What is The Difference Between Fractional CO2 and CO2 Laser?

Question

Can you please explain the difference between fractional CO2 laser and CO2, or are they the same thing?

Douglas Wu, MD · Answer

The main difference is that the non-fractionated CO2 laser ablates 100% of the skin surface that it treats whereas the fractionated CO2 laser ablates only a part (or a "fraction") of skin surface that it treats.  This fraction is evenly spaced throughout the treatment area so you still get a uniform effect.Because a certain degree of healthy, non-ablated skin is left behind after a fractionated CO2 laser treatment, the healing times are typically faster and there is generally less chance of complication.  However, in expert hands, both fractionated and non-fractionated CO2 laser treatments can be used because each can achieve different effects depending on the treatment settings and technique.  It's best to see a Board Certified dermatologist who has expertise in both types to maximize your results. Hope this helps!

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Fractional co2 has quicker healing and only treats part of the skin at once, whereas co2 laser is fully ablative and burns the entire skin surface. Best, Dr. Karamanoukian Los Angeles

J. Matthew Knight, MD · Answer

Hello.  CO2 stands for carbon dioxide which is the "medium" by which the laser beam is created.  All lasers have something that helps them create the laser beam - common sources are solid (i.e. rubies), liquids (i.e. dye), or gas (i.e. CO2).  In the old days CO2 lasers could only lay down a solid beam -which would "ablate" or remove an entire skin surface.  We call this "traditional CO2 resurfacing."  About a decade ago this was substantially improved by "fractionating" the beam - meaning that only a fraction of the skin was treated and healing occurred from normal, unaffected skin.  When this technology was created, the healing time and safety window were substantially improved.  Most CO2 treatments today are "fractional."  That being said, there are a wide range of fractional CO2 lasers out there and they all have their differences.  In our clinic, we use the Lumenis Ultrapulse CO2 with DeepFx and ActiveFx.Hope that helped.

What is The Difference Between Fractional CO2 and CO2 Laser?

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What is The Difference Between Fractional CO2 and CO2 Laser?

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