Fine lines
Useful for textural ageing and selected etched lines, including peri-oral and peri-orbital concerns where clinically appropriate.
Laser Clinic · South Kensington
Fractional CO₂ Laser Resurfacing
A precision resurfacing treatment for skin texture, fine lines, acne scarring and visible sun damage.
Fractional CO₂ laser creates controlled microscopic treatment zones in the skin, stimulating repair and collagen remodelling while leaving surrounding tissue intact.
Skin resurfacing
What is fractional CO₂ laser?
Fractional CO₂ is an ablative laser treatment designed to resurface selected areas of the skin.
Rather than treating the entire skin surface uniformly, fractional technology creates thousands of microscopic treatment columns, leaving areas of surrounding skin untreated.
This controlled injury initiates a repair response. As the skin heals, surface texture can improve while collagen remodelling continues beneath the surface over the following weeks and months.
Fractional does not mean gentle.
CO₂ remains an ablative laser treatment. The advantage of the
fractional approach is the ability to target a proportion of the
skin while retaining surrounding untreated tissue to support healing.
What can fractional CO₂ resurfacing improve?
Acne scars
Fractional treatment can remodel selected atrophic acne scars and improve overall surface texture.
Sun damage
Resurfacing can improve visible photodamage, roughness and areas of uneven pigmentation in appropriately selected skin.
Texture & pores
Skin can appear smoother and more refined as surface renewal and collagen remodelling progress.
How fractional CO₂ works
Step 01
Microscopic columns
The laser delivers controlled columns of energy into selected areas of the skin while leaving surrounding tissue intact.
Step 02
Ablation & heat
Targeted tissue is precisely ablated while thermal energy contributes to the remodelling response.
Step 03
Repair & remodelling
The skin repairs the microscopic treatment zones and collagen remodelling continues progressively over the following months.
Fractional CO₂ Laser treatment · Santi London · South Kensington
Where can fractional CO₂ be used?
Face
Full-face resurfacing can address overall texture, fine lines, photodamage and selected pigmentation concerns.
Around the mouth
Fractional CO₂ can be particularly useful for selected etched peri-oral lines and textural ageing around the mouth.
Around the eyes
Carefully selected settings can be used for peri-orbital texture and fine lines following appropriate assessment.
Acne-scarred cheeks
Treatment can be concentrated on areas of atrophic scarring rather than necessarily treating the whole face.
Neck & décolletage
These thinner areas require more conservative parameters than facial skin and careful patient selection.
Localised scars
Selected surgical or traumatic scars elsewhere on the body may also be suitable for fractional resurfacing.
Neck rejuvenation
Fractional CO₂ laser for the neck
The neck often shows crepiness, fine lines, uneven texture and photodamage differently from the face.
Fractional CO₂ can be used to stimulate resurfacing and collagen remodelling in this area, but neck skin is thinner and has fewer pilosebaceous units than facial skin.
For that reason, treatment parameters generally need to be more conservative and suitability must be assessed carefully.
Face and neck are not treated identically.
The clinician adjusts treatment depth, density and energy according
to the anatomical area, skin characteristics and treatment goal.
Neck rejuvenation with CO₂ laser · Santi London
Your CO₂ laser consultation
The strength of resurfacing should be determined by your skin, the concern being treated and how much downtime is appropriate for you — not simply by choosing the strongest setting available.
Skin assessment
We assess skin type, pigmentation tendency, the area being treated and the nature of the concern.
Medical screening
Relevant medication, previous procedures, cold-sore history, healing history and contraindications are reviewed.
Downtime planning
Your clinician explains the expected recovery and helps select an approach appropriate to your goals and available downtime.
Patch testing and/or skin preparation may be recommended depending
on your skin type and treatment plan.
What happens during fractional CO₂ treatment?
Step 01
Preparation
The skin is cleansed and topical anaesthetic is usually applied before treatment.
Step 02
Laser treatment
The clinician treats the planned area using settings selected according to skin type, anatomy and treatment goal.
Step 03
Immediate aftercare
The skin is cooled and protected, and you receive detailed instructions for the healing period.
Recovery
What is the downtime?
Recovery depends on treatment intensity and the area treated. For a typical fractional facial treatment, a visible recovery period of around 5–7 days is common.
First 24–48 hours
Redness, warmth and swelling are expected. The skin may feel similar to significant sunburn.
Following days
Bronzing, dryness, flaking or peeling can develop as the treated surface renews.
After the first week
The surface is usually substantially healed, although residual pinkness can persist for longer depending on treatment intensity.
Make-up is usually considered once the skin surface has
re-epithelialised, commonly around day 5–7, according to your
clinician's advice.
When will I see improvement?
Fractional CO₂ has both an early resurfacing effect and a slower collagen-remodelling phase.
Early change
As the treated surface heals, skin may begin to appear smoother and more even over the following weeks.
Progressive remodelling
Collagen remodelling develops more slowly and can continue for approximately 3–6 months after treatment.
