Myeongdong CO2 laser,why digging deeper leaves a mark〈The Depth Trap〉

"Can't you just zap a mole off completely in one go with the laser?"

"I'd like to clean up the milia and a small scar at the same time — can it be done in one go?"

These are questions people thinking about moles or lesions with the CO2 laser ask all the time.

Greetings from DA Clinic Myeongdong.I'm Director Kwon Si-jin ^^

We're getting ready to open our doors in Myeongdong soon, and since so many people have been asking about moles, milia, and scars ahead of our opening, we wanted to put together this overview for your information first.

Let me be straight with you.Digging a mole out deeper doesn't make it cleaner; it more easily leaves a sunken scar in that spot.

So it isn't 'deep in one go': diagnosing first and removing it in stages to match the depth is what leaves less of a mark. Let me unpack it from here, step by step.

Wherever you have it done, let's go through the standards worth keeping.

The CO2 Laser Is a Device That 'Burns Off Moisture to Shave Away Tissue'

The CO2 laser is an ablative laser at a 10,600nm wavelength that's absorbed by the moisture in the skin and precisely vaporizes only the target tissue.

To put it simply, like the Photoshop eraser tool that picks out and wipes only the pigment, it works on the principle of shaving away lesion tissue one layer at a time ㅎㅎ

That's why it's used to precisely remove raised lesions that protrude, such as moles, skin tags, milia, and warts.

If you switch the same device to 'fractional mode', it doesn't shave anything away but instead gives micro-stimulation to the dermis, and is also used to refine the texture of pores and scars. So one device holds two jobs.

First, It's Not 'Deeply in One Go' but 'Matched to the Depth'

Many people think, "Since I'm removing it anyway, digging it all the way out in one go would be cleaner."

But moles vary in depth, so digging a deep mole all the way out in one go raises the risk of it being left as a sunken, depressed scar in that spot.

Conversely, if the output is too weak the lesion is incompletely removed and a risk of recurrence arises.

So what matters isn't going deep no matter what, but diagnosing the depth of the mole and the thickness of the skin and matching the output and mode. Removing deep moles in 2–3 stages tends to be safer. (responses differ for each person)

Second, Before Removing It, You Have to Check 'Whether It's Really a Mole'

This is a part people miss more than you'd think.

Even if it looks like a mole on the surface, it could be another pigment condition or a lesion that needs diagnosis.

So rather than reaching straight for the laser without thinking, we think it's right to go through a step of checking it first with a skin diagnostic device.

This is something worth taking care of wherever you have it done."Please check what this is first" is ultimately a safer order than "Please remove it quickly."

Third, the Result Comes Down to 'Scab Care'

After removing a lesion with the CO2 laser, a scab forms in that spot for about 1–2 weeks and then falls off naturally.

This is where the result really diverges.If you pick at the scab with your hand because it's bothering you, pigmentation or a mark is left easily in that spot.

Right after the scab falls off, the pink new skin looks slightly sunken, but it fills in over time, so you don't need to worry too much.

And the redness fades slowly over 3–6 months.Doing your UV protection well during this period is the key to preventing pigmentation.

Honestly, You Need to Be More Careful in These Cases

The CO2 laser isn't an all-purpose fix for every lesion.

Those with a keloid-prone constitution, those who are pregnant, and those with an active infection in the treatment area are safer to postpone the treatment and consult first.

Also, deeply pitted acne scars have a depth limit with the laser alone, so there are times when other approaches such as subcision need to be considered alongside it.

And there are lesions, like syringomas, that are approached through steady, ongoing care rather than being finished cleanly in one go.So rather than reaching for the laser no matter what, knowing the direction that suits your own lesion comes first.

Things that look like moles but aren't

People arrive saying "I'm here to have a mole removed" more often than you'd think, and it isn't a mole.

• Age spotsbrown patches, easily mistaken for moles, but different in nature
• Miliasmall white grains; the approach differs
• Skin tagssmall skin-coloured protrusions
• Wartsa different cause, and treating them like moles can spread them

Even where they look alike, how they're handled and how they recur are different. If the size, colour or border has changed recently in particular, please do mention it. Anything that has changed needs checking before removal.

