What is Fractional Laser Rejuvenation?

Fraxel laser rejuvenation can solve many skin problems. The technology has already spread, almost displacing other laser equipment for anti-aging procedures from the market. The secret of such popularity is that the fractional laser is safer than the conventional one.

What is Fraxel laser rejuvenation

Fraxel technology was developed in the US in 2004. At that time, the possibility of laser light rejuvenation was already known. But the developers of the new method went further: they changed the structure of the laser beam. Instead of a narrowly directed beam of light, several hundred microbes of different lengths were applied simultaneously to the skin.A conventional laser heats the entire illuminated area, the fractional laser acts on the spot, burning germ channels in the skin no more than 0. 1 mm wide and 0. 4 to 1. 9 mm deep.For 1 cm²of the skin, there may be up to several thousand such fractions - the damaged areas alternate with intact. In the language of cosmetologists, areas that have been exposed to radiation are called microthermal treatment zones.

Unlike other lasers with stump technology, Fraxel glows evenly in all micro-areas of the skin at a distance of centimeters.

There are many fractional rejuvenation techniques because manufacturers have taken into account that people age differently - each type of aging has its own specific age-related changes. As a source, technology developers took two types of lasers - erbium and thulium.

The Erbium laser acts on the upper layers of the skin, more specifically on the lipid layer, where water molecules accumulate and retain - they are the ones that absorb the light energy. Under the influence of high temperature, water evaporates and the dead cells that make up the upper layer of the skin are burned with a laser. Such an aggressive effect immediately triggers a protective reaction of the body - increased metabolism, so that the damaged areas of the skin are restored as soon as possible. On average, it takes 1-2 weeks for minor injuries to heal and up to 3-4 months for it to fully recover. The process is called abstraction. After the skin becomes clearer and lighter, the pigment spots and corneas disappear, the fine wrinkles disappear. The first generation device with a wavelength of 1550 nm (penetrates shallow, up to 20-50 microns or 0, 02-0, 05 mm) operates on an erbium laser. It then became clear that even softer technology was needed - to treat thin and sensitive skin in the eye / lip area. The wavelength was reduced to 1420 nm.

The Thulium laser with a wavelength of 1927 nm is intended for heating the upper layers of the skin, in which the collagen-elastin lattice is located. The protein fibers, of which it is composed, change their structure by thermal action - they fold and condense. If you visualize them: they look like springs - but with age from active facial expressions and under the influence of gravity, they lose their elasticity and flatten. As the collagen framework weakens, the skin first loses its tone, and then hangs and collects in the folds and the upper layer of skin and wrinkles appear. So, from the high temperature, again, as it were, they fold into springs and over time pull the hanging mast behind them. Some wrinkles, including deep wrinkles, are smoothed out. The Thulium laser is not used separately for fractional rejuvenation. But its energy is effectively combined with that of an erbium laser.

Combining two types of exposure, laser equipment manufacturers have taken the device - the gold standard of anti-era cosmology.

Fraxel laser irradiation works on all layers of the skin, thus helping to solve various age-related problems.

With the advent of high power CO2 lasers, rejuvenating treatments have become even more effective. The light pulses in them are amplified due to the fact that they pass through the carbon dioxide molecules. This technology is used by a laser, in which, as well as in the erbium, the abstract reintegration takes place. But the energy of the CO₂laser penetrates much deeper - up to 300 microns or 0. 3 mm. The technology allows you to achieve a visible improvement in the quality and texture of the skin: improving the skin, reducing pores, removing scars and stretch marks, smoothing wrinkles. A dermal optical thermolysis process is also performed using a carbon dioxide laser, when the radiation affects even deeper layers of the skin.

For fractional laser rejuvenation

Fractional laser rejuvenation is more often in demand among women, although sometimes men use it as well. The average age of patients is 30-50 years, plus or minus five years in the lower and upper limits. In fact, there are no strict age limits if it is worth rejuvenating using a fractional laser, a dermatologist-cosmetologist determines in a preliminary examination. It is just that at a young age, the metabolism is already quite active, there are no visible age-related changes yet and you can work on problem skin with other, milder methods. After 50 years, fractional rejuvenation, on the other hand, can no longer give a remarkable result, because the tissues are deformed quite strongly, the superficial correction will give a short-term effect and, perhaps, will not give at all.

When laser repositioning is applied:

• with enlarged pores and traces after acne.
• with unhealthy paleness, bad complexion.
• for superficial fine wrinkles.
• for hyperpigmentation and freckles.
• for scars and stretch marks.

Fractional thermolysis is suitable for wrinkles, creases and creases on the face, neck, décolleté, loss of tone and sagging skin.

Women say that after Fraxel the skin looks younger than its age for 3-5 years, although this does not apply to everyone.

Contraindications to the procedure

Any procedures that use a fractional laser are contraindicated:

• patients under 18 years of age.
• pregnant and lactating women?
• cancer patients?
• people with heart and vascular disease.
• diabetics?
• allergy sufferers (a doctor should be alerted to allergies to the laser itself or to anesthetics).