How many sessions are needed?
Rejuvenation
Some clients may achieve their desired improvement from a single treatment, while others benefit from a course of approximately 1–3 sessions depending on treatment intensity and goals.
Acne scarring
Scar remodelling often requires a longer programme. Approximately 3–5 treatments may be considered in some cases, depending on scar type, depth and response.
Where repeat treatment is appropriate, sessions are generally spaced sufficiently apart to allow healing and remodelling, often around 6–12 weeks.
Suitability
Is fractional CO₂ suitable for every skin type?
No laser resurfacing treatment should be selected solely on the basis of the concern being treated.
Skin tone, pigmentation history, healing response and the anatomical area all influence suitability and treatment settings.
CO₂ resurfacing is generally more straightforward in lighter skin types. Darker skin tones can have a greater risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and require particularly careful assessment, preparation and parameter selection; an alternative treatment may sometimes be preferable.
Individual assessment matters.
The aim is not to use the highest possible energy. It is to choose
an effective treatment while managing the risk of unwanted pigment
change, prolonged inflammation and scarring.
When might treatment not be appropriate?
Tell us about
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Active infection or cold sores
- Recent isotretinoin use
- Photosensitising medication
- Previous abnormal or keloid scarring
- Recent tanning or significant sun exposure
- Previous laser or resurfacing procedures
- Relevant medical conditions
Cold-sore history
If you have previously experienced herpes simplex around the treatment area, tell your clinician during consultation.
Antiviral prophylaxis may be recommended around treatment where appropriate.
Potential side effects and risks
Fractional CO₂ is an ablative procedure and should not be presented as a no-downtime facial.
Expected effects
Redness, warmth, swelling, dryness, bronzing and peeling are normal parts of the early recovery process.
Less common risks
These include prolonged redness, infection, acne-like eruptions and post-inflammatory pigment change.
Uncommon but important
Scarring and persistent pigment alteration are uncommon but recognised risks and are discussed as part of consent.
Aftercare
Looking after your skin after CO₂ laser
Keep skincare simple
- Cleanse gently as advised
- Use the recommended emollient or recovery product
- Do not pick or manually exfoliate peeling skin
- Avoid active acids and retinoids until advised
Protect the healing skin
- Follow strict sun protection
- Avoid unnecessary heat exposure
- Avoid strenuous exercise initially as advised
- Follow your clinician's review schedule
Fractional CO₂ Laser Prices
Consultation & patch test
£220
Rejuvenation — half face or hands
£900
Rejuvenation — full face
£1,250
Rejuvenation — face & neck
£1,750
Rejuvenation — face, neck & chest
£2,500
Scarring — half face
£2,000
Scarring — full face
£2,500
Treatment recommendations and final pricing are confirmed following clinical assessment.
Fractional CO₂ Laser FAQs
Does fractional CO₂ laser hurt?
Topical anaesthetic is normally used before treatment. During treatment you may feel heat, prickling or discomfort. Sensation varies according to treatment area and intensity.
How much downtime should I allow?
Around 5–7 days of visible redness, swelling, bronzing or peeling is common after a typical fractional facial treatment. Pinkness can remain for longer, particularly after stronger treatment.
When can I wear make-up?
Make-up is generally avoided until the surface has healed. This is commonly around day 5–7, but you should follow the advice given at your review.
When will I see results?
Early improvement in texture may become apparent over the first few weeks. Collagen remodelling develops more gradually and can continue for several months.
How many treatments will I need?
This depends on the indication and treatment intensity. Some rejuvenation goals may require 1–3 treatments, while acne scarring can require a longer programme.
Can CO₂ laser treat acne scars?
Fractional CO₂ can be useful for selected atrophic acne scars. Different scar types respond differently, so treatment planning may involve more than one technique.
Can you treat the neck with CO₂ laser?
Yes, in appropriately selected patients. Neck skin requires more cautious treatment than facial skin because of its different anatomy and healing characteristics.
Is CO₂ laser suitable for darker skin?
It may be possible in selected cases, but darker skin tones have a greater risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation following ablative resurfacing. Careful assessment is essential and an alternative treatment may sometimes be preferable.
Is fractional CO₂ better than microneedling?
They are different treatments. Fractional CO₂ can produce a more substantial resurfacing effect for selected scars and textural ageing but generally involves greater downtime and risk. Microneedling may be preferable where a gentler treatment or shorter recovery is required.
How long do the results last?
The structural improvement produced through resurfacing and remodelling can be long-lasting, but treatment does not stop normal ageing or future sun damage. Sun protection and appropriate skincare remain important.
Related skin treatments at Santi
Santi London · South Kensington
Considering fractional CO₂ resurfacing?
The first step is a consultation to assess your skin, treatment goals, pigmentation risk and the amount of downtime appropriate for you.
Santi London · 33 Thurloe Street · South Kensington · London SW7 2LQ
Treatment is subject to consultation, medical assessment and individual suitability. Results and recovery vary between patients.