CO2 Laser

Face

CO2 laser resurfacing

CO2 laser resurfacing in Hale, Altrincham

Smoother skin, softer wrinkles and a fresher complexion, with CO2 laser treatment that renews your skin and stimulates your own collagen.

When lines have settled in and your skin feels rough or looks dull, even good skincare can only do so much. CO2 laser resurfacing can make a real difference to those changes, softening wrinkles, making pores less noticeable and improving sun-damaged skin. Widely regarded as a gold standard for skin resurfacing, it treats the skin itself. At SONÜ, Dr Alex uses fractional CO2 laser, with the strength adjusted to the improvement you want and the recovery you can plan around.

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Award-winning CO2 laser work, with Dr Alex, who has presented and demonstrated the treatment internationally.

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Face treatment
£1,500 per session
Areas
Face, neck and body
Comfort
Numbing beforehand
Social downtime
Usually around a week

What you might be noticing

When good skincare only gets you so far

You may be happy with the shape of your face. It's the skin itself that you'd like to change.

Lines that don't quite go away

The fine lines around your mouth or across your cheeks are still visible after you stop smiling. Foundation can settle into them rather than give you the smooth finish you wanted.

Pores, roughness and a duller complexion

Pores across your nose and cheeks seem more obvious, your skin feels rough when you wash it, or it has lost some of its glow. Patches of sun damage can add to that uneven appearance.

Crepey skin beyond the face

You might notice fine folds on your neck or chest, or thinner-looking, crinkly skin on your hands or body. These areas can be assessed for treatment too.

At a glance

The practical details

CO2 treatment is adjustable. Dr Alex balances the change you're hoping for with the treatment strength and recovery you can plan around.

Face treatment
£1,500 per session
A laser consultation is £75, charged separately. Neck and combined treatment prices are below.
Areas
Face, neck and body
Face and neck are the main areas. The chest, hands, arms and abdomen can also be treated after assessment.
Comfort
Numbing beforehand
Strong numbing cream is usually left on for around 30 minutes. Dr Alex also uses nerve blocks for stronger CO2 treatment.
Social downtime
Usually around a week
With Dr Alex's usual stronger fractional treatment, redness typically settles over 4-5 days and the tiny crusts shed by about a week. Lighter treatment can mean less downtime.
Results
Long-lasting skin improvement
Results develop over the following months and can last for years, while your skin continues to age.

The change to look for

A difference you can see in the skin itself

The change can be much more than a brighter complexion. Lines across the cheeks or around the mouth can soften, rough skin can become smoother, and crepey skin can look firmer. These are often the details you notice close up in the mirror, in photographs or when putting on make-up.

The laser renews the skin's surface and encourages fresh collagen underneath. Improvement continues over the following months, and results can last for years. Your skin will still age, but the change doesn't depend on an injected product staying in place. Dr Alex will show you examples of his work and explain the kind of improvement he would aim for with your skin.

✓

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Softer fine lines and wrinkles that remain at rest.

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Less noticeable pores and a smoother surface where skin feels rough.

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A fresher glow and more even tone where superficial sun damage is suitable for treatment.

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Improved firmness in mildly loose or crepey skin.

Is it right for you?

Matching the treatment to the skin

Stronger resurfacing is worth considering when lines, pores, texture or sun damage are bothering you. The treatment can be adjusted to your skin, the improvement you want and the recovery that fits your plans.

Lines and texture
It may suit you if you want a more substantial skin improvement than a light surface treatment can offer. Dr Alex will assess the depth of your lines and how your skin is likely to heal.
The right approach for each area
The face, neck, chest and body heal differently. Dr Alex adjusts treatment for the area, the skin's thickness and the change you want, rather than using one strength everywhere.
A range of skin tones
Fractional CO2 can be used on a range of skin tones, including skin of colour. Treatment may involve extra skincare preparation, with the laser settings and aftercare chosen carefully for your skin.

A useful distinction

Smoother skin is different from a surgical lift

CO2 can improve mild skin looseness, but it doesn't remove substantial excess skin. If a heavy jawline or a lot of loose neck skin is the main concern, Dr Alex will explain whether another approach is more likely to give you the change you want.

How it works

Renewing the surface and the collagen underneath

CO2 is a carbon dioxide laser. At SONÜ, Dr Alex uses the DEKA SmartXide Punto to create tiny treatment points in the skin, prompting repair and new collagen production.

