How Did the CoolPeel™ Treatment Get Its Name?

Lasers are known for their heat. The focused light emitted by these specialized devices generates thermal energy in the treatment area, leading to repairs that improve the look and feel of the skin. So why is a popular laser device known as CoolPeel™? St. Louis’ West County Plastic Surgeons offers this treatment—known as SmartXide Tetra CO2 laser resurfacing—and we can tell you that its nickname comes from more than the “cool” results it provides (although those are pretty great).

Admittedly, the CoolPeel™ does generate heat. This is necessary for vaporizing tissue, which kicks off natural healing processes. This heat, however, is precisely contained.

A CoolPeel™ treatment involves brief pulses of energy that are highly focused and high powered. The energy is delivered in a fractionated pattern, which means it is limited to small “spots” on the skin, forming a grid-like pattern. Each of these spots heats so rapidly that water molecules in the skin vaporize—and they take the tissue they’re in with them when they go.

If none of this sounds like an especially cool process to you, you’re not wrong, as the heat is significant. The precision, however, is where the coolness comes in. Because the light beams are so precise, there is no thermal damage to the tissue around each dot. In other words, we’re not baking the entire surface of the skin. Only selected tiny areas get ablated.

This strategy offers two primary benefits.

One, each miniscule vaporized area gets the skin into repair mode. New collagen and other molecules are created to repair the wounds, which accomplishes the necessary healing, but also improves the look and feel of the intact skin around each spot.

Second, the fractionated approach means post-treatment healing time is considerably reduced when compared to ablative laser treatments. Expect only one to three days of down time.

Collagen renewal is an ongoing process, so the results will continue to improve for months. The added volume makes skin smoother and fuller, while the light energy causes spots and other pigmented lesions to fade.

Patients who want more dramatic results can opt for a more intense laser treatment. Lasers are highly customizable, with more powerful or ablative options targeting more prominent signs of aging or sun damage—but also requiring more post-treatment downtime. Some treatments require about a week of recovery.

Which laser option would be best for you? Contact West County Plastic Surgeons by calling 314.996.8800 or reaching out online.