What is the difference between CO2 laser and surgical excision

CO2 laser vaporizes the lesion without cutting, so there are no sutures and healing happens through re-epithelialization over 5–10 days. Surgical excision cuts the lesion out with a scalpel and requires stitches; it is preferred when the lesion is large, very deep, or when a tissue sample is needed for biopsy. Your surgeon recommends the technique based on each lesion's size, depth, and any concerning features.