Ablative Fractionated CO₂ Laser Resurfacing Is Effective for Under-Eye Wrinkles and Laxity

Fractional laser resurfacing is a half-decade–old method that enables treatment of a small fraction (less than half) of the targeted skin, leaving intact a meshwork of normal skin. This speeds healing, reducing the severe crusting and scabbing seen with traditional, full-face resurfacing, and almost eliminating the risk for such adverse events as persistent hypopigmentation and scars. Fractional resurfacing can be nonablative, partially ablative, or ablative; ablative resurfacing is usually performed with the carbon dioxide laser and provides the greatest efficacy, albeit with marginally longer downtime. The primary criticism of fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing has been that its effectiveness is limited compared with traditional,…