POSTED UNDER Laser Resurfacing Reviews
CO₂ Laser Resurfacing – My Honest Healing Timeline (2 Weeks Out, Under-Eye Results Better Than Expected
ORIGINAL POST
CO? Laser Resurfacing – My Honest Healing Timeline (2 Weeks Out, Under-Eye Results Better Than Expected
WORTH IT
I wanted to share my experience because when I was researching this procedure, it was hard to find honest day-by-day healing photos—especially the middle stage when things look a little scary but are actually normal.
I’m now about two weeks out and already seeing very good results, so I decided to write everything down while it’s still fresh.
Pre-treatment preparation
My provider asked me to avoid NSAIDs or anything that could increase bleeding or bruising before the procedure. That included no alcohol for 24 hours before treatment. I followed those instructions carefully.
Procedure day
As part of the treatment, my provider suggested using exosomes immediately after the procedure to help speed healing and potentially reduce downtime, which I opted for.
They started with strong topical numbing and also used lidocaine injections in certain areas.
We treated my full face, under my eyes, just below my chin, and around my ears where I had an old scar. I also had a small scar on my face, and the area under my eyes had some stretched skin after a long bout of pink eye where my eyes were swollen for several months. Those areas were a big reason I wanted to do the treatment.
They adjusted the intensity in different areas depending on skin thickness, which made the treatment feel very customized.
The procedure itself honestly wasn’t bad. Some spots closer to bone felt a little hotter for a second, but nothing I would describe as painful.
My appointment was at 1:30 PM and even including numbing time I was finished by about 3:15 PM.
My daughter drove me home and I left wearing the giant visor they suggested I buy from Amazon—very sci-fi looking.
The first night
The first night was more uncomfortable than painful. My face felt very hot, like a strong sunburn, and I had waves of heat and chills. Sleeping was the hardest part because of the heat and tightness.
The office checked in the next morning and called in a small amount of pain medication just in case, as well as an antibiotic prescription to have on hand if needed.
Aftercare routine
My aftercare routine was pretty structured.
Three times a day I did vinegar and distilled water compresses using 4×4 gauze. The key instruction was no rubbing, only gently pressing the gauze onto the skin and lifting it off. This helped soften debris and keep everything clean.
I also washed my face two to three times a day using a gentle cleanser from the office. It may have cost a little more than something from the drugstore, but after investing in the procedure I wanted to follow their protocol exactly.
After cleansing, I applied Aquaphor constantly to keep the skin moist. They stressed that you do not want the skin drying out or cracking during healing.
They also recommended taking Benadryl if itching became an issue around days three to four, which I did.
Healing stage
The first few days looked pretty wild. There was a lot of redness, swelling, and a yellowish plasma fluid that forms during healing, especially under the eyes. It looks alarming, but it’s a normal part of the process.
Under the eyes looked the most intense because the skin there is thinner and that area was treated more aggressively.
By days four to five the skin started shedding and new pink skin began appearing underneath.
My provider scheduled both a one-week follow-up and a one-month follow-up, which I appreciated.
Two-week update
As of today, I’m about two weeks out and already very happy with the improvement in my skin texture and overall smoothness.
I still have some redness under my eyes, which is expected since that area was treated more heavily, but it continues to improve.
A lesson I learned
One thing I learned is how important it is to follow the post-procedure instructions exactly.
The office had recommended a specific mineral sunscreen makeup for when I was ready to start covering redness. I thought I was being careful and used something I already had that was marketed as gentle, but my skin clearly disagreed.
The area under my eyes became noticeably redder that day, and I realized quickly that even “gentle” products can still be too much for freshly resurfaced skin.
I switched to the mineral makeup they recommended from SkinBetter Science, and I haven’t had any problems since. It’s very gentle and covers the remaining redness well.
Final thoughts
This procedure definitely has downtime. For several days you probably won’t want anyone seeing you other than close friends or family. The healing stage can look dramatic and people may wonder what you’ve done to yourself.
You also need to stay completely out of the sun for about a week and wear good protection like the visor they recommend.
