CO2 Laser Resurfacing in Jacksonville, FL
Tired of seeing fine lines, sun damage, and rough texture staring back at you every morning?
If so, our CO2 laser skin resurfacing treatment in Jacksonville, FL at Coastal Health & Medical Spa was designed for you. Aging skin, photoaging, and acne scarring can affect anyone, and once they set in they rarely respond to topical products alone. Here is the good news: you do not need weeks of downtime or an aggressive procedure to reset your skin.
Our CO2 laser treatments on the Alma Hybrid renew the surface of your skin while stimulating new collagen underneath, delivering visible improvement in tone, texture, and firmness with meaningfully less recovery than a traditional CO2 device. Whether you want to smooth wrinkles, brighten sun damage, refine rough texture, or soften acne scars, our Jacksonville CO2 laser treatments can help you achieve results that are both natural-looking and long-lasting.
What Is CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing?
CO2 laser skin resurfacing is one of the most trusted treatments in aesthetic medicine for aging skin, sun damage, and moderate scarring. It works by treating a fraction of your skin at a time so new, smoother skin can come in behind it. The result is visibly clearer, brighter, and firmer skin over the weeks that follow.
Here at Coastal Health & Medical Spa, we deliver CO2 laser resurfacing on the Alma Hybrid. This modern platform gives you real CO2-level results with meaningfully less downtime than an older-generation CO2 device.
Every new patient at our Jacksonville med spa begins with a full skin evaluation and Fitzpatrick assessment before we recommend a treatment plan. The right settings for your skin are the difference between a beautiful result and an outcome you would rather not repeat.
Common concerns CO2 laser resurfacing addresses:
- Fine lines, wrinkles, and mild skin laxity
- Sun damage, brown spots, and uneven tone
- Pitted and pigmented acne scars
- Enlarged pores and rough, uneven texture
Why We Chose the Alma Hybrid for Your Skin
The Alma Hybrid is a modern, dual-wavelength platform that gives you real CO2 results without asking you to disappear for two weeks of recovery. It is the reason we can offer CO2 laser resurfacing at our Jacksonville med spa in the first place.
What the CO2 arm does for you
The fractional CO2 wavelength is what actually resurfaces your skin. It renews the outermost layers so fresh, smoother skin comes in behind them, softening fine lines, evening out tone, and refining texture.
Because we only treat a fraction of your skin in each pass, you heal much faster than you would with an older CO2 device.
What the 1570 nm arm adds for you
The second wavelength does something a traditional CO2 laser cannot. It reaches the deeper layers of your skin without breaking the surface, encouraging new collagen and mild firmness with no added recovery days.
PixelPeel is our CO2 resurfacing protocol on the Hybrid, and it is what this page is about. The same device also runs a non-ablative 1570 nm firmness protocol and a dedicated active-acne protocol. Whichever one fits your skin, we calibrate every session to your Fitzpatrick type, your specific concerns, and the amount of downtime that works for your life.
PixelPeel: Two Options, One Protocol
The Alma Hybrid is the device. PixelPeel is the CO2 resurfacing protocol we perform on it. When most people talk about CO2 laser skin resurfacing at our Jacksonville med spa, this is what they mean.
What sets PixelPeel apart from a traditional CO2 laser treatment is that it is delivered as a short series of calibrated sessions instead of one aggressive treatment with weeks of downtime. To fit different goals and different schedules, we run it two ways. Both use the same fractional CO2 wavelength. What changes is the depth of the pass, and that is what determines your recovery time.
We help you choose the right option at your first-visit skin evaluation, based on your Fitzpatrick skin type, your specific concerns, and how much downtime realistically fits your schedule. Many patients start with the Light option and step up to Aggressive if their skin tolerates it well.
Every New Patient Starts With a Full Skin Evaluation
Your first appointment for CO2 laser resurfacing at Coastal is always a full skin evaluation. This is not a formality. It is how we pick the right settings for your skin, protect against pigment change, and confirm that CO2 is the right treatment for you before we ever pick up the handpiece.
