How deep do doctors go with the fractional ablative CO2 laser?

Fractional resurfacing  can be very suprficial and remove only a few microns of tissue, or can go deeper into the papillary or reticular dermis, and create a deeper injury thought to improve deep wrinkles.  Although depth of injury is an important consideration, the density of the injury is equally important.  Fractional treatments treat only  a portion of the surface of the skin, whereas fully ablative treatments remove 100 % of the surface area.  Depth of injury will vary with both types of treatments.  Fractional treatments can provide good results, but often require multiple treatments.  C02 resurfacing is the gold standard for skin rejuvenation, and if done correctly and with good healing, most patients can be socially ok in about 1 week

the lasers are tailored to each person's goals, skin type, and long term risk/outcome.  I suggest you see an expert.  My patients do this treatment yearly in my practice for prevention.  Dr. Emer.

Thank you for your question Amy. Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing is an
outstanding treatment that can address multiple aspects of aging in a single
treatment. The power will control the depth of the individual dots. The dwell time will affect how much heat is delivered to the tissue. And the spacing or density will affect what percentage of the skin is treated. All of these parameters can be adjusted depending on the individual, the condition, and the desired goals. Redness and swelling can last 1-2 weeks after a treatment. Please consult with a doctor for specific
recommendations. Good luck!