I'm interested in learning more about fraxel laser resurfacing. what is fraxel best for treating?
What is Fraxel Laser Resurfacing?
Doctor Answers 11
Until recently, aggressive laser resurfacing of the face (ablative laser treatment) was the only way to achieve superior cosmetic results in rejuvenating significantly aged or sun-damaged skin. Unfortunately, this treatment is associated with open healing, with prolonged recovery time and redness. With the advent of fractionated laser resurfacing (non-ablative laser), specifically the Fraxel laser, significant results can be achieved through a series of “fractional” treatments whereby multiple tiny columns of skin are aggressively treated, with surrounding areas of skin untouched. This enables faster healing than if the entire area were treated at once, and since there is no skin surface disruption, healing times are very short. This treatment eliminates irregular skin discoloration, and stimulates new collagen production, tightening the skin without prolonged recovery. After a series of 2 to 4 Fraxel treatments, the cumulative cosmetic improvement is near more aggressive lasers, but unlike more aggressive lasers, redness and swelling eliminated within 2 to 4 days after each treatment. Fraxel is outstanding for fine wrinkles, mild skin laxity, irregular pigmentation, acne scars, surgical scars, enlarged pores, stretch marks, age spots and Rosacea. It can be used safely on the face, neck, hands, arms, and chest.
Web reference: http://www.shapiroplasticsurgery.com/paradise-valley-skin-klinic/fraxel.php
Until recently, aggressive laser resurfacing of the face (ablative laser treatment) was the only way to achieve superior cosmetic results in rejuvenating significantly aged or sun-damaged skin. Unfortunately, this treatment is associated with open healing, with prolonged recovery time and redness. With the advent of fractionated laser resurfacing (non-ablative laser), specifically the Fraxel laser, significant results can be achieved through a series of “fractional” treatments whereby multiple tiny columns of skin are aggressively treated, with surrounding areas of skin untouched. This enables faster healing than if the entire area were treated at once, and since there is no skin surface disruption, healing times are very short. This treatment eliminates irregular skin discoloration, and stimulates new collagen production, tightening the skin without prolonged recovery. After a series of 2 to 4 Fraxel treatments, the cumulative cosmetic improvement is near more aggressive lasers, but unlike more aggressive lasers, redness and swelling eliminated within 2 to 4 days after each treatment. Fraxel is outstanding for fine wrinkles, mild skin laxity, irregular pigmentation, acne scars, surgical scars, enlarged pores, stretch marks, age spots and Rosacea. It can be used safely on the face, neck, hands, arms, and chest.
Learn more: http://www.shapiroplasticsurgery.com/paradise-valley-skin-klinic/fraxel.php
I love to do Fraxel for my face neck and chest three times a year!
Fraxel is a unique laser because it has the ability to rejuvenate the skin in a non-invasive, effective fashion with minimal downtime. It can be an ideal treatment for sun damaged skin on the face, neck and chest. In addition to brown marks, it can used to improve scars, stretch marks, fine lines and wrinkles and age spots.
By placing tiny columns of energy into the skin, the Fraxel laser promotes the body’s natural healing response and development of new collagen. The Fraxel laser is used fractionally treating a patient’s skin in specific areas, while leaving some skin unaffected nearby, allowing for an easier and less invasive rejuvenation.
The net result is tighter, smoother, and more radiant skin.
Treatment with the Fraxel laser begins by first using a numbing cream to make the procedure comfortable. Generally three treatments are needed for great results. Because the process requires new collagen to form, maximum results take few weeks to show. After each treatment there is about a 1 week period of “downtime” where a patient may experience light redness and discoloration in the skin while the skin is undergoing this healing and rejuvenation.
I love to do Fraxel for my face neck and chest three times a year!
Fraxel is a unique laser because it has the ability to rejuvenate the skin in a non-invasive, effective fashion with minimal downtime. It can be an ideal treatment for sun damaged skin on the face, neck and chest. In addition to brown marks, it can used to improve scars, stretch marks, fine lines and wrinkles and age spots.