It is not recommended to expose yourself to the action of the laser if the skin in the area of ​​the procedure is injured, inflamed or covered with a rash, herpes, dermatitis, psoriasis.The procedure can only aggravate existing problems, so the skin needs to be healthy. Related contraindications for laser regeneration / thermolysis - chemical exfoliation or facelift performed last month. The possibility of fractional resuscitation in such cases should be checked by a physician.

Differences of the fractional laser process from other types

The possibility of fractional laser rejuvenation was discovered when similar procedures were performed on other lasers - thermolysis was performed in a diode and neodymium, the deep layers of the skin were heated, erbium and carbon dioxide were irradiated with a long wavelength. The result was from both processes, but he had to wait a long time. After sanding, surface treatment, the skin recovered for a month and a half - not all patients were satisfied with this period. In addition, the risk of side effects remained high. When the possibility of a dose of light energy arose, hairdressers began to turn en masse to new technologies - the fractional laser began to be used everywhere.

Even after a procedure, there are significant changes in the tissues, but to consolidate the result, you have to go to the beautician 3-4 times.

There are also new procedures:

• carbon peeling. The upper layer of the skin is treated with a carbon gel (carbon) and then laser irradiation is applied on it - to warm the deep layers of the skin. The mechanism of action, in general, is typical - regeneration is more intense than high temperature. But thanks to the laser, the gel also penetrates quite deeply: so that even after one session, the pores are cleansed, the work of the sebaceous glands is normalized, the face becomes cleaner and smoother. The procedure is recommended for patients with oily skin.
• Laser bioremediation is a process that has replaced the injection technique. The hyaluronic acid gel is applied to the problem area and then the skin is treated with a laser - usually a diode. With the discovery of the laser, it became clear that even external factors can penetrate deeper, which means that they can work more effectively if, after their application, the desired area is treated with laser light. This is also the case with hyaluronic acid molecules - if in an ordinary cream or gel they are absorbed only superficially and rinsed off after the first cleansing of the face, after the laser they fall into the deep layers of the skin, where all the necessary moisture for the skin accumulates.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the laser procedure - table

Advantages	Disadvantages
Suitable for all skin types. treats multidirectional skin problems. can be performed on both the face and body. short recovery period? gives long-term results, up to 5-8 years	Pain? high cost? the possibility of complications and side effects

How to prepare for the process

Preparation for fractional rejuvenation begins with consultation with a dermatologist. After the examination, he should follow up on the procedure and personal recommendations. Restrictions usually apply to:

• way of life. 3-4 weeks before the procedure, you should refuse to visit the solarium and before going out, use a cream with SPF filter.
• taking certain medications - antibiotics, blood thinners that almost every second woman over the age of 30 takes. On the contrary, taking medicine for herpes is worth it.

• aesthetic procedures. 2 weeks before the procedure, it is recommended not to perform other procedures for cleansing and rejuvenating the face, it is better to leave even the peeling at home, so as not to injure the skin again and go to gentle care.

You must come to the salon without makeup.

It is recommended that you do not drink too much the day before and the day of the session - so that there is no swelling of the tissues.

If there is a tendency for herpes, it is recommended that you take antiviral medicines while preparing for the procedure.

How the procedure is performed in the living room

Procedure for the procedure:

1. The first thing a doctor does is disinfect the skin and apply an anesthetic. Application anesthesia is usually sufficient.
2. Then a contact gel is applied, which is necessary to facilitate the sliding of the laser handle on the skin.
3. The nozzles have different diameters: 7x7 mm or 15x15 mm. During an activation, 1-2 cm²of the skin is illuminated, so the session requires very little time. It takes about half an hour to heal the face and neck and about 10 minutes on the hands.
4. Unpleasant sensations usually occur not during the procedure, but after it, when the anesthesia begins to subside. When the skin is illuminated with a laser, it feels hot, burning and tingling, but tolerable. because the burning of micro-areas is easier to perceive than if a directed beam burned the top layer of skin centimeter by centimeter.

What will be the result after the procedure and when will it appear

On the second or third day after the procedure, when the swelling subsides, a light matte tan will appear on the skin, the tone will become smoother, the skin will refresh. It takes time for the skin to recover, about a month. After this period, a lifting effect will be felt, an improvement in the quality of the skin - that is, an increase in its density, its elasticity, a reduction in pores, a reduction in age spots.To consolidate the result, you need to perform 3-4 procedures at one month intervals.After 3-4 months, when the collagen-elastin framework is restored, the face will become even tighter, wrinkles will disappear, the face will look 5 years younger or even more. If all the doctor's recommendations are followed, this condition can persist for several years. In salons, they avoid making accurate predictions, because no anti-aging procedure cancels out the laws of aging.

Judging by the reviews, the result can last up to 3-5 years. It is more likely to be longer lasting: age-related irreversible changes can only slow down, but then they will reappear and the course of treatment will have to be repeated.

Patient before and after fractional resuscitation - photo

What complications can be and how to avoid them

Complications are possible even if the doctor is fully monitoring the procedure. Whether or not it depends on the patient's state of health and the individual response to the procedure. The patient is responsible for performing fractional resuscitation in the presence of contraindications - if he / she knew but did not notify the doctor or conceal important information about the diseases he / she suffered, the procedures performed and the drug allergy.

