CO2 Laser Resurfacing for Acne Scars
I’m so freaking excited I can hardly stand it! In the next few weeks, I’ll be getting a CO2 Laser Resurfacing treatment at Cosmeticare! I have been absolutely blown away by my microneedling results and I can only imagine how amazing the results will be from this upcoming treatment!
I am a Cosmeticare Ambassador which means I am given treatments and/or other incentives to share my journey with you. And I am happy to share it all. My results have been life-changing for me and I want to share the good, the bad and the ugly (the ugly being during recovery when your child sees you and cries because you look like you have a severe sunburn…but that’s totally temporary!) 
I was just in Las Vegas for a conference and I had several ladies tell me how amazing my skin looked. I’m close to tears even just writing that. I have had acne scarring since college and it has always left me feeling insecure about my skin. I used to joke about having my face resurfaced some day. In my head I pictured when the county workers come through the neighborhood and repave the streets. I really didn’t know that skin resurfacing was a thing.
But it’s a thing and I’m getting it done! I’m a little nervous I have to admit. Although it’s considered non-invasive it’s pretty harsh. I really think it’s going to be the best thing for my skin!
What is CO2 Laser Resurfacing
CO2 Laser Resurfacing is a non-invasive skin care treatment that helps to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and helps to repair sun damage. The rejuvenation helps to improve skin texture and even out skin pigmentation as well as reduce the appearance of acne scars. It hits ALL THE THINGS, right?!
Short, concentrated beams of laser are shot at the skin to precisely remove the skin layer by layer. It’s an outpatient procedure that takes between half an hour to 2 hours depending on if you are resurfacing one area or the whole face. I’ll be doing the whole face.
How to Prep for Laser Resurfacing
I’ll be given a mild sedative, a pain aid and topical anesthetic. I just shuddered thinking about it. 2 out of my 3 microneedling treatments were super uncomfortable and I would say this treatment is a step up from that. I will have someone with me to drive me home after since, with the meds, I shouldn’t handle heavy machinery.
I will also stop taking certain medicines and supplements up to 10 days prior in case they play a part in blood clotting. I’ll be checking with Cosmeticare for all the exact details when I book my appointment. I’m a rule follower and want to know what they recommend! 
Recovery From CO2 Laser Treatment
Much like microneedling, I hear that your face will feel like it’s been badly sunburned. The first few days following the skin resurfacing it’s really important to keep your face really clean and use an ointment to keep it from scabbing. Ice packs can also be used to cool the face down and find comfort. And I’ll most likely have some pain medicine should I need it.
Over the first few days the skin will feel hot and there most likely will be some swelling. The skin may become itchy as it dries out and finally moves on to the peeling stage. As with other peels, the old skin will come off and the new skin will begin to show. This skin will be pink or red and must be well protected from the sun. The healing time with this CO2 laser procedure is longer than with microneedling. I won’t plan on leaving the house for about the first 7 days.
The next 7 days, when the peeling will have probably subsided, my skin will be really red. You can start wearing makeup at this point but I’ll probably try to have as many makeup free days as possible. You will be able to see results pretty quickly, but it can take a few weeks for all of the swelling and redness to go away.
Unlike with actual surgeries, the recovery time isn’t too painful – just ugly. I will plan on working from home, having groceries delivered and watching some television. I’m grateful I have amazing and supportive mom friends who are willing to help me pick up the slack with the kids! 
I’m BEYOND excited and think the discomfort and inconvenience will be well worth it. More than one treatment is usually suggested by I’m going to start out with 1 and see how it looks after that. I’ve signed on again to be CosmetiCare ambassador so I’ll be doing this laser and a few other treatments this year and, of course, sharing it all with you!
If you’ve been thinking about CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing, be sure to follow along with my experience. I’ll be sharing it on my social media and on the blog! And be sure to sign up for the CosmetiCare newsletter! They share all kinds of information about treatments as well as special deals they are running!
Check out my other CosmetiCare posts here:
Why I Decided to be a CosmetiCare Ambassador