“CO2 laser resurfacing remains one of the most effective tools we have for genuine skin renewal. The ablative energy removes damaged surface layers while stimulating deep collagen remodeling — the result is smoother texture, softer lines, and an overall skin quality that no topical regimen can replicate. Depth control is everything, and my surgical background gives me a level of precision with ablative resurfacing that matters when the stakes are your skin.”
What CO2 laser resurfacing can do for you
CO2 laser resurfacing is the gold standard for significant skin renewal — dramatically improving sun damage, fine lines, and texture over a single treatment with defined downtime. The results develop over 3–6 months as collagen remodels.
- Dramatic reduction in sun damage and pigmentation — sun spots, age spots, and uneven tone visibly fade as the damaged outer layer is replaced with fresher skin.
- Smoother texture and softer fine lines — ablative resurfacing remodels the dermis so wrinkles around the eyes, mouth, and forehead noticeably soften.
- Improved acne scars and surface irregularities — controlled depth penetrates beyond what topical treatments can reach, remodeling atrophic scars and uneven texture.
- Tighter, more lifted-looking skin — deep collagen contraction and progressive remodeling visibly tighten skin over the months that follow.
- Often a single treatment is enough — CO2 delivers more change in one session than most non-ablative lasers achieve over a series, when downtime is acceptable.
- Defined downtime, progressive reveal — 5–10 days of social downtime; the most striking improvements unfold over 3–6 months as new collagen forms.
- Performed personally by Dr. Truesdale — depth control is calibrated to your skin type and goals; not delegated to a tech, and patients with melanin-rich skin are evaluated for safer alternatives when CO2 is not the right fit.
Ready to discuss your co2 laser goals?
Understanding CO2 laser resurfacing
What CO2 laser resurfacing is
CO2 laser resurfacing is the gold standard for meaningful skin renewal — dramatically improving sun damage, fine lines, and texture in a single treatment with defined downtime. Results continue developing for 3–6 months as collagen remodels.
Who CO2 laser resurfacing is for
If any of the following describes you, CO2 laser resurfacing may be worth exploring:
Conditions addressed by ablative resurfacing
“CO2 is the most powerful resurfacing tool we have. Used correctly, the results speak for decades.”
— Dr. Carl Truesdale, MD
CO2 laser before & afters
Real CO2 laser resurfacing patients of Dr. Truesdale’s practice. Depth is matched to each patient — careful skin-type selection is essential.
Your transformation starts with a conversation.
What you’ll actually see — and when
From the day of treatment through final reveal — here is the realistic timeline of what to expect from CO2 laser resurfacing.
Pink new skin emerges. Texture already improving.
Pinkness fades. Skin tone evens. Fine lines significantly softened.
Full collagen remodeling complete. Skin is dramatically transformed.
Results hold for years — sun protection is critical to maintain them.
Individual timelines vary. Dr. Truesdale sets realistic, patient-specific expectations during your consultation — not exaggerated claims.
See if CO2 Laser is right for you.
CO2 Laser Resurfacing FAQs
Bring your own questions to consultation — Dr. Truesdale personally answers every one. Below are the questions patients ask most often about CO2 laser resurfacing.
The strongest candidates have significant sun damage, deeper lines, textural irregularity, or acne scarring that a chemical peel or non-ablative laser cannot address. Dr. Truesdale evaluates you personally in consultation and only recommends the procedure when it will genuinely help. If a different approach would serve you better, he’ll tell you that too.
CO2 is more aggressive and produces more dramatic resurfacing in one treatment, but requires 7–14 days of defined downtime. UltraClear is a newer fiber laser with less downtime (a few days for lighter treatments, about a week for deeper ones) and settings that can be adjusted for darker skin tones. If you have lighter skin and can commit to downtime, CO2 delivers the most dramatic single-treatment result. If you have darker skin or less downtime available, UltraClear is often the better fit.
Most patients describe the discomfort as mild to moderate. The procedure is performed under topical numbing with oral sedation. Dr. Truesdale’s team is available throughout recovery — you are not managing discomfort on your own.
