CO2 laser resurfacing is the most effective treatment available for skin texture, fine lines and sun damage. At Slender Me Medical in Corona we use the DEKA Tetra PRO, which lets us dial the treatment from a no-downtime CoolPeel® to deeper resurfacing — so the intensity fits your skin and your schedule rather than the other way round.
Why CO2 Is Still the Gold Standard
CO2 lasers resurface by removing damaged surface tissue in controlled microscopic columns, which triggers your body to rebuild with new collagen. Nothing else produces the same degree of change in skin texture and quality.
The historic problem was recovery. Traditional CO2 meant sedation and weeks of visible healing, which put it out of reach for most people. That is the part the technology has solved.
One Device, Two Very Different Treatments
CoolPeel® — resurfacing without the downtime
CoolPeel delivers high energy in extremely short pulses, ablating the surface layer without leaving heat behind in the surrounding tissue. Because that residual heat is what caused most of the traditional downtime, removing it changes the recovery entirely.
A full-face treatment takes roughly 10 to 15 minutes. Numbing is often unnecessary. Most patients look flushed, similar to a sunburn, for a day or two and return to normal activity immediately.
Best for: overall texture, enlarged pores, dullness, early fine lines, and general skin quality. It is a treatment you can have and still go to work.
Deeper fractional resurfacing
The same device at higher settings performs full ablative CO2 resurfacing for patients who need more correction — established wrinkles, acne scarring, significant sun damage, or crepey texture.
This requires topical anesthetic and involves several days of genuine downtime while the skin heals. It also produces substantially more change.
Which one you need
That depends on what you are trying to correct, how much recovery time you can give it, and how your skin is likely to respond. Some patients do a series of CoolPeel treatments; others do one deeper session; some combine both over time. We will tell you honestly which makes sense rather than defaulting to whichever is easiest to sell.
What It Treats
- Fine lines and wrinkles, including around the eyes and mouth
- Rough or uneven texture
- Enlarged pores
- Sun damage and pigmentation
- Acne scarring
- Dull, tired-looking skin
- Mild skin laxity
It is not only for the face. The neck, décolleté, hands and back all show sun damage and all respond to treatment — the hands and chest in particular tend to give away age while the face has been well cared for.
After Significant Weight Loss
Losing a substantial amount of weight changes skin as well as shape. Texture, crepiness and volume loss in the face are common and frequently unexpected, and they are not something diet or continued weight loss will improve.
Resurfacing addresses the quality of the skin itself. If that is where you are, tell us — it is a different conversation from routine anti-aging, and often part of a broader plan.
What to Expect
- Before: a skin assessment, a discussion of your history and any medications, and pre-treatment instructions. Avoid sun exposure and self-tanner beforehand.
- During: a warm, prickling sensation. CoolPeel often needs no numbing; deeper treatments use topical anesthetic.
- First few days: redness resembling sunburn, and some sandpapery texture as the skin turns over. Longer and more pronounced with deeper settings.
- Weeks 2–4: smoother texture and improved tone become apparent.
- Months 2–6: collagen continues rebuilding, so results keep improving well after the visible healing is finished.
Sun protection afterwards is not optional. New skin is vulnerable, and sun exposure during healing is the fastest way to undo the result and cause pigmentation.
Important Safety Information
Laser resurfacing is not appropriate for everyone. Tell us if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have taken isotretinoin in the past year, have a history of keloid scarring or poor healing, have an active skin infection or cold sore outbreak, or take medications that increase light sensitivity.
If you have a history of cold sores, tell us — treatment can trigger an outbreak, and we may prescribe preventive medication first.
Your skin tone matters to how we treat you. Ablative resurfacing carries a higher risk of pigmentation changes in deeper skin tones, which affects both settings and pre-treatment preparation. We assess this individually rather than applying one protocol to everyone.
Possible effects include prolonged redness, swelling, temporary darkening or lightening of pigment, infection, and rarely scarring. Recent tanning — including self-tanner — means postponing treatment.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Whether resurfacing is appropriate for you is decided at your consultation.
Why Patients Choose Us
- Both intensities available on one platform, so treatment is matched to your skin rather than to the only setting we own
- Physician-supervised care with licensed nurse practitioners performing your treatment
- Honest expectations — we would rather tell you a series of lighter treatments suits you than sell you one you will regret
- Full aesthetic practice, so resurfacing can be planned alongside injectables and other treatments in a sensible order
- In Corona since 2011, and you see the same people every visit
- Saturday hours, useful when you would rather recover over a weekend
Serving Corona and the Inland Empire
Our clinic is at 2083 Compton Avenue, Suite 101, Corona, CA 92881, with ample parking. We see patients from Corona, Norco, Eastvale, Riverside, Chino Hills, Temescal Valley and the surrounding Inland Empire.
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 8:30am–5:00pm. Wednesday 8:30am–6:00pm. Closed Sunday.
Phone: (951) 898-8515
Frequently Asked Questions
How much downtime will I actually have?
With CoolPeel, typically a day or two of looking flushed. With deeper resurfacing, several days of visible healing. You choose, based on what you are correcting and what your calendar allows.
Does it hurt?
CoolPeel feels warm and prickly and most patients tolerate it without numbing. Deeper treatments use topical anesthetic and are still manageable.
How many treatments will I need?
CoolPeel is usually done as a series, often three to four spaced a few weeks apart, then maintained. Deeper resurfacing may achieve more in a single session. We will map it out at your consultation.
When will I see results?
Texture and tone improve within a few weeks. Collagen keeps rebuilding for months afterwards, so the result continues developing well past the point you have healed.
Can I have this if I tan easily or have deeper skin?
Often, but the settings and preparation differ, and honest assessment matters more than reassurance. We will look at your skin and tell you what is appropriate.
Can I combine it with Botox or filler?
Yes, though sequence and timing matter. Since we do both here, we can plan it properly rather than leaving you to coordinate between providers.
Do you take insurance?
Aesthetic treatments are not covered by insurance. We are a cash-pay practice and will be clear about pricing before you commit.
Ready to talk about your skin?
Book a consultation at our Corona clinic. We will look at your skin, talk through what is realistic, and recommend the treatment that fits both your goals and your life.
Book Your Consultation or call (951) 898-8515