What Is Fractional CO2 Laser Resurfacing?
A CO2 laser uses a concentrated beam of light energy to remove damaged skin at a precisely controlled depth. As the treated skin heals, it is replaced by fresh tissue with a smoother texture and more even tone, while the heat delivered below the surface stimulates new collagen production for months afterward.
Fractional technology refined this approach. Instead of treating the entire surface at once, a fractional CO2 laser delivers energy in thousands of microscopic columns, leaving small bridges of healthy skin between them. Those untouched areas act as a reservoir for healing, which means faster recovery and a lower risk of adverse reactions than older, fully ablative CO2 lasers, without giving up the dramatic results that made CO2 resurfacing famous.
Why We Chose the Cynosure Lutronic eCO2 3D
Not all fractional CO2 lasers are built the same. The eCO2 3D is Cynosure Lutronic’s next-generation fractional CO2 laser, and several engineering advances set it apart from the devices that came before it.
One Laser, Fully Customizable: Choose Your Results and Your Downtime
The greatest strength of the eCO2 3D is its range. During your consultation, we will talk through your goals, your skin condition, and, just as importantly, how much recovery time you can realistically set aside. From there, Dr. Rubinstein calibrates the laser settings to match. Most patients fall into one of two treatment plans.

Start Your Journey to Success, Don’t Wait More!
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Rubinstein.
THE PROCEDURE
What Fractional CO2 Laser Treatment Can Address
The eCO2 3D is cleared for the treatment of wrinkles, fine lines, furrows, textural irregularities, and pigmented lesions, and its versatility makes it one of the most broadly useful devices in our Newburgh med spa. Patients most often come to us for improvement in fine lines and deep wrinkles, acne scars and surgical scars, sun damage and age spots, rough or uneven skin texture, enlarged pores, and mild to moderate skin laxity. During your consultation we will confirm whether fractional CO2 is the right tool for your concern or whether another laser in our practice would serve you better.

Preparing for Your Treatment
Good preparation protects your result. Depending on the depth of your planned treatment, Dr. Rubinstein may place you on a customized skincare regimen in the weeks beforehand to condition your skin, and preventive medications may be prescribed for deeper sessions. You will be asked to avoid tanning and unprotected sun exposure in the weeks leading up to your appointment, since treating tanned skin raises the risk of pigmentation changes. If you are prone to cold sores, let us know so we can prescribe an antiviral in advance.
What to Expect on Treatment Day
Your skin is cleansed and a topical numbing cream is applied and given time to take effect. For deeper treatments, injectable numbing is available to keep you fully comfortable. A full-face session generally takes thirty to forty minutes, and most patients describe a sensation of warmth that builds as the treatment progresses. Lighter Laser Facial sessions are faster and gentler still. You will go home the same day with detailed aftercare instructions tailored to the depth of your treatment.

Recovery, Sun Protection, and Results
Aftercare depends on your treatment depth, but one rule applies to everyone: protect your healing skin from the sun. Strict sun avoidance and diligent SPF use are essential for several weeks after any fractional CO2 treatment, both to protect your investment and to prevent pigmentation problems in newly resurfaced skin.
Results build over time. You will notice smoother, brighter skin as soon as the surface heals, but collagen remodeling continues beneath the surface, and improvement in firmness and texture can extend well beyond six months after treatment. Following a single deep resurfacing session, the change in skin quality can be dramatic. Lighter treatments produce more gradual, cumulative improvement across the series.
As with any laser procedure, adverse reactions are possible, including prolonged redness, infection, scarring, and pigment changes. These risks are uncommon and are minimized by proper patient selection, conservative treatment of higher-risk skin types, and careful adherence to aftercare instructions.
Skin Resurfacing Related Articles
Why Patients Choose Dr. Rubinstein for Laser Resurfacing
The outcome of fractional CO2 resurfacing depends heavily on the experience of the provider performing it. The difference between a good result and an exceptional one lies in judgment: knowing how deep to treat, where to be aggressive, and where to hold back. Dr. Rubinstein is certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and he trains aesthetic providers from across the country through Rubinstein Aesthetic Training Specialists. That depth of expertise informs every treatment plan at our practice, whether you are booking a gentle Laser Facial or a full deep resurfacing.

Serving Newburgh and the Hudson Valley
Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists, PC welcomes patients seeking fractional CO2 laser treatment from Newburgh, Beacon, Fishkill, Cornwall, New Windsor, Montgomery, Middletown, Poughkeepsie, and communities throughout Orange County and the Hudson Valley.

