Laser & Light in Atlanta
CO2 Laser Resurfacing in Atlanta
Our most transformative skin resurfacing, performed on the Cartessa Helix. From a gentle CoolPeel refresh to a full Fusion renewal, your treatment is tailored to your goals and your schedule.
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
Smoother, Renewed Skin, at the Intensity You Choose
CO2 laser resurfacing gently removes damaged surface layers while warming the deeper layers to rebuild collagen. The result is the most dramatic improvement in texture, wrinkles, and scarring of any laser treatment, revealing smoother, brighter, renewed skin.
What makes our Cartessa Helix system so special is its range. Treatments can be as light as a near-zero-downtime refresh or as transformative as a one-session renewal, so you can choose the balance of results and recovery that fits your life. Your provider will guide you to the ideal intensity for your goals and your calendar.
Candidacy
Is CO2 Laser Right for You?
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
Is CO2 Laser Right for You?
Beautifully Resurfaces
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.
Best Paired for Firmer, Lifted Skin
CO2 gently tightens the skin through collagen stimulation, and it is designed primarily to resurface rather than lift. For more significant laxity, your provider may recommend pairing it with Morpheus8 RF microneedling, FaceTite, or a facelift for a complete, harmonious result.
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.
Your recovery depends on the intensity you choose. A quick CoolPeel and a transformative Fusion use the same advanced laser, simply tailored to different goals.
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: Which Is Right for You?
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.
Our laser menu also includes Moxi, a gentle, non-ablative option with a few days of downtime that suits a wider range of skin tones, and Morpheus8, RF microneedling designed for tightening and deeper remodeling. With every option available under one roof, your provider will recommend the treatment and intensity that best fit your skin.
Skin Tone
Is CO2 Right for Your Skin Tone?
CO2 resurfacing is ideal for lighter skin tones, Fitzpatrick types I and II, and can be performed with care on medium tones, types III and IV, where the Helix’s customizable settings expand the range of safe treatment. For deeper skin tones, your provider will often recommend a beautifully suited alternative, such as a non-ablative laser, a chemical peel, or Sylfirm RF microneedling, so you can achieve smooth, radiant skin while protecting your natural tone.
Recovery
Your CO2 Recovery, by Protocol
Because recovery depends on intensity, here is what to expect after a full Fusion resurfacing, our most involved option. Lighter protocols heal more quickly, 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 gentle CoolPeel to a transformative Fusion, your treatment is tailored to your goals and your schedule.
Thoughtful Guidance for Every Skin Tone
Your provider will walk you through the recovery for your chosen protocol and recommend the safest, most effective option for your skin.
Every Resurfacing Option Under One Roof
With gentle lasers, RF microneedling, and peels also available, your plan is designed entirely around what your skin needs.
Atlanta’s All-Female Team
Co-founded by Dr. Diane Z. Alexander, MD, FACS, with more than 25 years of combined experience.
FAQ
CO2 Laser FAQs
How much downtime does CO2 really have?
It depends on the intensity you choose. A light CoolPeel has almost no downtime, just a day of mild redness. A full Fusion resurfacing, our most dramatic option, involves about 7 to 14 days of redness, swelling, and peeling. Your provider will help you choose the right balance for your goals and your calendar.
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 is ideal for lighter skin tones and can be performed with care on medium tones using customizable settings. For deeper skin tones, your provider will often recommend a beautifully suited alternative, such as a non-ablative laser or a peel, to protect your natural tone while refining your skin.
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.
Renewed, Radiant Skin Starts Here
Visit us for a consultation, and your provider will match you with the ideal CO2 intensity for your skin, your goals, and your schedule.