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Ablative indicates that tissue is vaporized by the laser. Profractional is a mode of ablative fractional erbium laser resurfacing with the Sciton laser. "Fractional" means that instead of treating 100% of the surface area (which means slower healing and more downtime) a portion of the surface area is treated with each laser session-- for example 22%. The untreated microscopic areas of skin provide for the more rapid healing seen in fractional resurfacing. Mark Lucarelli, MD, FACS Madison, WI
Fractional laser is an amazing and highly effective treatment in our office. We use the laser treatment to help with acne scars, large pores, fine wrinkles, tissue collagen loss, scars, sebaceous hyperplasia, active acne, and for brightening dark pigmentation. Although there are very strong fractional lasers such as CO2 laser, we use lighter treatments for corrective skincare and maintenance of results. Our Thulium fractional laser, clear and brilliant laser, and Ultra Thulium laser are excellent options in our clinic. We also perform CO2 fractional and erbium depending on skin tone and tolerance for downtime. Patients do have to use a Melarase cream before and after treatment to help further reduce pigmentation after laser. Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads can seriously improve surface sun damage and UV related pigmentation. Dark spots can improve with these treatments. I recommend fractional laser for incisional scars as well, especially after plastic surgery. Best,Dr. Karamanoukian Realself100 Surgeon
Profractional is a brand of fractional lasers created by Sciton. These lasers are ablative and do a phenomenal job for scars if used properly.
You are right to be confused byt the word Fraxel and ablative or nonablative as this is a marketing choice by them to have some ablative and nonablative lasers all called Fraxel then they add words like restore of repair. The fraxel is a brand with many different laser types under it like Ford automotive has an Explorer and an Taurus and a Mustang, etc. All different, yet all Ford's . So the Profractional is an ablative erbium yag laser which has been proven to heal faster and carry less risks of unwanted side effects than other ablative lasers using the carbon dioxide platform (CO2). So when picking a laser you do need to know whether they are ablative with some downtime or nonablative with no downtime or for many still with some downtime they call bronzing of the skin as it flakes off.
Ablative lasers are those that vaporize the epidermis and papillary dermis. This includes CO2 and Er YAG. They can be used to remove the entire epidermis, either full or partial thickness. Nonablative devices do not wound the epidermis. These include IPL, radiofrequency,...
It really depends on what you are treating. If its acne scars, I like a 3-4 month interval as collagen stimulation is max at that time. If its for pigmentation, we can squeeze the treatments every 3-4 weeks (if the parameters are say 100 microns, as your skin recovers within 5 days)...
It really is not a question of which laser goes deeper. The more important factor is how each of the lasers interacts with your facial skin. The CO2 laser tends to transfer much more heat to the skin, hence the reason for incresed downtime, redness, etc. The erbium...
