Neck Lift

Restylane Lyft

Mole Removal

Microneedling

Male Tummy Tuck

Gynecomastia Surgery

Lux 1540

Lower Facelift

Liquid Facelift

Liposuction Revision

Liposuction

Strattice

Voluma

UltraShape Power

UltraShape

Tummy Tuck Revision

Tummy Tuck

Tumescent Liposuction

Thigh Lift

TCA Peel

Lipoma Removal

Skin Lightening

Scar Removal

Rhinoplasty

Revision Rhinoplasty

Retin-A

Restylane Silk

Breast Reconstruction

Earlobe Repair

Dysport

Dermabrasion

Chin Liposuction

Chemical Peel

Cheek Lift

Brow Lift

Breast Reduction

Breast Reconstruction with Latissimus Flap

Breast Reconstruction Revision

Ear Surgery

Breast Lift with Implants

Breast Lift

Breast Implants

Breast Implant Revision

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Breast Fat Transfer

Breast Augmentation

Botox

Hyaluronidase

Lip Surgery

Lip Fillers

Laser Resurfacing

Laser Peel

Laser Hair Removal

Kybella

Juvederm

Dermal Fillers

Facial Reconstructive Surgery

Facial Fat Transfer

Facial

Facelift Revision

Facelift

Eyelid Surgery

Atlanta

Robert Colgrove, Jr., MD

ARTAS Robotic Hair Transplant

Mentor Breast Implants

Abdominal Etching

Adam's Apple Reduction

African American Rhinoplasty

Areola Reduction Surgery

Arm Lift

Asclera

Asian Rhinoplasty

Bellafill

Belly Button Surgery

Belotero

Biocorneum

Body Lift

Brazilian Butt Lift

Brazilian Butt Lift Revision

Buccal Fat Removal

Butt Augmentation

Butt Lift

Cheek Augmentation

Chin Implant

Clitoral Hood Reduction

CO2 Laser

Collagen Injection

Daxxify

DefenAge

Dermaplaning

Diastasis Recti Repair

Double Eyelid Surgery

Drainless Tummy Tuck

eMatrix

Eyebrow Transplant

Feminizing Top Surgery

FUE Hair Transplant

Genioplasty

Hair Loss Treatment

Hair Transplant

Hand Rejuvenation

Ideal Implant

Inspira Breast Implants

Jessner Peel

Jeuveau

Labia Puffing

Labiaplasty

Latisse

Lip Lift

Lip Reduction

MACS Facelift

Microblading

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Mini Facelift

Mini Tummy Tuck

Monsplasty

Natrelle Breast Implants

Nonsurgical Nose Job

critical risk

Miami

Max Polo, MD

AlloDerm

Body-Jet Liposuction

Butt Implants

Calf Implant

Cellfina

Deep Plane Facelift

Forehead Reduction

Glycolic Peel

Jaw Reduction

Lifestyle Lift

Lip Implants

Lipodissolve

Liposculpture

Masculinizing Top Surgery

Mesotherapy

Morpheus8

NeoGraft

Pec Implants

Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL)

PRP for Hair Loss

San Antonio

Gary Lawton, MD, FACS

Mastectomy

Subcision

El Paso

S. Ozan Sozer, MD

ActiveFX

Agnes RF

CoolSculpting

Cosmelan

DeepFX

Fraxel Laser

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Lightsheer Laser

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Smart Lipo

SMAS Facelift

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TotalFX

Dallas

William Alan Dulin, MD

ArteFill

Blue Peel

BroadBand Light (BBL)

Dermapen

Dimple Surgery