Botulinum toxin – the generic name for Botox – is the most popular cosmetic treatment in the world. More than two million Americans went under the needle in 2008. Widely available in Ireland, Botox smoothes frown lines, forehead lines and crow’s feet quickly and effectively. However, it does not improve skin laxity, uneven pigmentation and fine lines caused by smoking and sun damage. The most efficient way to address these problems is to resurface, or peel, the skin using lasers.

For many years, the gold standard in skin resurfacing was the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser. CO2 lasers target water in the skin, instantly vaporising the top layer and heating the deeper layers. The effects are dramatic: tighter, smoother skin; reduced lines and laxity; clearance of sunspots; and even a lifting effect. The main disadvantage to this treatment is the prolonged downtime: weeks of oozing, swelling and discomfort, followed by several months of persistent redness. The old axiom of “no pain, no gain” certainly rings true for traditional CO2 laser skin resurfacing. However, things have changed.

Imagine obtaining all the benefits of traditional CO2 skin resurfacing – smoother, clearer, younger-looking skin – but with much less pain. Fractional technology, using computerised scanners, achieves dramatic results comparable to traditional resurfacing but with much less downtime, usually four to six days. As the laser scans across the face, tiny fractions or islands of skin are left untouched between the laser dots, allowing a much quicker recovery without compromising results.

What to expect
Only qualified and experienced cosmetic doctors and surgeons should perform fractional CO2 laser skin resurfacing. There are a few reputable clinics in Dublin offering the procedure.

Following an assessment, your doctor might prescribe some creams for a few weeks prior to the procedure to prepare your skin. After your skin is anaesthetised using local anaesthetic cream or injections, the laser scanner is passed over the face. The procedure is relatively painless and takes about 20 minutes. Afterwards, you must apply Vaseline for four or five days until the skin heals.

The recovery period
Day 1: Your face is red or bright pink and there may be some clear oozing or even small areas of pinpoint bleeding. This is normal.

Day 2: The oozing has stopped and you will have a pink complexion with some slight swelling. Areas of sun damage and pigmentation may have darkened.

Day 3: Your skin is starting to peel around the mouth and on the cheeks. You are still applying Vaseline to keep the skin moist and protected.

Day 4: The peeling continues over the rest of the face, including the forehead and under the eyes. You can already see how smooth and fresh the skin underneath looks.

Day 5: The peeling process is complete and your skin just looks pink now. You can begin applying make-up if you wish but you must apply sunscreen to protect your new skin.

Day 6: You feel normal again. The residual pinkness is easy to conceal with make-up and will fade gradually over a couple of weeks. Your skin looks and feels much younger, fresher and clearer.

Complications associated with fractional CO2 laser skin resurfacing include pigment alterations, such as darkening or lightening of the skin tone, prolonged redness and infection. In experienced hands, they are rare and can be treated if they occur.

There are few cosmetic procedures that can improve the overall appearance and target skin texture, tone and clarity as effectively as fractional CO2. For people in their 50s and 60s, fractional CO2 represents a breakthrough in anti-aging and allows a quick recovery and return to normal activities.