Baseline Skin & Target Concern
Aged skin shows wrinkles, pigmentation, and scarring before any treatment.
- 3: Common concerns (wrinkles, pigment, scars)
- ~0.1mm: Epidermis thickness (outer barrier layer)
- ~2mm: Dermis thickness (collagen-rich layer)
- 3: Wavelength options (CO2, Erbium, fractional)
Skin structure before treatment
Epidermis sits above collagen-rich dermis, the resurfacing target.
Why wavelength matters
Each wavelength is absorbed differently by water in tissue.
Choosing a strategy
Concern severity guides ablative versus non-ablative choice.
Wavelength Selected — Chromophore Targeting
Water absorption sets how deep and how aggressively each laser acts.
- 10600nm: CO2 wavelength (ablative, broad reach)
- 2940nm: Erbium wavelength (ablative, more precise)
- ~1550nm: Fractional wavelength (non-ablative, deep)
- Water: Primary chromophore (all three target it)
CO2 absorption profile
Strong water absorption, moderate residual thermal spread.
Erbium absorption profile
Highest water absorption, very shallow precise ablation.
Fractional absorption profile
Penetrates deeper, sparing most of the surface.
Laser Energy Delivered to Tissue
Ablative beams vaporize full layers; fractional beams drill columns.
- 100%: Ablative coverage (of treated surface)
- 5–50%: Fractional coverage (density-dependent)
- 8–150µm: Ablation depth range (CO2 & Erbium)
- 300–1400µm: MTZ depth range (fractional columns)
Full-surface vaporization
Ablative lasers remove tissue across the entire field.
Microscopic treatment zones
Fractional beams leave untouched bridges between columns.
Intensity and density control
Higher settings mean deeper or denser treatment.
Tissue Response & Remodeling
Wound healing and collagen synthesis differ sharply by laser type.
- 5–10d: Ablative re-epithelialization (open wound period)
- <24h: Fractional re-epithelialization (bridges speed healing)
- weeks–months: Collagen remodeling (for all types)
- days: Inflammation duration (peaks then subsides)
Ablative healing course
Open wound heals from edges, longer inflammation phase.
Fractional healing course
Intact bridges enable fast, low-downtime recovery.
New collagen formation
Both types stimulate fresh collagen in the dermis.
Outcome Comparison — Effectiveness vs. Downtime
Wavelength choice trades dramatic results against recovery time.
- 6–15d: CO2 downtime (strongest single-session result)
- 3–10d: Erbium downtime (precise, less thermal spread)
- 1–3d: Fractional downtime (multiple sessions typical)
- varies: Best-fit use case (severity vs. downtime budget)
Ablative outcome profile
Dramatic single-session improvement, longer downtime.
Fractional outcome profile
Gradual improvement over sessions, minimal downtime.
Selecting the right wavelength
Match wavelength to concern severity and downtime tolerance.