Laser Skin Resurfacing

At our Marina del Rey med spa, we see many women and men from Santa Monica and the greater Los Angeles area who want to correct sun damage and signs of aging on their skin such as brown spots, fine lines, deep creases, and uneven texture. We are pleased to offer superior skin resurfacing and tightening with our DEKA DOT (dermal optical thermolysis) fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser. Other options such as intense pulsed light (IPL) and laser vein therapy help us address a wide variety of patient concerns.

Laser Resurfacing
 Before & After Photos

Case: 1 of 9
Previous
Case: 1 of 9
Next
Before & After Laser Skin Resurfacing Case 928 View #1 View in Los Angeles, CA
Before & After
Case: 1 of 8

Case #928

Before & After Laser Skin Resurfacing Case 931 View #1 View in Los Angeles, CA
Before & After
Case: 2 of 8

Case #931

Before & After Laser Skin Resurfacing Case 930 View #1 View in Los Angeles, CA
Before & After
Case: 3 of 8

Case #930

Before & After Laser Skin Resurfacing Case 929 View #1 View in Los Angeles, CA
Before & After
Case: 4 of 8

Case #929

Before & After Laser Skin Resurfacing Case 927 View #1 View in Los Angeles, CA
Before & After
Case: 5 of 8

Case #927

Before & After Laser Skin Resurfacing Case 925 View #1 View in Los Angeles, CA
Before & After
Case: 6 of 8

Case #925

Before & After Laser Skin Resurfacing Case 924 View #1 View in Los Angeles, CA
Before & After
Case: 7 of 8

Case #924

Before & After Laser Skin Resurfacing Case 923 View #1 View in Los Angeles, CA
Before & After
Case: 8 of 8

Case #923

Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.

How does fractional laser skin resurfacing work?

Instead of treating (ablating) the entire surface of the skin like traditional CO2 lasers, the DOT fractional CO2 laser emits tiny columns of laser energy to produce thousands of microscopic injuries to the skin, leaving untreated skin between the treated dots. The laser energy starts the skin’s natural healing processes to make new, healthy tissue and collagen. Because untreated skin is intermixed with treated skin, discomfort and healing time are reduced compared to traditional CO2 lasers.

What does a CO2 fractional laser treatment do?

We use laser skin resurfacing to address a variety of concerns, including:

  • Lines, creases, and wrinkles
  • Rough skin texture
  • Uneven pigment, freckles, sun spots, and age spots
  • Loose or sagging skin
  • Acne scars and surgical scars
  • Stretch marks

Dr. David Stoker

Educated at some of the most elite institutions in the country, Dr. David Stoker uses his highly advanced knowledge to ensure that each patient achieves beautiful, harmonious results — whether it's through a simple non-surgical procedure or a more advanced surgical transformation. Learn more about his unique credentials and his approach to plastic surgery.

Why Choose Dr. Stoker
Professional Resume

Which areas can be treated with the fractional laser?

The fractional CO2 laser is ideal for the face, where the skin heals quickly. We can perform deeper treatments on the face to achieve more dramatic results with a single treatment. Treatment strength may be reduced for skin on the neck, chest, and hands that is more delicate than the face. We typically treat these areas with multiple lower-strength treatments.

We can adjust the intensity of the laser to suit a variety of conditions, treatment areas, and desired amount of downtime as outlined in the table.

StrengthTreatment AreaConcernsDowntime
LightFace, neck, chest, handsSun spots, fine lines2 to 3 days
MediumFaceSun spots, moderate wrinkles5 to 8 days
DeepFaceSun spots, deep wrinkles, acne scars10 to 14 days

Laser Skin Resurfacing

Which is better, fractional CO2 or Fraxel® laser?

The fractional CO2 laser and Fraxel® (erbium and diode) laser are both fractional lasers, which means both treat a fraction of the skin’s surface. Reasons we prefer the CO2 fractional laser include:

  • It is more powerful than the Fraxel laser, which means we can treat both mild and advanced conditions.
  • It is ablative, so in most cases just one treatment is needed for desired rejuvenation.