By placing tiny columns of energy into the skin, the Fraxel laser promotes the body’s natural healing response and development of new collagen. The Fraxel laser is used fractionally treating a patient’s skin in specific areas, while leaving some skin unaffected nearby, allowing for an easier and less invasive rejuvenation.
The net result is tighter, smoother, and more radiant skin.
Treatment with the Fraxel laser begins by first using a numbing cream to make the procedure comfortable. Generally three treatments are needed for great results. Because the process requires new collagen to form, maximum results take few weeks to show. After each treatment there is about a 1 week period of “downtime” where a patient may experience light redness and discoloration in the skin while the skin is undergoing this healing and rejuvenation.
To know if you are a candidate for laser resurfacing, you need to be evaluated by your dermatologist. The Fraxel Dual laser has two wavelengths that can be used separately or together during a treatment. The 1550nm (erbium) wavelength helps most with textural differences and is my choice for deeper wrinkles, scars and stretch marks. The 1927nm (thulium) wavelength provides more superficial resurfacing that is ideal for pigment, fine lines and pores.
The Fraxel Dual laser has been invaluable in my practice. I treat so many patients who had more sun than they should have in their teens and 20s. When they reach 30 - 50, their skin looks much older than their age. Often they started protecting their faces before the rest of the body, so the ability to improve the skin texture and color safely on the neck, chest, arms and hands in addition to the face provides a very natural appearance. My patients also appreciate the limited 3 - 5 day downtime after each procedure. Procedures can be separated by 4 or more weeks and the number needed will depend on the degree of damage to be improved. In general scars and stretch marks take more treatment than pigment and wrinkles. The place I see the fastest improvement are the eyelids which can look tighter after only 1 or 2 treatments.
The Fraxel can also be combined with other lasers or devices at the time of treatment. Speak with your dermatologist.
I hope that answer was helpful. Best wishes.
To know if you are a candidate for laser resurfacing, you need to be evaluated by your dermatologist. The Fraxel Dual laser has two wavelengths that can be used separately or together during a treatment. The 1550nm (erbium) wavelength helps most with textural differences and is my choice for deeper wrinkles, scars and stretch marks. The 1927nm (thulium) wavelength provides more superficial resurfacing that is ideal for pigment, fine lines and pores.
The Fraxel Dual laser has been invaluable in my practice. I treat so many patients who had more sun than they should have in their teens and 20s. When they reach 30 - 50, their skin looks much older than their age. Often they started protecting their faces before the rest of the body, so the ability to improve the skin texture and color safely on the neck, chest, arms and hands in addition to the face provides a very natural appearance. My patients also appreciate the limited 3 - 5 day downtime after each procedure. Procedures can be separated by 4 or more weeks and the number needed will depend on the degree of damage to be improved. In general scars and stretch marks take more treatment than pigment and wrinkles. The place I see the fastest improvement are the eyelids which can look tighter after only 1 or 2 treatments.
The Fraxel can also be combined with other lasers or devices at the time of treatment. Speak with your dermatologist.
I hope that answer was helpful. Best wishes.
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*Treatment results may vary
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Fractional laser therapies are best to treat skin pigmentation problems, sun spots and sun damage, it will modestly tighten pores as well. Our office uses the Matrix Fractional CO2 Laser (as opposed to Fraxel) and we've found it to be exceptional for skin improvement.
Fractional laser therapies are best to treat skin pigmentation problems, sun spots and sun damage, it will modestly tighten pores as well. Our office uses the Matrix Fractional CO2 Laser (as opposed to Fraxel) and we've found it to be exceptional for skin improvement.
Fraxel had been the pioneer in fractionated laser resurfacing technology, first with re:store utilizing Erbium technology. However, the original Fraxel was found to be more helpful for pigmentation but with rather modest results for acne scarring even after 5 treatments. The new standard of care is Fractional CO2 Laser, e.g. Fraxel Repair, ActiveFx, Mixto if one can afford 6-7 days of downtime where the depth and the energy released are more optimal for acne scarring, rejuvenation, and skin cancer prevention.