Why it's used on scars and pores too

Beyond removing lesions, the CO2 laser is also used to reset the texture.

Treating the surface as a grid of very fine points is described as letting the untouched gaps assist recovery while the texture is tidied.That's why it comes up for acne scars and pores.

Downtime comes with it, though.So it's better started in a period where you can leave room in your schedule, and a plan spread across several sessions is often what's advised.

At our Myeongdong clinic we have Hestia in the CO2 family.For deep scars, microneedle radiofrequency (Potenza) is sometimes considered alongside.

What decides the result is what comes after

• Day 1 to 3a scab forms at the treated site. Best to avoid water contact and rubbing
• 1 to 2 weeksthe scab comes away naturally. Picking it off makes a mark likely
• The months afternew skin looks red, then gradually fades

Many people think it's over once the scab falls off, but whether pigment remains is decided in the months that follow. Red skin makes pigment easily, so taking sun on it then can leave a brown mark.

So the three things to attend to during recovery are moisturising, keeping it covered, and sun protection.For ointments and dressings, following the instructions from where you had it done is safest.

If redness runs severe beyond three days, if there's weeping, or if pain steadily worsens, don't wait — get in touch.

• Rather than deep in one go, it is cleared depth by depth
• Before removing, we check whether it really is a mole
• Caring for the scab is what reduces the mark

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can a mole be removed completely in one go?

A. When removing a mole with the CO2 laser, going deep in one go isn't unconditionally better. A shallow, superficial mole can be tidied up cleanly in one session, but digging a deep mole all the way out in one go raises the risk of a depressed scar being left. So removing deep moles in 2–3 stages is safer. Because it's split up, it can look like a recurrence, but it's often tidied up with an additional treatment. The depth of a mole differs from person to person, so deciding the number of sessions after diagnosis comes first.

Q. When does the scab fall off, and will a scar be left?

A. After a CO2 laser treatment, a scab usually forms for about 1–2 weeks and then falls off naturally.The most important thing here is not forcing the scab off.If you pick at it with your hand, pigmentation or a mark is left easily in that spot.Right after the scab falls off, you may see pink new skin and it can look slightly sunken, but it fills in over time.After that the redness fades over 3–6 months, so please keep up UV protection and moisturizing steadily.(Recovery speed varies by individual)

Q. Can pores and scars also be done with the same laser?

A. The CO2 laser's fractional mode has a different purpose from the ablative mode that removes raised lesions like moles and skin tags. Rather than shaving a lesion away, it works by giving the skin micro-stimulation to induce dermal collagen regeneration, so it's used to refine the texture of pores and faint scars.That said, it doesn't change dramatically in one go — usually the texture is tidied up slowly by accumulating around 3–5 sessions at intervals of 4–6 weeks. Deeply pitted scars have a limit with the laser alone, so we sometimes consider other approaches alongside it.

Q. Can several be removed at once?

A. It depends on the number, location and depth.More sites to care for at once means more to keep track of, so it's better decided alongside your recovery circumstances.

Q. Can it be done in summer?

A. The measure isn't the season so much as how well you can keep the sun off during recovery. If it's a period with a lot of outdoor activity, protection is hard and postponing may be better.

Divided by depth

If you've read this far, this is the one thing to remember.

The CO2 laser — rather than 'deeply in one go', it's 'diagnosis, staged removal by depth, and scab care' that make the result.

Going back to the question I opened with, the answer is here.

DA Clinic Myeongdong is set to open soon.We'll share news of our opening and treatment information first on our blog and Instagram ^^

Thank you for reading to the end.This was Director Kwon Si-jin at DA Clinic Myeongdong.

This column is an informational article intended to provide general medical information; the effects and side effects of treatments may vary by individual. DA Clinic Myeongdong is set to open soon. (Medical Service Act Art. 56)