✓ Performed by Dr Edwin Anthony at our North London Partner Clinic, Crouch End
✓ Aesthetic nursing support from Nurse Rashmi Mehta
✓ Part of Contoura Medical
Treatment for Scarring and Skin Texture
CO2 laser resurfacing is a skin treatment that uses laser energy to remove damaged outer skin layers and stimulate collagen renewal beneath, used for selected scarring, texture and sun damage concerns. Treatment intensity is tailored to the individual skin and concern, following assessment at Orovenza.
Orovenza assesses your skin and concerns before recommending a resurfacing approach, discussing expected downtime and results alongside any alternative options.
Treatment Information
Treatment Details
What It Treats
Selected acne scarring, texture irregularities, fine lines and sun damage.
Treatment Intensity
Laser settings are tailored to your skin and the depth of concern being addressed.
Downtime
Downtime is typically more significant than lighter resurfacing treatments and will be discussed in detail beforehand.
Results Timeline
Skin renewal and improvement continue to develop over the weeks following treatment.
The Process
How CO2 Laser Resurfacing Works
Skin Assessment
Your skin condition and treatment goals are assessed for suitability.
Treatment Planning
Laser settings and the treatment approach are planned based on your assessment.
Treatment
CO2 laser resurfacing is carried out under clinical supervision according to the plan.
Aftercare & Review
Detailed aftercare guidance is provided, with recovery reviewed as needed.
By Dr Edwin Anthony, Lead Clinician, Contoura Medical · Treatments delivered by Nurse Rashmi Mehta · Last updated 5 November 2026
Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing removes microscopic columns of damaged skin to trigger new collagen, softening lines, rough texture, acne scarring and sun damage. At our CO2 laser resurfacing London clinic, Orovenza in Marylebone, it suits adults who can plan for about a week of visible recovery.
CO2 laser resurfacing London: what it is and how it works
A CO2 laser produces light that water in the skin absorbs strongly, vaporising a very thin layer of tissue. Fractional treatment splits the beam into thousands of tiny columns, leaving healthy skin between them. That untouched skin speeds healing, and the controlled injury prompts new collagen for months afterwards.
According to DermNet, traditional fully ablative CO2 resurfacing has largely been replaced by fractional CO2 lasers, which give excellent results with fewer complications. We adjust depth and density for each area, working more gently on the neck and around the eyes than on the cheeks.
It is one of our more intensive treatments. It achieves more in fewer sessions, but recovery is real and aftercare stricter, so we check carefully that it suits you.
Who it is best suited for
Adults with fine to moderate lines, particularly around the eyes and mouth.
Rough, uneven texture or enlarged pores.
Acne scarring, especially boxcar scars and overall unevenness.
Sun damage, including brown spots and weathered skin.
People who can take about a week away from social or work commitments.
Those willing to follow careful sun avoidance for several months.
Your treatment journey at Orovenza
Consultation and skin assessment. Nurse Rashmi Mehta assesses your skin type, concerns, medication and cold sore history. For darker skin types, or any doubt, we arrange extra assessment with medical oversight from Dr Edwin Anthony and may carry out a test patch.
Plan and skin preparation. Expect two to six weeks of preparation: daily SPF 50, no tanning, and sometimes a pigment-calming cream. Antiviral tablets may be arranged if you get cold sores.
Treatment day. Numbing cream is applied for about 45 to 60 minutes. The laser itself takes around 20 to 40 minutes for a full face, and you leave with a protective ointment.
Aftercare. You receive a written day-by-day routine, the products you need, and a direct number to call throughout recovery.
Review. We check healing within the first one to two weeks and review results at around three months to decide whether another session would help.
Results and how long they last
Skin often looks brighter once peeling finishes, but collagen keeps remodelling for three to six months. DermNet describes overall recovery from CO2 laser as about 2 weeks, and advises that people who have taken isotretinoin within the previous 6 months should not be treated.
For acne scarring, a 2021 meta-analysis of 8 studies in Dermatologic Therapy found fractional CO2 laser to be about as effective as other laser types, which is why we choose the laser according to your skin rather than habit. Improvement in scarring and texture is long lasting, though natural ageing and sun exposure continue, so protecting your skin keeps the result for longer.
Recovery and aftercare
Day 0 to 1: skin feels hot and looks red, like strong sunburn. Some pinpoint oozing is normal. Apply ointment as directed and sleep slightly propped up.
Days 2 to 3: swelling peaks, especially around the eyes, then starts to ease. Skin may look bronzed or darker.
Days 3 to 7: fine peeling and flaking. Let it shed naturally; do not pick or scrub.
Days 7 to 10: most people look pink but presentable, and mineral makeup is usually fine once the skin has closed.
Weeks 2 to 8: pinkness can linger, particularly in fair or sensitive skin. Use only gentle products.
For at least three months: SPF 50 daily, a wide-brimmed hat outdoors and no sunbeds or deliberate sun exposure.
Safety, side effects and who should avoid it
Expected: redness, swelling, oozing and peeling in the first week, then temporary pinkness.
Pigment change is the key risk. Darkening can follow treatment, especially in deeper skin tones, and rarely lighter patches appear later.
