How soon can I exercise after CO2 laser treatment?

Question

Hello! My exercise routine is very important to me. I do intense cardio/weights 3-4 times a week, with yoga on alternate days. Sometime I do hot yoga. I'm curious of your recommendation to return to this routine following treatment. Are there risks to healing and overall results? Thank you for your response.

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

CO2 laser treatment of the face can be done to very different depths.  Normally the deeper the treatment is, the longer the recovery.  Sometimes people will have some mild bleeding after the procedure as well.  I find it is generally best to follow the instructions of the doctor performing your procedure.  In my opinion, I would avoid hot yoga for a week or so, as this may increase any swelling and redness.  If there is any bleeding, I would avoid exercise for a few days.  I would recommend checking instructions for recovery with your doctor however.

Kimberly Butterwick, MD · Answer

The amount of downtime will depend on the depth of your treatment. The advantage to a CO2 fractional laser treatment is that it requires less recovery than an ablative procedure. However, deeper treatments will involve a degree of redness, swelling and peeling. In most cases, you should be able to return to all your activities within one to two weeks. However, I would talk to your provider about recommendations for recovery that are specific to your situation. Hot yoga may have to wait a month, so be sure to ask specifically about this. Make sure you are working with an experienced, board-certified dermatologist to ensure your treatment is successful and follow all pre- and post-treatment recommendations carefully for an optimal outcome.

Kristin J. Tarbet, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. Your resumption of exercise depends on the type of treatment you receive. We use Active FX and Deep FX by Lumenis. The recovery time varies. Active FX recovery is quite rapid at 6 to 7 days. Deep FX, used for deeper wrinkles may take up to 10 days to two weeks. Hot yoga is something I would avoid until the last stages of healing. Your face will begin it's transformation immediately after the procedure resulting in redness and significant peeling in the first several days. Personally, I think you can exercise after the first 4 days post treatment for Active FX. Deep FX will push that back by at least a week. Best of luck to you.

Emilio M. Justo, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Thank you for the question! These details are very important to
review with your surgeon prior to your procedure. The depth of the treatment
will play a role in  your healing as well. I completely understand the
importance of your exercise routine, but your main goal during your healing will
be to protect your skin. For instance, you will want to stay out of the sun and
may want to avoid activities such as hot yoga in the short term. I wish you the
best of luck!

How soon can I exercise after CO2 laser treatment?

Answers (4)

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