Congratulations! You have made the decision to rejuvenate your skin with CO2 laser resurfacing! To achieve the best possible results and protect your skin, please carefully read and follow the instructions below.
WHAT TO EXPECT
- Immediately after treatment, you will experience redness and moderate discomfort.
- Heat sensation can be intense for the first 2-3 hours. It is normal to have discomfort similar to a significant sunburn for the first few days.
- Swelling is expected, and usually worse in the morning. Swelling can be significant and cause a tight sensation to the skin
- Redness may get worse over the first few days
- Pinpoint bleeding is possible for the first few days
- Itching
- Your skin may feel dry or flaky. This dead skin is expected to start sloughing off after 3-4 days. Most patients complete this process by 5-7 days.
- The skin will remain pink for some time after the treatment, for weeks to even months
PRE-TREATMENT INSTRUCTIONS
- Discontinue skin irritants 1 week prior to your treatment (retinoids, salicylic acid, hydroquinone, glycolics, etc.)
- Do not use medications that cause photosensitivity (doxycycline, minocycline for at least 3 days prior to your procedure).
- Avoid sun exposure, tanning bed or sunless tanning products and use a broad spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or greater for the month prior to treatment.
- Avoid deep facial peels for one month prior to treatment (this includes microdermabrasion, laser resurfacing or aggressive chemical peels)
- Prepare vinegar soak solution and baggies of frozen peas
- Arrive on the day of the procedure with clean skin, free of makeup
- Let us know if you are prone to cold sores
POST-TREATMENT INSTRUCTIONS
- If you’ve received oral pain medications or oral sedatives during treatment, You MUST have an adult drive you home from the facility. You will not be allowed to drive yourself or use public transportation.
- Rest and sleep with your head elevated on at least three pillows for 3-4 days after the procedure
- Apply ice packs (frozen peas) to help with the heat sensation and swelling, 20 minutes on/20 minutes off while you are awake for the first three days
- Take prescribed medications as instructed
If you experience any general itching, wheezing, rash or tightness in the throat, stop taking all medications and contact AestheticEye Oculoplastic Surgeons immediately. - Avoid high heat, sun, blood thinners and alcohol
- Minimal activity for the first 48 hours. Avoid house cleaning, furniture rearranging, etc. Relax and let your body heal. The less energy you exert, the more energy you will have to focus on healing.
- Do not touch the skin or pick at the skin
- Do not wear make-up
- Avoid exercise: no perspiring, swimming or exposing skin to heat or sun
- Avoid dusty environments, dirt or chemical contact (ie: hairspray)
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Call our office if you have: SEVERE PAIN not responding to pain medication; SWELLING that is greater on one side than the other; incisions that are RED OR FEVERISH; a FEVER or if any other questions or concerns arise.
- Keep any dressings ON, CLEAN and DRY. Do not remove them until instructed to do so.
POST-TREATMENT SKIN CARE INSTRUCTIONS DAY 0-4
- Skin will be peeling and sloughing for the first 5-7 days
- Only cleanse skin with vinegar soaks for the first 4 days. Apply vinegar soaks with clean paper gauze over the face for 15 minutes, 6-8 times a day for the first 2 days and then 4 times daily on days 3 and 4.
- Vinegar solution recipe: one cup distilled water and 2 teaspoons of vinegar
- Wash your hands
- Dip gauze or paper towel into the solution and place over the lasered areas (it should be soaking wet and drippling)
- Gently press onto the skin, but do not rub
- You may store the solution in the refrigerator to keep it cold for your soaks
- Apply thin layer of Aquaphor or CereVe healing ointment over the lasered area after each vinegar soak and any time the skin feels dry
POST-TREATMENT SKIN CARE INSTRUCTIONS DAY 5-7
- The skin will be less red and should not feel uncomfortable.
- Dryness, itchiness and skin peeling or flaking may occur.
- Redness usually lasts 1-2 weeks and mild redness may be prolonged.
- Gently wash your face twice daily with mild facial cleanser (CereVe bar soap or gentle cleanser) Do not rub the skin vigorously as the skin will be fragile.
- Switch to using less occlusive moisturizer, like Epidermal Repair for two weeks. You may start using Alastin nectar at this point.
- Apply a physical sunscreen (SPF 30 or greater) after the application of the moisturizer
- Mineral makeup may be applied if desired once sunscreen is being used. We recommend Oxygenetix
- Avoid direct exposure to the sun for the first 3 months (wear sunscreen and hat/sunglasses)
