Laser therapy in Zurich

CO2 fractional laser therapy is used for skin rejuvenation, treatment of scars and pigment spots (e.g. age spots). Unlike conventional laser treatments, we can also soften deep wrinkles with the CO2 laser. The treatment includes whole areas of skin, not just individual wrinkles. Fractional laser therapy is one of the minimally invasive beauty treatments that we perform on an outpatient basis at the Swiss Derma Clinic.

Fractional laser therapy means that the skin is only partially exposed to laser impulses, some areas of the skin remain untreated. This partial treatment leads to better tolerance and less downtime. With fractional CO2 laser therapy, the top layer of skin is lightly ablated. The connective tissue is stimulated. The natural cell division of the skin is stimulated, the upper skin layers renew themselves and produce new collagen fibres. The result is a finer skin structure and a smoother and firmer complexion.

The CO2 laser can be precisely adjusted to the desired application.  It has a pigment programme, a scar programme and settings for wrinkle treatment or for comprehensive skin renewal. You will see the results approximately four to eight weeks after the treatment, when the renewal process of the skin is completely finished.

The advantages of CO2 Fractional Laser Therapy:

• good results even with deep wrinkles
• Reduction of pigmentation disorders and acne scars
• gentle treatment due to multi-level settings (from lower to higher intensity). This makes it possible to get used to the treatment.
• Low downtime with a fast healing phase

Depending on the application, one to three sessions per treatment are necessary.

We can treat almost all skin areas with fractional laser therapy. Common areas of application are the face, arms, neck, décolleté and stretch marks on the thighs and abdomen. CO2 laser therapy can be used on all skin types - darker skin types need to be treated more carefully to avoid pigment disorders later on.

Fractional CO2 laser therapy is ideal for:

• Tightening and smoothing of entire skin areas
• Treatment of age spots (harmless pigment spots)
• Reduction of acne scars
• Improving the overall appearance of the skin (laser skin resurfacing)

The laser session itself takes around 20 to 30 minutes. It depends on the size of the skin area to be treated and the desired result. Plan additional time for a preliminary discussion and, if necessary, a short after-treatment. The skin can be moderately cooled after the application to reduce the feeling of heat. In some cases, several sessions make sense; these should be carried out at intervals of a few weeks.

In the first step, our experienced doctor Evangelia Georgouli cleanses the skin areas to be treated. A light anaesthetic ointment makes your skin insensitive to pain. The CO2 laser is now lightly guided over the skin areas. It emits fine laser impulses into the higher and deeper skin layers. This leads to a heat development in the skin, the collagen production is stimulated. We only treat up to 50 percent of the skin areas, the untreated skin supports regeneration and the healing process. The laser procedure is not only gentle, it also ensures a very even treatment result. Depending on the intensity, you will feel a sensation of heat and a slight burning on the skin during the application. The individual laser session lasts about 20 to 30 minutes.

With fractional CO2 laser therapy you see the desired result in the medium to long term. Pigment spots such as age spots fade, scars and wrinkles are less visible and visibly flatter. The treated skin area is more even - the skin appears finer and more youthful overall. The laser treatment produces more of the skin's own collagen, which also smoothes and tightens the skin in the weeks following the treatment.

The fractional CO2 laser has several intensity levels. At the Swiss Derma Clinic in Zurich, we adjust the strength of the laser precisely to your skin condition and desired result. With mild settings, we treat the skin in several sessions. In this way, the skin improves gradually. Accompanying symptoms such as redness and crusting are less pronounced. On average, you should expect five to seven days until complete healing.

We can treat pronounced acne scars and deep wrinkles with a higher intensity. With stronger laser impulses, one session is often sufficient. As skin renewal is stimulated much more strongly, the accompanying effects such as swelling, reddening of the skin and the formation of scabs are also more considerable. You should allow for a recovery time of up to 10 days.

CO2 fractional laser therapy is one of the relatively gentle procedures in wrinkle treatment. Nevertheless, as with all other treatments, undesirable side effects are possible. If desired, we can apply a cooling anaesthetic gel before the treatment. For higher settings, we use a light local anaesthetic. The treatment initially causes slight swelling and redness. This usually disappears after a few days. In addition, a slight crust forms on the treated skin as a natural reaction of the body. Make sure you wait until the crust has dissolved by itself. You can treat dry and flaky areas of skin with a moisturising cream.

Depending on how sensitive your skin is and how large the treated area is, you should allow a few days for the skin to recover.

Important: Use adequate sun protection in the period following laser therapy. Avoid going to the solarium and extensive sunbathing for a few weeks. The ideal time for fractional CO2 laser therapy is in the autumn and winter months.