I'm 24. I'm Mexican/Italian. My skin is on fair side but I can tan easily. I have premature fine lines, large pores, and uneven texture. I want to get fractional co2 but I'm afraid from the stories here of track marks and hole marks left over. I'd rather do co2 since it's a one time treatment as opposed to fraxel with multiple treatments. Is scarring and pigmentation always a risk with fraction co2? How can one avoid this complication? Please answer actual questions :)
February 15, 2018
Answer: Fraxel vs fractional CO2 lasering Thank you for a good question. I have both of these lasers in my practice, and you are correct to worry about treating your darker skin type. Without actually examining your face it is difficult to give you the answer, but if your skin is a Fitzpatrick III or above, neither laser would likely be recommended. But the risk is not one of scarring, but of de-pigmentation -- both these lasers will lighten dark spots in light skin, but might lighten your overall dark skin more than you would like--and once lightened, there is no "going back". Confer with an experienced plastic surgeon (preferably one who uses both lasers) about your skin type (darkness), to see if you can be helped (and even if your skin is a Fitz Ii, I would probably recommend the Fraxel --even though it would take 4 treatments--as the likelihood of depigmentation of a severe degree with this laser would be far less than with the fCO2). Good luck!
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
February 15, 2018
Answer: Fraxel vs fractional CO2 lasering Thank you for a good question. I have both of these lasers in my practice, and you are correct to worry about treating your darker skin type. Without actually examining your face it is difficult to give you the answer, but if your skin is a Fitzpatrick III or above, neither laser would likely be recommended. But the risk is not one of scarring, but of de-pigmentation -- both these lasers will lighten dark spots in light skin, but might lighten your overall dark skin more than you would like--and once lightened, there is no "going back". Confer with an experienced plastic surgeon (preferably one who uses both lasers) about your skin type (darkness), to see if you can be helped (and even if your skin is a Fitz Ii, I would probably recommend the Fraxel --even though it would take 4 treatments--as the likelihood of depigmentation of a severe degree with this laser would be far less than with the fCO2). Good luck!
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
