CO2 Laser in Los Angeles: CoolPeel and Fractional CO2
Two depths of CO2 resurfacing on one platform. CoolPeel refreshes the skin surface with a few days of downtime. Fractional CO2 reaches deeper for wrinkles and acne scars. Your provider matches the depth to your skin and your schedule.
What does a CO2 laser do for your skin?
A CO2 laser uses a 10,600 nm beam that is absorbed by water in the skin, removing a precise layer of damaged surface cells and heating the dermis below. That controlled injury triggers new collagen and elastin. The result is smoother texture, softer lines and scars, and more even tone, building over three to six months.
CO2 Laser Key Facts
Including numbing. CoolPeel runs on the short end, deeper fractional on the long end.
About 2–5 days of redness and flaking with CoolPeel. Roughly 7–14 days with deeper fractional CO2.
CoolPeel is usually a series of three. Deeper fractional often needs one or two.
Brighter, smoother skin once peeling ends. Collagen keeps improving for months.
Sun damage, fine lines, wrinkles, enlarged pores and atrophic acne scars.
How Does Fractional CO2 Laser Work?
Fractional CO2 treats the skin in thousands of microscopic columns instead of removing the whole surface at once. The untouched skin between each column acts as a reservoir for fast healing, which is why modern fractional CO2 recovers in days or a couple of weeks rather than the months older fully ablative lasers required.
Depth is the dial. A shallow pass resurfaces the outer layer for glow and texture. A deeper pass reaches the dermis, where collagen remodeling softens wrinkles and scars.
What CO2 does not fix: heavy jowls and deep sagging. Laser tightens skin modestly, but significant laxity is better addressed with skin tightening or a surgical consult.
Illustration, not to scale. Depth is set per area and per skin concern.
CoolPeel vs Fractional CO2: Which Is Right for You?
Both use the same CO2 wavelength. The difference is how deep the energy goes, which decides what it can correct and how long you heal.
| CoolPeel | Fractional CO2 (Mild, Moderate, Aggressive) | |
|---|---|---|
| Depth | Superficial, the outer skin layer | Micro-columns into the dermis, depth chosen per tier |
| Best for | Sun damage, dullness, fine lines, pores, early texture | Etched wrinkles, acne scars, crepey skin, deeper sun damage |
| Downtime | About 2–5 days of redness and light flaking | About 7–14 days of peeling, then fading pinkness |
| Sessions | Usually 3, spaced 4–6 weeks apart | Often 1, sometimes 2 for deep scarring |
| Comfort | Topical numbing and cooling | Topical numbing, cooling and added comfort measures |
| Results | Glow within about 10 days, improving with each session | Smoother surface in 1–2 weeks, collagen gains for 3–12 months |
Pricing depends on the area and depth. See current CO2 laser pricing or ask at your consultation. For a deeper side-by-side, read CoolPeel vs traditional CO2.
Your CO2 Laser Questions, Answered
Detailed guides for every stage, from deciding to healing.
CO2 Laser Recovery Day by Day
What your skin looks like from day 1 to week 2, and when you can go back to work.
Read the timeline → AftercareCO2 Laser Aftercare
Cleansing, moisture, sun and makeup: what to do and what to avoid while you heal.
See aftercare → ResultsWhen You'll See CO2 Results
How results build with collagen over weeks and months, and how long they last.
See the results timeline → Acne ScarsDoes CO2 Laser Work for Acne Scars?
Which scar types respond, how many sessions it takes and how it compares to Morpheus8.
Learn more → Eyes & MouthCO2 for Crow's Feet and Lip Lines
Treating crepey under-eyes and lines around the mouth safely.
Learn more → Mature SkinIs 60 Too Old for CO2 Laser?
What resurfacing can do after 60, healing time and candidacy.
Learn more → Skin ToneCO2 Laser on Darker Skin Tones
The real pigmentation risk and how skin prep and settings lower it.