Our surgical procedures utilize a patient-focused anesthesia technique known as MAC (Monitored Anesthesia Care) and IV Sedation, ensuring your maximum comfort and safety. This method provides a level of gentle, deep sedation comparable to the comfortable experience many patients have during a colonoscopy, which we have found helps make patients less fearful. The anesthesia is administered intravenously and meticulously monitored by a hand-picked group of board-certified anesthesiologists, who are dedicated to your well-being throughout your entire procedure.
Plan on 7–14 days of social downtime. Expect pink-to-red skin for 1–3 weeks as new skin emerges. Most patients resume normal activity in 7–10 days; exercise resumes at 2 weeks. Your follow-up appointments along the way are conducted by Dr. Truesdale and our physician assistant, with Dr. Truesdale seeing you personally at the key milestones.
That’s the entire standard Dr. Truesdale designs for. Skin should read as renewed and clear — never shiny, waxy, or over-lasered. Every patient is evaluated in a seated, relaxed state beforehand so the target is based on your real anatomy — never on an idealized template.
5–10 years. Results hold for years, provided rigorous sun protection is maintained.
Yes. A significant portion of Dr. Truesdale’s patients travel from across the United States and internationally. The process begins with a virtual consultation with Dr. Truesdale himself (not a coordinator), followed by in-person pre-procedure evaluation. Our patient-care coordinators help arrange travel, accommodations, and local transportation, and Dr. Truesdale’s team conducts virtual follow-ups after you return home.
Request a consultation through the form at the bottom of this page, email contact@doctortruesdale.com, or call (424) 363-4112. Our team responds within one business day to schedule either an in-person consultation at 150 S. Rodeo Drive, Suite 360, Beverly Hills, or a virtual consultation worldwide. Every consultation is conducted personally by Dr. Truesdale.
CO2 laser resurfacing is most commonly performed between 40 and 65. It is especially powerful in combination with a facelift — lifting corrects laxity, while laser addresses skin quality and fine lines that surgery alone cannot touch.
The cost of co2 laser can vary based on the patient’s situation and whether it is combined with other treatments. At Truesdale Facial Plastic Surgery, we believe the provider’s experience and your comfort with the plan are just as important as the final cost. We can provide an approximate range over the phone, and your patient care coordinator will confirm pricing after your consultation.
Schedule a CO2 laser consultation
Dr. Truesdale personally evaluates every patient before recommending treatment. We respond same-day, Monday-Friday.
Book your treatment consultation online
After clicking the booking link, select “new patient” under Schedule Your Appointment and fill out the form to see our current availability and book immediately. Call or text us (424) 363-4112 for additional appointment times.All times are based on Los Angeles, Pacific Time (PT).
Book Appointment →Prefer to share details first? Submit the form and a Patient Care Coordinator will reach out the same business day (Monday–Friday).
Related Procedures
CO2 Laser FAQ
CO2 laser is an ablative resurfacing technology — it removes the outer skin layers with controlled precision, producing more dramatic results with a defined recovery period of 5–10 days. UltraClear is a fractional ablative 2910 nm fiber laser whose depth can be set from a light surface treatment to deep resurfacing, typically with less downtime than CO2 — a few days for lighter treatments, about a week or more for deeper ones. CO2 is preferred for deeper wrinkles, significant sun damage, and acne scarring. UltraClear is ideal for texture refinement, pore size, and patients who cannot commit to extended recovery.
Many patients achieve their goals in a single full-face CO2 session. More significant sun damage or scarring may benefit from two sessions spaced 6–12 months apart. Because CO2 produces more complete resurfacing per session than non-ablative alternatives, fewer treatments are typically required.
Ablative CO2 resurfacing carries higher risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in Fitzpatrick IV–VI skin types. Dr. Truesdale evaluates each patient individually — patients with darker complexions are often better served by conservative UltraClear settings with pre-treatment, or a combination approach designed to lower pigmentation risk.
Yes. CO2 resurfacing is frequently performed in conjunction with facelift, blepharoplasty, and rhinoplasty. When combined with surgery, resurfacing addresses skin quality while surgical procedures address structure — producing comprehensive rejuvenation that neither approach can achieve alone.