Pro Fractional vs CO2 Laser Resurfacing Safety and Results Explained

Halcyon Med Spa offers Sciton’s Fractionated Erbium Laser for deep resurfacing and is the ideal treatment for scar revision and healthy skin maintenance.

What is the Sciton Pro Fractional Laser?

ProFractional utilizes an erbium:YAG laser with a high ablation efficiency and very little thermal conduction. Customize your treatment with ProFractional’s fine depth tunability to target and treat skin concerns in various layers of the dermis, up to 1500 microns

ProFractional treats a portion of the skin at a time, resulting in new collagen production and a dramatic reduction in texture, fine lines, deep wrinkles, the appearance of scars, and pigmented lesions like sunspots, freckles, and actinic keratosis.

The treatment’s tunable technology offers superficial to deep resurfacing for all skin types.

What is the CO2 Laser?

CO2 laser resurfacing is a laser procedure that removes the top layers of skin to reveal fresh, new skin underneath. It can effectively treat wrinkles, scars, and other skin imperfections, leading to smoother, more even-toned skin. The procedure involves a laser beam precisely removing thin layers of skin while minimizing damage to surrounding areas.

How do the two lasers compare?

The ProFractional laser is considered an aggressive yet highly advanced laser resurfacing technology that delivers superior results when compared to traditional fully ablative CO2 lasers. While both aim to stimulate collagen production and resurfac

e the skin, ProFractional technology offers a more refined approach by creating micro-ablative channels deep into the dermis, targeting only a fraction of the skin at a time. This allows for intense collagen remodeling and skin renewal while preserving surrounding healthy tissue for faster recovery.”

One of the most significant advantages of the ProFractional laser is its ability to deliver these powerful results with a markedly reduced risk profile. Clinical data and practitioner experience have shown that ProFractional treatments can yield comparable—or even better—outcomes in terms of wrinkle reduction, skin tightening, and overall texture improvement, all while reducing the risk of post-procedure complications by up to 80% compared to CO2 lasers. This includes a significantly lower incidence of scarring, hypopigmentation, and prolonged erythema.

In short, ProFractional laser treatments offer an ideal balance between efficacy and safety—making them a go-to option for patients seeking aggressive rejuvenation with minimal downtime and fewer long-term risks.