Dr. Irwin, I follow you on Instagram and value your opinions on facial treatments. You are honest and forthright. I have had CO2 laser treatment twice in the past 6 years. I was very pleased with the results. I only did it around the mouth. That’s the area that really bothers me. I am 72 years old and healthy. I eat healthy and exercise. I had Halo treatment on my entire face in March 2023. The results were not satisfactory. So, I am planning to have CO2 laser treatment around my mouth in September. Do you think that’s the best option for me? And do you know about EXOLE? It is recommended to use it 3 days before the procedure. It is said to speed up recovery and stimulate collagen. We would appreciate your feedback or suggestions. Thank you, Debbie

Hi Debbie – Thank you! If we’ve done well with CO2 in the past, I think there’s good reason to think we might get good results again. I usually opt for a full face, so I get a little tightening here and there and less wrinkles. After all, there is recovery time, so there is less chance of seeing a border zone between the treated and untreated areas. If desired, CO2 can be applied more lightly to the rest of the face. For maximum results, it usually doesn’t cost much.

Laser-assisted drug delivery (LADD) is a hot research topic. These great scientists teach us more every year. It is known that it takes about 30 minutes for microscopic channels to open after using a laser such as CO2. Topical substances are absorbed through the channels, improving the skin in a variety of ways and helping to reverse sun damage.

CO2 use with other options:

1. CO2 (Platelet-Rich Plasma) with PRP Using your own activated platelets can speed healing and improve outcomes.
2. CO2 with exosomes (Exoie and other brands) This is a newer approach, but there isn’t a lot of science behind it yet. This cream should not be used with a laser and should be used before.
3. CO2 with 5-FU solution (injectable for topical use, not a cream). It helps reverse sun damage and prevent precancerous spots and skin cancer.
4. CO2 using Fraxel. Only experts, please. The different energies of these lasers can be used to target different parts of the face and can be performed on the same day. CO2 is generally not particularly good for brown spots, for example Fraxel Dual 1927nm. Different lasers can be used and mixed on different areas of the face to achieve better results.
5. CO2 with RF skin tightening function. Only experts, please. Using deeper longwave RF to cool the skin and then delivering CO2 on the same day can give you amazing results for tightening, texture, wrinkles and acne scars.

Decided to use CO2 laser Instead of Other options:

If you do not need the depth and specific benefits that CO2 lasers provide, other laser options are available. This may be cheaper. for example:

• If your problem is mostly brown spots, redness, or red veins, IPL/BBL and/or Vbeam (red only) may be a better option.
• If your problem is stubborn brown spots, mild to moderate sun damage, or acne scars, Fraxel Dual may be a good choice for you.
• If your skin condition and elasticity are good, radiofrequency may be a better choice.

Hope this helps,

Dr. Brandis Irwin, MD
Skin Tour Founder
Follow my skin tips and take a trip to Instagram!