Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing treatment being performed with protective eye shields

Advanced ablative skin renewal

CO₂ laser resurfacing Darwin

Soften selected acne scars, lines and sun damage and reveal smoother, firmer-looking skin with our genuine Lumenis AcuPulse CO₂ laser.

Book a CO2 consultation View before & after results

10,600 nm medical CO2 wavelengthFractional or ablative delivery selected clinicallyDeep, superficial or combo AcuPulse modesCollagen remodelling continues for months

Treatment pricing

Your treatment and price are personally planned

CO₂ laser treatments are highly individual, and pricing reflects this. Treatment costs depend on the area, scar or concern, treatment mode, depth, density, preparation and aftercare plan. Katy will confirm the exact cost before your treatment is booked.

CO₂ laser resurfacing

Smoother texture, softer scars and renewed-looking skin

CO₂ laser resurfacing is one of our most advanced skin-renewal treatments. It can smooth rough or uneven texture, soften selected scars and lines, and support firmer, fresher-looking skin as new surface tissue forms and collagen remodels.

The laser energy is absorbed by water in the skin, creating precise microscopic areas of removal. The body replaces those treated areas through a controlled healing response. Lumenis SuperPulse™ delivers energy in short, powerful pulses to achieve accurate resurfacing while limiting unnecessary heat in surrounding tissue.

Katy selects the depth, density, coverage and treatment mode for your particular scar or concern and the recovery time you can manage. Her more than 18 years of ablative and non-ablative laser resurfacing experience is especially important because a stronger setting is not automatically a better one.

The Lumenis AcuPulse CO₂ laser can treat the following skin concerns:

Fine lines and wrinkles: Softens fine lines and deeper wrinkles through controlled skin resurfacing.
Uneven skin texture: Smooths rough, uneven skin for a more refined surface.
Skin laxity: Stimulates collagen remodelling to improve mild skin looseness and firmness.
Sun damage: Improves the appearance of sun-damaged skin and uneven skin tone.
Acne scars: Reduces the appearance of depressed acne scars by resurfacing and remodelling scarred skin.
Surgical and injury scars: Can soften selected scars and improve their texture.
Stretch marks: Can reduce their visibility by improving texture and blending them with surrounding skin.
Syringomas: Precisely targets these benign sweat-gland growths to reduce their appearance following professional assessment.

How CO2 resurfacing works

How microscopic resurfacing becomes visible skin renewal

The diagram shows the skin before treatment, the tiny fractional columns created by the laser and the smoother, remodelled surface that develops through healing.

Medical diagram showing a 10,600 nanometre fractional CO2 laser creating microscopic columns of ablation for skin resurfacing — Educational overview of fractional CO2 laser skin resurfacing. Treatment depth, density, recovery and outcomes are individually assessed. Swipe across the image to view every label.

Lumenis AcuPulse medical CO2 laser platform with articulated arm and handpiece

Our genuine CO₂ laser

Lumenis AcuPulse^TM—precision in experienced hands

AcuPulse can deliver fractional or full resurfacing, giving Katy the flexibility to work at the level most likely to benefit your concern rather than applying one fixed treatment to every client.

Its AcuScan120 scanner offers Deep, Superficial and Combo patterns. In plain language, this means treatment can focus more deeply on selected scars, renew more of the upper surface, or combine both when your skin and recovery plan make that appropriate.

Explore AcuPulse technology

Fractional CO₂ laser treatment · Genuine Lumenis AcuPulse laser

Different concerns need different depths and coverage

The Lumenis AcuPulse CO₂ laser offers Deep, Superficial and Combo treatment modes. Lumenis fractional CO₂ solutions also include DeepFX and ActiveFX. These names describe different ways of delivering treatment; Katy chooses the actual depth, energy, density and coverage for the result your skin needs.

Deep / DeepFX

For deeper scars and texture

Narrower, deeper microscopic columns may be selected to remodel suitable acne scars, deeper textural change and more pronounced lines while leaving supporting skin between them.

Superficial / ActiveFX

For broader surface renewal

A shallower pattern can renew more of the surface to improve suitable fine lines, rough texture and uneven-looking sun damage.

Combo

For concerns at more than one level

Deep and superficial delivery can be combined when both scar remodelling and surface renewal are needed. Katy will explain the additional healing this may involve.

Why Katy’s experience matters

Advanced resurfacing should never be one size fits all

Katy has over 18 years of experience in ablative and non-ablative laser skin resurfacing, including both erbium and CO₂ lasers. That experience helps her recognise when CO₂ is likely to offer worthwhile improvement—and when another treatment will serve your skin better.

Your skin type, starting condition, scar structure and goal guide every part of the treatment. Katy will explain the recommended resurfacing approach, what the laser will do within your skin, the result you may reasonably expect and how the intensity changes the healing experience.

At consultation, Katy confirms suitability and talks you through preparation, cost, downtime, aftercare and relevant risks. You can then decide with a clear picture of both the benefit and the commitment involved.

