Laser
CO2 laser resurfacing
A resurfacing laser for scars, stretch marks, lines and texture, with about a week of recovery at home.
At a glance
- Appointment
- Varies
- Numbing time is added on
- Sessions
- Often more than one
- We'll plan your course at your consultation
- Downtime
- About a week
- Plan to stay home for 5 to 7 days
- First results
- About 2 weeks
- Once your skin has healed
- Full results
- Months
- Skin keeps improving as it remodels
- Price from
- £249
- Free 20-minute consultation
Written using information from the American Academy of Dermatology, the British Association of Dermatologists and published research. Last reviewed October 2026. How we wrote this page
What CO2 laser resurfacing is
A CO2 laser removes microscopic columns of skin in a fine grid pattern. As your skin heals, it rebuilds collagen, which can improve the look of acne scars, wrinkles, texture and slightly loose skin. We use the OPERA CO2 laser.
Because it removes a layer of skin, it's a stronger treatment than gentler lasers, such as the thulium laser, and it needs real recovery time: about a week at home for the face.
Laser resurfacing is one of the main treatments for acne scarring, though results vary with the type of scar. On other scars, it can make a scar less noticeable, but it can't remove it. On stretch marks, fractional CO2 did best of the lasers compared in a review of trials, but the trials were small.
The neck and chest scar more easily than the face, so they're treated with gentler settings.
| Option | What it is | Typical course |
|---|---|---|
| Resurfacing | Lines, sun damage and texture on the face, neck and décolleté | Planned with you |
| Acne scars | Full face, cheeks or a small area. Results vary with the type of scar | Planned with you |
| Scars | Surgical scars, burn scars and scars from an injury. A scar can look less noticeable, but it won't disappear | Often more than one session |
| Stretch marks | Small to large areas, the abdomen and the flanks. Improvement varies | Planned with you |
| Lines and skin quality | The eye area, upper eyelids, neck, décolleté and hands. These areas need extra care | Planned with you |
Who it’s for
Adults only
Treatment is only for adults aged 18 and over.
Often a good fit if you
- have acne scarring
- have a scar you'd like to look less noticeable
- have stretch marks
- have wrinkles, sun damage or crepey-looking skin
- can take about a week off to heal, and protect your skin from the sun afterwards
Not suitable, or we’ll wait, if you
- have a tan or sunburn
- have taken isotretinoin, a prescription acne medicine, in the last year
- have a cold sore or skin infection in the area
- have a history of keloid (raised, thickened) scars
- are pregnant
Deeper skin tones have a higher risk of dark patches after CO2 resurfacing, and need careful preparation and aftercare. We may suggest a gentler option. A new scar, or one from a recent burn or injury, may need advice from your GP or the team who treated you first.
What happens on the day
-
Step 1: Before your treatment
We'll ask you to stop retinoid and glycolic acid skincare 2 to 4 weeks beforehand, and to avoid tanning.
-
Step 2: Consultation and skin check
We look closely at your skin and, for scars, at the type of scars you have, because this affects your plan.
-
Step 3: Preparing your skin
Your skin is cleansed and a numbing cream is applied, then left to work before treatment starts.
-
Step 4: The treatment and afterwards
The laser is passed over the area while you wear eye protection. Afterwards your skin will look red and swollen, and you'll get a wound-care routine to follow at home.
Recovery and results
How many sessions you need depends on your skin, the area and the depth of treatment. Healing time differs between areas, and we'll tell you what to expect for yours. We'll plan your course at your consultation.
-
The first week
Redness, swelling, then peeling and crusting as your skin heals. Plan to stay home for about 5 to 7 days.
-
About 2 weeks
Once healed, you may see smoother, firmer-looking skin.
-
Over the following months
Your skin keeps improving as it rebuilds collagen.
-
Longer term
Protect your skin from the sun to look after your results.
Aftercare
Please do
- Follow your wound-care routine, and use the barrier balm as directed.
- Protect your skin from the sun until it has healed, and then every day. Sun on healing skin can cause scarring.
- Get in touch straight away if your skin becomes increasingly painful, hot or swollen, or weeps yellow fluid.
| Avoid | For |
|---|---|
| Picking or rubbing crusts | Until healed |
| Make-up | As we advise |
| Retinol, acids and exfoliating products | As we advise |
| Swimming, saunas and hard exercise | As we advise |
Risks and side effects
- Common and expected
- Redness, swelling, peeling and crusting while your skin heals.
