A New Solution for Cosmetic Laser Treatments
Up until now, there have been two primary categories of laser skin treatment: ablative laser resurfacing and nonablative laser or light-based therapy, each with their pros and cons. Ablative techniques regenerate aging and sun-damaged skin with superior cosmetic results, but are associated with significant side effects, risks and prolonged healing and recovery times. Nonablative techniques, on the other hand, generally carry fewer risks but require numerous treatments over several months, producing only limited clinical results of cosmetic improvement.
Fraxel® Laser Treatment
This approach to laser skin treatment represents a new category of cosmetic skin surgery that offers patients the positive results of resurfacing with the low-impact benefits of non-ablative therapies. Unlike old lasers that remove the top layer of skin, this procedure produces tiny, microscopic sites of thermal impact separated by areas of unaffected, healthy tissue. The spared healthy tissue between treatment zones contains viable cells that promote rapid healing without the associated side effects or downtime.
What is the Fraxel® Laser, What Does it Treat?
Fraxel® Cosmetic Laser Treatment produces thousands of tiny but deep columns of treatment in your skin and eliminates old epidermal pigmented cells. It also penetrates deeply into the dermis and is so precise that it penetrates the non-living, protective barrier of the skin, as if it were a window and leaves it completely intact. 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 tissue to replace skin imperfections.
Fraxel® Treats the Following Skin Conditions:
Fraxel Laser Systems
There are a number of Fraxel Laser Systems available at our practice that offer distinct advantages to smoothing out your skin and giving it a smoother, more youthful sheen. The following links will take you more detailed descriptions of each laser, and give you a better idea of what they can accomplish.
Please contact our office for more information on any of our Fraxel laser skin resurfacing treatments.
How It Works
The Fraxel laser is specially designed to alter only fractional volumes of the target tissue. Similar to digital alteration of photographs, the clinical effect of this treatment is to alter the appearance of aging and sun-damaged skin. The creation of tiny micro-wounds results in a wound healing process and a response to the coagulation of collagen fibers.
Patient Benefits
This cosmetic laser surgery treatment offers the benefits of speedy healing and no downtime. Side effects are minimal and typically involve swelling and redness. Mild swelling should subside within a day or so, and the redness usually fades over several days. Patients can apply make-up immediately after treatment and return to routine activities. There is limited, if any, risk of infection or scarring. No oozing or crusting has been observed.
Number of Treatments Needed
Clinical studies suggest that 4-6 treatments spaced about 5 to 7 days apart produce a gradual remodeling of dermal matrix components, until complete healing occurs and “good” material that contains collagen and elastin replaces old epidermal and dermal tissue. Over a period of 1-3 months, clinical improvement in photo-aged skin correlates with dermal repair and positive skin changes.
Preparing for Treatment
Treatments can be performed right in your doctor’s office using only topical anesthesia in most cases. The treatment area will be thoroughly washed prior to the Fraxel procedure.
Before your Fraxel® Treatment
Before starting treatment, you and your doctor will discuss which area(s) of your skin is appropriate for treatment, what kind of results you can expect, what to look for after treatment, and how often treatment will be scheduled. Because Fraxel Laser Treatment spares healthy tissue, it is effective even on delicate skin areas, such as the neck, chest and hands.
Clinical studies suggest that an effective treatment regime is three to five sessions, spaced about four to seven days apart. However, treatment plans can be very flexible and effective, even spaced by weeks or months. Each Fraxel treatment session targets between 12-20% of the skin’s surface, depending on the clinical parameters selected. Results are immediate and progressive. Optimal improvement is usually visible in about two to three months. If you are having a significant area of your skin treated, your doctor will develop a pain management approach to maximize your comfort during the procedure.
A Typical Treatment
After cleansing with a mild scrub cleanser, a topical anesthetic ointment is applied to the treatment area. The anesthetic requires about 45 minutes to take full effect. The “laser surgery” is then performed. A treatment typically will take 30 minutes.
After Your Fraxel® Treatment
You will experience a mild sunburn sensation for about an hour and then virtually no discomfort. The skin will have a pinkish tone for five to seven days. This is a normal sign that the skin is healing deeply, that dermal tissue is being repaired, and there is good blood circulation. Swelling is minimal and generally resolves in two to three days. You may apply make-up or shave soon after treatment. Typically patients find they can go back to work soon after treatment or the next day. New epidermal skin develops immediately, within 24 hours. This process of skin repair involves:
- Bronzing: Your skin will have a bronze appearance that lasts anywhere from 3 to 14 days, depending on the treatment level.
- Flaking: Your skin will naturally and vigorously exfoliate as the reorganized epidermal skin replaces dead tissue. Flaking is similar to that of minor sunburn, but without the associated pain. Use of a moisturizer will mask the appearance of flaking.
Be sure to use sunscreen at least twice daily to protect your skin from sun exposure during both the healing phase and for several months after treatment. Apply a moisturizing sun block with an SPF of at least 30-plus. For added protection, use wide-brimmed hats when in direct sunlight.
Over the following weeks and months, the body repairs the deeper dermal tissues that have been affected by the Fraxel treatment, producing longer beneficial changes associated with a healthy, youthful appearance.
Schedule Your Consultation
If you are interested in getting laser skin treatment without a prolonged recovery period, contact Paul M. Friedman M.D. today to schedule your Fraxel® laser treatment consultation in Houston, Texas.