Are you looking to achieve visible results for your stubborn acne scars? Or are you looking at a laser to reset some of that photodamage on your skin? Or perhaps you are looking for something effective and longer-lasting for your pores, skin texture, and fine lines but don’t mind a little downtime. The Deka Smartxide laser may be a treatment option for you.
The Deka Smartxide CO2 Laser is an advanced CO2 laser produced by Deka (Italy). The treatment has two modes: fractional and fully ablative. The fully ablative mode can precisely target unwanted skin growths such as syringomas, sebaceous hyperplasias, seborrhoeic keratoses, and viral warts.
Fractional CO2 laser technology, on the other hand, creates small channels of microscopic treatment zones (MTZs) in the skin, stimulating skin renewal, tightening and collagen remodelling. In this fractionated mode, we typically treat between 4-10% of the overall treatment area, leaving the surrounding skin intact to speed up recovery and minimise complications in Asian skin types. This allows us to effectively treat acne scars and post-surgical scars, minimise the appearance of pores, and improve fine lines and wrinkles on the face, especially periorbitally or periorally.
The Deka Smartxide CO2 Laser is unique in its ability to customise treatment settings to each individual’s specific concerns and skin type. Its versatility allows us to successfully treat darker skin phototypes while minimising the side effects of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and prolonged downtimes. Within the fractionated mode, there are three other types of pulses—HP, DP, and SP—allowing us to further customise the settings to the outcomes that you desire.
In addition, the SmartXide platform is designed with safety features to minimise the risk of adverse effects while maximising treatment efficacy. These include built-in cooling mechanisms to protect the skin and ensure comfort during treatment.
Fractional mode:
Fully ablative mode:
Immediately after treatment, the skin will feel hot, and there will be associated redness and swelling. A calming mask is applied after the procedure to relieve these symptoms.
The skin will be slightly red for the first few days, with minor swelling and discomfort. During this period, it is important to minimise sun exposure and moisturise/perform cold compresses frequently. Wear sunscreen with a high SPF and protective clothing while outdoors.
After three days, the microscabbing on the face will become more apparent, but the redness and swelling will subside. Depending on the treatment settings, these scabs will take between 3 and 10 days to fall off.
One week after the CO2 laser, the skin often feels smoother and looks brighter. Subsequently, you can expect a further gradual improvement in the skin's texture and appearance, mainly in the form of improvement in fine lines, pores, and wrinkles. The specific results will depend on several factors, including the condition being treated, the treatment parameters, your skin type, and your body's natural healing response.
Treatment with the Dexa Smartxide CO2 Laser can result in the following results:
While some improvements may be visible immediately after treatment, the full results typically develop gradually over several weeks to months as the skin continues to heal and regenerate.
The number of Deka Smartxide CO2 Laser sessions required varies depending on your skin condition, goals, and how your skin responds to treatment. On average, two to six sessions are recommended to achieve the best results. These sessions can be spaced out to suit your schedule, as sun avoidance after CO2 laser is imperative. During the initial consultation, a tailored treatment plan will be developed to meet each patient's unique needs.
Does CO2 Laser Remove Scars Permanently?
While it significantly reduces the visibility of scars, the fractional CO2 laser cannot remove scars entirely. However, improvements are long-lasting, and results are better when combined with other treatment modalities, such as radiofrequency microneedling, polynucleotide injections, TCA cross, and picosecond lasers.
Is one session of CO2 Laser enough?
For some, a single session can provide significant improvements, but multiple sessions are often recommended for optimal results. It also depends on the severity of the skin condition and your expectations.
How painful is the CO2 Laser treatment?
Patients may experience mild discomfort. Topical anaesthetics are commonly used to minimise pain during the procedure. We also utilise Zimmer cooling to maximise comfort levels during treatment.
Can I apply moisturiser and makeup after the CO2 Laser treatment?
Yes, moisturising is essential post-treatment to moisten the scabs. Light makeup can be applied the next day. One should avoid applying retinol, retinoids, vitamin C, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and mandelic acid to the face until all the scabs drop off and the skin is fully healed.
