One of the most effective treatments for patients with acne scars is the CO2 Fractional Laser.  C02 Laser resurfacing uses small columns of fractionated energy to ablate areas of damaged skin. Tiny wounds are made and the surrounding healthy skin helps with healing.

When the skin heals, it produces new collagen and the new skin is smoother, tighter and with less irregular pigmentation and scarring.

Although laser resurfacing can be very dramatic it is important for acne scar patients to realize that severe scarring can require multiple treatments. Many patients are satisfied with a single treatment while others benefit from a series of laser treatments. Recently, our medical assistant Kelly had a CO2 done for her acne scars. Here's what she has to say about her experience:

"I am one of those “lucky” people who suffer from acne scaring since my school days. Anyone that knows me knows how much my scars have affected me and make me feel insecure.  I was a chicken at first about getting the CO2 done but finally decided to go through with it and I wish I would of done this years ago. The first week I was very red and did not want to be seen in public, but it got better every day. By week 2 I was able to start wearing makeup. Now I am at week 3, very happy with my results, and feeling much more confident about the way that I look. I would definitely recommend this treatment to anyone" - Kelly, Boise

Fractional CO2 resurfacing can erase years and dramatically improve the appearance of scars, wrinkles and pigment, but it is not a lunchtime procedure. Downtime can be anywhere from several days to up to 2-weeks. During the healing process, the new skin is red and very dry at first, then pink then heals back to normal.