What we assess
- Fitzpatrick skin type (I through VI), the single biggest predictor of how your skin responds to ablative laser energy
- Skin history, including active acne, cold sores, rosacea, recent sun exposure, and any scarring tendencies
- Medical and medication background, including recent isotretinoin, retinoid use, blood thinners, and pregnancy status
- Baseline photography, so we can measure your actual clinical progress rather than rely on impression alone
Why Fitzpatrick matters: getting it right at your evaluation is how we deliver CO2 safely across skin tones, and if CO2 turns out not to be the best fit for you, we will recommend a better option such as our chemical peels, professional facials, or SkinPen microneedling.
Who Is a Good Candidate for CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing?
CO2 laser resurfacing is one of the most effective treatments available for aging skin, sun damage, and moderate scarring. It is not, however, the right treatment for every patient at every point in time. Your first-visit evaluation is where we confirm whether it is right for you.
You are likely a good candidate if you
- Want to smooth fine lines, wrinkles, or textural irregularities you have watched develop over the years
- Have sun damage, uneven tone, or acne scars that topicals and lighter treatments have not been able to resolve on their own
- Can plan around a genuine healing window and are willing to commit to strict sun avoidance during recovery
- Are in good overall health and have realistic expectations about what a series of treatments will accomplish
CO2 may not be the right fit right now if you
- Have used isotretinoin (Accutane) within the past 6 to 12 months
- Are currently pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have an active skin infection, cold sore outbreak, or a recent tan on the treatment area
- Have a personal history of keloid or hypertrophic scarring
If you are not sure where you land, that is exactly what the first-visit evaluation is designed to answer. We will give you a clear yes or a specific alternative that better fits your skin and your goals.
CO2 Laser for Active Acne Treatment
Most CO2 conversations focus on wrinkles and sun damage. The Alma Hybrid does something less common in Jacksonville. It treats active acne as effectively as post-acne scarring, on the same device, in the same series of sessions.
How CO2 targets active acne and scarring together
The CO2 arm calms the inflammation driving your breakouts and quiets overactive oil glands. At the same time, the 1570 nm arm reaches deeper and starts remodeling any scarring that is beginning to form.
The result is that you improve the acne you have right now while also softening the scars from the acne you already had.
The Coastal active-acne protocol
Our active-acne protocol runs as a series of 5 to 7 sessions, spaced 3 to 4 weeks apart. Most patients see clear improvement in their active breakouts by the third or fourth session, and scar softening keeps going in the months that follow.
Ask about the combined acne and scarring plan. If you are dealing with breakouts and old scars at the same time, we can treat both in the same series. There is no need to finish one course before starting the other.
What to Expect on Treatment Day
A CO2 laser session at our Jacksonville med spa runs about an hour from arrival to walk-out. The laser pass itself takes only 15 to 30 minutes, and the rest is spent on numbing, imaging, and walking through your plan together.
Before Your Session
Arrive with clean skin. We photograph the area, review your goals, and apply topical numbing cream for about 30 to 45 minutes.
During Your Session
The laser pass takes 15 to 30 minutes. You will feel warmth and a snapping sensation as the handpiece moves across your skin, with chilled air cooling in real time.
Immediately After
Your skin will feel warm and pink, like a sunburn. We apply a barrier-repair product and send you home with clear written aftercare instructions.
Ready to see what the Alma Hybrid can do for your skin?
Book your free CO2 laser consultation with Dr. Olivia. Every new patient begins with a full skin evaluation and Fitzpatrick assessment. There is no cost and no pressure, only a clear recommendation for the treatment plan that fits your skin.
Book My Free ConsultationDowntime, Recovery, and Results Timeline
CO2 laser skin resurfacing has real downtime, and being upfront about it is part of how we respect your time. Below is the recovery arc most Coastal patients follow after a PixelPeel session.
