Home // Procedures // DOT Fractional Carbon Dioxide Resurfacing

DOT Fractional Carbon Dioxide Resurfacing

The above patient was treated with DOT Fractional Carbon Dioxide Resurfacing. These before and after pictures depict ACTUAL PATIENTS. Your results may vary.

DOT Therapy, fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing, is the latest innovation for skin rejuvenation. It is an ideal option for treatment of pigment, skin laxity/texture, wrinkles and acne scars. Patients can address the deeper lines around the mouth, crow's feet, and even the lines and laxity on the neck and chest.

Why dots of energy? Why not treat it all?

The Dermal Optical Thermolysis (DOT) resurfacing laser beam is fractionated into a precise scan of thousands of microdots of energy. Each dot of energy – only 350 millionths of a centimeter in size – replaces the skin and collagen structure beneath while the microburst of heat energy from the carbon dioxide laser source tightens the surrounding collagen skin structure. Each dot of resurfacing energy is surrounded by an island of normal skin, between 300 to 500 millionths of a centimeter in size. This enables full, rapid regeneration of new skin – all the gains – without the wet rawness laser resurfacing of the past. Carbon dioxide is chosen as the laser energy source for DOT fractional resurfacing because of all the lasers used for smoothing lines, carbon dioxide has delivered the best results.

What is a treatment like, and what will I look like afterwards?

DOT fractional resurfacing begins for us where other resurfacing options have left off. Vastly more comfortable, and our patients can readily see results in even a single treatment. Once determined that DOT fractional CO₂ is an appropriate treatment for you, you will discuss the key areas that you would like to address during the procedure, and recovery time. For example: Are we just treating the lines around the eyes, lines around the mouth, or would you rather treat your full face, neck, and even chest? You also make the decision as to your preferred recovery time. With DOT CO₂ fractional resurfacing, we will see a red pinkness and some swelling, particularly around the eyes for 3-5 days, or as long as 7-10 days. If you say, "I want to have a shorter recovery time," we will choose to treat with lesser energy settings. At higher energy settings there is increased redness, and longer red pinkness, but fewer treatments may be required.

To prepare for your treatment, numbing cream is applied about one hour before the procedure, and if you ever get fever blisters, Valtrex™ is prescribed as a precaution. Cosmetics may be applied to the treated area as soon as the day after.

Results can be dramatic with even a single treatment. Several treatments may be needed for deeper lines. Treatments can be repeated with as little time separation as two to three weeks, and as far apart as several months. Since this treatment enables regeneration of new skin, your best results may be seen in six to nine months time.

How long will my results last?

The older carbon dioxide resurfacing results of the 1980s and 1990s gave my patients skin improvement results that lasted 10, if not 20 years. The results from the non-disruptive new DOT fractional carbon dioxide laser may last every bit as long.