Fraxel Laser Skin Resurfacing

Fraxel® Laser Skin Resurfacing

NO downtime – Skin Resurfacing a fraction at a time

Fraxel® is one of the latest innovations in aesthetic laser medical technology. Fraxel® laser is used for anti-aging, collagen remodeling and non-ablative skin resurfacing and provides a highly effective, predictable and safe non-ablative treatment for patients with wrinkles,  brown spots, sun damage, stretch marks  acne scarring. Fraxel® laser is the ideal treatment for acne scarring because it is very effective and there is minimal downtime.

Many patients want to look 5 to 10 years younger and so they come to the office to improve their fine wrinkles, sun damage, pigmentation and acne scarring. The fractionated  laser is an excellent device for this type of patient and in many cases is the laser treatment of choice for acne scarring, enlarged pores, mild to moderate wrinkles, pigmentation, brown spots and sun damage spots. It also produces a substantial improvement in tone, texture and the overall appearance of the skin.

The Fraxel® laser is routinely used to treat photodamage of the face, neck, chest, hands, and arms. There is an improvement in colour, texture, fine lines and wrinkles. It improves acne scars, and scars that occur after surgery or trauma. Now, Fraxel® can safely treat off the face areas, including the neck, chest, back, arms, hands, and abdomen. Other lasers are not used off the face because of the potential risk of scarring.

The Fraxel® laser penetrates deeply into the skin to promote the growth of new collagen and result in deeper dermal remodeling than seen with non-ablative procedures such as intense pulsed light. Acne scarring and wrinkles are treated more effectively.

How Fraxel® Laser Works:

Fraxel® Laser Treatment produces thousands of tiny but deep columns of treatment in your skin, known as microthermal treatment zones. This treatment eliminates old epidermal pigmented cells. It also penetrates deep into the dermis. Just as important, though, are the areas of skin the Fraxel® laser leaves untouched.

For every microthermal zone the laser targets and treats intensively, it leaves the surrounding tissue unaffected and intact. This fractional treatment allows the skin to heal much faster than if the entire area were treated at once, using the body’s natural healing process to create new, healthy tighter tissue to replace skin imperfections.

Because Fraxel® Laser treatment spares healthy tissue, it is effective even on delicate skin areas, such as the neck, chest, and hands.

• Fine lines and wrinkles – like crow’s feet and brow lines
• Surface scarring – erasing effects of acne and other scarring
• Pigmentation – minimizing the appearance of age spots
• Sun damage – helping heal dangerous skin damage
• Actinic Keratosis (AK) – a common pre-cancerous skin condition

Improve your skin with each visit. After several treatments friends and family will marvel at how youthful and healthy your skin looks. Finally, there is a proven, safe approach to repairing aging and sun-damaged skin.

3+1=?

The anti-aging breakthrough of the decade, according to many doctors, is a skin-resurfacing treatment known as fractional laser therapy.

Combining the effectiveness of traditional lasers — long thought to be the gold standard in wrinkle removal — with a new application technique; it delivers powerful results without the traditionally harsh side effects.

Essentially, you are getting all the benefits of laser resurfacing, still the best way to remove wrinkles, but you’re getting it without the downtime and without the horrendous complication rate.

As the body ages, the appearance and characteristics of the skin alter. The epidermis becomes thinner so blemishes become more visible. Collagen in the dermis is gradually lost which contributes to the formation of facial lines, sagging skin and wrinkles.

Now, with fractional resurfacing, you can reverse this process. Non ablative fractional laser not only triggers new collagen re-growth but also replaces old skin with brand new healthy skin. In a nutshell, the treatment works by causing damage to the skin and dermis (at the microscopic level), stimulating new skin and new collagen growth to fill in lines and wrinkles and restore the skin’s elasticity.

How Does It Work?

Fractional laser works by targeting both the epidermis and dermis and treating it a percentage or fraction or at a time, hence the name Fractional. It does this by delivering tens of thousands of tiny but deep laser microbeams, called microthermal treatment zones (MTZs), into the desired areas of treatment. These microbeams create narrow, deep columns of tissue coagulation that penetrate well below the epidermis and into the dermis, while sparing the skin and tissue surrounding the columns from damage. MTZs trigger the body’s natural healing process, stimulating the production of new supportive collagen and healthy new skin cells. Excess pigment and coagulated cellular debris are expelled as your body rebuilds and the skin is resurfaced. Throughout the process, the integrity of the stratum corneum is maintained which protects the tissue from infection as it heals. The result: dermal collagen remodeling and skin resurfacing with new beautiful skin.

laser microbeams, called microthermal treatment zones (MTZs)

“Fractional offers a unique and outstanding option for skin rejuvenation.”

Fractional laser treatment has bridged the gap between the ablative and non-ablative laser techniques used to treat sun-damaged and aging skin. Whilst ablative laser treatments work mainly on the epidermis (surface skin cells) and non-ablative treatments work solely on dermal collagen (mid-layer of skin) only, fractional laser treatment works at both the epidermal and dermal layers of the skin.

How many treatments are required?

To understand how fractional laser treatment works a basic understanding of skin structure is required. Briefly skin consists of 3 layers, the epidermis (uppermost layer), dermis (mid-lay) and subcutis (lower fat layer). The epidermis contains pigment-producing cells called melanocytes, which are responsible for skin coloring. The dermis is made up of collagen and elastin fibres that provide skin with strength, toughness, elasticity and pliability.

Treatment consists of 1,000-2,000 microthermal zones per centimeter squared. Each treatment typically replaces about 13% to 18% depending on the aggressiveness of the treatment. Although results can be seen with one treatment they are not easily apparent and a complete series should be  scheduled to get the full effects of this groundbreaking treatment. Mathematically, in order to treat 100% of the skin 6 treatments are required. Typically a local topical anesthetic is applied 30 minutes before the procedure. During the procedure the Arctic Breeze is also used which makes the procedure very tolerable. .

Although one will see some improvement after only your first treatment continued fractionated laser treatment will obtain far more desirable results. Significant improvement has been achieved for acne scars, pigmentation disorders such as melasma, sun and age-damaged skin, line and wrinkles, along with improvement in stretch marks and striae all scientifically documented from clinical researchers.
Summary, the benefits of fractional non ablative laser skin treatments are:

•  Less down time- only pink skin for 1-2 days and a day or so of bronzing that can be covered with make up
•  Better new collagen production in the deeper skin layers causing skin plumping especially of acne scars
•  Fewer complications like hyper pigmentation (although with Fraxel there is a 15% incidence of hyper pigmentation (darkening of treated areas) especially in dark skinned people, but it is temporary.
•  Improvement in skin texture and possibly enlarged pores
•  Improvement in wrinkles

(Business Wire)—Today

95% of patients surveyed would recommend a Fractional treatment

(Business Wire)—Today, Fractional laser for skin resurfacing and the treatment of wrinkles.

“Fractional is designed to safely and effectively repair dermal

imperfections and customers` outstanding clinical results and

histology data support that it`s working. A recent study revealed that 94

percent of patients were pleased to extremely happy with their treatment results and 95 percent of patients would recommend a Fractional treatment.”

“Fractional can be used on the entire face or just problem areas. It is especially good for treating the periorbital, perioral and jawline areas,” said Brian Biesman, M.D., medical director of the Nashville Centre for Laser and  Facial Surgery in Nashville, TN and current president of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.