1. Days 1 to 2: Redness and sensitivity
Your skin will feel pink to red, warm, and tight, similar to a moderate sunburn. Mild swelling around the eyes and cheeks is normal and expected. Sleep with your head slightly elevated for the first two nights to help settle any puffiness.
2. Days 3 to 5: Peeling and renewal
The treated skin begins to peel and flake in small patches as new skin surfaces beneath. Please do not pick or pull the flaking skin, as it will lift on its own. Keep the area consistently moist with the barrier products in your aftercare kit.
3. Days 6 to 10: Back in public
Most patients feel camera-comfortable by day 7. Any lingering pinkness can be covered with mineral makeup starting around day 5 to 7, depending on the depth of your protocol. Gentle skincare and light workouts can resume.
4. Months 1 to 6: Peak results
Collagen remodeling continues for several months after your final session. Texture smooths, tone evens out, and fine lines soften as the deeper changes catch up to the surface work. Peak results typically show up 3 to 6 months after the last treatment.
No direct sun for at least 4 weeks after your treatment. Broad-spectrum mineral SPF 30 or higher is non-negotiable during the entire healing window and for months afterward. Sun exposure during recovery is the fastest way to trigger post-inflammatory pigment change and undo the work of your treatment.
Products to Use After Your CO2 Laser Treatment
Your skin barrier is briefly compromised during recovery, so the first four to six weeks focus on barrier repair, hydration, and strict sun protection instead of active ingredients.
ZO Skin Health
Gentle cleansers, growth-factor serums, and reparative moisturizers. Our go-to for the first two to four weeks of healing.
Explore ZO Skin Health
Personal Aftercare Guidance
Every CO2 laser patient leaves with a written aftercare plan, built around your skin, your protocol depth, and the products you already use at home.
Add Plated to your recovery
Mineral SPF 30 or Higher
A broad-spectrum mineral SPF is non-negotiable during and after recovery. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are gentler on healing skin than chemical filters.
See recommended SPF optionsWhat to avoid during healing
- Retinoids and exfoliating acids for the first 2 to 3 weeks
- Vitamin C serums during the first 5 to 7 days
- Hot showers, saunas, and intense workouts for the first 3 to 5 days
- Any direct sun exposure for at least 4 weeks
Coastal Membership perk: Classic members save 10% and Deluxe members save 15% on medical-grade skincare, which meaningfully offsets a full aftercare kit.
CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing Before & After
Below are clinical before-and-after examples of PixelPeel CO2 resurfacing on the Alma Hybrid. Real Coastal patient photos will be added to this gallery as our own patient series progresses and consent to share is obtained.
Photos provided by Alma Lasers. Clinical results shown are from physicians using the Alma Hybrid CO2 laser. Individual results vary based on skin type, concern, protocol depth, and adherence to aftercare.
Cherry Payment Plans
Patients can get pre-approved for a Cherry payment plan, which can be used for any of our services. Terms are 3-24 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CO2 laser treatments will I need?
Most patients complete 3 to 5 sessions spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. Deeper scarring or advanced sun damage may need more, and the active-acne protocol runs 5 to 7 sessions. We build your exact plan at your first-visit evaluation.
Does CO2 laser resurfacing hurt?
Topical numbing cream applied 30 to 45 minutes before your session makes most CO2 laser treatments quite comfortable. You will feel a warm, snapping sensation during the pass, with chilled air keeping your skin cooled the whole time. Deeper protocols can include an oral anti-anxiety option if you would like one.
Is CO2 laser resurfacing safe for my skin type?
CO2 laser is safe for most Fitzpatrick types when the settings are matched correctly, which is why every new patient at Coastal begins with a Fitzpatrick assessment. The Hybrid’s second wavelength meaningfully expands what we can safely do for medium-to-deeper skin tones compared with a pure CO2 device.
How is the Alma Hybrid different from CoolPeel, DEKA, or Fraxel?
