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Fraxel Laser Tratment (FLT)
Fraxel® Laser Treatment (FLT) is a "fractional" treatment that produces thousands of deep, tiny columns in your skin, called microscopic treatment zones. FLT is "fractional" in that it intensively treats old epidermal pigment cells without affecting any of the surrounding tissue, which reduces healing time and promotes the skin's natural process for creating new, healthier tissue to replace the damaged cells.
Before Fraxel® laser treatment, there were two types of available laser treatments. Bulk ablative laser treatment involves vaporization of entire layers of skin cells at very high temperature. This treatment is very effective but is associated with a high incidence of side effects and typically requires a lengthy healing period. The other previously available laser treatment, bulk non-ablative laser treatment, can have a lower incidence of side effects and little healing time, but requires numerous treatments over many months and has widely variable results. Fraxel® treatments strive to offer the effectiveness of ablative lasers with the benefits of the gentler, non-ablative lasers.
FLT is designed to target aging and sun damaged skin by targeting portions of specific damaged tissue. By creating microscopic "wounds" within the targeted areas well beneath the outer most epidermal layer of skin, Fraxel® Laser treatments trigger the body's natural healing process accelerating the production of collagen and new, healthy skin cells.
FLT has the impact of ablative lasers but the gentler benefits of the
non-ablative treatments. Healing time is significantly accelerated so
there is minimal downtime. Because the Fraxel®
Laser penetrates the
non-living outer layer of skin leaving it completely intact, make-up can
be worn immediately following the procedure. Some patients are able to
return to routine activities, including work and social obligations, the
same day of treatment. Others require a little more time, depending upon
their skin condition and treatment. Please consult your physician to
understand how Fraxel®
Laser Treatment will fit into your schedule.
Swelling and redness are the most common side effects from treatment. If swelling does occur, it is minimal and will subside within a day or two. Redness may occur and will fade within a few days. There is a very limited risk of infection or scarring.
Clinical studies suggest that on average, an effective treatment regimen is 3 to 5 sessions, spaced about 2 to 4 weeks apart. Depending upon your condition and schedule, you and your physician may choose to space treatment sessions even further apart. Results are immediate and progressive. Optimal improvement is usually visible in about 2 to 3 months. This time frame and treatment structure allows for complete healing and replacement of damaged tissue with new collagen and elastin, and viable healthy skin cell growth.
To prepare your skin for treatment, it will be cleansed. A topical anesthetic ointment is applied to the treatment area approximately 60 minutes prior to treatment in order for the anesthetic to take full effect. The procedure takes between 20 to 25 minutes for a full face. The anesthetic ointment is washed off immediately after the treatment.
Most patients describe the treatment as having a "prickling" sensation. The topical anesthetic ointment and air cooling alleviates most discomfort.
During the first 24 hours after treatment, your skin may feel as though
it is sunburned, and it will appear pink or red. Make-up can be worn to
reduce the sunburned appearance. Your skin will naturally bronze over
the next week or two. As you continue treatment, the sunburned to bronze
conditions will repeat. Just like a natural sunburn, your skin will
flake and exfoliate normally. Using a moisturizer will help reduce the
appearance of dry flakes.
Wearing sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher twice a day is especially important. Avoid direct sun exposure during the healing process and for at least 3 months after treatment. Wearing wide brimmed hats is highly recommended when out in the elements.
The Fraxel® Skin Ecology System is a unique line of skincare products designed specifically to enhance and extend the benefits of Fraxel® treatment. Made with natural healing ingredients, this comprehensive regimen moisturizes, soothes and protects your skin - immediately following the procedure and long after. This is available exclusively from Fraxel® physicians.
HOW IT WORKS Think of your skin as a family portrait or digital photograph in need of
high-quality restoration or touch up.
Fraxel® Laser Treatment produces thousands of tiny but deep columns of treatment in your skin, known as microscopic 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 microscopic 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.
At your initial consultation, your physician will determine the best
treatment plan for your desired results. Clinical studies suggest that
on average, an effective treatment regimen is 3 to 5 sessions, spaced
about 2 to 4 weeks apart. Depending upon your condition and schedule,
you and your physician may choose to space treatment sessions even
further apart. Results are immediate and progressive. Optimal
improvement is usually visible in about 2 to 3 months. Because Fraxel®
Laser Treatment spares healthy tissue, it is effective even on delicate
skin areas, such as the neck, chest and hands.
You will experience a mild sunburn sensation for about an hour and then
minimal discomfort. The skin will have a pinkish tone for 5 to 7 days.
This is a normal sign that the skin is deeply healing. Swelling is
minimal and generally resolves in 2 to 3 days.
What Fraxel®
Laser Treats
Anyone double-burdened with watching their teenage acne turn into adult
acne scars knows the profound devastation this circumstance can have on
self-esteem and life-outlook. Yet, every bit as profound is the utter
transformation – physical and emotional – awaiting those who take
advantage of a revolutionary change recently underway in cosmetic
health.
Although the appearance of age spots might seem like an obvious
indication of aging skin, they are instead our body's attempt to protect
itself from sun exposure by overproducing melanin. Also called liver
spots or sun spots, age spots are blemishes that range in color from
dark yellow to black and locate themselves in exposed areas of the body,
such as the face, hands, shoulders, arms or forehead.
Melasma is a skin condition in which patches of brown or tan
discoloration appear on the forehead, cheeks, lips, nose or forearms as
a result of the body’s sudden overproduction of pigment. Sometimes
called the "mask of pregnancy," melasma can afflict anyone, but is most
often triggered in women—especially during the hormonal fluctuations
associated with pregnancy, oral contraceptive use or hormone replacement
therapy.
Wrinkles around the eyes, often called crow's feet, are categorized by doctors as dynamic wrinkles because they develop largely from years of contracting the muscles that display our emotions when we smile, squint, deeply consider, show surprise or laugh. If you've developed such wrinkles yourself, we're happy to hear that life has dealt you so many rich emotional experiences! Now, about those wrinkles.
There are countless cosmetic strategies for reducing crow's
feet-including acid peels,
injectable fillers, collagen, dermabrasion or
traditional laser treatment. These techniques can achieve moderately
successful results for many patients.
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