Hi, my beauties!
This week I’m so excited to take you along on my journey through my CO2 and Vbeam laser resurfacing experience! This blog will cover everything from how I prepared for the procedure, the immediate aftermath, my skincare routine during recovery, and my final thoughts on the results. If you’ve been considering laser resurfacing or just want a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like I highly recommend you watch the YouTube video here:
Why I Chose CO2 & Vbeam Laser
This year, I decided to focus more on my skin and commit to a series of laser resurfacing treatments. After a year of skipping them due to my busy schedule, I knew it was time to get back on track. A little over a month ago I had a Vbeam/Fraxel combo with my wonder laser specialist! This next treatment I had a little more downtime because I take a week off for self care in February so..., my laser specialist, Stephanie, performed a fractionated ablative CO2 laser on my face and neck in combination with my Vbeam. The fractionated Co2 helps with:
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Reducing fine lines and wrinkles
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Improving skin texture and pore size
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Stimulating collagen production
In combination, I also had aVbeam laser treatment, which is amazing for:
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Reducing facial redness and broken blood vessels
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Evening out skin tone for that “porcelain” effect
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Boosting collagen while minimizing downtime
The combination of these lasers delivers powerful skin rejuvenation, and I was ready for the challenge and the results!
Prepping for the Procedure
Before heading into the office, I made sure to set up everything at home so that I wouldn’t have to worry about anything post-procedure. My essentials included: ✅ Clean washcloths for gentle cleansing ✅ Biocleanse 5.5 Wash to cleanse my skin without irritation ✅ Alastin Nectar to aid in faster healing ✅ MDAIRE NMF Barrier Cream to keep my skin moisturized ✅ Pre-prepped food like green juices, fresh berries, salads, and overnight oats to support my skin from the inside out
I also took aprophylactic Valtrex (even though I don’t have a history of cold sores) just to be safe. Since swelling is my biggest post-laser issue, I took akid’s Benadryl to help minimize it.
The Procedure: Numbing Up & Lasering Away
At my office, we useprescription-strength numbing cream, which makes the treatment much more comfortable. I slathered it all over my face and neck, making sure to get up close to my hairline—trust me, you don’t want to forget that area!
Once the numbing kicked in (about an hour), it was time for the laser!Stephanie performed the Vbeam first to reduce my redness and prep my skin for the CO2 laser. Then, we moved on to the fractionatedCO2 laser, which felt warm but was totally tolerable. The under-eye area got extra TLC with multiple passes to target fine lines and wrinkles.
Post-Laser: The First 24 Hours
Immediately after the procedure, my face was: 🔥Red and warm—totally normal! 💧A bit swollen, especially under my eyes 🩹Covered in tiny laser dots from the CO2
I applied Alastin Nectar andColorescience All Calm to speed up healing and soothe my skin. These products are game-changers for post-laser recovery! I also made sure to stayhydrated and avoid touching my face.
Day-by-Day Recovery
Day 1:
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Skin felt tight and slightly itchy but not painful.
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Swelling increased (which I expected), but no major discomfort.
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Stuck to my gentle skincare routine with Biocleanse and Alastin Nectar.
Day 2:
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Swelling peaked, and my skin looked puffy.
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Texture became a little moredry, and scabby, - a sign of good exfoliation ahead!
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Avoided any harsh products and kept moisturizing with Alastin Nectar and NMF Intense.
Day 3:
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Attended aWomen’s Health Symposium—yes, while still healing!
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My face had a “bronzing” effect from the laser, but it was manageable.
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Felt tempted to exfoliate, but resisted to prevent hyperpigmentation.
Day 5:
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Swelling began to subside, shifting downward toward lower face which is normal.
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Scabs started to naturally shed, revealing fresh baby-soft skin underneath.
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Skin still felt rough, but the healing process was on track.
Day 7:
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Finally able to use myMDAiRE skincare routine again!
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My skin lookedglowing, even, and significantly smoother.
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The redness from the Vbeam faded, leaving a more even complexion.
Final Thoughts & Results
Now that I’mone week post-laser, I’m already seeing amazing results. Myfine lines are smoother, my pores look refined, and my skin has that fresh, youthful glow. Over the next1-3 months, my skin will continue to improve as collagen production kicks into high gear.
Would I do this treatment again?Absolutely! In fact, I plan to do one more session in a month to complete my series. At that time I will choose between a CO2 and a Fraxel. While laser resurfacing does come with some downtime, the long-term skin benefits are worth it!
Is This Treatment Right for You?
If you’re looking forserious skin rejuvenation, CO2 and Vbeam laser treatments can make a world of difference. However,it’s important to be prepared for the recovery process. Not everyone swells as much as I do, but having a good aftercare plan in place will make all the difference. The video can give you a more complete understanding of what you will look like so you can plan the social downtime accordingly.
If you have any questions about my experiencedrop a comment on youtube,or share this with someone who might be considering laser resurfacing. As always, I love you guys and am so grateful for this community!
Xoxo, Dr. Stefani Kappel