'Fractional' means the laser removes tiny columns of skin while leaving untreated skin between them to help healing. It is still an ablative treatment, meaning it removes skin, but it doesn't treat the entire surface at once. Dr Alex adjusts the depth and coverage to the area and concern, which also affects recovery. CoolPeel offers a lighter treatment with less downtime; stronger fractional resurfacing can address more established skin changes.

Your appointment

From the first conversation to healed skin

You'll know what is being treated, how it will be numbed and what the days afterwards are likely to involve before you decide to go ahead.

Consultation

Talk through the change you want

Dr Alex examines your skin, discusses the areas bothering you and checks your health, medication, previous procedures and history of cold sores. Bring any questions about downtime or an event you need to plan around.
Before treatment

Prepare and numb the skin

You'll receive preparation instructions. These usually include pausing retinol and exfoliating acids for a week, unless Dr Alex gives you a specific preparation plan. On the day, numbing cream and any additional local anaesthetic are used as planned.
Laser treatment

Treat the agreed areas

Dr Alex works across the skin with appropriate eye protection in place. You may feel heat or stinging despite numbing. The time needed depends on the area and treatment strength, with stronger or more detailed work taking longer.
Recovery and review

Let the skin settle

With Dr Alex's usual stronger fractional treatment, expect around 4-5 days of redness, with tiny surface crusts flaking away by about a week. A little pinkness may remain for another week. Let the crusts shed naturally and follow your cleansing, moisturising and sun-protection plan. You'll be advised when to restart make-up, active skincare and exercise.

Why Dr Alex

CO2 results backed by experience

Dr Alexander Parys, known to his patients as Dr Alex, won Best SmartXide Transformation at the Lynton Excellence Awards 2023 for his CO2 laser work. He has presented and demonstrated CO2 treatment internationally, and industry colleagues choose him for their own CO2 and eyelift treatments.

That experience helps him judge where stronger treatment could make a worthwhile difference and where a lighter approach is enough. Lines around the mouth, a crepey neck and lightly sun-damaged cheeks need different plans. He'll talk you through his results, the areas he'd concentrate on and the recovery to expect.

GMC-registered doctor · 7072776

Full Member of BCAM

International toxin trainer

Aesthetics Awards winner 2021

Safety and aftercare

Knowing what is normal as your skin heals

Redness, heat, tenderness and swelling can follow stronger CO2 treatment. Peeling or crusting is part of the healing period, and some redness can persist after the surface has recovered.

Possible side effects

Possible complications include infection, a cold-sore flare, prolonged redness, darker or lighter patches, delayed healing and scarring. Burns can also occur. Your assessment and aftercare are important parts of reducing these risks.

When to get urgent help

Contact the clinic promptly if pain or redness is getting worse rather than settling, or you develop blisters, pus, spreading redness or a fever. If you cannot reach the clinic, seek urgent medical advice through NHS 111. Eye pain or a change in vision needs immediate assessment at an eye emergency service or A&E.

When treatment may need to wait

Tell Dr Alex about active cold sores or other skin infections, recent tanning, medicines including isotretinoin, problems with healing, raised scars, and pregnancy or breastfeeding. Don't stop prescribed medication yourself. A new, changing or unexplained skin lesion needs assessment before cosmetic laser treatment.

You'll receive aftercare instructions and advice on how to contact the clinic if you're concerned.

Treatment costs

CO2 laser resurfacing prices

Fractional CO2 treatment is £1,500 for the face, £1,500 for the neck or £2,000 for the face and neck together, per session.

Face
£1,500per session
Neck
£1,500per session
Face and neck
£2,000per session
Small area
£500per session; area agreed after assessment
The treatment area, plan and total fee are agreed at consultation. Other areas are quoted after assessment.
A consultation with Dr Alex costs £75. If you choose to have treatment within 3 months of your consultation, you can put this fee towards it, including at a later appointment. It cannot be used towards skincare products. If you decide not to have treatment, the fee covers your consultation.
Book a consultation
A laser consultation is £75, charged separately. Treatment of other areas is quoted after assessment. Dr Alex will confirm the area, treatment plan and total fee before you decide to proceed.

Your questions

More about CO2 laser resurfacing

The questions that tend to matter when you're weighing up treatment and recovery.

