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SmartXide Tetra CO2 Laser Resurfacing

Address Wrinkles, Spots, and More with Customized Treatments—Gentle CoolPeel^™ or a More Dramatic Option—in St. Louis

Thinning skin, lines, pigmentation issues, and other cosmetic changes to skin are an inevitable part of life. Whether caused by the sun, the passage of time, the elements and other environmental factors, or all of the above, wrinkles and spots can make a face appear aged. With SmartXide Tetra CO2 laser resurfacing, our St. Louis-based team can address all of these aesthetic concerns and more, using focused light energy to resurface the skin for a fresher, more youthful look. Because there is no thermal damage to the surrounding tissue—a benefit that has earned this laser the "CoolPeel^™" nickname—downtime after the treatment is minimized without having to sacrifice results.

The laser reduces wrinkling and acne scars, fades dark spots, and enhances skin tightening without the weeks of downtime previously associated with carbon dioxide laser resurfacing. By affecting only a small percentage of the skin, the laser does just enough to induce remodeling of the skin while maintaining healthy skin cells that accelerate the healing process. Comparable fractionated lasers offer inferior results even after multiple treatments and comparable downtime.

What Can the SmartXide Tetra CO2 Laser Resurfacing Treat?

Laser energy is versatile, with experienced providers able to customize treatments to address large regions and focused areas alike. Whether tightening skin, reducing wrinkles on the face, neck, and chest or smoothing out the especially delicate skin that surrounds the eyes, the SmartXide Tetra CO2 laser can accommodate a wide range of patients’ needs.

We offer the following treatment options:

• Aggressive CO2 laser treatment: Dramatically improve uneven pigments and induce skin tightening in a single treatment with five- to seven-day down time.
• CoolPeel^™ treatment: Gradually improve uneven pigments and induce skin tightening in a series of three to six treatments with one to three days minimal down time.

What is CoolPeel^™?

While the SmartXide Tetra CO2 laser can perform multiple kinds of treatments, one of the most popular is CoolPeel^™ for skin resurfacing.

Skin resurfacing is a technique that involves removing dead cells that give the face a dull look while simultaneously encouraging increased collagen production and cell turnover to create a smoother, more youthful surface. Many light-based treatments accomplish this by heating the surface to ablate (or remove) the unwanted layer, but SmartXide Tetra CO2 laser resurfacing employs technology that accomplishes the ablative effect without damaging the surrounding tissue with thermal energy.

Without getting too technical, the best explanation for how it works is that it deploys very focused short pulses of high-peak-power energy. The light energy delivered by the SmartXide Tetra CO2 laser resurfacing device focuses very precisely to heat water molecules in the skin, vaporizing small areas and triggering a healing effect. The result is precision ablation, with healthy and undamaged tissue surrounding every spot where the epidermis is removed. As the skin works to repair each tiny wound, the healing process also improves the look of the remaining tissue.

That means you can enjoy the laser resurfacing results you want, without the drawback of a longer recovery time as your skin heals.

In the days, weeks, and months after a SmartXide Tetra CO2 laser resurfacing session, renewed collagen production in the skin will cause it to fill out more, reducing the depth of wrinkles and giving the entire surface a more youthful look. Small areas of concentrated pigment—which develop due to sun exposure prompting a defensive response in the cells that give the skin its color—will fade. Patients love that CoolPeel^™ allows them to smooth fine lines, repair sun damage, reduce the appearance of pores, and address texture irregularities—all without needing to budget significant time for healing.

After a treatment, it is important to keep your skin protected from new ultraviolet radiation exposure by avoiding the sun and covering up and wearing sunscreen. Areas treated with SmartXide Tetra CO2 laser resurfacing are especially susceptible to damage, with sunlight possibly causing new pigmentation issues.

More Laser Options

At West County Plastic Surgeons, our team also offers other laser services, including laser vein treatments and laser hair removal. We have significant experience with light-based treatments, which gives us an edge when it comes to providing beautiful results in a safe environment, while minimizing risk and side effects.