Fraxel
The Fraxel® is a group fractional skin resurfacing lasers from Reliant Technologies. They are FDA approved for the treatment of wrinkles, age spots, texture, pigmentation and scars. The product line from Reliant includes : Fraxel® Re:Store is a non-ablative laser that corrects moderate imperfections such as periorbital wrinkles, pigmented lesions, and actinic keratosis. Fraxel® Re:Pair offers tissue tightening, texture improvements and wrinkle reduction with an ablative laser. And the Fraxel® RE:fine: the gentlest treatment, works to eliminate fine lines, age spots and melasma in 4-6 treatments with no downtime. The different strengths of the Fraxel laser are able to offer customized treatment plans for the various stages of skin care needs.
The treatments work by treating a ‘fraction’ of the skin, using an objective lens and adjustable beam to determine the depth of the laser penetration within the dermis. The laser targets a pattern of skin leaving micro portions of the skin intact, generally in a dot or pixel like pattern. The intact areas maintain the tissue’s stability as the treated areas begin to heal, assisting it in healing faster. Topical anesthesia and an air cooling system can be used for patient comfort during the treatment, as the areas treated can feel hot with the Fraxel Re:Store and Repair. Typically 2-5 passes from the laser over the skin will occur during each session.
The laser can treat all areas of the body safely. Healing time is approximately 4-7 days. The first few days after treatment, the skin may feel like sand paper, as it begins to slough off the old skin.
Additional side effects are redness and swelling. The greatest improvement can be seen between 2-3 months after last treatment, giving the skin time for complete healing. Most patients require 2-4 treatments.
Costs can range from $500-$3500 per treatment. Procedure time takes 30-60 minutes, making it a relatively quick procedure. Results are long lasting, but not permanent, as we cannot stop the aging process, and future treatments may be needed. Fractional laser resurfacing can be used in conjunction with injectables such as BOTOX cosmetic and dermal fillers for very effective and satisfying results. |
