Laser - Fraxel laser
Filling a need
Fractional resurfacing is a breakthrough in improving the quality of the skin. This revolutionary treatment can be helpful in addressing many bothersome skin problems such as wrinkles, acne scars, scars, sun damage, brown spots and other skin problems. The true advantage of the technology is the ability to acheive great results with minimal downtime.
Below is a Baylor Dermatology patient who allowed treatment of one part of her surgical scar with 3 Fraxel sessions. The treated part of the scar has partially faded into the skin improving the appearance.
Below is a Baylor Dermatology patient before and after 3 Fraxel treatments for her acne scars.
Below are pictures of a Baylor Dermatology patient before and after two Fraxel treatments. Both wrinkles and uneven skin color are improved.
Below is a patient with acne scars and the effects of sun damage (brown spots and textural changes) after three Fraxel treatments
Below is a patient before and 6 months after 5 Fraxel treatments. Collagen remodeling is a slow process and the final result after Fraxel is best appreciated 6-12 months after the completion of the series. Although the lighting is slightly different (despite our best efforts), the pictures demonstrate improvement of the scars and pore size.
About the technology
Made possible by the advances in laser communication technology, 125 to 250 microscopic laser beams are delivered into the skin. Each beam heats both the epidermis and dermis, allowing both superficial and deep treatment. Although 1,000 to 2,000 pulses are delivered in each square centimeter, skin cells between the beams are not affected thereby allowing for incredibly quick healing. By treating a whole area such as the face with 3-6 sessions, the whole zone eventually is fully treated.
Side Effects
With numbing cream and the use of a cooling device, most patients rate the pain of the treatment as a 3-5 on a scale of 1-10. Most patients experience 1-2 days of swelling, 2-4 days of redness and 4-7 days of flaking. There is minimal discomfort after treatment and patients may apply cosmetics immediately. The risks of scarring or skin discoloration are extremely low as this technology is very gentle on the skin.
Before treatment:
Typical redness and swelling 24 hours after treatment. Please note that the improvement seen in the wrinkles is partially due to swelling.
Alternatives
Fraxel compares very favorably to other treatments in terms of effectiveness, tolerability and side effects. Alternative treatments exist, however and are good options for some patients, especially given the patient cost of a Fraxel treatment ($1,000/session for the full face, smaller areas are less expensive):
Intense Pulsed Light / Fotofacial
Pro: Great option to remove most redness and brown spots with minimal downtime. Lower cost of treatment.
Con: Much less wrinkle improvement than Fraxel.
Laser Resurfacing / Chemical Peels / Dermabrasion
Pro: Deep peels are of comparable effectiveness to Fraxel.
Con: Effectiveness related to depth of peeling. Deep peels are like deep skin burns and require 1-2 weeks of healing as the skin is raw and oozes. Increased risk of scars and infection.
Microdermabrasion
Pro: No downtime
Con: Minimal improvement. Minimal to zero long term results.
Fillers (Collagen, Restylane, etc.)
Pro: Immediate improvement of wrinkles.
Con: Temporary results. Not helpful for brown spots or redness. Side effects include bruising and allergic reaction.