Laser & Light in Atlanta
CO2 Laser Resurfacing in Atlanta
The deepest resurfacing we offer, on the Cartessa Helix. From a near-zero-downtime CoolPeel to a full transformation, you choose the intensity and the recovery.
CONSULTATION
Required
TREATMENT LENGTH
About 1 hour
DOWNTIME
Near-zero to 7 to 14 days, by intensity
SESSIONS
Often one for full resurfacing
DEVICE
Cartessa Helix
OFFERED AT
Buckhead
The Approach
The question is not whether you can handle the downtime. It is how much downtime you want to trade for how much result.
A CO2 laser resurfaces your skin by removing damaged surface layers and heating the deeper layers to rebuild collagen, which is why it produces the most dramatic texture, wrinkle, and scar improvement of any laser. It is also why, at full strength, it comes with real downtime.
The good news, and the thing that makes our Helix system worth understanding, is that it is not one setting. It runs from a light, near-zero-downtime refresh to a full, one-and-done transformation, so you choose where on that spectrum you want to be. Below, we match the intensity to your goals and your calendar, and we are honest about the recovery each one involves.
Candidacy
Are You a Candidate?
Most people with texture, wrinkle, or scar concerns are candidates for some intensity of CO2, and matching you to the right one is most of what the consultation is for.
One thing to tell us in advance: if you have ever had cold sores or shingles in the treatment area, say so. Resurfacing can trigger an outbreak, and we can prescribe an antiviral beforehand. It is a simple prevention and it matters more with an ablative laser than with almost anything else we do.
CO2 is likely right if:
- Your concerns are fine lines and deeper wrinkles, acne or other scars, sun damage, texture, or pigmentation
- You want the most dramatic correction available without surgery, and can plan around real recovery
- Or you want a lighter refresh and no downtime, in which case CoolPeel is your protocol
- Your skin tone is in the range CO2 treats safely, which we confirm first
- You can commit to strict sun avoidance and daily SPF afterward
Scope
What CO2 Treats
The deepest tool we have for surface concerns
Fine lines and deeper wrinkles. Acne scars, surgical scars, and injury scars. Sun damage and photoaging. Uneven tone and texture. Enlarged pores. And age spots and pigmentation. It treats the forehead, cheeks, eyelids, around the mouth, the neck, chest, and hands.
An honest note on sagging skin
CO2 does tighten skin somewhat, by stimulating collagen, but it is a resurfacing treatment rather than a lift. If your main concern is significant laxity or sagging, a resurfacing laser will improve your skin quality and will not lift it, and we would point you toward RF microneedling like Morpheus8, FaceTite, or a surgical option. We would rather tell you that than let CO2 underdeliver on a goal it was not built for.
Choose Your Intensity
CoolPeel, Sultra, or Fusion
CoolPeel is a light, fractional ablative resurfacing of the surface only. Near-zero downtime, meaning mild redness for a day or so. It is the glow-and-texture refresh you can have without rearranging your week, and it is usually done as a small series.
Sultra is non-ablative deep heating for collagen and tightening, leaving the surface untouched. No surface downtime and no peeling, for firming and collagen building.
Fusion combines ablative and non-ablative in one treatment. About 7 to 14 days of redness, swelling, and peeling, and the most dramatic result: the one-session transformation for deeper wrinkles and scars. This is the honest answer to how much downtime CO2 has. It depends entirely on which of these you choose, and a lunchtime CoolPeel and a transformative Fusion are the same laser at very different intensities.
Choosing
CO2 or Halo?
CO2 (Fusion)
Deepest
- The deepest ablative resurfacing available, removing surface layers and heating the dermis.
- The most dramatic wrinkle and scar correction, often in one session.
- About 7 to 14 days of redness, swelling, and peeling.
- Reach for it when you want the maximum result and can plan around the recovery.
Halo
Hybrid
- A hybrid of ablative and non-ablative wavelengths, at less depth.
- Strong correction with meaningfully less recovery.
- Several days to a week.
- Reach for it when you want most of the benefit and cannot give up two weeks.
Two other options are worth knowing about. Moxi is the gentle, non-ablative entry point, with a few days of downtime and safety across more skin tones. And Morpheus8 is RF microneedling rather than resurfacing, which makes it the better tool when your concern is tightening and deeper remodeling rather than the surface. Our own CoolPeel protocol also competes here directly, as the near-zero-downtime option. We offer all of them, so we match you to the right intensity rather than the strongest device.
Skin Tone
Is CO2 Right for Your Skin Tone?
This matters with an ablative laser and we will be straight about it. CO2 resurfacing works best and most safely on lighter skin tones, Fitzpatrick types I and II. It can be done with caution on medium tones, types III and IV, where the Helix’s customizable settings help widen the safe range, and it carries more risk of pigment changes on darker skin. For deeper skin tones we often recommend a safer approach instead, such as a non-ablative protocol, a peel, or another treatment. This is not about turning anyone away. It is about not causing a pigment problem while trying to fix a texture one. At your consultation we assess your skin honestly and, if CO2 is not the safest choice for you, tell you what is.
Recovery
Recovery, by Protocol
Because downtime depends on intensity, here is the honest picture for a full Fusion resurfacing, the most involved option. Lighter protocols recover faster, and CoolPeel has almost no downtime at all.
