I want to know how bad the pain is from CO2 laser on the face. Do you need pain meds like Percocet?

Thank you for your question.  Before every CO2 treatment, I numb each patient with lidocaine for 30 minutes and then begin the treatment.  You dont need a strong pain medicine and the treatment takes about 30 minutes to complete a full face.  

There are two aspects to the pain from CO2 laser. Intraoperative and postoperative. The intraoperative pain  depends upon if one is using fractionated or non fractionated CO2. The non fractionated CO2 is painful and one often uses sedation with an anesthesiologist Or tumescent anesthesia. Fractionated CO2 is less painful and can require some intralesional numbing, tumescent anesthesia or the combination of nitrous oxide and oxygen. (Pronox). Percocet is an option with either treatment. Postoperatively, if one uses semi occlusive dressings, there is very little discomfort with either. Find a laser expert. Ask to see photos.