CO2 Laser Resurfacing: What to Expect

CO2 laser resurfacing is one of the more involved treatments on our menu, and one of the ones most worth understanding before you book. At Willow and Oak it starts at $500, with the plan set at consultation.

What it is

CO2 is an ablative laser. Where a non-ablative device works underneath the surface, an ablative laser works on the surface itself, in a controlled and deliberate way. Modern CO2 treatment is usually delivered fractionally — the energy is applied in a pattern of microscopic columns rather than across the whole area at once, leaving untreated skin in between.

We deliver CO2 on our Estetique platform, which we also use for several of the other laser services on the menu.

The part people underestimate: downtime

This is the single most important thing to plan for, and the reason we would rather you read this before booking than after.

CO2 resurfacing has real recovery time. It is not a lunchtime treatment and it should not be scheduled the week of an event. Your provider will tell you what to expect for the specific settings and area in your plan, because depth varies — a lighter treatment and a deeper one are very different propositions.

What you should do:

• Ask about downtime at consultation, specifically. Get a number of days.
• Book around your calendar, not into it. Weddings, holidays, photographs, big work weeks — plan backwards from those.
• Take the aftercare seriously. It is not optional, and it affects how the recovery goes.

Sun matters, and so does the season

Skin that has been resurfaced needs protecting from the sun afterwards. That is not a gentle suggestion; it is a core part of the aftercare, and your provider will go through it with you.

It is also why a lot of people in Hendersonville schedule this kind of treatment for the cooler months rather than in the middle of Old Hickory Lake season. If your summer involves a boat, that is worth factoring into when you book. We have written separately about laser timing across the year.

The under-eye area is treated differently

We price under-eye CO2 separately, at $800, because it is a different proposition — the skin there is thinner and the area needs its own approach and its own care. If that is your main concern, read our piece on under-eye CO2 as well.

Is it right for you?

That depends on your skin, your history and what you are hoping for, and it genuinely is not something we can determine from here. Some people are better served by something else on the menu entirely — microneedling RF, a peel, or a course of something gentler.

A consultation is where that gets worked out, and we would far rather steer you to the right treatment than sell you the biggest one.

Aftercare, in general terms

Your provider will give you precise instructions for your treatment, and those take priority over anything written here. In general terms, expect the aftercare to involve keeping the area clean, following a specific regimen for a defined period, avoiding certain products, and protecting the area from sun.

It is not onerous, but it is not optional either. The recovery goes the way the aftercare goes.

Common questions

How long until I look normal?

Ask for a number of days at consultation, for your specific plan. Depth varies a great deal, and a lighter treatment and a deeper one give very different answers.

Can I wear makeup during recovery?

Your provider will tell you when. Do not guess.

How many sessions will I need?

Depends on the plan. Some people have one; others have a course. Your provider will tell you, and package pricing is worked out at that point.

Is it painful?

Comfort measures are discussed beforehand. Your provider will explain what is used and what to expect.

What if I have a holiday coming up?

Say so at consultation. Sun exposure is part of the planning, not an afterthought, and it may change when your treatment is scheduled.

Is this the same as microneedling?

No. Different mechanism, different device, different recovery. We offer both, and which is appropriate is a consultation question.

What if my skin does not respond the way we hoped?

Ask at consultation what follow-up looks like and who you contact. A practice should have an answer ready.

Booking

Package pricing for laser services is given at consultation. Every plan here is set at consultation. Prices are starting prices and are subject to change; package pricing is given at consultation.