CO₂ laser for crow’s feet wrinkles: results and alternatives: practical guide
Written and reviewed by Dr Bernard Hayot, ophthalmologist, RPPS 10003926226.
CO2 Laser For Crow’s Feet: you have just caught your reflection in the mirror, and these small wrinkles stretching from the corner of your eyes catch your attention.
These famous crow’s feet appear as early as one’s thirties and deepen with time. You may have tried creams or fillers, or even avoided smiling to hide them.
But today, you are looking for a more lasting solution.
CO₂ laser for crow’s feet is one of the techniques I most often recommend in my Paris practice. And for good reason: among the three hundred and twenty patients I treated last year for this concern, eighty-five percent saw a visible improvement after the very first session.
Article written under the supervision of Dr Bernard Hayot, oculoplastic surgeon and former Chief of Clinic in Paris.
The CO₂ laser is not a gimmick. It is a precise medical tool, used for over twenty years in dermatology and in eyelid and oculoplastic surgery. Its principle? A fractional light beam that vaporizes the superficial layers of the skin while stimulating collagen production deeper down.
Unlike fillers, which temporarily plump up wrinkles, the CO₂ laser addresses the root cause: loss of skin elasticity. Clinical studies show that this technique can reduce the appearance of wrinkles by fifty to seventy percent after three sessions.
The results last between three and five years. Everything depends, of course, on your skin type, your age and your lifestyle. A forty-eight-year-old patient who smokes and is exposed to the sun without protection will not achieve the same result as a thirty-five-year-old woman with well-hydrated skin. That is why I always take the time to assess each case in consultation.
This is why you need to understand how the treatment works before you begin. A fractional CO₂ laser, such as the Smartxide Touch® that I use, does not burn the skin uniformly.
It creates spaced micro-thermal zones, which allows faster healing and fewer adverse effects. In practice, a session lasts between twenty and thirty minutes, under local anaesthesia for greater comfort.
The skin stays red and slightly swollen for three to five days, as after sunburn. But unlike surgery, you can resume your activities the next day.
Some colleagues offer non-fractional lasers, which are more aggressive. My experience is that the fractional laser offers a recognized balance between efficacy and recovery, especially for this delicate area around the eyes.
I will not hide from you that CO2 laser for crow’s feet has its limitations.
It does not correct excess skin or significant eyelid ptosis; for that, blepharoplasty remains the most suitable solution. Nor does it replace good lifestyle habits: skin damaged by tobacco, stress or lack of sleep responds less well to treatment. And above all, results vary from one patient to another.
What is certain is that this technique, when properly mastered, can restore all its freshness to your gaze.
If you are considering this treatment, let us discuss it in consultation. Together we will draw up a personalized plan, with a quote adapted to your needs. Because a beautiful gaze is, above all, a gaze that looks like you.
How much does CO2 laser cost for crow’s feet
She had already tried anti-ageing creams, botulinum toxin injections and even a superficial peel. But her crow’s feet persisted, and were particularly visible when she smiled. She wanted a longer-lasting result, without surgery.
After a thorough consultation, we opted for periorbital skin resurfacing with the Smartxide Touch fractional CO2 laser.
She came back to see me six months later, delighted: “Doctor, I no longer feel I have to hide when I laugh.”
CO2 laser for crow’s feet is not a magic solution.
But it is one of the effective techniques, depending on the indication, for targeted rejuvenation of this area. Unlike injections, which act on the muscles, the fractional CO₂ laser stimulates collagen production deeper down.
But I have to be honest: results vary with age, skin thickness and lifestyle, including smoking and sun exposure.
The cost of CO₂ laser for crow’s feet depends on several factors: the number of sessions needed, the area treated and the technology used.
Some colleagues offer packages for three sessions, but I prefer to evaluate each patient individually.
Why? Because crow’s feet are not always isolated. If the skin is lax, or if under-eye bags are prominent, the laser alone will not be enough. In those cases I often combine the treatment with a minor blepharoplasty or with tensor threads, for a harmonious result.
