Fraxel® Laser Treatment

Want to turn back the clock on aging? Fraxel fractional resurfacing can help. We are pleased to offer this new and exciting technology for sun damage, enlarged pores, wrinkles, skin discolorations, melasma, and acne scars. Fraxel is a unique approach to repairing aging and sun-damaged skin pixel by pixel, spot by spot.

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.

In an FDA-cleared study of Fraxel treatment of skin around the eyes, patients, investigators, and a review panel of expert dermatologists all reported significant improvements in skin texture, wrinkles, and skin discolorations such as age spots and sun spots.

Preparing For Treatment:

Fraxel Laser Treatment can be performed using only a topical anesthetic. The treatment area will be thoroughly cleansed prior to the procedure.

What Happens After 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. New epidermal skin develops within 24 hours. This process of skin repair involves:

Bronzing: Your skin will have a bronze appearance that lasts anywhere from three to fourteen 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, without the associated pain. Use of a moisturizer will mask the appearance of flaking.

Sunscreen: Use sunscreen at least twice daily to protect your skin from sun exposure during 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 from sunlight, use wide-brimmed hats.

Over the following weeks and months, the body repairs the deeper dermal tissues that have been affected by Fraxel Laser treatment, producing beneficial changes associated with a healthy appearance of your skin.

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.

FAQ:

Q: What is the Fraxel® ?

A: The Fraxel®  is an innovative new laser system that can rejuvenate or "resurface" sun-damaged skin without causing a visible wound or a prolonged, uncomfortable healing period.

Q: How does the Fraxel®  Laser work?

A: Rather than treating the entire skin surface at one time, the Fraxel®  laser creates a pattern of evenly spaced microscopic laser "spots" surrounded by normal undamaged skin. Because the skin surrounding the spots is not injured, healing takes place very quickly, and without creating a visible wound. Repeated treatments create additional spots, until the entire skin surface is treated.

Q: How many treatments will I need?

A: Each session with the Fraxel® laser treats approximately 15-20% of the skin surface. Typically 3 to 5 treatments performed a week to a month apart are recommended depending n the severity of the problem, although most patients will notice some improvement even after a single treatment. "Maintenance" treatments can be performed as needed.

Q: Where on the face or body can the Fraxel® SR Laser be used?

A: The Fraxel®  Laser can be used anywhere on the body where the skin would benefit from resurfacing. Unlike traditional laser resurfacing, which removes the entire skin surface, most of the skin is left undamaged after each treatment, and heals rapidly from the surrounding, normal skin. Of particular interest are the neck and décolleté, which were not treatable with previously available methods.

Q: Are there any treatments for sun-damaged or scarred skin besides the Fraxel® ?

A: Sun-damaged facial skin has traditionally been treated with with deep peels and laser resurfacing. These procedures are invasive, involve a certain amount of risk and downtime, and cannot be performed on areas other than the face. Certain non-invasive laser treatments used for wrinkles,  light chemical peels, microdermabrasion and photodynamic therapy can be used.

Q: Are Fraxel®  Laser treatments safe?

A: Although the Fraxel®  is a new and innovative technology, to date there have been no reports of scarring or infection from treatment. At higher powers, mild blistering and/or temporary skin discoloration can occur, especially in darker-skinned patients.

Q: Is the Fraxel®  laser treatment painful?

A: An anesthetic cream may be applied at least 1 hour prior to the treatment session. For higher power settings, local anesthetic or oral pain medicine may be used for the treatment session.
How long does each treatment session take?
Each treatment session may take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes depending upon the size of the area treated.

Q: How soon can I return to my normal activities?

A: There may be some redness and swelling in the treated areas and a mild burning or itching sensation, which usually disappears in a few hours. Redness may persist for a few days, and the skin may take on a "bronzed" appearance. As the microscopic spots are shed over the course of a week or so, the skin color will return to normal. If anesthetic injections are used, there may be some bruising in the injected areas. Very rarely, there may be crusting or blistering in some areas, especially if higher powers are used.

If you have been given oral medication for pain or sedation, you are not to drive until the next morning; otherwise, you may resume your normal activities immediately. No special aftercare is needed in the treated areas, and you may resume your normal skin care regimen immediately.

Q: When will I see the results?

A: Although most patients will see some improvement within a few days after the procedure, it is the collagen remodeling in the deep layers of the skin over the several months after treatment causes the smoothing and and tightening. There may be gradual improvement for up to a year following a series of treatments.

Q: Are Fraxel®  laser treatments permanent?

A: The changes in the epidermis and dermal collagen induced by Fraxel®  Laser treatment are permanent; nevertheless, time, sun exposure, and gravity will continue to take its toll. The Fraxel®  laser "turns back the clock", but doesn't keep the clock from ticking.