- Less common
- Redness that lasts longer, dark patches after healing, especially in deeper skin tones, and infection.
- Rare but serious
- Scarring, which is more likely on the neck and chest, and burns if a laser isn't used correctly.
- Your skin tone
- Deeper skin tones need a pigment plan before and after treatment. We'll go through it with you, and may suggest a different treatment.
Worried after your treatment?
If anything about your skin worries you, contact us straight away on WhatsApp (opens WhatsApp) or call 07532 895989.
Prices
CO2 laser resurfacing
Per session
Resurfacing
| Treatment | Price |
|---|---|
| Full face | £659 |
| Face and neck | £829 |
| Face, neck and décolleté | £909 |
Acne scars
| Treatment | Price |
|---|---|
| Full face | £829 |
| Cheeks | £499 |
| Small area | £329 |
Scars
| Treatment | Price |
|---|---|
| Surgical scar | £249 |
| Burn scar | £329 |
| Scar from an injury | £499 |
Stretch marks
| Treatment | Price |
|---|---|
| Small area | £499 |
| Medium area | £659 |
| Large area | £829 |
| Full abdomen | £989 |
| Abdomen and flanks | £1,159 |
Lines and skin quality
| Treatment | Price |
|---|---|
| Eye area | £329 |
| Upper eyelids | £329 |
| Neck | £469 |
| Décolleté | £649 |
| Hands | £469 |
Courses: 3 sessions cost 10% less than 3 single sessions, and 5 sessions 15% less. We can also plan one package for several areas.
Your 20-minute consultation is free. We’ll confirm your final price and plan before any treatment.
Your questions
How much downtime is there?
Plan on about a week at home while your face heals. For other areas, we'll tell you what to expect at your consultation.
When will I see results?
Within about 2 weeks of healing, and your skin keeps improving over the following months.
Will it help my acne scars?
Laser resurfacing is one of the main treatments for acne scars, but results vary with the type of scar. We'll look at yours at your consultation.
Can it remove a scar or stretch marks?
No. It can make a scar less noticeable, but it can't remove it. Stretch marks can look better, but improvement varies.
Is it suitable for deeper skin tones?
Possibly, but there's a higher risk of pigment changes. We assess your skin carefully and may suggest an alternative.
What do I need to stop beforehand?
Retinoid and glycolic acid skincare for 2 to 4 weeks, and tanning. If you've taken isotretinoin in the last year, please tell us.
Does it hurt?
A numbing cream is applied first. You may feel heat and prickling during treatment.
Are the prices per session?
Yes. A course of 3 sessions costs 10% less than 3 single sessions, and a course of 5 costs 15% less. We can also plan one package for several areas, and we'll confirm your price before any treatment.
Related treatments
-
Thulium laser
A gentle fractional laser for the look of pigmentation, uneven tone and fine texture.
From £95
-
Microneedling
Gradual, collagen-building treatment for acne scars, uneven texture and fine lines.
From £99
-
Chemical peels
Peels for dull, uneven-looking or breakout-prone skin, from gentler options to stronger ones.
From £99
How we wrote this page
Written using information from the American Academy of Dermatology, the British Association of Dermatologists and published research. Last reviewed October 2026.
- American Academy of Dermatology. Many ways to firm sagging skin
- American Academy of Dermatology. 10 things to know before having laser treatment for your scar
- American Academy of Dermatology. Acne scars: Consultation and treatment
- PubMed Central. A peel to prevent post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after CO2 laser resurfacing for acne scars
- PubMed Central. A dermocosmetic balm after fractional CO2 laser: a randomised exploratory study
- British Association of Dermatologists. Cosmetic dermatology
- British Association of Dermatologists. Acne
- PubMed Central. Comparative effectiveness of different therapies for treating striae distensae: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
- PubMed. Hypertrophic scarring of the neck following ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing
- PubMed. Complications of fractional CO2 laser resurfacing: four cases
This page is general information, not medical advice. At your consultation, we'll talk through what's right for you.
Have a question about CO2 laser resurfacing?
Message us on WhatsApp, give us a call or send an enquiry with the form. Your 20-minute consultation is free, at our clinic on 8 Commerce Road, Wood Green.
Thank you.
We’ve received your enquiry and will reply on WhatsApp during our opening hours, Monday to Saturday, 10am to 7pm.
For a quicker answer, message us on WhatsApp.
WhatsApp us (opens WhatsApp)