Web reference: http://www.drwilliamting.com/What_s_New.html
Fraxel had been the pioneer in fractionated laser resurfacing technology, first with re:store utilizing Erbium technology. However, the original Fraxel was found to be more helpful for pigmentation but with rather modest results for acne scarring even after 5 treatments. The new standard of care is Fractional CO2 Laser, e.g. Fraxel Repair, ActiveFx, Mixto if one can afford 6-7 days of downtime where the depth and the energy released are more optimal for acne scarring, rejuvenation, and skin cancer prevention.
Learn more: http://www.drwilliamting.com/What_s_New.html
The Fraxel laser uses "fractionated" laser technology to deliver laser energy to the skin. Imagine that you want to treat acne scars. Traditional Erbium and CO2 laser resurfacing work to correct acne scars by removing the whole upper layer of skin (epidermis) and part of the lower layer (the dermis). When the skin heals, it heals without the memory of these scars and thus they are improved.
With Fraxel, imagine that instead of removing 100% of the surface area of the skin (like CO2 and Erbium do, we are removing only a portion of it. The portion of skin tissue removed looks similar to the pattern you see when you hold the bristles of a brush up toward your face. All of the tips of the bristles themselves represent where the laser penetrates the skin.
The other difference is that fractional lasers tend to penetrate more deeply than Erbium lasers and can penetrate as deeply as full CO2 resurfacing. Fractional lasers are typically used for wrinkles, acne scars and sun damage.
Web reference: http://www.celibre.com/micropeel.aspx
The Fraxel laser uses "fractionated" laser technology to deliver laser energy to the skin. Imagine that you want to treat acne scars. Traditional Erbium and CO2 laser resurfacing work to correct acne scars by removing the whole upper layer of skin (epidermis) and part of the lower layer (the dermis). When the skin heals, it heals without the memory of these scars and thus they are improved.
With Fraxel, imagine that instead of removing 100% of the surface area of the skin (like CO2 and Erbium do, we are removing only a portion of it. The portion of skin tissue removed looks similar to the pattern you see when you hold the bristles of a brush up toward your face. All of the tips of the bristles themselves represent where the laser penetrates the skin.
The other difference is that fractional lasers tend to penetrate more deeply than Erbium lasers and can penetrate as deeply as full CO2 resurfacing. Fractional lasers are typically used for wrinkles, acne scars and sun damage.
Learn more: http://www.celibre.com/micropeel.aspx
Fraxel is one of the best for "fractional resurfacing". To understand what fractional resurfacing means, imagine an eraser that wipes away the skin- this would be the old CO2 and erbium lasers. The newer fractional ones remove "fractions" of skin leaving behind islands of normal skin that can repair the adjacent areas.
Fractional is great for improving the texture and fine lines of the skin. In addition, it is great for some types of scars such as certain acne and burn scars.
One area of increasing interest is the use of these lasers for stretch marks. Although these are still tough to treat, Fraxel has been used to help their appearance.
This is one of the most popular lasers in the practice because there is minimal downtime.
Fraxel is one of the best for "fractional resurfacing". To understand what fractional resurfacing means, imagine an eraser that wipes away the skin- this would be the old CO2 and erbium lasers. The newer fractional ones remove "fractions" of skin leaving behind islands of normal skin that can repair the adjacent areas.
Fractional is great for improving the texture and fine lines of the skin. In addition, it is great for some types of scars such as certain acne and burn scars.
One area of increasing interest is the use of these lasers for stretch marks. Although these are still tough to treat, Fraxel has been used to help their appearance.
This is one of the most popular lasers in the practice because there is minimal downtime.
Fraxel is the name of one brand of fractional laser. Fractionated lasers treat a fraction of the total skin surface at each treatment session as opposed to total skin resurfacing, allowing for much less downtime and fewer potential side effects. There are different types of fractionated lasers, but in general they are best for fine lines and wrinkles, freckles and sun spots, uneven pigmentation, scarring such as acne scarring, and sometimes can improve the appearance of stratch marks. Fraxel treats texture and pigment and can be used safely anywhere on the body.
