CO2 Laser
CO2 laser skin resurfacing provides a premier, clinically proven method to dramatically enhance skin quality and reverse the visible signs of aging. Over the years, prolonged sun exposure, stress, and the natural aging process leave their marks at the cellular level. Environmental damage and naturally declining collagen levels manifest as coarse texture, uneven pigmentation, age spots, and deep wrinkles around the mouth and eyes. Advanced carbon dioxide laser technology uses precisely targeted energy to vaporize damaged superficial skin cells, clearing the way for smooth, healthy tissue to emerge.
Dr. Paige Kennedy approaches skin health with the expertise of a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, prioritizing your safety, comfort, and satisfaction at every step of your treatment plan. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Kennedy to learn how laser resurfacing can transform your skin by providing significant, long-lasting rejuvenation.
Smooths deep wrinkles, erases sun damage, and tightens lax skin
Most patients require 7-10 days of healing time at home
Initial skin smoothing is visible as soon as the peeling process completes
Stimulates continuous collagen remodeling for several months to provide long-lasting results
CO2 laser resurfacing is an advanced laser treatment that delivers a specific wavelength of light into the skin’s surface to precisely remove the top layer of damaged and aging cells while leaving the surrounding tissue intact. This process triggers the body’s natural healing response, which stimulates the rapid production of fresh collagen and elastin fibers.
Modern laser resurfacing can be delivered through fully ablative or fractional techniques, depending on the severity of your skin concerns. Fully ablative treatments address the entire skin surface for maximum wrinkle correction, while fractional lasers create tiny microscopic treatment columns, providing a shorter healing window. During your private consultation, Dr. Kennedy will thoroughly evaluate your skin quality, Fitzpatrick skin type, and medical history. She will also learn about your specific goals and your tolerance for downtime. This detailed analysis allows her to select the ideal laser parameters to safely and effectively refresh your complexion.
Yes, Dr. Kennedy frequently combines fractional CO2 laser resurfacing with surgical procedures like a facelift or blepharoplasty. While surgery successfully lifts sagging muscles and removes excess skin, it does not alter the surface skin quality. Performing laser resurfacing alongside a surgical lift allows patients to achieve complete facial rejuvenation by addressing structural sagging and skin texture simultaneously.
Because this is a medical-grade skin resurfacing treatment, the session is performed with meticulous attention to your comfort and safety. The procedure can take anywhere from 30-90 minutes, depending on whether you are treating specific zones or the full face. To begin, Dr. Kennedy will carefully cleanse your skin and provide protective eyewear to ensure complete safety throughout the session.
A combination of potent topical numbing creams and local anesthetic blocks is administered prior to the procedure. For more comprehensive or deeper treatments, light sedation options can be arranged to ensure you remain entirely relaxed. During the treatment, Dr. Kennedy guides the laser handpiece across the skin precisely, delivering energy pulses that feel like a warm, snapping sensation. Once the treatment concludes, a soothing, protective ointment is applied to the skin surface to initiate the recovery process.
CO2 laser skin resurfacing is exceptionally powerful and can correct a wide range of deep and superficial skin flaws simultaneously. It rebuilds the dermal matrix to deliver smooth, even, luminous skin. Common concerns addressed include:
CO2 laser resurfacing is unmatched in its ability to achieve profound, transformative improvements in skin texture and tone in a single session. Unlike mild chemical peels or superficial spa facials, a medical CO2 laser reaches the deeper layers of the dermis to remodel the skin at the cellular level. This focused energy delivery treats the deeper structure of wrinkles and skin damage rather than temporarily masking imperfections.
Trusting your laser therapy to a dedicated facial surgeon ensures an exceptional level of clinical safety. Dr. Kennedy’s understanding of facial anatomy allows her to treat delicate areas, such as the eyelids and perioral region, with extreme precision. She customizes the energy depth to prevent complications like hyperpigmentation or prolonged redness, which are common risks when CO2 laser therapy is performed by inexperienced providers. A CO2 laser treatment yields a radiant, youthful complexion that continuously improves over time.
CO2 laser skin resurfacing is designed for those seeking to correct pronounced signs of environmental aging, deep wrinkles, or noticeable texture issues. Candidates should be committed to following a strict pre-treatment and post-treatment skincare regimen to protect their healing skin. Because the laser targets water and melanin molecules, individuals with lighter skin tones are typically the safest candidates for deep ablative laser treatments.
