How the CoolPeel CO2 laser avoids tissue damage
CoolPeel laser Charlotte
Laser treatments are a very effective non-surgical option for treating a variety of skin concerns. However, a traditional CO2 laser can also cause damage to the surrounding healthy tissues, leading to “social downtime” of up to two weeks. Although laser treatments produce great results, the need for this recovery time can be a barrier for many people.
Fortunately, new technology has significantly reduced this problem. CoolPeel offers laser treatment without the damage. How does it do this? How do lasers cause damage, and how does the new Tetra CoolPeel technology avoid this problem?
How do lasers cause tissue damage?
A CO2 laser works by using very focused light. In general, the laser light is given in short pulses, which are directed at a particular part of the skin. The intent is to remove damaged tissue, and/or to stimulate the body’s healing processes in order to cause a benefit to the skin.
With older generations of CO2 lasers, there is limited control over the output of the laser. In general, these lasers have a longer pulse time (which cannot be shortened by the technician), along with limited control over how much laser energy is generated in each pulse. Because of these factors, the laser may end up causing damage not only to the target tissue, but also to surrounding tissues. The excess laser energy causes heating, which leads to collateral damage and causes the side effects and social downtime experienced after a laser treatment. The skin appears red and will often peel and crust over; it takes about two weeks for recovery.
How is the CoolPeel Laser treatment different?
The CoolPeel CO2 laser represents a significant advance in technology. With this laser, the pulse time is much shorter. In addition, the technician is able to control the output of laser energy. With these features, there is much more control over the laser. The technician has the ability to calibrate the laser energy to deliver just what is needed and no more, minimizing damage to surrounding tissues.
As a result, there is little to no social downtime after a CoolPeel treatment. There is no peeling or crusting of the skin. The skin may look a little red for a day or two, as it would after a mild sunburn, but it shouldn’t prevent someone from returning to their normal activities.
Is CoolPeel effective?
With the smaller amount of damage caused by Tetra CoolPeel, some people wonder whether the treatment is still effective. After all, lasers work by damaging the skin to some degree. The truth is that the Tetra CoolPeel laser is simply more targeted. It does still cause enough effects to the skin to stimulate the healing response. For more severe problems with the skin, the CoolPeel may not be enough to address the concerns, and a more aggressive deeper treatment may be preferred. The Tetra Laser is so versatile that by simply adjusting the settings, it can also perform more aggressive deeper peels if indicated. These deeper peels will require the traditional full week of downtime, but may be indicated for specific skin conditions. However, for many common skin concerns (including fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and acne scars), CoolPeel laser treatments are an effective treatment with fewer side effects than a traditional laser.
CoolPeel laser Charlotte
When we learned about this new laser, we knew that we wanted to add it to our repertoire. Dr. Miles and our entire staff have always been committed to offering our patients the best treatments available, whether that’s a new surgical technique or a new minimally-invasive technology like this one. After ensuring that our clinical and esthetic staff had the training needed to perform these laser treatments with a high level of skill, in September we began offering CoolPeel laser treatments to our community around the greater Charlotte area. If you’d like to learn more about CoolPeel or are interested in having this treatment, please contact our office to schedule your free consultation.