This is an intensive skin resurfacing procedure and is ideal for people with moderate to severe ageing changes. If your skin is only mildly aged, then alternative treatments such as ResurfX laser or radiofrequency microneedling (Morpheus8) may be a better option for you.

Smokers or those on immune suppressing drugs are not suitable for CO2 laser resurfacing. In addition, if you are unable to accept the 5-day downtime with open skin, an alternative skin rejuvenation device may be better for you.

It is important that your skin is in the best condition prior to the treatment. Mr Ghattaura may provide you with a programme of skin care to follow very carefully. Male patients should shave the same day prior to treatment and avoid shaving the treated area for five days. You cannot be treated if you have been sunburnt or used a sun bed within the previous week.

You will be asked to come in 1-hour before the procedure to complete your consent forms and photographs.

We then apply local anaesthetic creams to your face as well as local anaesthetic injections in your face to help with pain relief. With these anaesthetic measures, the treatment becomes less painful, but not completely pain free, however, most patients can tolerate the procedure. We may also offer a diazepam tablet to help you relax during the treatment provided you are not the driver. For eyelid treatment, the front of your eye will be anaesthetised with drops and a corneal protector (like a contact lens) inserted.

We then begin the resurfacing procedure. The outer layers of skin are carefully removed using the CO2 laser. During treatment, evaporation of the superficial tissues can produce a burning smell and warmth to your face. We can help decrease this warmth with an active cooling system. With Max-FX laser resurfacing, Mr Ghattaura will need to go over your face three times, and once on your neck. This takes about 60 minutes to an hour.

Immediately after treatment, your face will feel hot and weepy. You may have some small areas of bleeding or even bruising on your face. We will immediately apply stem cells to your face to aid the healing process and place you under our LED-Dermalux light system. This helps reduce the pain and also speed up your healing. Before going home, you face will be dressed with 50:50 ointment or antibiotic cream. Most patients feel a little uncomfortable at this stage, but have minimal pain. Your face will feel like you have had bad sunburn.

You are likely to develop a transient erythema (red skin) on your face, similar to a sunburn, that can take up to 9-months to fade (longer in some patients). This redness is quite noticeable once the skin has healed, but can be covered with makeup. Sometimes we recommend use of a low dose steroid cream to reduce the colour.

Some people also develop a transient hyperpigmentation (darker skin), which can last for up to four months. In some case, this pigmentation may need to be treated with skin lightening preparations.

Once the skin has healed, you will notice an improvement in your scars and wrinkles but at this stage much of the improvement is due to minor persistent swelling. Once this swelling completely settles, you may feel disappointed at the overall improvement in the skin. This is because the new collagen only begins to increase after around 3-weeks and does not reach its maximum effect for up to 9-months. However, after 6-months most people notice a significant and persistent improvement in their skin quality.

After the first 6-months, you may find that your skin is very pale. This, in part, is due to a thickening of the skin in response to CO2 laser treatment. The final result can take 12-months when you should notice a significant improvement in the quality of your skin, with a fresher, smoother appearance.

It’s important to understand that the results of your CO2 treatment will be long lasting but are not permanent. Unfortunately, your new rejuvenated skin is not immune to the natural effects of ageing. In the months and years after your laser treatment, your natural facial movements will eventually cause “expression” lines to recur.

However, protecting yourself from the sun and following a skin-care regimen recommended by Mr Ghattaura, can help you maintain that rejuvenated look.

With Active-FX you will always need two treatment, 6-months apart. Very deep wrinkles may not be completely corrected after this, and further treatment sessions may be necessary.

If your skin deteriorates over the subsequent years, another CO2 laser resurfacing is also possible.