CO2 Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing

CO2 fractional laser skin resurfacing is the gold standard in skin restructuring. Mr Simon Lee has been performing it since 2008 — making our Clifton, Bristol clinic one of the most experienced practices in the UK with this technology, and Mr Lee the first Plastic Surgeon in the UK to offer it to his surgical patients.

Advanced Skin Rejuvenation with the Lumenis AcuPulse CO2 Laser

At The Aesthetic Medical Clinic we offer advanced fractional CO2 laser resurfacing using the latest Lumenis AcuPulse system — one of the most sophisticated ablative resurfacing lasers available today.

Fractional CO2 resurfacing remains widely regarded as the gold standard treatment for improving:

  • Skin texture
  • Wrinkles
  • Sun damage
  • Acne scars
  • Surgical scars
  • Skin laxity
  • Crepey skin changes

 

Whilst newer non-ablative lasers can provide excellent rejuvenation with less downtime, CO2 resurfacing still delivers the most powerful overall skin resurfacing and collagen remodelling results for appropriately selected patients.

One of the UK’s Earliest and Most Experienced CO2 Laser Practices

Experience matters enormously in laser resurfacing.
Our clinic was among the very first in the UK to offer fractional CO2 laser resurfacing, with treatments being performed since 2008 under the direction of a consultant plastic surgeon with extensive experience in facial rejuvenation and skin resurfacing technologies.

Over the last decade and a half, we have seen the evolution of:
• Ablative CO2 resurfacing
• Fractional technology
• Non-ablative fractional lasers
• Hybrid resurfacing approaches
• Combination rejuvenation treatments

This experience allows us to tailor treatment intensity precisely — balancing results, safety, healing time, and long-term skin quality.

Safety and Expertise

Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing is highly operator-dependent.

Successful outcomes depend on:
• Appropriate patient selection
• Correct energy settings
• Anatomical understanding
• Healing optimisation
• Pigment risk management
• Aftercare protocols

This is where extensive experience becomes particularly important.

Our long-standing expertise in laser resurfacing helps maximise results whilst prioritising safety and natural-looking rejuvenation.

Consultation and Personalised Treatment Planning

Every patient’s skin ages differently.

We believe advanced laser resurfacing should never follow a standardised template. Instead, treatment should be customised according to:
• Skin quality
• Degree of ageing
• Scarring pattern
• Recovery tolerance
• Long-term aesthetic goals

A detailed consultation allows us to determine whether fractional CO2 resurfacing, non-ablative resurfacing, combination therapy, or surgical rejuvenation is the most appropriate approach.

Book a Consultation

To discuss fractional CO2 laser resurfacing with the Lumenis AcuPulse system, contact Simon Lee’s Aesthetic Medical Clinic to arrange a personalised consultation and skin assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions — CO2 Laser Resurfacing

  • What Is Fractional CO2 Laser Resurfacing?

    Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing is an advanced skin rejuvenation treatment that improves skin texture, wrinkles, scars, and sun damage by creating microscopic columns of controlled laser injury within the skin.
    This stimulates:
    • New collagen production
    • Skin tightening
    • Surface resurfacing
    • Long-term skin remodelling

    Fractional CO2 resurfacing is widely regarded as the gold standard laser treatment for significant skin rejuvenation.

  • What is the AcuPulse CO2 laser?

    The Lumenis AcuPulse is a highly advanced fractional CO2 laser platform designed to deliver customised resurfacing treatments ranging from gentle rejuvenation to deeper corrective resurfacing.
    The system allows precise adjustment of:
    • Treatment depth
    • Energy delivery
    • Fractional density
    • Pulse duration

    This flexibility enables highly tailored treatment plans for different skin types and concerns.

  • What Can CO2 Laser Resurfacing Treat?

    Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing is particularly effective for:
    • Fine lines and wrinkles
    • Sun damage
    • Crepey skin
    • Acne scarring
    • Surgical scars
    • Uneven skin texture
    • Enlarged pores
    • Lower eyelid wrinkling
    • Upper lip lines
    • General skin ageing

  • Why is CO2 Laser Still Considered the Gold Standard?

    Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing remains the benchmark treatment because it combines:
    • Surface skin resurfacing
    • Deep collagen remodelling

    This dual effect often produces more significant improvement than non-ablative laser treatments alone, particularly for:
    • Advanced sun damage
    • Wrinkles
    • Acne scars
    • Textural ageing

  • How is CO2 laser different from non-ablative fractional lasers?

    Non-ablative lasers heat the skin without vaporising tissue, resulting in:
    • Less downtime
    • Faster recovery
    • More gradual improvement

    CO2 laser is ablative, meaning it resurfaces the skin more aggressively and typically produces:
    • Greater wrinkle reduction
    • Stronger collagen stimulation
    • Better scar improvement
    • More dramatic textural change

    The trade-off is increased downtime and recovery.

  • Does CO2 laser resurfacing hurt?

    The Lumenis AcuPulse platform is one of the most advanced CO2 resurfacing systems available.

    Treatment comfort depends on the treatment intensity.
    Most patients are treated with:
    • Topical anaesthetic cream
    • Local anaesthesia
    • Cooling measures

    More intensive resurfacing treatments may require additional comfort measures depending on the treatment area and depth.

  • What is the downtime after CO2 laser resurfacing?

    Downtime varies depending on treatment intensity.
    Typical recovery includes:
    • Redness
    • Swelling
    • Bronzing
    • Peeling
    • Temporary skin sensitivity

    Most moderate to deeper treatments involve approximately:
    • 5–10 days of social downtime

    Some residual pinkness can persist for several weeks as collagen remodelling continues.

  • When Will I See Results?

    Initial improvements become visible once healing occurs.
    However, collagen remodelling continues progressively over:
    • 3–6 months

    Patients often notice:
    • Smoother skin
    • Reduced wrinkles
    • Improved firmness
    • Better skin texture
    • More radiant skin quality

  • How many treatments will I need?

    This depends on the condition being treated and the treatment intensity.
    Typical treatment plans include:
    • Mild rejuvenation: 1–3 sessions
    • Acne scarring: 2–4 sessions
    • Deep resurfacing: sometimes a single more intensive treatment

    Treatment plans are personalised according to skin condition and recovery tolerance.

  • Is CO2 laser resurfacing good for acne scars?

    Yes. Fractional CO2 resurfacing remains one of the most effective non-surgical treatments for acne scarring.
    It can improve:
    • Atrophic scars
    • Rolling scars
    • Textural irregularity
    • Skin roughness

    Results continue improving for months due to ongoing collagen remodelling.

  • Can CO2 laser be combined with facelift surgery?

    Yes — CO2 laser resurfacing is frequently combined with:
    • Facelift surgery
    • Neck lift surgery
    • Eyelid surgery
    • Brow lift procedures

    Surgery addresses tissue position and laxity, whilst laser resurfacing improves:
    • Skin texture
    • Fine wrinkling
    • Surface ageing
    • Sun damage

    This combined approach can produce more comprehensive facial rejuvenation.

  • Is CO2 laser suitable for eyelid wrinkles?

    Yes. Fractional CO2 resurfacing is particularly effective for:
    • Lower eyelid crepey skin
    • Fine periocular wrinkling
    • Crow’s feet
    • Upper lip lines

    These delicate areas often respond exceptionally well to fractional ablative resurfacing.

  • Is the treatment safe?

    When performed appropriately by experienced medical practitioners, fractional CO2 resurfacing can be very safe and highly effective.
    However, it is a technically demanding treatment that requires:
    • Appropriate patient selection
    • Precise settings
    • Careful aftercare
    • Pigment risk management

    Choosing an experienced clinic is extremely important.

  • Why is experience important with CO2 laser resurfacing?

    Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing is highly operator-dependent.
    Our clinic has extensive experience with CO2 resurfacing dating back to 2008 and was among the earliest UK practices to offer this technology.

    This experience helps optimise:
    • Treatment intensity
    • Safety
    • Recovery
    • Pigmentation management
    • Long-term skin quality
    • Natural-looking outcomes

  • Can darker skin types be treated?

    Some darker skin types can be treated carefully, but the risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation is higher.
    Treatment suitability depends on:
    • Skin type
    • Pigment history
    • Sun exposure
    • Treatment goals

    Pre-treatment skincare and carefully adjusted laser settings are often important.