Darker skin types need careful assessment; for some, radiofrequency microneedling or peels are the safer choice.
Not suitable if you have taken isotretinoin in the last six months, have a tan, active infection, vitiligo or a tendency to keloid scars.
Not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
How CO2 laser compares with other options
Treatment
Best for
Typical downtime
Usual sessions
Darker skin suitability
CO2 laser resurfacing
Lines, texture, scarring, sun damage
About a week, pinkness longer
1 to 3
Higher pigment risk, detailed assessment needed
Morpheus8 Scale & Burst
Deeper scarring, texture, mild laxity
2 to 5 days
2 to 3
Usually suitable with careful settings
Microneedling
Texture, pores, mild scarring
1 to 3 days
3 to 5
Generally well suited
Chemical peels
Dullness, marks, fine texture
0 to 7 days
3 to 6
Superficial peels often suitable
How Orovenza compares
Treatment in a hospital setting at Langham Hospital, 77 Hallam Street, Marylebone.
Doctor-led care, with treatment by Dr Edwin Anthony or Nurse Rashmi Mehta and clinical leadership from Dr Edwin Anthony (GMC registered), Lead Clinician at Contoura Medical.
A consultation before every treatment, including a fresh skin check before any repeat session.
A fixed consultation fee that is not deducted from treatment prices, so the assessment stands on its own.
Review appointments during healing and at around three months.
CO2 laser always starts with an in-person assessment at Langham Hospital. Consultation fees are fixed and are not deducted from treatment prices, and your practitioner confirms your personal treatment cost at consultation. Call 020 3890 1911 or Book a consultation
Frequently asked questions
How much does CO2 laser resurfacing cost?
The cost depends on the area, such as full face, eyes or neck, the depth of treatment and how many sessions you need. Preparation products and aftercare also play a part. Your practitioner confirms your personal cost at consultation, and the fixed consultation fee is separate from the treatment price.
How long is the downtime after CO2 laser?
Plan for about a week of redness, swelling and peeling, when most people prefer to stay home. After that, skin is usually pink but presentable, and mineral makeup can cover it. Pinkness can last several weeks, longer in fair or sensitive skin, and sun avoidance continues for months.
Does CO2 laser resurfacing hurt?
We use numbing cream for up to an hour first, so most people feel heat and snapping rather than sharp pain. Afterwards the skin feels like a strong sunburn for a day or two. Cool compresses and simple pain relief usually keep it comfortable, and we check in during recovery.
How many CO2 laser sessions will I need?
Most people need one to three sessions, spaced at least two to three months apart to let collagen remodel. Fine lines and sun damage often respond to one, while acne scarring usually benefits from two or three. We review results at around three months before deciding on another session.
When will I see results from CO2 laser?
Skin looks fresher and smoother once peeling finishes, usually by day seven to ten. The bigger change comes from new collagen, which keeps building for three to six months. We take photographs before treatment and at review so you can compare the difference in the same lighting.
Is CO2 laser safe for darker skin?
It can be, but it carries a higher risk of pigment change in darker skin, so extra care is essential. We assess skin type carefully, may do a test patch, prepare the skin for several weeks and use conservative settings. For some people, radiofrequency microneedling or peels are the safer route.
Can I have CO2 laser if I have active acne?
We wait until acne is settled, because treating inflamed skin raises the risk of infection and worse marks. If you have taken isotretinoin, you need to wait at least six months after finishing. Mild, occasional spots are assessed individually at consultation, and we can help plan acne control first.
Can CO2 laser be combined with other treatments?
Yes, as part of a staged plan rather than on the same day. For acne scarring we often start with microneedling or Morpheus8 Scale & Burst, then use CO2 laser later to refine texture. Peels can help with leftover pigment once the skin has fully healed. Your review guides timing.
How long do CO2 laser results last?
Improvement in scarring and texture is long lasting because it comes from remodelled collagen. Lines and sun damage slowly return as you age and with UV exposure. Daily SPF, a sensible skincare routine and occasional lighter maintenance treatments help results hold for several years.
Is CO2 laser better than microneedling?
CO2 laser usually achieves more in fewer sessions, particularly for lines, sun damage and textured scars, but with a week of downtime and stricter aftercare. Microneedling is gentler, has one to three days of redness and suits darker skin well. The better option depends on your skin and schedule.
Pricing depends on the treatment plan and number of sessions required. Your practitioner will confirm the cost of your personal treatment plan at consultation. Consultation fees are fixed and are not deducted from treatment prices.
Aesthetic Nurse, Orovenza, CO2 laser resurfacing led by Dr Edwin Anthony
Dr Anthony leads this CO2 laser resurfacing service. Dr Edwin Anthony performs this treatment at the North London Partner Location, Crouch End. Nurse Rashmi Mehta is the Aesthetic Nurse for Orovenza non-surgical aesthetics service at Contoura Medical.
Orovenza provides a clinically led approach to non-surgical aesthetic treatments, with treatment planning centred on individual assessment, appropriate indications and natural-looking outcomes.
Patients are assessed before treatment so that the most appropriate option can be discussed based on their goals and clinical circumstances.
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