How fractional CO2 works
The laser creates thousands of microscopic columns of controlled damage through the skin, leaving healthy tissue between each one. Those untouched bridges are what make the treatment fractional: they supply the cells that heal the columns quickly. As each column repairs, it lays down new collagen in an organised pattern, which is what physically rebuilds texture rather than just resurfacing the top layer.
What it improves
Acne scarring, which is the reason most people come for it. Deep texture and enlarged pores that no facial reaches. Fine lines around the mouth and eyes, sun damage accumulated over years, and some surgical or trauma scars. It is a genuine resurfacing treatment, so it does more than the gentler options — and it asks more of you in return.
Session and recovery
Numbing cream for forty-five minutes first; the pass itself takes twenty to forty minutes. Expect intense heat, like strong sunburn, for a few hours afterwards. Days one to three: redness, swelling and a sandpaper texture. Days three to seven: fine bronzed flaking that must not be picked. By day seven to ten most people are presentable with make-up. This is not a treatment to have mid-holiday in Tulum — plan it for the end of a trip or a week at home, and understand that strict sun avoidance is not optional afterwards.
Fractional CO2 at Coconut Botox Tulum
The honest conversation happens before the laser is switched on. Aurora assesses your skin type, your recent sun exposure and how much recovery your calendar can absorb, and will move you to Pico or Morpheus8 if CO2 is not the right call — which in a beach town it frequently is not. When it is the right call, density and depth are set per zone, because a cheek scar and the skin under an eye do not take the same setting.
- Session20–40 min + 45 min numbing
- Downtime7–10 days, real
- ResultsFrom week 4, peak at 3–6 months
- Protocol1–3 sessions, 6–8 weeks apart
Safety, side effects and aftercare
What to expect
Heat and swelling the first forty-eight hours, sometimes with the eyes looking puffy on the morning after. A bronzed, grid-like flaking from day three that resolves through the first week. Pink skin underneath that fades over several weeks.
When we don't treat
Not performed on recently tanned or sunburnt skin, during pregnancy, on active infection or cold sores, while on isotretinoin or within six months of stopping it, or where there is a history of keloid scarring. Darker phototypes are assessed carefully: the risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation is real and is discussed before booking, not after.
Aftercare
Occlusive balm and gentle cleansing for the first week, exactly as instructed. Do not pick the flaking — that is where scarring risk comes from. Absolutely no direct sun, sea or pool until the skin has closed, and SPF 50 reapplied daily for at least a month afterwards.
This page is general information, not a medical assessment. Your suitability is evaluated in person during your complimentary consultation, where we review your history and current medication. Anything requiring medical evaluation is referred to the appropriate healthcare professional.
Investment
PriceFrom $6,500 MXN per session (~$375 USD)
The final figure is set during your consultation, once the areas and quantities you actually need are assessed — the consultation itself is complimentary. Cash (MXN or USD) and card accepted. The USD figure is a reference and moves with the exchange rate.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do this on holiday in Tulum?
Usually not, and we would rather say so. It needs seven to ten days of visible recovery and strict sun avoidance — which is the opposite of a beach trip. Schedule it for the end of your stay or choose Pico or Morpheus8 instead.
How bad is the recovery really?
Real, but predictable. Days one and two feel like a strong sunburn with swelling; days three to seven you flake. Most people work from home that week. Anyone describing CO2 as a lunchtime treatment is describing a much weaker setting.
Will it remove my acne scars completely?
It improves them, often substantially, but complete removal is not a promise anyone can make honestly. Deep scars usually need a series and sometimes a combination with biostimulators or microneedling.
Is it safe on darker skin?
It requires more caution. Post-inflammatory pigmentation is a genuine risk on higher phototypes, so settings are conservative and preparation matters. In many cases Pico or Morpheus8 gives a better risk-to-benefit balance.