Your CO₂ treatment experience

What your skin may look and feel like before, during and after

Before

Prepare the skin and plan the result

Katy assesses your skin, scar or concern and healing history, takes baseline photographs and gives you a preparation plan. Some clients need prescribed medication or specific skincare before the treatment date.

During

Protect, numb and resurface

Your comfort plan may include topical or local anaesthetic. With protective eye shields and professional safety measures in place, Katy works methodically across the planned area while monitoring the skin response.

After

Heal with clear instructions and support

The skin can feel hot and look red or swollen, followed by oozing, crusting or peeling depending on depth. Gentle cleansing, prescribed recovery products, infection prevention and strict sun protection support the fresh skin as it forms.

CO2 laser before and after

AcuPulse treatment examples

Case 01

Full-face skin resurfacing

Baseline and three months after one Combo treatment · Courtesy of Rafael Nunes, MD

Lumenis AcuPulse skin resurfacing case before treatment — Before

Same Lumenis AcuPulse skin resurfacing case three months after one treatment — 3 months after 1 treatment

Case 02

Acne scar resurfacing

Baseline and six months after one Deep, Combo and Superficial treatment · Courtesy of Matteo Tretti Clementoni, MD

Lumenis AcuPulse acne scar case before fractional CO2 treatment — Before

Same Lumenis AcuPulse acne scar case six months after one fractional CO2 treatment — 6 months after 1 treatment

Images supplied by Lumenis and used with permission. Individual results, required sessions and recovery vary. Improvement is not guaranteed.

Recovery is treatment-dependent

Fractional does not mean no downtime

Many clients need around a week before the skin is socially presentable after fractional resurfacing. Deeper, denser or full-field treatment can require longer. Redness, sensitivity and pigment vulnerability may continue after the surface has closed.

You must be able to follow wound-care instructions, avoid picking, protect the area from sun and attend review. We do not recommend a treatment intensity that exceeds the recovery you can safely manage.

Safety and contraindications

Ablative laser requires careful screening

When treatment may need to be deferred or avoided

Pregnancy, active infection, open skin, active herpes, uncontrolled inflammatory skin disease, poor wound healing, recent sun exposure, significant immune suppression or a history of abnormal scarring may affect suitability.

Potential complications

Prolonged redness, acne or milia flares, herpes reactivation, bacterial or fungal infection, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, demarcation, texture change, delayed healing and scarring are possible.

Realistic outcomes

Lines, texture and scars may improve rather than disappear. Results depend on baseline concern, treatment intensity, healing, aftercare and biological response. A more aggressive treatment is not always safer or more appropriate.

CO2 laser FAQs

What to understand before resurfacing

What is CO2 laser resurfacing?

CO2 laser resurfacing uses a 10,600 nm wavelength that is strongly absorbed by water in the skin. Precisely controlled ablation removes microscopic areas of tissue and initiates a healing response that supports collagen remodelling and skin renewal.

What is the difference between fractional and fully ablative CO2 laser?

Fractional treatment creates separated columns of injury with untreated skin between them, supporting faster re-epithelialisation. Fully ablative treatment removes the entire treated surface at a selected depth and generally involves greater recovery and risk.

What are DeepFX and ActiveFX?

DeepFX and ActiveFX are Lumenis fractional CO₂ laser treatment approaches that target different skin depths. AcuPulse also offers Deep, Superficial and Combo modes, allowing treatment to be tailored to specific skin concerns. The key considerations are the treatment depth, density, energy and clinical goal selected for your skin.

Can CO2 laser improve acne scars?

Fractional CO2 laser may improve selected rolling and boxcar acne scars by remodelling scar tissue and collagen. Ice-pick scars, tethered scars and mixed patterns may require another treatment or a staged combination plan. Improvement rather than complete removal is the realistic goal.

How many CO2 laser treatments will I need?

Some clients have one intensive session, while others need staged or repeated fractional treatments. Scar type, depth, treatment intensity, skin response, downtime and goals determine the plan. More sessions or deeper, more aggressive treatment do not automatically produce better results.

How much downtime should I expect?

Recovery depends heavily on depth and density. Many fractional treatments involve about a week away from normal presentation, while deeper or more extensive resurfacing can take longer. Redness may persist beyond the initial healing period.

When will I see CO2 laser results?

Early surface improvement becomes visible as the skin heals. Collagen remodelling continues for months.

Is CO2 laser suitable for every skin tone?

No. CO2 resurfacing can cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation, and risk varies with skin type, recent sun exposure, treatment intensity and history. A detailed pigment-risk assessment and strict sun protection are essential.

Can CO2 laser treat active acne?

CO2 resurfacing is primarily used for established scarring and texture, not as the first treatment for active inflammatory acne. Active breakouts are usually controlled before scar resurfacing. AviClear or another acne pathway may be considered separately.

Start with your concern, not the treatment

Find out what CO₂ resurfacing could realistically improve for you.

Book a CO2 consultation

AcuPulse, DeepFX and ActiveFX are trademarks of Lumenis. Manufacturer imagery is used with permission. Treatment suitability, intensity, recovery and outcomes vary between individuals.

CO2 laser resurfacing Darwin