CO2 Laser Resurfacing in London, Ontario
What CO2 laser resurfacing actually does to your skin
The laser targets water inside your skin cells and vaporizes a fraction of the surface in a grid of microscopic columns, leaving healthy untouched skin in between. That untouched skin is what heals you quickly.
Underneath, the heat tightens the collagen you already have and signals your body to build new collagen. This is why resurfaced skin keeps improving for three to six months after a session rather than looking its best on day ten. The photo everyone wants is not the one taken when the peeling stops.
Two things get decided at your consultation: how much of the surface is treated in a pass, and how deep the columns go. That single choice is the difference between four quiet days and a fortnight of planning.
What it helps with
- Acne scarring, especially the rolling and boxcar kind that peels and creams never reach
- Fine lines and etched lines around the eyes and mouth
- Rough, weathered texture and pores that look larger than they are
- Sun damage and uneven tone from years of being outside
- Surgical and injury scars, once they are fully healed
- Crepey, thin-looking skin, softened rather than lifted
What it will not do: it does not lift sagging skin, and it does not remove a mole or a growth. Loose skin needs tightening or surgical options. Anything raised or pigmented needs looking at first, which is a different appointment at South London Mole Clinic.
Two depths, two very different weeks
Most clinics sell CO2 as one treatment. It is really two, and choosing between them is the honest part of the consultation.
These ranges are typical, not promised. Healing varies person to person, and we will give you a realistic window for your skin at the consultation.
Who it suits, and who we ask to wait
It suits you if you have genuine texture or scarring to work on, you can protect your skin from sun afterwards, and you can put the downtime in your calendar honestly.
We will ask you to wait if any of these apply:
- Active breakouts, cold sores or any infection in the area
- Isotretinoin in the recent past. We will check the timing with you
- A fresh tan, or a sunny holiday booked close to the treatment date
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Certain medications and conditions that slow healing, which we go through at consultation
If your skin tans easily or is naturally deeper in tone
Resurfacing is not off the table, but the risk of the treated area healing darker than the skin around it is real and it is higher. Handled properly that means gentler settings, a few weeks of pigment-calming skincare beforehand, and often a small test area first. A clinic that skips that conversation is taking a chance with your face, and we are not willing to.
What your appointment looks like
1. Assessment
We look at the concern, ask what the next few weeks look like for you, and agree on a depth. Sometimes the honest answer is microneedling, a peel, or nothing yet.
2. Prep
Numbing cream sits on the skin for around an hour. Eye protection goes on before anything else.
3. The treatment.
Usually 20 to 60 minutes depending on the area. Most people describe heat and prickling rather than sharp pain.
4. Straight after
A barrier ointment goes on, and you go home with a written plan and the products you will actually need. No guessing at the pharmacy.
5. Follow up
We check the healed skin at about two weeks and decide together whether anything further is worth doing.
Healing, day by day : After deeper resurfacing
Days 1 to 2
Redness, swelling and a warm, sunburned feeling. The skin weeps a little. Sleep propped up on an extra pillow.
Days 3 to 6
The surface starts to flake and peel. This is the part people find strangest, and the part where they do the damage. Leave it alone.
Days 7 to 10
New skin, still pink. Most people are comfortable with makeup by now.
Weeks 2 to 12
Pinkness settles and texture keeps improving quietly in the background.
After lighter resurfacing
Day 1
Redness and warmth, close to a moderate sunburn.
Days 2 to 3
Fine, dusty peeling.
Day 4
Settled enough for makeup for most people.
Weeks 2 to 6
Collagen work carries on between sessions.
The aftercare decides half the result
Two mistakes undo good laser work. The first is picking at peeling skin, which is how a healing treatment turns into a scar. The second is sun, which is how you end up with patchy pigment on skin that was healing fine.
So: keep the barrier ointment on as directed, no scrubs or acids until we clear you, SPF 50 every day once the skin has closed, and a hat for the first month. If you have a trip somewhere sunny coming up, tell us before we book you in rather than after.
Why patients come to us for this in London
We are an independent clinic, not a chain running one setting on everybody. The consultation is a real assessment, and if your concern would do better with microneedling, a peel or a bit of patience, we will say so before you have paid for anything. We would rather see you back in two years than read a review about a week nobody warned you about.
Book a resurfacing consultation
Book online at pinkalhealth.janeapp.com, or call or text the clinic. We will look at your skin, talk through the depth that fits your life, and give you a clear price before anything is scheduled.
Frequently asked questions
What is CO2 laser resurfacing?
CO2 laser resurfacing is a treatment that removes the outer layers of damaged skin in a fine grid pattern and heats the deeper layer so the body builds new collagen. It is used for acne scars, fine lines, rough texture and sun damage.
Does CO2 laser resurfacing hurt?
Numbing cream is applied for about an hour beforehand, so most people feel heat and prickling rather than pain. Afterwards the skin feels like a strong sunburn for a day or two, which settles with the aftercare we send you home with.
How much downtime should I plan for?
Lighter resurfacing usually means about 2 to 4 days of redness and light peeling. Deeper resurfacing usually means about 7 to 10 days before you would want to be seen, with makeup back around day 10 to 14. Healing varies person to person.
How long do the results last?
The collagen you build is yours to keep, and many patients hold their result for years. Your skin keeps ageing and keeps meeting the sun, so daily SPF and the occasional lighter session are what keep it looking that way.
How many sessions will I need?
Deep scarring is often treated in a single deeper session, sometimes up to three. Lighter resurfacing is usually a series of two to four. We only plan the next session once we have seen how your skin healed from the first.
What does CO2 laser resurfacing cost in London, Ontario?
Price depends on the area treated and the depth chosen, so we quote it at the consultation rather than online. You will have the full number before anything is booked.
Can I have it if my skin is deeper in tone or tans easily?
Often yes, with a more careful approach. Deeper skin tones carry a higher chance of the treated area healing darker than the surrounding skin, so we use gentler settings, prepare the skin beforehand and usually test a small area first. If we do not think it is safe for you, we will tell you.