  • What are the risks of CO2 laser resurfacing?

    Potential risks include:
    • Temporary redness
    • Swelling
    • Pigment changes
    • Infection
    • Prolonged healing
    • Scarring (rare)
    • Acne flare-ups or milia

    Careful patient selection and experienced treatment planning help minimise these risks.

  • What is the aftercare like?

    Aftercare is extremely important following CO2 resurfacing.
    Patients are usually advised regarding:
    • Cleansing routines
    • Moisturising and barrier protection
    • Sun avoidance
    • Healing skincare
    • Infection prevention
    • Sun protection
    Detailed aftercare instructions are provided individually following treatment.

  • Why choose your clinic for CO2 laser resurfacing?

    Patients choose The Aesthetic Medical Clinic because of our:
    • Long-standing experience with fractional CO2 resurfacing since 2008
    • Consultant plastic surgery expertise
    • Advanced understanding of facial ageing
    • Integration of surgical and non-surgical rejuvenation
    • Access to the latest Lumenis AcuPulse technology
    • Tailored, medically-led treatment planning

    Our philosophy is to combine advanced technology with experience, precision, and natural-looking rejuvenation.

Luminus AcuPulse Fractional CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing in Bristol

Co2 fractional laser skin resurfacing is the gold standard in skin restructuring.
At Simon Lee’s Aesthetic Medical Clinic in Clifton, Bristol, we use the Luminus AcuPulse fractional CO2 laser, one of the most advanced ablative skin resurfacing systems currently available. Mr Simon Lee has been performing fractional CO2 laser resurfacing since 2008, making our Bristol clinic one of the most experienced practices in the country with this technology. Mr Lee was the first Plastic Surgeon in the UK to be offering fractional Co2 laser resurfacing to his surgical patients.

The AcuPulse delivers laser energy in a fractional pattern, treating thousands of microscopic zones whilst leaving the surrounding tissue intact. This approach accelerates recovery compared with fully ablative resurfacing, whilst still delivering clinically meaningful results. The AcuPulse’s advanced beam profile and pulse technology mean that the same depth and quality of result is achievable with considerably less thermal spread to surrounding tissue, which is the primary reason patients find it so much more comfortable than older CO2 systems.

What Does the AcuPulse Treat?
• Fine lines and deep wrinkles
• Acne scarring and surface scarring
• Sun damage and pigmentation
• Uneven skin texture and enlarged pores
• Dull, ageing skin lacking elasticity and firmness
• Skin laxity and early crepiness

What to Expect at Our Bristol Clinic
Treatment takes place under topical anaesthetic cream or local anaesthetic, depending on the depth of treatment and your preference. You can expect some bleeding and a superficial scab or eschar to develop in the treatment zone. This will fall off at 48-72 hrs leaving the underlying new skin rather red. This settles quickly and looks like a mild sunburn. Most patients can return to work and socialising by 5-7 days although some redness can remain for a few weeks.

Results will continue to improve for up to 6 months as collagen remodelling progresses.

Frequently Asked Questions, Fractional CO2 Laser Bristol

How many treatments are needed?
Most patients achieve their goals in a single session. Less aggressive treatments can be planned and repeated if required, and we will advise the appropriate approach at your initial consultation at our Bristol clinic.

How long is the recovery period?
Allow for 7 days of downtime. Slight redness can persist for 4–8 weeks in fair skinned individuals but is easily covered with mineral make-up after day 7. A full written aftercare protocol is provided at your appointment.

What is the difference between the AcuPulse and the AUREON:Dual non-ablative laser?
The AcuPulse is an ablative fractional CO2 laser, it removes mico-cores of tissue sometimes full thickness. This stimulates deep skin remodelling.. The AUREON:dual is non-ablative, it delivers improvement with minimal downtime but requires a course of treatments. Both are available at our Bristol clinic. We will advise which is appropriate for your concerns at consultation.

How much does fractional CO2 laser resurfacing cost in Bristol?
Please contact our Clifton, Bristol clinic for current pricing. A full consultation is required before treatment to assess suitability and agree on the appropriate approach.