Early 30's - Would CO2 laser work to tighten my face at all? (Photos)

Question

Obviously, I do not have an extreme laxity in my face yet (early 30s) but I do see room for improvement and am hoping there is some type of minimally invasive option besides a facelift. I am working on collagen production (RLT, retinol, good skincare etc) but I am really unhappy with my face currently. I am open to anything at this point.

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

Hello, my name is Ranen and I am an aesthetic nurse at Aesthetic Skin in Chicago. It sounds like you're really proactive about taking care of your skin, which is great! It's natural to want to preserve and enhance your facial appearance as you notice subtle changes, and you’re not alone in looking for options beyond invasive procedures. If you’re still in your early 30s and noticing early signs of aging, there are a number of minimally invasive treatments that can help with things like skin laxity, fine lines, and volume loss.   RF treatments, such as Morpheus 8, use radiofrequency energy to heat deeper layers of the skin, stimulating collagen production and tightening the skin. This option works well for those who want to address mild to moderate sagging, especially around the jawline or under the eyes.  Lasers are an excellent way to stimulate collagen and improve skin texture. Some lasers like CO2, are more aggressive and can treat deeper skin concerns like wrinkles and laxity. Others, like Clear + Brilliant, are gentler and are focused on improving skin tone and texture. While they don’t provide lifting directly, they promote collagen regeneration and overall skin health, which can give a more youthful look over time.

Nick Slenkovich, MD · Answer

Hello! I’m Lauren, the aesthetic injector here at Colorado Plastic Surgery Center.  Some treatments that can help you with your concerns are Microneedling and CoolPeel.  Microneedling uses fine needles to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin, triggering the body’s natural healing response and collagen production. It can help with fine lines & early wrinkles, and mild sagging. CoolPeel is a newer, more refined version of CO2 laser. It uses a fractional CO2 laser but at a lower energy and with controlled delivery. This allows you to get the benefits of traditional CO2 without the intense downtime. Combining these treatments over time or alternating them as part of a long-term plan can give you smoother, tighter, healthier skin with collagen support from different angles.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Fractional CO2 laser is an excellent tool for skin rejuvenation in our center in Santa Monica. We use the fractional multi-depth ablative approach to help resurface the skin, recontour acne scars, improve incisional plastic surgery scars, and reduce surface irregularities from skin tone to dark pigmentation. Our approach utilizes a multi-depth approach that targets melanocytes in the epidermis and collagen fibroblasts in the dermis. This approach can be combined with a TCA Peel in a process known as a sapphire peel. Fractional laser is excellent for acne scars and contour scars in the skin. Patients are advised to undergo skin protocols with Melarase creams before and after treatment to help reduce pigmentation. Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads can seriously improve surface sun damage and UV related pigmentation. After the laser, we expect redness for a few weeks as the skin improves. PRP and Hydrafacial enzyme facials can further improve skin quality after fractional co2.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Mahmood Siddique, DO · Answer

In your early 30s, CO2 laser can be a beneficial option for improving mild skin laxity and overall texture. While it’s more commonly used for resurfacing and treating fine lines or scars, it also stimulates **collagen production**, which can help with early signs of sagging.
For subtle tightening and skin rejuvenation, fractional CO2 treatments may offer noticeable improvement without the need for invasive procedures. Since you’re already supporting your skin with good skincare and collagen-boosting habits, laser treatments can complement your routine effectively.
Other minimally invasive options like radiofrequency microneedling or non-ablative lasers may also be worth considering if downtime is a concern.

Stefan Weiss, MD · Answer

Yes, CO2 laser is the good standard for improving skin tone and texture. It is critical that you see a dermatologist or plastic surgeon experienced with the procedure who can help decide with you the correct settings for your goals

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