The biggest thing I would tell anyone considering CO2 laser resurfacing is that the middle stage of healing looks scary, but it’s temporary and part of the process. Do not try to pick or peel the skin.
Overall, I’m very glad I did it and I’ll continue updating as the redness fades and I add photos.
I’m now about two weeks out and already seeing very good results, so I decided to write everything down while it’s still fresh.
Pre-treatment preparation
My provider asked me to avoid NSAIDs or anything that could increase bleeding or bruising before the procedure. That included no alcohol for 24 hours before treatment. I followed those instructions carefully.
Procedure day
As part of the treatment, my provider suggested using exosomes immediately after the procedure to help speed healing and potentially reduce downtime, which I opted for.
They started with strong topical numbing and also used lidocaine injections in certain areas.
We treated my full face, under my eyes, just below my chin, and around my ears where I had an old scar. I also had a small scar on my face, and the area under my eyes had some stretched skin after a long bout of pink eye where my eyes were swollen for several months. Those areas were a big reason I wanted to do the treatment.
They adjusted the intensity in different areas depending on skin thickness, which made the treatment feel very customized.
The procedure itself honestly wasn’t bad. Some spots closer to bone felt a little hotter for a second, but nothing I would describe as painful.
My appointment was at 1:30 PM and even including numbing time I was finished by about 3:15 PM.
My daughter drove me home and I left wearing the giant visor they suggested I buy from Amazon—very sci-fi looking.
The first night
The first night was more uncomfortable than painful. My face felt very hot, like a strong sunburn, and I had waves of heat and chills. Sleeping was the hardest part because of the heat and tightness.
The office checked in the next morning and called in a small amount of pain medication just in case, as well as an antibiotic prescription to have on hand if needed.
Aftercare routine
My aftercare routine was pretty structured.
Three times a day I did vinegar and distilled water compresses using 4×4 gauze. The key instruction was no rubbing, only gently pressing the gauze onto the skin and lifting it off. This helped soften debris and keep everything clean.
I also washed my face two to three times a day using a gentle cleanser from the office. It may have cost a little more than something from the drugstore, but after investing in the procedure I wanted to follow their protocol exactly.
After cleansing, I applied Aquaphor constantly to keep the skin moist. They stressed that you do not want the skin drying out or cracking during healing.
They also recommended taking Benadryl if itching became an issue around days three to four, which I did.
Healing stage
The first few days looked pretty wild. There was a lot of redness, swelling, and a yellowish plasma fluid that forms during healing, especially under the eyes. It looks alarming, but it’s a normal part of the process.
Under the eyes looked the most intense because the skin there is thinner and that area was treated more aggressively.
By days four to five the skin started shedding and new pink skin began appearing underneath.
My provider scheduled both a one-week follow-up and a one-month follow-up, which I appreciated.
Two-week update
As of today, I’m about two weeks out and already very happy with the improvement in my skin texture and overall smoothness.
I still have some redness under my eyes, which is expected since that area was treated more heavily, but it continues to improve.
A lesson I learned
One thing I learned is how important it is to follow the post-procedure instructions exactly.
The office had recommended a specific mineral sunscreen makeup for when I was ready to start covering redness. I thought I was being careful and used something I already had that was marketed as gentle, but my skin clearly disagreed.
The area under my eyes became noticeably redder that day, and I realized quickly that even “gentle” products can still be too much for freshly resurfaced skin.
I switched to the mineral makeup they recommended from SkinBetter Science, and I haven’t had any problems since. It’s very gentle and covers the remaining redness well.
Final thoughts
This procedure definitely has downtime. For several days you probably won’t want anyone seeing you other than close friends or family. The healing stage can look dramatic and people may wonder what you’ve done to yourself.
You also need to stay completely out of the sun for about a week and wear good protection like the visor they recommend.
The biggest thing I would tell anyone considering CO2 laser resurfacing is that the middle stage of healing looks scary, but it’s temporary and part of the process. Do not try to pick or peel the skin.
Overall, I’m very glad I did it and I’ll continue updating as the redness fades and I add photos.
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