Is CO2 fully ablative laser the right treatment for my acne scarring or are there better alternatives?

Question

Dear Experts, I’m scheduled to have CO2 fully ablative laser treatment on the NHS. I have been told that this will require 3 weeks off work to recover, during which time I will not be allowed to leave the house so as to avoid sun exposure. My question is - judging from the included photos of - is this the best treatment for me. The recovery time is daunting to me, and I have come across many anecdotal regrets or unsuccessful treatments. Would anyone recommend an alternative?

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

There are some simple rules to follow for treating acne scars: keep the treatments simple, relatively inexpensive, and look for those that have proven their value in decades of real-world use for both safety and efficacy. The following treatments meet those criteria. For treating ice pick scars, consider TCA CROSS, a technique that I have been using for nearly a quarter of a century, with a proven track record for safety and efficacy in all skin types. For acne related generalized atrophy-related volume loss in the cheeks, as is evident in the photos, a Field Subcision can be very helpful. This will not only help to restore volume and decrease the sunken appearance, but by elevating the skin will help to smooth the overlying cheek scars. 
For individual indented scars, such as rolling scars and boxcar scars, consider individual subcisions, an approach that I have been using for coming up on thirty years, for elevating and smoothing them. It, too, has a proven record for safety and efficacy in all skin types. 
None of the aforementioned procedures entails any significant post-treatment downtime. 
And for superficial, surface, texture and/or pigmentary irregularities, consider professionally performed, manual microneedling (no need for the added expense and risks of RF micro needling) accompanied by the application of the appropriate Rx topicals. I personally have nearly 25 years of gratifying experience using this approach for these kinds of issues in all skin types. 
Finally, I would suggest exercising a great deal of "buyer beware" caution when considering the use of so many of the expensive, so-called, "next big thing," often here-today-gone-tomorrow, light and energy-based devices being advertised out there, as the hard science to back of their use lags well behind the heavy marketing hype and social media buzz that promotes them. You would be wise to consult with an experienced, board certified certified cosmetic dermatologist acne scar treatment specialist. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Is CO2 fully ablative laser the right treatment for my acne scarring or are there better alternatives?

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Is CO2 fully ablative laser the right treatment for my acne scarring or are there better alternatives?

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Everything you need to know about CO2 Laser

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.