What is the difference between CO2 resurfacing and CoolPeel?
Both use the SmartXide CO2 laser. CoolPeel is the lighter option for surface texture, fine lines and suitable superficial sun damage, with less downtime. Stronger fractional CO2 can address more established lines and skin changes. Recovery depends on the settings and area being treated, so stronger treatment doesn't automatically mean weeks out of action.
Which areas can CO2 laser treat?
The face and neck are the most common areas, but treatment can also be used on the decolletage (upper chest), hands, arms and abdomen. The right strength and recovery plan depend on the area and what you're treating. Eyelid skin and acne scars have their own assessment and treatment plans.
Will I need to stay at home while my skin heals?
Usually, the downtime is social: you can still do things such as walk the dog or go shopping, following your aftercare and sun-protection advice. Your skin will look treated, so you may prefer a quieter diary or to work from home for a few days. For Dr Alex's usual stronger fractional treatment, allow around a week if you'd prefer the redness and tiny crusts to have settled before people see you. He'll explain the expected recovery for your particular treatment.
Does the treatment hurt?
Numbing makes treatment more manageable, although you may still feel heat or stinging. Strong numbing cream is usually applied for around 30 minutes, and Dr Alex also uses nerve blocks for stronger CO2 work. The treated skin can feel sunburned afterwards.
How many sessions will I need?
That depends on the depth of the lines, the area and the improvement you're hoping for. Some plans begin with one treatment and a review once the result has developed; others involve further sessions. You won't be given a fixed course simply because you're having CO2.
When will I see the results, and how long do they last?
Surface improvements become easier to see once the skin has healed, with collagen changes developing over the following months. Results can last for years because treatment remodels your own skin. A line that has softened doesn't simply return because a product has worn off, although ageing, sun exposure and repeated facial movement can create or deepen lines over time. Sun protection helps maintain the improvement.
Can it treat brown patches and melasma?
Suitable superficial sun damage may improve, but not every brown patch should be treated with CO2. Melasma needs a separate assessment because heat and inflammation can make it worse. Dr Alex will check what is causing the colour change before recommending treatment.
Can I have CO2 laser if I have darker skin?
Fractional CO2 can be used on a range of skin tones, including darker skin. Dr Alex may recommend a period of skincare preparation to help reduce the chance of dark marks afterwards, alongside carefully chosen settings and sun protection. Pigment changes remain more likely in darker skin, so he'll assess whether CO2 is the right option for you.
When can I wear make-up and use my usual skincare?
Once the surface has healed and your aftercare allows it, any faint pinkness is usually easy to cover with tinted SPF or make-up. This slight rosy colour can last another week after the initial redness settles. Avoid make-up on raw, crusted or weeping skin, and wait for advice before restarting retinol or acids.
What is the difference between fractional and fully ablative CO2?
Both are ablative treatments, meaning they remove skin. Fractional CO2 treats tiny spaced points, leaving skin between them to help healing. Fully ablative, or full-field, resurfacing treats the whole surface of an area and generally involves a longer recovery. If you've seen dramatic CO2 recovery videos online, the treatment may be quite different from the fractional approach described here. The area, depth and coverage all affect healing, so Dr Alex will explain what to expect from your own plan.

Other options

Choosing the right level of treatment

CoolPeel offers a lighter surface refresh. The CO2 Laser Eyelift focuses on eyelid skin, while CO2 treatment for acne scars is planned around the shape and depth of the scars.

CoolPeel CO2 laser in Hale, Altrincham

Fade sun-related pigmentation, smooth texture and bring back a brighter glow with CoolPeel CO2 laser at SONÜ. Treatment with Dr Alex.

CO2 Laser Eyelift in Hale, Altrincham

Smoother eyelids and fresher-looking eyes, with CO2 laser treatment for crinkly skin and lids that have started to look heavier.

Your next step

Find out what CO2 could do for your skin

Book a £75 laser consultation with Dr Alex at SONÜ in Hale, Altrincham. Bring the concerns you notice in the mirror and any questions about his results. He'll explain what could improve, which areas he'd treat and the cost and recovery for your plan.

Book a consultation Contact the clinic
SONÜ Medical Aesthetics

34 Hale Road, Hale, Altrincham, WA14 2EX

Doctor-led treatment in a relaxed, private clinic

Close to Hale station and easy to reach from Altrincham, Manchester and Cheshire