What is fractional laser rejuvenation

Fraxel laser rejuvenation can solve many skin problems. The technology has already become widespread and has almost supplanted other anti-aging laser equipment from the market. The secret of such popularity is that the fractional laser is safer than the conventional one.

What is Fraxel laser rejuvenation

Fractional laser operation scheme

Fraxel technology was developed in the USA in 2004. At that time, the possibility of laser 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 micro-rays of different lengths were applied to the skin at once.Conventional laser heats the entire illuminated area, fractionally acting in a directed manner, burning the parent channels in the skin no wider than 0, 1 mm and deep from 0, 4 to 1, 9 mm.There can be up to several thousand such fractions per 1 cm2of skin - damaged areas alternate with intact ones. In the language of cosmetologists, the areas that have been exposed to radiation are called microthermal treatment zones.

Unlike other stump technology lasers, Fraxel shines evenly through all micro-areas of the skin at a distance of hundreds of millimeters.

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

The erbium laser acts on the upper layers of the epidermis, more precisely, on its lipid layer, in which water molecules accumulate and retain - they are the ones that absorb light energy. Under the influence of high temperature, water evaporates, and the dead cells that make up the top layer of skin are burned by a laser. Such an aggressive effect immediately provokes a protective reaction of the body - increased metabolism, so that the damaged areas of the skin are restored as quickly as possible. On average, it takes 1-2 weeks to heal microtrauma, and up to 3-4 months to fully recover. The procedure is called ablation or ablative rinsing. After the skin becomes cleaner and lighter, pigmentation spots and keratomas disappear, small wrinkles are erased. The first generation devices with a wavelength of 1550 nm (shallow punctured, up to 20-50 microns or 0, 02-0, 05 mm) worked on an erbium laser. Then it became clear that even softer technology was needed - to treat thin and sensitive skin around the eyes / lips. The wavelength was reduced to 1420 nm.

Thulium laser with a wavelength of 1927 nm is intended to heat the upper layers of the dermis in which the collagen-elastin network lies. The protein fibers, of which they are composed, change their structure from thermal action - they bend 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 elasticity and correct themselves. By weakening the collagen framework, the dermis first loses tone, then relaxes and shrinks into folds and the upper layer of skin and wrinkles appear. So, from the high temperature, they again, so to speak, fold into springs and eventually pull the relaxed tissue behind them. Some struggles, including deep ones, leveling out that way. Thulium laser is not used separately for fractional rejuvenation. But its energy is effectively combined with the energy of the erbium laser.

By combining two types of exposure, the manufacturers of laser equipment got a device - the gold standard of anti-age cosmetology.

Fraxel laser radiation works on all layers of the skin, helping to solve various age problems.

With the advent of high-power lasers, rejuvenation treatments have become even more effective. The pulses of light in them are amplified due to the fact that they pass through carbon dioxide molecules. This technology is used by a laser, on which, as on erbium, ablation re-application of the surface is performed. 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 complexion, reducing pores, removing scars and stretch marks, smoothing wrinkles. The process of dermal optical thermolysis 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 commonly sought after by women, although it is sometimes used by men as well. The average age of patients is 30-50 years, plus or minus five years to the lower and upper limits. In fact, there are no strict age limits on whether rejuvenation with a fractional laser is worthwhile, a dermatologist-cosmetologist determines during a preliminary examination. Only that at a younger age the metabolism is already quite active, there are still no visible age changes, and you can work with problematic skin with other, gentler methods. After 50 years, fractional rejuvenation, on the contrary, may no longer give a noticeable result, because the tissues are quite strongly deformed, surface correction will give a short-term result, and may not give at all.

When laser restoration is applied:

The process of facial skin rejuvenation with a fractional laser
  • with enlarged pores and acne scars;
  • with unhealthy pallor, bad complexion;
  • for surface fine wrinkles;
  • for hyperpigmentation and freckles;
  • for scars and stretch marks.

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

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

Contraindications to the procedure

Any procedure using a fractional laser is contraindicated:

  • patients younger than 18 years;
  • pregnant and lactating women;
  • cancer patients;
  • people with cardiovascular disease;
  • diabetics;
  • allergy sufferers (the doctor should be warned about allergies to the laser itself or to anesthetic drugs).

It is not recommended to be exposed to 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 worsen existing problems, so the skin must be healthy.Relative contraindications for laser surface restoration / thermolysis - chemical peeling or facelift performed in the previous month. The possibility of fractional rejuvenation in such cases should be checked with a doctor.

Differences of fractional laser process from other types

The possibility of rejuvenation on a fractional laser was discovered when similar procedures were performed on other lasers - thermolysis was performed on diode and neodymium lasers, deep layers of skin were heated, long-wavelength on erbium and carbon dioxide, complete re-lasing was performedlaser. The result was from both procedures, but it took too long. 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 is still high. When the possibility of metered power supply with light appeared, salons began to switch en masse to new technologies - fractional laser began to be used everywhere.

Even after one procedure, significant changes occur in the tissues, but to consolidate the result, you need to go to the beautician 3-4 times.

