CT scan after CO2 laser

Question

I had laser CO2 laser on my face 3 weeks ago. My ENT wants to do a CT scan of my lower face/neck area. I'm not sure how the radiation will affect my skin. Is it safe?

Ajaya Kashyap, MD · Answer

Thanks for your query. It is absolutely safe to get a CT scan after co2 laser as it doesn’t produce any heat or radiation that will affect your skin. Hope it helps.

Kyle Coleman, MD · Answer

CT scan should have no effect on the healing of a co2 laser as the skin is generally not effected to any significant degree with these technologies.  Best of luck.

Matthew Elias, DO, FAAD · Answer

Thank you for your questions.  Assuming you had a fractional CO2 laser and your skin is healed, which it should be, 3 weeks after treatment, it is safe for you to get a CT scan.  If you had a fully ablative CO2 laser, I would presume you are not completely healed at this point, so I would wait another week or two until your skin is healed and then it would be safe to get a CT scan.  Remember medical concerns always trump cosmetic concerns.  Regards, Dr. Matt Elias

Stephen E. Small, DO · Answer

A cat scan should not have any effect on your laser treatment.  However, as long as you don't need the cat scan for an urgent matter then I would recommend waiting until your skin initially recovered from the co2 treatment- No crusting scabbing or open areas. At three weeks with a fractional co2 treatment there shouldn't be any healing issues other than possibly some residual redness and swelling.  I would recommend discussing this with your ENT and the physician that performed the laser treatment.

CT scan after CO2 laser

Answers (4)