What is the Fraxel Laser Treatment?
The Fraxel Laser Treatment 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.
How does the Fraxel Laser Treatment work?
Fraxel Laser Treatment produces thousands of tiny but deep columns of treatment in your skin, known as MicroThermal Zones. This treatment eliminates old epidermal pigmented cells. It also penetrates deeply into the dermis. Just as important, though, are the areas of skin the Fraxel laser leaves untouched.
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.
How many treatments will I need?
With each Fraxel laser treatment, approximately 16%-20% of the skin's surface is treated. Therefore, we recommend a series of four or five Fraxel laser treatments to achieve the optimum result. A patient may purchase one Fraxel laser treatment as a trial. Then, if the patient wishes to complete the Fraxel treatment, the cost of the first treatment will be credited toward the price of a package of four or five Fraxel laser treatments. Fraxel laser treatments are performed at two to four week intervals.
Where on the face or body can the Fraxel Laser Treatment be used?
The Fraxel Laser Treatment 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 decollete, which were not treatable with previouly available methods.
Are there any treatments for sun-damaged or scarred skin besides the FraxelLaser Treatment?
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, such as NLite and CoolTouch II lasers, light chemical peels, mcrodermabrasion and photodynamic therapy can be used, but with less permanent or noticeable results,
Are Fraxel Laser Treatments safe?
Although the Fraxel Laser Treatment 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.
There is a rare risk of oozing, scabbing, darkening or lightening of skin. Scarring is extremely rare (less than 1%.)
Is the Fraxel Laser Treatment painful?
An anaesthetic cream may be applied at least 1 hour prior to the treatment session. For higher power settings, local anaesthetic 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.
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 5 to 7 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.
When will I see the results?
Fraxel laser treatments offer rapid healing and minimal downtime. Patients typically have some swelling and redness. The swelling generally subsides in a day or so, and the redness usually fades over a few days. Patients can apply make-up shortly after their treatment and generally return to normal activity the following day. Patients do not have any oozing or crusting after Fraxel laser treatments.
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.
Are Fraxel laser treatments permanent?
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 Treatment "turns back the clock", but doesn't keep the clock from ticking.
Fraxel laser treatments are Safety-FDA approved
The Reliant Technologies Fraxel Laser System is cleared by the FDA for dermatological procedures requiring the coagulation of soft tissue and for treatment of periorbital wrinkles and pigmented lesions. As of July 27, 2005, the FDA has approved Fraxel for the treatment of Melasma.
