Dr. Moubayed is an otolaryngologist – head and neck surgeon practicing facial plastic surgery in Montréal. To rejuvenate facial skin, his laser of choice is the CO2 laser. But that laser isn’t right for everyone, and it requires a recovery period many patients can’t take. That is where the Cool Peel comes in. In this capsule, he explains what it can do, what it can’t, and who it may suit.
The classic CO2 laser: marked results, longer recovery
According to Dr. Moubayed, the CO2 laser is a very powerful tool in non-surgical aesthetic medicine. It can work on skin tightening, texture, pores, skin colour and deeper wrinkles.
The trade-off is a longer recovery. You usually need to plan seven to ten days of “hiding” a little: the skin can be swollen, red and peeling, even with very good aftercare.
Why classic CO2 is reserved for lighter skin
Skin types are classified on the Fitzpatrick scale. Type I is very fair skin with very little melanin, which always burns and never tans. Type VI is very dark skin, which always tans and never burns. Types II to V fall in between. Knowing your skin type is one of the first things assessed before any laser treatment, because it guides which laser and which settings can be used.
Classic CO2 laser is usually reserved for types I to III. On darker skin, the laser’s heat can activate the melanocytes, the small cells in the skin that produce melanin. This can lead to a complication called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. And the darker the skin, the harder that complication is to treat.
The Cool Peel, or “the weekend CO2”
The Cool Peel is a CO2 laser treatment that can be used on all skin types. It isn’t exactly the same treatment as classic CO2. The difference is the laser’s pulse duration: each pulse is intense but extremely short. As a result, much less heat spreads into the skin.
Because there is very little thermal damage, the risk of hyperpigmentation is much lower than with classic CO2. That is what makes it possible to offer the Cool Peel to people who were not candidates for CO2 before. Like any treatment, it still has risks, and a consultation is required to know whether it is right for you.
What the Cool Peel does, and what it doesn’t
Dr. Moubayed is clear: the Cool Peel does not give exactly the same results as classic CO2. It mainly helps with:
- skin texture;
- finer wrinkles.
The rhythm is different too. Classic CO2 is usually done once a year or every two years. The Cool Peel is done as a series, usually three sessions spaced one month apart.
The upside is recovery. Instead of seven to ten days of redness and downtime, it is more like three to four days. Hence the nickname “weekend CO2”: you are back to your routine much faster. For many people, that difference is what makes a CO2 treatment possible at all, because taking a full week or more off work and social life is simply not realistic.
Who it is for, and how the skin is prepared
The Cool Peel can be an option for two types of patients:
- people with darker skin, as an alternative to classic CO2;
- people with lighter skin who want the benefits of a CO2 treatment without the seven to ten days of downtime.
Preparation is the same as for CO2. The team preps the skin with a regimen that includes a lightening agent, and may prescribe a corticosteroid after the treatment as well as an antibiotic and an antiviral, to lower the risk of skin infection. These decisions are made case by case, at the consultation.
The clinic has offered this treatment for almost a year. For Dr. Moubayed, the main benefit is being able to offer a CO2 treatment to patients who could not have it before. If you are weighing several options for skin texture, such as a facial peel, the team can help you compare.
Wondering whether the Cool Peel or CO2 is right for you? Book a free 30-minute discovery call with our team.