Days 1 to 3
Redness, swelling, and a warm-sunburn feeling. The most intense stretch. Gentle cleansing and moisturizing, and strict sun avoidance.
First 72 hours
No hot water and no saunas, both of which worsen inflammation.
Days 3 to 7
Peeling and flaking as the surface renews. Do not pick. Skin looks pink and raw, then improves daily.
Days 7 to 14
Redness fades and new, smoother skin emerges. Most patients are presentable with mineral makeup toward the end of this window.
Throughout
Gentle cleansers only, no exfoliants, and Tylenol or ibuprofen for any discomfort.
Weeks to months
Collagen continues rebuilding, so results keep improving for months. Diligent SPF 30 or higher protects them.
Your Experience
Your Treatment Experience
Consultation
We assess your skin, your concern, and your skin tone, confirm CO2 is the right and safest choice for you, and match you to the protocol and intensity that fit your goals and your available downtime.
Treatment
About an hour, with topical numbing first. The Helix delivers energy in a fractional pattern, treating microscopic columns of skin while leaving the surrounding tissue intact, which is what speeds healing.
Recovery
From near-zero for CoolPeel to seven to fourteen days for a full Fusion. We give you a clear day-by-day plan and check on you.
Results
Visible as you heal over one to two weeks, and continuing to improve for months as collagen rebuilds.
The Practice
Why Patients Choose Artisan
One laser, every intensity
From a no-downtime CoolPeel to a transformative Fusion, we tune the treatment to your goals and your calendar rather than offering a single setting.
Honest about downtime and skin tone
We tell you the real recovery for the protocol you choose, and we tell you honestly if CO2 is not the safest choice for your skin tone, and what is.
Every resurfacing option under one roof
If a gentler laser, an RF device, or a peel suits you better, we have those too, so our recommendation is not limited to the strongest device.
Atlanta’s all-female team
Founded by Dr. Diane Z. Alexander, MD, FACS, with aesthetics led by Lauren Bays. 25+ years.
FAQ
CO2 Laser FAQs
How much downtime does CO2 really have?
It depends entirely on the intensity. A light CoolPeel has almost no downtime, just a day of mild redness. A full Fusion resurfacing, the most dramatic option, involves about 7 to 14 days of redness, swelling, and peeling. That is the honest range, and choosing where you fall on it, based on your goals and your calendar, is a big part of your consultation.
What is the difference between CoolPeel, Sultra, and Fusion?
They are three intensities of the same Helix laser. CoolPeel is a light surface resurfacing with near-zero downtime. Sultra is non-ablative deep heating for collagen and tightening with no surface downtime. Fusion combines ablative and non-ablative for a full, one-session transformation, with the most downtime and the most dramatic result.
Is CO2 safe for my skin tone?
CO2 works best and most safely on lighter skin tones. It can be done with caution on medium tones using our customizable settings, and it carries more risk of pigment changes on darker skin, so for deeper skin tones we often recommend a safer option like a non-ablative protocol or a peel. We assess this honestly and will not put your skin at risk to use one particular laser.
Does it hurt?
We numb the skin with a topical cream first, and for deeper Fusion treatments we take extra steps to keep you comfortable. You will feel heat and a prickling sensation during treatment, and afterward the skin feels like a warm sunburn, managed with gentle care and over-the-counter pain relief.
How many sessions will I need, and how long do results last?
A full Fusion resurfacing is often a single, one-and-done treatment, which is part of its appeal, with results lasting months to years depending on your skin and your sun protection. Lighter protocols like CoolPeel are usually done in a small series and maintained periodically. Collagen keeps rebuilding for months afterward, so results improve over time.
How much does it cost?
It is priced by intensity and area, so a light CoolPeel costs considerably less than a full Fusion. Because a full resurfacing is often a single session, it can be more cost-effective than it first appears versus a long series of gentler treatments. We give you clear pricing at your consultation, and financing is available.
What does it treat?
Fine lines and deeper wrinkles, acne and other scars, sun damage, uneven tone and texture, enlarged pores, and pigmentation. It also tightens modestly through collagen stimulation, and it is a resurfacing treatment rather than a lift, so for significant sagging we would point you to an RF or surgical option.
What is the most important aftercare?
Tell us in advance if you have ever had cold sores or shingles in the area, since resurfacing can trigger an outbreak and we can prescribe an antiviral. Then: strict sun avoidance, do not pick your peeling skin, gentle cleansing only, and no hot water or saunas for a few days.
CO2, Halo, or Morpheus8?
CO2 is the deepest resurfacing, best for the most dramatic texture and wrinkle correction. Halo is a hybrid with less downtime. Morpheus8 is RF microneedling, better when your goal is tightening rather than surface resurfacing. We offer all of them and will match you to the right one.
What areas can be treated?
The forehead, cheeks, eyelids, around the mouth, and the neck, chest, and hands. Many patients treat more than one area, and the face plus neck and chest together is a common combination.
The deepest resurfacing there is, tuned to exactly the downtime you can spare.
Come in and we will match you to the right intensity, tell you honestly whether CO2 suits your skin, and give you real pricing and a real recovery plan.