What are some main differences between Fractional CO2 and Fractional Erbium laser?

Doctor's Answers 1

Both CO2 laser and Erbium-YAG laser are known as ablative lasers, which means that tissue is actually destroyed, not just damaged, in the path of the laser. Both lasers work by targeting water in the skin that lies in the path of the laser light.

The key differences between the 2 lasers lie in their differing wavelengths. This, in turn, affects the degree of absorption of the laser light, depth of ablation and heat diffusion (how much heat spreads laterally). The differences may influence the downtime and results of the laser treatment. In short:

  • Erbium-YAG laser wavelength is typically 2940nm and CO2 is 10,600nm.
  • Erbium-YAG wavelength is more highly absorbed by water
  • CO2 laser penetrates deeper
  • CO2 laser is associated with greater lateral heat diffusion

In clinical practice, Fractional CO2 laser is associated with possibly better results due to its greater depth penetration and lateral heat diffusion translating to greater collagen remodelling albeit with slightly longer downtime.

Similar Questions

How does Agnes RF compare to Fractional CO2 lasers for syringoma removal?

Hi, In principle, Agnes RF would be “better” compared to fractional CO2 for treating syringomas. This is because the insulated needle of Agnes RF can be inserted directly to where the syringoma is and the skin surface is minimally damaged during the procedure. I have found Fractional CO2 laser not very effective in treating syringomas as the treatment does not destroy the syringoma completely and the leftover syringoma grows back rather quickly.

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Dr Chin Yee Choong

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What is the ideal length of time between subcision and fractional CO2 laser treatment for acne scars?

To address your questions: 1. Generally subcision (I assume with some collagen stimulators) will lead to collagen stimulation, and this is also what CO2 laser aims to do. Some experts suggest that an interval of at least 4 – 6 weeks is kept between each collagen-stimulating treatment for optimal results. There is no real good answer – as social downtime and other considerations have to be taken into account by the doctor in recommending the treatments. My personal preference though is not to stretch the treatment too wide apart – 6 months does seem to me to be a little long.

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Dr Winston Lee

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