Fraxel is the name of one brand of fractional laser. Fractionated lasers treat a fraction of the total skin surface at each treatment session as opposed to total skin resurfacing, allowing for much less downtime and fewer potential side effects. There are different types of fractionated lasers, but in general they are best for fine lines and wrinkles, freckles and sun spots, uneven pigmentation, scarring such as acne scarring, and sometimes can improve the appearance of stratch marks. Fraxel treats texture and pigment and can be used safely anywhere on the body.
Fraxel is a fractionated form of Erbium laser which means it doesn't completely remove the entire top layer of skin also known as the epithelium. It is best for mild sun damage, uneven pigmentation and brown spots, and very mild wrinkles (usually the crepey appearing wrinkles under the eyes). It is slightly more aggressive than a strong TCA peel (like an Obagi Blue Peel) and often requires more than one session for best results.
It can be done with topical anesthesia only in a spa or office setting and the down time is usually 3 days or less. Typically patients note mild swelling and redness followed by bronzing (temporary darkening of the pigment) followed by light peeling of skin.
It is an easy and fast recovery which is the main advantage and it is effective for mild sun damage and wrinkles if done 2-4 times. Usually you separate the treatments by 6 weeks.
Positives:
1. Mild Laser with small amount of down time, very little pain and fast recovery
2. Only topical anesthesia needed in an office or spa setting
3. Can be used on all skin types including the face, neck, and chest and hands
4. Stronger than a chemical peel but not as strong as a CO2 laser
5. Great for mild sun damage and mild wrinkles
5. Good option if you don't want sedation or operating room setting
Negatives:
1. Requires several sessions for best results
2. Treats only very mild wrinkles and mild sun damage
3. Sometimes costs can add up since several treatments are required.
4. Some patients still notice some pain with topical anesthesia during procedure.
Fraxel is a fractionated form of Erbium laser which means it doesn't completely remove the entire top layer of skin also known as the epithelium. It is best for mild sun damage, uneven pigmentation and brown spots, and very mild wrinkles (usually the crepey appearing wrinkles under the eyes). It is slightly more aggressive than a strong TCA peel (like an Obagi Blue Peel) and often requires more than one session for best results.
It can be done with topical anesthesia only in a spa or office setting and the down time is usually 3 days or less. Typically patients note mild swelling and redness followed by bronzing (temporary darkening of the pigment) followed by light peeling of skin.
It is an easy and fast recovery which is the main advantage and it is effective for mild sun damage and wrinkles if done 2-4 times. Usually you separate the treatments by 6 weeks.
Positives:
1. Mild Laser with small amount of down time, very little pain and fast recovery
2. Only topical anesthesia needed in an office or spa setting
3. Can be used on all skin types including the face, neck, and chest and hands
4. Stronger than a chemical peel but not as strong as a CO2 laser
5. Great for mild sun damage and mild wrinkles
5. Good option if you don't want sedation or operating room setting
Negatives:
1. Requires several sessions for best results
2. Treats only very mild wrinkles and mild sun damage
3. Sometimes costs can add up since several treatments are required.
4. Some patients still notice some pain with topical anesthesia during procedure.
Fraxel laser resurfacing is one of many techniques that can be used to resurface the skin in a fractional mode. Today’s lasers are much less invasive than the lasers used many years ago. However, there are multiple versions of fractional lasers—even the Fraxel laser itself comes in 2 versions: one is the Fraxel Restore laser, which is a non-invasive laser that improves sun damaged skin over a series of treatments and has essentially no downtime.
The second Fraxel laser is the Fraxel Repair laser which can improve sun-damaged skin in one to two sessions, but the downtime would be approximately 4-5 days after each laser treatment.
To your health,
Dr. David Goldberg
Fraxel laser resurfacing is one of many techniques that can be used to resurface the skin in a fractional mode. Today’s lasers are much less invasive than the lasers used many years ago. However, there are multiple versions of fractional lasers—even the Fraxel laser itself comes in 2 versions: one is the Fraxel Restore laser, which is a non-invasive laser that improves sun damaged skin over a series of treatments and has essentially no downtime.
The second Fraxel laser is the Fraxel Repair laser which can improve sun-damaged skin in one to two sessions, but the downtime would be approximately 4-5 days after each laser treatment.
To your health,
Dr. David Goldberg
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.
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