Micro needling vs Laser Resurfacing (CO2 Laser)
Pros and Cons
| Microneedling | Laser Skin Resurfacing |
| Pros | |
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Helps skincare products become more effective. The holes (microchannels) can help skincare products penetrate the deep layers, making them more effective. Can be used for all skin types. Microneedling does not use heat, so it will not discolor the skin of patients with darker skin. |
Quicker results. Lasers do more drastic changes to the skin, which means the results are more visible after the skin heals. This is ideal for spots, skin texture, enlarged pores, and other problem areas. Results last longer. After the treated area fully heals, you can expect the effects to last several years. No incisions during the procedure. Unlike microneedling which punctures the skin, laser skin resurfacing uses heat to penetrate the skin. This reduces the chance of getting scars from your procedure. |
| Cons | |
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Takes weeks to see visible results. Microneedling’s initial changes are very subtle, and it takes weeks and multiple sessions before you see any visible changes to your skin. Not for those with bacterial skin infections. Those who have active infections or are currently treating conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis are unsuitable candidates for this procedure. The bacteria can enter the microchannels and develop an infection. At-home microneedling can cause scarring. While microneedling can be done at home, those who use their microneedling device wrongly can be prone to scarring and bacterial infection. |
More expensive than microneedling. Microneedling can cost around 15000 per session. The average cost of a laser skin procedure is for 20,000 ablative laser. Longer downtime. While microneedling has little to no downtime, ablative laser treatments have much larger wounds and will require a few days to recover. Risk of discolored skin for darker skin tones. Skin color can have an effect on the final result. A patient sporting a darker skin type is more prone to permanent skin discoloration than one with lighter skin. |