Pure-CO2 devices like CoolPeel and DEKA reach deeper skin by removing more surface tissue, which adds downtime. The Hybrid uses a second non-ablative wavelength that reaches deeper without breaking the surface, so you get depth-level results without the extra recovery.
How long do CO2 laser results last?
Results from a completed CO2 laser series typically last 3 to 5 years, depending on your age, sun exposure, skincare routine, and general skin health. Ongoing sun protection and medical-grade skincare significantly extend your results. Many patients choose to do a light maintenance treatment annually to stay ahead of new sun damage and fine lines.
Can I combine CO2 laser with exosomes or microneedling?
Yes. Exosomes right after your CO2 laser pass is one of our most-requested add-ons because your skin barrier is briefly more receptive to regenerative signals. Some patients also alternate CO2 laser series with SkinPen microneedling between deeper rounds to maintain their results.
Can I get CO2 laser on my neck, chest, or hands?
Yes. The Alma Hybrid treats face, neck, chest, and hands. Off-face areas heal slightly slower than facial skin because they have fewer sebaceous glands and hair follicles, so protocols are typically less aggressive and downtime can extend by a day or two. Off-face pricing depends on area size and is quoted at your first visit.
When can I wear makeup again after CO2 laser?
Most patients can apply mineral-based makeup starting on day 5 to 7 for lighter protocols and day 7 to 10 for deeper ones. Please avoid heavy chemical or long-wear formulas during the first two weeks, and use gentle removers to protect your healing barrier. Your written aftercare instructions include specific product guidance based on the protocol you receive.
Still have questions about CO2 laser resurfacing?
Our team is happy to walk you through the specifics for your skin, your goals, and your schedule. Give us a call or book a free consultation online.
Meet Dr. Olivia, Our CO2 Laser Provider in Jacksonville
Dr. Olivia, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner & Lead Aesthetic Provider
Dr. Olivia is a Jacksonville native with a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of North Florida and board certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She leads the aesthetic and wellness programs at Coastal Health & Medical Spa, with a clinical focus on personalized treatment planning for skin, hormones, and metabolic health.
Every CO2 laser patient at Coastal begins with a full skin evaluation and Fitzpatrick assessment led by Dr. Olivia’s clinical protocols. Her approach prioritizes patient safety, informed consent, and treatment plans that are matched to your actual goals rather than a fixed menu of upsells.
Book Your Laser Resurfacing ConsultationLearn more about the Coastal Health & Medical Spa team or contact our Jacksonville office with any questions before you book.
Explore Related Treatments at Coastal Health & Medical Spa
If you are not certain CO2 laser is the right fit for your skin, the treatments below address overlapping concerns and often pair well with a CO2 laser plan as either an alternative or as maintenance between laser rounds.
SkinPen Microneedling
A non-laser resurfacing modality that stimulates collagen through controlled micro-injuries. Less aggressive than CO2 with a shorter recovery, which makes it a strong option for maintenance treatments or lighter concerns.
Learn more about SkinPen Microneedling
Chemical Peels
Perfect Derma Peel, glycolic, and salicylic protocols for patients who want brightening and light resurfacing without laser energy or extended downtime. A great fit for pigmentation concerns or interim maintenance between laser series.
Explore our chemical peels
Dermal Fillers
Juvederm and Restylane fillers for volume, contour, and structural support. A great complement to CO2 laser resurfacing when you want to smooth surface texture and restore youthful shape in the same treatment plan.
Explore our dermal fillersSee Why Jacksonville Trusts Coastal Health & Medical Spa
Read what real Coastal patients have to say about their care, their results, and their overall experience at our Jacksonville office.
Get in Touch About CO2 Laser Resurfacing
Have a question before you book? Send us a message and our team will get back to you the same or next business day. Every new patient starts with a full skin evaluation, so there is no pressure and no upsells, only a clear recommendation for what fits your skin.
Fill out the form for your free skin evaluation and consultation for laser skin resurfacing at Coastal Health & Medical Spa.
Jacksonville, FL 32256