Nearly 15 years of practice have shown that after fractional rejuvenation there may be side effects such as:

• acne?
• herpes?
• age points?
• persistent redness of the skin (erythema);
• persistent tissue swelling.

No cases of keloid scars and tumors were recorded.

Recovery period

Immediately after the procedure, patients experience pain and severe tissue swelling. It will be easier if you regularly apply, every 3-4 hours, an ice pack (ice cubes wrapped in a napkin or towel or an ice water bottle) to the treated area of ​​skin. You can go out / to work the next day, but it would be better to wait at home for 2-3 days, doing compressions and lubrication of the skin with tissue regeneration stimulant. No physical activity, sunbathing or even a hot shower. Rest, hot shower, cream and compresses - for at least 2 days.

Then the skin will heal - first dry crusts will form and then they will start to peel and fall off.You do not need to touch, let alone tear them.Alcohol-based cosmetics (lotions, tonics) for the recovery period should be discarded. Decorative cosmetics are allowed 2-3 days after the procedure.

Fractional Laser Skin Rejuvenation Reviews

"Before the procedure itself, an anesthetic ointment is applied. The ointments are also different. I had the effect of relieving the pain in 15 minutes. The procedure itself follows. My doctor showed me the result of the laserfirst on a sheet of paper. The holes are burned at a distance of 1 mm from each other. Then they burned me . . . The procedure lasted 15 minutes: face and neck. It is unpleasant, but quite tolerable. Problems start when the effect of the anesthetic ointment ends. It is an elementary burn and the consequences are the same as the burn. First of all, it is better to use an ointment that contains a cooling ingredient. Also, moisturize your face more often with cold water. The severe redness has disappeared. somewhere until Saturday night (in one day) Many brown crusts formed on the burning points, but the process is good because on the second day you can use decorative cosmetics and cover everything. On the third day in the evening you have to take a bath or go to the bathroom. Massage the steamed face with your fingers so that the crusts fall. Do not use scrub! The result increases gradually. After the first procedure, the oval of the face tightened, the vessels around the nose disappeared. For the full result, my doctor prescribed 4 procedures with a break per month. Keep in mind that Fraxel is easier on brunettes as it is similar to sunburn. "

"I did a DOT laser rejuvenation. Day 1. The procedure is painful. I was stunned for an hour. But it still hurts. It smells like burnt meat. Immediately after the procedure, the appearance is normal, only swollen eyes. The face hurts for 2-3 hours . . . the night begins, how to put it mildly, swelling . . . The look of a homeless woman from three stations Day 2. There is terror in the morning! No pain But the look of a Tajik and a man. The skin darkensThe eyes are narrow. The face is very swollen. By nightfall, the eyes gradually open. Herpes 2 crawls on the lower lip. The doctor warned me that if the herpes lives on the body, it will definitely come out. So it came out. Beauty is impossibleDay 3. No pain, the swelling slowly subsides, the crust on the face looks scary, day 4, the crust gradually disappears, there is no pain, the face is strange but not terrible, day 5, the crust comes outThe face is pink, as after aafter intense sunburn. The skin looks like a baby. Eat what can not be offered in hugeAll creams, all masks under the broom. The lips healed. On the 9th day - a feast for the eyes! try myself in the mirror, I can not see enough. Turgor is completely different. Under the eyes (my most painful point) everything is fine. Not a wrinkle. I do not know what will happen next. But for today, the 10th day, I am very happy. "

"I was lucky to own the hardest scars on my face. That is, scars with scraps and boxes. If one does not know, these scars are characterized by sharp edges. 4 years ago I started this epic with theI knew about the variety of different methods and succumbed to the doctor 's persuasion to make a fractional laser revolution on the Dot device. , I have complicated scars. But hope burned inside me. The day of the first procedure came. Oh my God! It was painfully painful! The smell of burnt skin was still over. At home, I had to sit without going out for about a week, to smear my face endlessly with a tissue regenerating stimulant and to be afraid of my reflection in the mirror, because there they showed Kruegger in a female formAfter 6-7 days, I was already in dangerto go out to people. The redness subsided, but the scars were in place. To my surprise, my whole face became a small dot. These were laser marks. This I did not expect! They promised perfect softness. And in the end, they added irregularities. "Well, okay, " I thought and went to the second procedure. And then to the third. Personally, my eyes are dazzled by such softness. In my opinion, nothing has changed! By the way, there are traces in the form of a grid from the laser. They are not impressive, but if you look closely, you can see them. I slyly remove them with an ultrasonic massage, scooter and peels. And at Dot, I'm no longer a leg! It's totally silly for my scar type! "

Fractional rejuvenation definitely has many advantages. But there are negative reviews from patients, there are cases where even one procedure has caused difficulties in human health. This has happened for a number of reasons, often due to contraindications to laser rejuvenation in the first place. To protect yourself from possible negativity after the procedure, play it safe before - go to the doctors, try, listen to one, but several cosmetologists. However, safety and health are two inseparable things.