CO2 Laser Resurfacing in Dubai

The power of a CO2 laser is exactly why it cannot be sold off a menu. Depth, density and the number of passes are chosen for your skin type and the problem being treated. Darker skin phototypes carry a real risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after aggressive resurfacing — the complication is well recognised, and avoiding it is a matter of correct settings, correct preparation and sometimes the honest decision not to treat.

At the consultation the dermatologist examines the skin, goes through your history — previous pigmentation problems, keloid tendency, medication, recent sun — and tells you what CO2 can realistically do for your case, in how many sessions, and with what downtime. Sometimes the answer is a different treatment: pigmentation has its own protocols, and redness needs a vascular laser, not an ablative one.

Preparation. Sun exposure is stopped well before treatment; the doctor may prescribe preparatory skincare depending on your skin. Active skin infection in the area, pregnancy and certain medications postpone the procedure.

The session. The skin is cleaned and numbed with a topical anaesthetic; the treatment itself takes roughly 20–60 minutes depending on the area. You feel heat — the anaesthetic and cooling make it tolerable, and we will not call it painless, because it is not.

Immediately after. The skin responds like a controlled superficial burn: redness, warmth, swelling, then dryness and flaking. This is the treatment working, not a complication.

Downtime is the price of what CO2 does, and we would rather you plan for it than be surprised by it. The first days bring redness and swelling; the surface then dries and peels as new skin forms underneath. Most people plan several days away from work and social plans for deeper treatments; lighter settings need less. Redness can take longer to fade fully, and this varies from person to person.

Aftercare is not optional: gentle cleansing, the healing products the doctor prescribes, no picking at peeling skin, and strict sun protection — new skin pigments easily, and ignoring SPF after resurfacing is the classic way to trade one problem for another. The exact aftercare plan and review schedule are given to you in writing after the session.

Like any medical procedure this has risks, and your doctor explains them to you at the consultation, before you give consent. Individual results vary; improvement is the realistic goal, not erasure.

Some patients are advised against the treatment: active acne in the area, recent tanning, a history of keloids, some medications, pregnancy. Being told «not you, not now» at a consultation is the system working as intended.

CO2 is one tool, not the only one. Where the main complaint is redness or vessels, the answer is the Vbeam Perfecta. Where it is pigmentation, dedicated pigmentation treatments come first. Where skin quality — hydration, fine crepiness — is the issue, biorevitalization or collagen-stimulating injections may be the better fit, alone or combined with laser. The consultation exists to choose the right tool, not to sell the biggest one.

The cost of CO2 resurfacing depends on the area treated, the depth of work and the number of sessions, and is quoted after the dermatologist has seen your skin — the exact figure follows that assessment. A consultation starts from AED 600. Individual results vary and a consultation is required before any treatment is planned. Prices current as of 15 August 2026.

Treatment is carried out by DHA-licensed doctors within their scope of practice at ELEMENTAL Day Surgical Center, 113 Jumeirah Street, Jumeirah 1, Dubai. DHA licence 5323888.

At ELEMENTAL this treatment is carried out by Dr. Roaa Alshams (General Practitioner) and Dr. Olivera Nikolic (Specialist Dermatologist).

CO2 laser resurfacing at ELEMENTAL starts from AED 600. A small area — a single scar, one zone — costs less than resurfacing the whole face, so the price depends on how much skin is treated and how many sessions are planned. The final cost is confirmed in writing after your consultation, before anything is scheduled.