Laser Treatments
CO2 laser resurfacing, with honest downtime.
CO2 laser resurfacing in Raleigh NC on the Tetra CO2 by DEKA, the most aggressive resurfacing option we offer. Fractional CO2 treats a fraction of the skin surface at a time, leaving healthy tissue between treated columns to speed recovery. The same platform runs CoolPeel, a lighter superficial mode for patients who want resurfacing with less recovery.
What this is
What CO2 laser resurfacing actually does
Fractional CO2 is an ablative laser, which means it removes microscopic columns of skin rather than only heating it. The controlled injury prompts the skin to repair itself and build new collagen. Because the treatment is fractional, untreated skin is left between each column, which is what allows recovery to happen faster than it would with fully ablative resurfacing.
That ablative mechanism is why CO2 is the most capable resurfacing tool we carry and also why it asks the most of you in recovery. CoolPeel is the lighter superficial mode on the same Tetra platform: less aggressive, less recovery, and generally suited to patients who want to improve skin quality without a significant downtime window.
CO2 is not the right first step for everyone. If your priority is minimal downtime, Clear + Brilliant is the gentler option. If pigmentation risk is a concern for your skin type, RF microneedling is often the better-matched treatment. We will tell you plainly which one fits you.
At La Miel
What we treat with CO2 at La Miel
Depth and coverage are chosen per patient. The same platform can run a light refresh or a deeper resurfacing pass, so the plan is built around your concern and the recovery time you can actually take.
Acne scarring
Fractional resurfacing is one of the better-established approaches for textural acne scarring, because it works on the collagen structure underneath rather than only the surface. Improvement builds gradually as the skin remodels.
Suited for: Patients with rolling or boxcar textural scarring who can accommodate recovery time.
Fine lines and crepey texture
Resurfacing targets the etched lines that neurotoxin cannot reach, since those are surface and collagen changes rather than muscle movement. Many patients combine the two over time.
Suited for: Patients with static lines that remain visible when the face is at rest.
Sun damage and overall skin quality
Cumulative sun exposure shows up as rough texture, uneven tone, and dullness. Resurfacing addresses the damaged surface layer and stimulates repair underneath.
Suited for: Patients with a history of sun exposure and generally weathered skin quality.
Pore size and skin smoothness
Pores cannot be closed, but resurfacing can improve how prominent they appear by tightening the surrounding skin and smoothing the surface around them.
Suited for: Patients whose main complaint is rough, coarse, or uneven-looking skin.
Ready to start?
A consultation tells us what your skin needs. It takes under an hour.
What to expect
What to expect, including the downtime
Downtime is the single most common question about CO2, so here is the honest version. Recovery scales with treatment depth: a light CoolPeel pass and a deeper resurfacing session are very different experiences.
Consultation first
Required before any CO2 treatment. We assess your Fitzpatrick skin type, review your history and medications, discuss realistic outcomes, and agree on a depth that matches the recovery time you can take.
Treatment day
Topical numbing is applied beforehand. Most patients describe heat and prickling during the pass. Immediately afterward the skin looks red and feels hot, similar to a strong sunburn.
The first several days
Expect redness, swelling, and a sandpaper texture, typically followed by flaking or peeling as the skin turns over. Lighter CoolPeel treatments generally settle in a few days. Deeper treatments take longer and can involve roughly a week of visible recovery. Your provider will give you a specific range for the depth you choose.
Weeks after
Redness fades gradually. Collagen remodeling continues for weeks to months, so the final result is not what you see the week after treatment. Strict sun protection matters throughout.
Pricing
A note on pricing
CO2 resurfacing is quoted at consultation, because the price depends on the area treated and the depth of the treatment. We do not quote resurfacing without assessing your skin first. Financing is available for treatment plans.
Common questions
Common questions about CO2 laser resurfacing
CO2 laser downtime depends on treatment depth, ranging from a few days of redness and flaking for a light CoolPeel to roughly a week of visible recovery for deeper resurfacing. It depends on how deep we treat. A light CoolPeel pass typically involves a few days of redness and flaking. A deeper fractional CO2 treatment generally involves more swelling and roughly a week of visible recovery before you would feel comfortable in public without makeup. Your provider gives you a specific range at consultation, based on the depth you choose together. Individual healing varies.
Ready to book CO2 Laser?
Tell us what you would like to address. A consultation maps the right plan, the right product, and the right sequence for your skin.
Ready When You Are
Two ways to start: book the specific treatment you came for, or book a consultation and we will build your plan together.
Mon 10 to 8, Wed to Fri 10 to 5, Sat 9 to 2. Closed Tue and Sun.
7718 Six Forks Road, Suite 119, Raleigh, NC 27615