What are laser skin treatments like?

Laser treatments are relatively comfortable; however, topical anesthetic and oral analgesics may be used to enhance your comfort. We also use a PRO-NOX medical nitrous oxide (laughing gas) delivery system to minimize discomfort. After you are optimally anesthetized, the laser handpiece is passed over the skin as quick flashes of laser energy are emitted. Most treatments are complete in under an hour.

Laser skin resurfacing may be combined with surgical procedures such as a facelift or eyelid surgery to take advantage of anesthesia and recovery time.

A Reputation Built on Results

I had a great experience with Dr Stoker and his staff. Of course, I did a whole lot of research prior...
I had such an amazing experience with Quinn getting botox. She listened to what I wanted, gave recommendations,...
I saw Quinn Luster, PA for my first experience of getting Botox. She was so professional, very informative,...
Recently received dysport injections here from Quinn Luster. She did an amazing job and I am very happy...

How do I prepare for laser skin resurfacing?

For optimal results, we recommend most laser skin resurfacing patients pretreat their skin as follows:

  • Apply retinol and Retin A as directed before the treatment to help speed recovery.
  • Apply hydroquinone before the treatment to decrease recovery time.
  • Avoid sun exposure before and after the treatment to avoid post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

How long does it take to heal from CO2 fractional laser skin resurfacing?

The healing process typically takes 3 to 14 days to complete depending on depth of treatment and individual factors. Initially, the skin looks red for about 3 to 10 days much like if it was badly sunburned. Around day 3 or 4, the skin begins peeling to reveal fresh, new skin.

What should I do after a CO2 fractional laser treatment?

  • Apply a hydrating lotion to the skin as directed.
  • Have LED light therapy to reduce redness faster.
  • Stay out of the sun to reduce the risk of pigment irregularities, which are uncommon and usually temporary.

How many treatments will I need?

Patients typically achieve dramatic results with just a single treatment. Two or more treatments may be performed several months apart in order to achieve greater improvement with shorter recovery periods.

How long do results from fractional laser treatments last?

While nothing can stop the natural aging process, improvements from laser resurfacing treatments are long lasting with diligent use of sunscreen and a healthy lifestyle (e.g., avoiding smoking).

What Is an IPL PhotoFacial?

IPL PhotoFacial treatments used light energy to improve the appearance of sun-damaged skin, in addition to other complexion issues. It’s gentler than laser skin resurfacing, resulting in virtually no downtime, and is often used on exposed areas such as the neck, chest, and hands, in addition to the face.

What is laser vein therapy?

Laser treatments are one of the ways to minimize the appearance of unsightly spider veins on the face and legs. Laser vein therapy heats and destroys the cells lining the veins, causing them to shrink before being removed naturally by the body. We also offer an injectable treatment called sclerotherapy to treat varicose and spider veins on the legs.

In The Media

ABC Logo

See Dr. Stoker in action on "The Doctors", "The Biggest Loser", "The Today Show", and more.

View Our eBook

Before and After eBook

Learn about professional credentials and see almost 1,000 patient pictures and descriptions by Dr. Stoker.

How do I get started?

Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Stoker and his experienced team specialize in non-surgical and surgical rejuvenation of the skin. They will guide you through your options to create an individualized plan for your skin. To learn more about your options, request a consultation using our online form or call us at  (310) 300-1779 to schedule an appointment.

To enhance and provide maximum comfort during all our aesthetic treatments, we offer topical and local anesthetics. We also offer PRO-NOX Nitrous Oxide (NO) for an additional cost. PRO-NOX is an anesthetic system that delivers 50% oxygen and 50% nitrous oxide to help relieve pain and anxiety during treatments.

Nonsurgical Procedure Treatment Planner

Non-Surgical Enhancement


Our expertise extends beyond plastic surgery. We offer an extensive range of non-surgical treatments administered by our talented, experienced team of aesthetic providers under the guidance of board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Stoker.

If you have a treatment in mind, review our complete offering of non-surgical services. If you need a little help deciding, narrow down your options with our interactive treatment planner.

(310) 300-1779 Contact