Will the Active FX laser remove festoons or malar bags? How about the lines above the lip? Thank you!

Thank you for your question. Lines above the lip are well treated with any fractional CO2, Active FX is just one of many good ones. Festoons are not well treated, and will only slightly reduce in size. I hope this helps!

Thank you for the great question.  The Active Fx provides excellent rejuvenation results by improving fine lines and dark spots.  It is excellent for wrinkles, including lip lines.  It can also help lines around the eyes.  However, sometimes festoons and malar bags require surgical intervention. 
If you would like to learn more about the procedure I recommend an in person consultation with a board certified facial plastic surgeon or dermatologist with cosmetic training.

Ablative fractional laser skin resurfacing can be used to treat both malar bags and upper lip lines.  Aggressive skin resurfacing is normally required to treat these conditions and this should only be performed by experts who are highly experienced in performing these treatments.  Overly aggressive treatment can lead to scarring and dissatisfaction.  Be very careful to find a highly experienced laser surgeon

Thank you for your question.  Active Fx (a form of fractional CO2 laser) is a great treatment for fine lines around the lower eyelid and around the mouth.  For treatment of festoons or malar bags, it is best to examine you in person for a more complete treatment plan, but CO2 laser is not usually the first line of treatment for this area.  Instead, a simple surgical procedure (lower blepharoplasty) may be best for treatment of any lower eyelid 'puffiness' or 'bags'.  Active Fx is a great tool for treatment of fine lines around the mouth.  Often in combination with a deeper form of fractional CO2 laser (Total Fx = Deep Fx + Active Fx), this will greatly improve fine lines in this area.  This all can be done comfortably in one setting with a skilled facial plastic surgeon who performs both the lower blepharoplasty as well as ActiveFx or TotalFx.  I hope this helps and best wishes to you. 

Co2 laser works great for this , but it depends how advanced they are.  My suggestion is posting photos or seeing someone who is a laser expert as most doctors who does this for general conditions like aging or scars will not know how to be as aggressive (or do it safely) given this is not something they treat normally.  Best, Dr. Emer.

The Active Fx, with and without the Deep Fx addition, provides excellent results for a variety of skin issues.  This fractional CO2 laser, which uses Ultrapulse technology, is excellent for treating fine to very deeply etched lines and wrinkles, including lip lines.Using the Active Fx/Deep Fx combination some improvement in festoons and malar bags will be seen, but often festoons and malar bags require additional treatments, which may include surgical intervention.The following link provides more information.I hope this helps.

Active FX is an excellent option for both malar bags and line above the lips.  Please read my article for scarless eyelid surgery below link.  An in-person examination would be best to determine if you are a good candidate based on your skin color and other factors.  Best of luck. Dr. Michael Omidi









An in-person exam with a
board-certified plastic surgeon is the best way to assess your needs and
provide true medical advice.

ActiveFX is the
superficial component of the UltraPulse fractional laser, one of, if not the
most sophisticated CO2 laser made. It does work well for many of the lines
above the lip and for any lines around the eyes. Festooning around the eyes may
need several treatments to have its biggest impact, and the skill level of the
surgeon here is paramount to have the best possible outcomes. Please consult
with a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon to learn the best
options for you.

Active FX CO2 laser is a very good treatment for lines of the upper lip. It usually improves them a lot but does not completely eradicate them. Festoons of skin on the lower eyelids are not as well treated with the laser. It can tighten skin some on the lower lid but festoons are better treated with lower eyelid surgery called blepharoplasty. You would be best to see a surgeon who performs both eyelid surgery and laser in order to get the most informed consultation. Good luck.

It would be particularly helpful to post a photo of your eyes and mouth as, without more information, it can be difficult to discuss more specifically what can be done to improve your appearance around these areas. There is often some confusion regarding malar festoons vs. malar mounds vs. lower lid fat herniation. True festoons represent severe excess skin and muscle sagging along the lower edge of the lower lid. Malar festoons can be improved with laser but often require a surgical procedure, such as a lower external blepharoplasty, to be addressed fully. Malar mounds, which represent swelling over the cheek bone, do not typically respond well to laser but can improve with hyaluronidase or strategic filler placement. ActiveFX is a laser mode available with the Lumenis Ultrapulse CO2 fractional laser and represents an advanced delivery method that limits excessive skin heat damage. ActiveFX is effective around the eyelids due to the relative thin nature of the skin. Around the mouth, you may need a more deeply-penetrating laser procedure, such as the DeepFX, also available with the Lumenis laser. Combining both procedures (TotalFX) can afford the best results. It is important for you to meet with your surgeon, discuss your concerns, have a thorough evaluation and obtain an understanding of what is causing the issue and how to solve it. In addition, your provider should pay attention to your skin type as well as any other concurrent skin disorders. Best of luck to you :)!