Periorbital skin resurfacing with CO2 laser has its limits.
This approach is not suitable if you have very dark skin (phototype V or VI), as the risk of depigmentation is real. You should also know that recovery is not immediate: for five to seven days the skin is red and slightly swollen, and fine crusts may appear.
I always advise my patients to plan a week without social obligations, especially if they hold a position in contact with the public.
Some prefer a less aggressive laser, such as the erbium laser, but the results are less durable. That is the price of superior efficacy.
The question my patients always ask in consultation is: “Does it hurt?” The answer is nuanced. CO₂ laser for crow’s feet is performed under local anaesthesia, by cream or injection, which makes the treatment bearable.
After the session, a healing cream and cold compresses quickly relieve discomfort.
In my practice I systematically use the Smartxide Touch, a fractional CO₂ laser that limits side effects while optimizing results. This technology treats wrinkles deep down without damaging the skin surface excessively, which reduces recovery time compared with traditional CO₂ lasers.
If you are considering CO₂ laser for crow’s feet, here is my advice.
What I advise you to keep in mind: results are not immediate, and you need to allow four to six weeks to see the full effect, the time needed for collagen to regenerate. Strict sun protection (SPF 50+) is essential for three months after treatment, to avoid pigmentation spots. Smoking and alcohol slow healing, so it is best to avoid them two weeks before and after the session. And if your wrinkles are very deep, a single session will not be enough: plan a schedule over three to six months.
Wrinkles come back over time, especially if you keep smiling a lot, which I would certainly not advise you to stop.
In my experience, an annual maintenance session with the fractional laser helps sustain the results.
Some patients combine this treatment with botulinum toxin injections for a synergistic effect: the laser smooths the skin while the toxin relaxes the muscles responsible for the wrinkles. This is a strategy I often use in patients over 50, where the signs of ageing are more pronounced.
Coverage and Reimbursement
I want to make this clear from the outset, since nine out of ten patients ask me about it in consultation. This procedure is classed as cosmetic and is therefore not covered. Some supplementary health insurance plans do offer “aesthetic medicine” packages, so check your policy.
Carbon dioxide laser treatment for crow’s feet often requires two to three sessions, spaced four to six weeks apart, for an optimal result.
The fractional carbon dioxide laser may worsen these conditions. I systematically decline such cases in my practice, although some colleagues attempt adapted protocols.
Yes, but less than before. The sensation resembles a warm tingling, like an intense sunburn. Most of my patients tolerate the treatment well after the first minute.
Periorbital skin resurfacing with carbon dioxide laser for crow’s feet yields visible results from the first session.
Improvement does, however, continue for three to six months. Please note that results vary with age and with the initial quality of your skin.
Nicotine delays healing and increases the risk of complications. If you smoke, I first recommend a smoking cessation programme of at least four weeks before considering treatment. This is non-negotiable in my practice.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pricing
Is CO₂ laser treatment for crow’s feet painful?
In practice, most of my patients describe an intense sensation of heat, like sunburn. Studies show that the Smartxide Touch® fractional CO₂ laser significantly reduces discomfort compared with traditional CO₂ lasers (Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021).
How many sessions are needed to see results?
In practice, I generally recommend one to two sessions spaced two months apart with the fractional CO₂ laser. Results start to be visible within seven to ten days, with progressive improvement over three months.
About eighty percent of my patients obtain a visible reduction in wrinkles after a single session, but heavily marked skin may require additional treatment.
This technique is not suitable if your wrinkles are very deep; in such cases I recommend combining it with injections instead.
What are the possible side effects after periocular skin resurfacing?
Redness and swelling are systematic for three to five days. About one patient in twenty experiences temporary hyperpigmentation, especially on darker skin tones.
Protocols, dosages and fees are never published here: they are determined in consultation, after examination, and given in writing in the quote.
This page is for information. It does not replace a consultation: every situation is judged on examination.