During your consultation, Dr. Kennedy will carefully review your medical history, including any history of keloid scarring, recent Accutane use, or frequent cold sore outbreaks. If you have a naturally darker skin tone, she may recommend alternative modalities, such as BBL or specialized chemical peels, to achieve your goals safely. It is also essential that candidates be able to arrange a dedicated week of recovery at home, away from direct sunlight.
The recovery process following a CO2 laser treatment requires diligent aftercare to support your skin’s healing process and prevent complications. Immediately after the procedure, your skin will feel warm and appear raw, similar to a severe sunburn. Swelling is a normal part of recovery and typically peaks during the first 48-72 hours. Dr. Kennedy will provide you with a detailed, step-by-step skincare protocol using gentle cleansers and healing ointments to protect and nourish your skin.
During the first week of recovery, your skin will undergo a natural peeling process as the old, damaged layers shed away. It is vital that you do not pick, scratch, or scrub the skin, as this can lead to scarring or infection. Patients must stay indoors and avoid any direct sun exposure while the new skin layer is forming. Most patients feel comfortable returning to work and applying light makeup within 7-10 days, once the skin surface has fully closed.
The initial results of your CO2 laser resurfacing treatment will begin to shine through as soon as the peeling phase concludes. Your new skin will appear noticeably smoother, softer, and more vibrant, though it may retain a slight pink or flushed undertone for several weeks. This temporary pinkness is a positive sign that blood supply has increased to help rebuild your skin matrix.
While the surface improvements are visible early on, the most profound results develop gradually over the next 3-6 months. This ongoing improvement occurs because collagen remodeling is a slow biological process that takes time to mature. As the new collagen fibers tighten and multiply, you will notice a continuous reduction in deep wrinkles and an overall tightening of your facial features. With proper sun protection and medical-grade skincare, these remarkable results can last for many years.
Advanced laser treatments require a detailed understanding of skin biology, making the choice of your provider essential. Dr. Paige Kennedy limits her practice exclusively to the face and neck, ensuring that her clinical skills remain entirely focused on facial aesthetics. She completed 10 years of top-tier postgraduate training at premier medical programs in Houston, Chicago, and Austin. This elite training provided her with an unparalleled understanding of how to safely manipulate energy devices to refresh your appearance.
At Kennedy Facial Plastic Surgery, we curate a boutique experience where patient safety and honest communication form our core values. Dr. Kennedy personally evaluates your skin type and customizes all laser treatments to minimize risks and maximize your aesthetic rewards. She combines technical mastery with the intuitive, supportive perspective of a female surgeon to guide you through a comfortable healing journey. Trust your skin health to a dedicated facial specialist who delivers world-class care close to home in Acadiana.
We take extensive measures to ensure your CO2 laser resurfacing treatment is highly manageable and comfortable. Prior to the procedure, we apply strong topical anesthetics and perform local nerve blocks to numb the target areas completely. For deeper or full-face treatments, we can incorporate light oral sedation to keep you relaxed. During the recovery phase, any discomfort feels similar to a sunburn and can be managed easily with cool compresses and recommended skincare.
The vast majority of patients achieve exceptional, life-changing results after just a single comprehensive CO2 laser session. Because this laser reaches the deep layers of the dermis, one treatment is usually sufficient to erase years of sun damage and smooth deep wrinkles. For patients with very deep acne scarring or advanced skin laxity, a secondary, milder touch-up session can be scheduled after several months to optimize the final outcome.
The overall cost of CO2 laser resurfacing varies based on the size of the treatment zone, the depth of the laser settings, and whether the procedure is paired with surgery. Treating isolated areas around the eyes or mouth will have a different cost structure than a full face and neck rejuvenation. We provide a transparent, detailed price breakdown during your private consultation after Dr. Kennedy designs your personalized skin health plan.
Yes, it is absolutely mandatory to avoid direct sun exposure completely during the initial healing phase while your skin is peeling. The newly formed skin layer is highly delicate and vulnerable to UV damage, which can cause hyperpigmentation. Once the skin heals fully after ten days, you must apply a broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen daily and wear a wide-brimmed hat whenever you go outdoors to protect your investment.
A CO2 laser is a highly powerful ablative laser that vaporizes the surface skin layers to treat deeper structural wrinkles and advanced sun damage, requiring a dedicated week of downtime. The Halo laser is a hybrid fractional laser that combines ablative and non-ablative wavelengths to treat mild texture issues and pigmentation with significantly less downtime. Dr. Kennedy will evaluate your lifestyle and goals to help you choose the ideal laser technology for your needs.
