How many days does CO₂ laser recovery take?

5 to 7 days of visible recovery. Days 1-3: intense redness and swelling. Days 4-6: natural peeling. Day 7+: luminous new skin ready for makeup. Results continue improving for 3-6 months.

When can I wear makeup?

Typically day 7-8, once the skin has reepithelialized. Use gentle mineral makeup. Avoid heavy creamy makeup for the first 10 days.

Does it hurt during recovery?

Usually not pain, but intense sunburn-like sensation the first 2-3 days. Controlled with paracetamol. Itching during peeling is normal — don't scratch.

When to return to work?

If working from home: day 3-4. If in person: day 7-8 with gentle makeup. Plan a week off if possible for comfort.

When will I see results on scars?

Initial texture improvement at month 1. Visible scar reduction at month 3. Peak result between 3-6 months as new collagen consolidates. Deep scars may need 2-3 sessions spaced 6-8 weeks apart.

April 2026 · By Dra. Geldres

CO₂ Laser for Acne Scars: Complete Recovery Guide

Fractional CO₂ laser is the gold standard for moderate-to-severe acne scars. What worries patients most isn't the session — it's recovery. 5-7 visible days that need planning. Here's the day-by-day guide based on hundreds of patients treated at Elyzea.

Before the session

2 weeks prior: avoid direct sun exposure. No retinol or strong acids for 5 days before. Stay hydrated. Have healing cream ready (Biafine, Cicaplast, or what Dra. Geldres recommends) and SPF 50+ mineral sunscreen.

Recovery timeline

Day 0 (post-session)

Reddened, warm skin, intense sunburn sensation. Apply soothing/hydrating cream every 2 hours. Sleep elevated that night (extra pillow) to reduce swelling.

Day 1-2

Peak redness. Visible swelling especially around eyes. Tight, dry skin. Apply cream every 3-4 hours. Paracetamol for discomfort. NO aspirin or ibuprofen (interfere with healing).

Day 3-4

Peeling begins. Skin looks darker with microscopic crusts that fall naturally. DO NOT scratch, DO NOT exfoliate. If itching bothers you, apply a cold compress. Skin is renewing underneath — the process is uncomfortable but normal.

Day 5-6

Accelerated peeling. Old skin falls away revealing pink, sensitive, new skin. Still no makeup. Keep hydration constant and strict sun protection if you go out.

Day 7-8

Most skin has reepithelialized. Gentle mineral makeup can be applied. Avoid thick creamy foundations. Skin looks luminous and more uniform — the sensation is of complete renewal.

Week 2-4

Can resume normal skincare routine (no strong retinoids yet). Continue strict daily sun protection — new skin is more vulnerable to pigmentation.

Month 1-6

Scar results consolidate progressively. New collagen fills atrophic scars. Texture improves. Deep scars may require 2-3 sessions spaced 6-8 weeks apart.

What NOT to do

✦ Scratch during peeling (causes permanent scarring)
✦ Mechanical exfoliants or acids before 3 weeks
✦ Direct sun without SPF 50+ mineral for 4 weeks
✦ Saunas, steam, or intense exercise the first 5 days
✦ Aspirin, ibuprofen, or NSAIDs (interfere with collagen)

When to worry

Complications are rare with an experienced plastic surgeon but possible. Call the clinic if: severe pain not relieved by paracetamol, redness worsening after day 4, white-yellow spots (possible infection), or fever. At Elyzea, Dra. Geldres is available via WhatsApp during the recovery period.

Learn more about the CO₂ laser treatment in Miraflores or compare with picosecond laser.

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CO₂ laser at Elyzea — equipment, anesthesia, infrastructure

The fractional CO₂ laser is the gold standard for skin resurfacing — but only when the device is genuine (not a Chinese imitation), the operator is experienced, the anesthesia infrastructure supports running full ablative depth comfortably, and the recovery setup includes proper post-procedure care. At Elyzea, the CO₂ platform is from a recognized manufacturer with calibrated power and depth control. The MD anesthesiologist on-site enables proper full-energy protocols (which, with topical numbing alone, would be too painful to deliver as designed). Per the price list, CO₂ pricing ranges from S/200 (~US$57) for individual lesion removal to S/2,500 (~US$714) for full facial resurfacing. For darker skin tones (Fitzpatrick V–VI), Morpheus8 is often the safer first-choice resurfacing modality given the lower post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation risk; the consultation maps your specific situation to the right tool.

Why Elyzea is different in Lima

Elyzea runs on manufacturer-genuine equipment — not the lookalike clones common across the regional market — with every protocol designed and supervised by a board-certified plastic surgeon. See how a visit works.

What the free virtual consultation covers

Before any travel, a free virtual consultation reviews your goals, candidacy and exact pricing — so you fly with a confirmed plan, not a sales pitch. Book it and plan your visit here.

Transparent pricing — no surprises

Every treatment Elyzea offers is published on our public price list (prices.md in the website repository, mirrored on the price pages). The free virtual consultation determines protocol, sessions, and any combination plan; the per-session prices on the public list are what you pay. There are no opaque "personalized quotes" that scale to perceived ability to pay, no pressure-package upsells, and no surprise invoice items at checkout.

Anesthesia tier (topical, nerve block, oral sedation, or conscious IV sedation) is matched to the protocol depth and discussed transparently at consultation. When a treatment is part of a multi-modality plan (HIFU + Morpheus8, fillers + CO₂, etc.), the full cost is mapped out before any commitment. Lima pricing reflects local cost structure — significantly below US clinics for the same FDA-cleared technology — and the public price list ensures the savings actually reach the patient.

Evaluate your case at no cost

Dra. Geldres reviews your scars and gives you a plan with exact session count and timeline.

Book a Free Virtual Consultation