Learn more → CompareCO2 Laser vs Chemical Peel
Which resurfaces better for wrinkles, scars and pigment, and which heals faster.
Compare → Beverly HillsCO2 Laser for Beverly Hills Patients
CoolPeel and fractional CO2, minutes away in Westwood.
Learn more →Is CO2 Laser Right for You?
Usually a good fit
- Sun damage, brown spots or rough, dull texture
- Fine lines or etched wrinkles around the eyes and mouth
- Rolling or boxcar acne scars
- Enlarged pores or crepey skin
- Able to protect your skin from the sun while it heals
- Can plan a few days to two weeks of downtime
Talk to us first if you
- Took oral isotretinoin (Accutane) in the past 6 months
- Get cold sores (you may need an antiviral before treatment)
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have a history of keloid or raised scarring
- Have a current tan, sunburn or active breakout
- Have a deeper skin tone. Read CO2 on darker skin
CO2 Laser at Mirror Mirror Med Spa
Every CO2 treatment starts with a consultation. Your provider looks at your skin type, your concerns and how much downtime you can plan for, then recommends CoolPeel, a fractional tier, or a different treatment if that fits you better.
- Tetra CO2 platform for both CoolPeel and fractional CO2
- Physician-led practice under Medical Director Dr. Jason Chiriano
- Written aftercare plan and follow-up as you heal
- Westwood location, close to Beverly Hills, Brentwood and Century City
Not sure which depth you need? We'll tell you at your consultation.
Book Now →CO2 Laser FAQ
Answers to the questions patients ask most about CO2 laser resurfacing.
Does CO2 laser resurfacing really work?
Yes. CO2 is considered a gold standard for resurfacing because it removes damaged surface skin and stimulates new collagen at the same time. It is most effective for sun damage, fine lines, etched wrinkles and atrophic acne scars. It does not replace a facelift for heavy sagging.
How much does a CO2 laser cost?
Cost depends on the area treated and the depth, so CoolPeel and a deeper fractional pass are priced differently. You can see current options on our CO2 laser pricing page, and your provider will confirm the right plan at your consultation. Financing is available through Cherry.
How many CO2 laser sessions are needed?
CoolPeel is usually done as a series of three sessions spaced four to six weeks apart. Deeper fractional CO2 often gets its main result in one session, with a second sometimes added for deep acne scarring. Many patients keep results with one maintenance session a year.
How painful is CO2 laser?
Most patients describe hot pinpricks or quick snaps of heat. Topical numbing and cooling keep it manageable, and deeper treatments use added comfort measures. Afterward the skin feels like a strong sunburn for a day or two, then settles as peeling begins.
What's the worst day after a CO2 laser?
For deeper fractional CO2, day two is usually the hardest, when swelling and redness peak. By day three swelling eases and peeling starts. CoolPeel is much milder, with redness and light flaking for a few days. See the full day-by-day recovery timeline.
How long do CO2 laser results last?
Results from deeper fractional CO2 can last for years, and scar improvement is largely permanent. Your skin still ages and reacts to sun, so daily mineral SPF and periodic maintenance keep results longer. A CoolPeel series typically lasts a year or more with good sun protection.
Who is not a good candidate for CO2 laser?
CO2 is usually postponed for anyone with an active skin infection or cold sore, recent isotretinoin use, a history of keloid scarring, pregnancy, or a fresh tan. Deeper skin tones need careful evaluation because of pigmentation risk. Your provider reviews all of this at your consultation.
Is CO2 laser as good as a facelift?
They do different jobs. CO2 improves the skin itself: texture, lines, scars and tone. A facelift lifts sagging tissue and jowls. Many people who are not ready for surgery start with CO2 for skin quality, and patients who have had a facelift often use CO2 to refine the surface.
CO2 Laser Near You in Los Angeles
Mirror Mirror Med Spa is in Westwood, a short drive from much of the Westside and central Los Angeles.
