CO2 Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing near Portsmouth, NH

Comprehensive Skin Rejuvenation With CO2 Fractional Laser Resurfacing Near Portsmouth, NH

Renew your skin with CO2 fractional laser resurfacing at our York, Maine med spa. As our most intensive laser skin resurfacing option, this advanced ablative treatment reaches deeper layers of the skin to smooth texture, soften scars, and reduce wrinkles, stimulating collagen for dramatic, long-lasting results. It’s ideal for those seeking more significant rejuvenation than our non-ablative laser services can provide.

What Is CO2 Fractional Laser Resurfacing?

CO2 fractional laser resurfacing is a skin rejuvenation treatment that uses a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser to create thousands of microscopic channels in the skin, triggering the body’s natural healing response and collagen production. At Examined Life, we use the Cynosure eCO2 Plus system—an advanced fractional ablative laser designed to reach deeper layers of the skin for more intensive resurfacing. Unlike fully ablative lasers that remove the entire top layer, this fractional technology treats only a portion of the skin at a time, allowing for faster recovery while still delivering dramatic improvements in texture, scars, and wrinkles.

Benefits of CO2 Fractional Laser Resurfacing

Smoother, Firmer Skin: The laser stimulates collagen production in the deeper layers of skin, improving elasticity and creating a smoother, more youthful surface over time.

Wrinkle & Scar Reduction: CO2 fractional resurfacing softens the appearance of fine lines, deep wrinkles, acne scars, and surgical scars—especially around the mouth, eyes, and cheeks.

More Even Skin Tone: This treatment helps reduce sun damage, brown spots, and visible blood vessels for a clearer, more even complexion.

Improved Texture & Pore Size: By resurfacing damaged layers, the laser helps minimize rough texture and enlarged pores, refining the overall look and feel of your skin.

Long-Lasting Results: With proper aftercare and sun protection, many patients enjoy visible improvement that continues to develop over several months.

Customizable Treatment Depths: Our Cynosure eCO2 Plus system allows us to tailor the intensity of each session to your skin’s needs—whether you're looking for light rejuvenation or more dramatic correction.

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What to Expect During and After CO2 Fractional Laser Resurfacing

Before your CO2 fractional resurfacing treatment, we’ll apply a topical anesthetic to keep you as comfortable as possible. Depending on the depth and intensity of your treatment, we may recommend additional numbing options or pre-treatment medications. Most sessions take about 30–60 minutes, and you’ll be able to go home the same day.

After treatment, your skin will likely be red, swollen, and warm—similar to a deep sunburn. For more aggressive treatments, this healing period can last 7–10 days, with redness gradually fading over time. You may begin wearing makeup after about 48 hours, and most patients feel ready to resume normal routines within 5–7 days. Lighter resurfacing options are available for those seeking minimal downtime.

As your skin continues to heal over the weeks that follow, you’ll start to see visible improvements in texture, tone, and firmness. Final results can continue to develop for several months as collagen production increases.

CO2 Fractional Laser Resurfacing FAQ

Everyone experiences pain or discomfort to varying degrees. We will work together to determine how to minimize your discomfort during the treatment. Topical anesthetics are usually applied, and sometimes oral medications are prescribed.
The results after a single medium to aggressive treatment can be dramatic and those skin improvement benefits can extend well beyond 6 months. For lighter treatments that may require follow up, the skin improvement effect may be more subtle, thus the rationale for a series of low downtime treatments. Our doctors can help guide expectations for the future improvement in your skin appearance.
Most medium level to aggressive fractional resurfacing treatments can cause redness that can last 1 week or longer. Usually no make-up is recommended for 2 days to ensure skin healing, and regular activities can be resumed after 5 days. For a series of customized low downtime treatments, patients may only experience mild redness for 6-48 hours. We can help determine appropriate expectations for your downtime and skin improvement results.
While both CO2 and Fraxel are fractional laser technologies used for skin rejuvenation, they differ in their depth, intensity, and healing response. Fraxel was one of the earliest fractional lasers on the market, introduced in the early 2000s. CO2 fractional resurfacing represents a more advanced generation of technology, delivering deeper collagen stimulation and greater skin tightening. Unlike some Fraxel treatments, CO2 lasers use micro-ablative energy that targets deeper layers of the skin without fully removing the surface, which supports faster healing and more dramatic results.