There are also new procedures:

  • carbon peel. The upper layer of the skin is treated with a carbon (carbon) gel, and then laser radiation is applied to it - to heat the deep layers of the dermis. The mechanism of action, in general, is standard - regeneration occurs more intensely than high temperature. But thanks to the laser, the gel also penetrates deep enough: so that even after one session the pores are cleansed, the work of the sebaceous glands normalizes, the face becomes cleaner and smoother. The procedure is recommended for patients with oily skin;
  • laser biorevitalization is a procedure that has replaced the injection technique. The gel with hyaluronic acid is applied to the problem area, and then the skin is treated with a laser - usually a diode. With the discovery of lasers, it became clear that even external agents can penetrate deeper, which means that they can work more efficiently if, after their application, the desired area is treated with laser light. This also happens with hyaluronic acid molecules - if in an ordinary cream or gel they are absorbed only superficially and washed off after the first cleansing of the face, then after the laser they penetrate into the deep layers of the epidermis, where all the moisture needed for the skin accumulates.

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

Pros Against
  • Suitable for all skin types;
  • treats multidirectional skin problems;
  • can be performed on both the face and body;
  • short rehabilitation period;
  • gives a long-term, up to 5-8 years result
  • Sickness;
  • high price;
  • likelihood of complications and side effects

How to prepare for the procedure

Preparation for fractional rejuvenation begins with a consultation with a dermatologist. After the examination, he must give the green light for the procedure and personal recommendations. Restrictions usually concern:

  • lifestyle. 3-4 weeks before the procedure, refuse to visit the solarium, and before going out, use a cream with an SPF filter;
  • taking certain medications - antibiotics, blood thinners that are taken by almost every other woman over the age of 30. But to drink a cure for herpes, on the contrary, is worth it;
  • Herpes on the face
  • cosmetic procedures. 2 weeks before the procedure, it is recommended not to perform any other procedures for cleansing and rejuvenating the face, it is better to refuse even a home peeling, so as not to injure the skin once again, and switch to gentle care.

You have to come to the salon without makeup.

It is recommended not to drink a lot the day before and on the day of the session - to avoid tissue edema.

If there is a tendency to develop herpes, it is recommended to take antiviral drugs during the preparation for the procedure.

How to perform the procedure in the salon

Procedure Procedure:

  1. The first thing a doctor does is disinfect the skin and apply anesthetics. Application anesthesia is usually sufficient.
  2. Then apply the contact gel needed to make the laser handle glide more easily on the skin.
  3. The nozzles are of different diameters: 7x7 mm or 15x15 mm. During one activation, 1-2 cm of2skin is lightened, so the session lasts quite a bit of time. It takes about half an hour to treat the face and neck, and about 10 minutes for the hands.
  4. Unpleasant sensations usually do not occur during the procedure, but after it, when the anesthesia begins to recede. When the skin is illuminated with a laser, it feels warm, burning and tingling, but bearable; because the burn of the micro area is easier to notice than when one directed beam would burn the top layer of skin inch by inch.

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

On the second or third day after the procedure, when the edema subsides, a slight matte tan will appear on the skin, the tone will become smoother, the complexion will be refreshed. It takes time for the skin to recover, about a month. After that time, you will notice the lifting effect, improving the quality of the skin - that is, increasing its density, elasticity, reducing pores, lightening age spots.To consolidate the result, it is necessary to perform 3-4 procedures at intervals of a month.After another 3-4 months, when the collagen-elastin frame is restored, the face will tighten even more, wrinkles will disappear, the face will look 5 years younger, or even more. If all the doctor's recommendations are followed, this condition can be maintained for several years. In salons, they avoid making accurate predictions because no anti-aging procedure invalidates the laws of aging.

Before and after fractional facial rejuvenation

Judging by the reviews, the result can last up to 3-5 years. Longer is unlikely: irreversible age-related changes can only slow down, but then they will reappear and the course of treatment will need to be repeated.

Patient before and after fractional rejuvenation - photo

What can be complications and how to avoid them

Complications are possible even if the doctor fully follows the procedure. Whether they are or not depends on the patient's health condition and individual reaction to the procedure. The responsibility for carrying out fractional rejuvenation in the presence of contraindications lies with the patient - if he knew about them, but did not warn the doctor or hide from him important information about the diseases suffered, procedures performed and drug allergy.

Nearly 15 years of practice have shown that after fractional rejuvenation side effects can occur such as:

  • acne;
  • herpes;
  • age spots;
  • persistent redness of the skin (erythema);
  • permanent tissue edema.

No cases of keloid scars and tumorshave been reported.

Rehabilitation period

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

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

Factional Laser Facial Skin Rejuvenation Reviews

"Anesthetic ointment is applied before the procedure. The ointment also varies. I had a pain-relieving effect in 15 minutes. The procedure itself follows. The doctor showed me the effect of the laser first on a sheet of paper. The holes are burned at a distance of1 mm apart. Then they burned me . . . The procedure took 15 minutes: face and neck. It is uncomfortable but quite bearable. The problems start when the anesthetic ointment stops working. It is an elementary burn and the consequences are the same as withThe whole face is red, swollen, burnt, so it is recommended to do the procedure on Friday night. Strong redness disappeared sometime by Saturday night (in one day a lot of brown crusts formed in the places of combustion, but the procedure is good because the next day you can use decorative cosmostikuoh and cover everything up. On the third day in the evening you need to take a bath or go to the beach. Massage the steamed face with your fingertips so that the crusts fall off. Do not use peeling! The effect grows gradually. After the first procedure, the oval of the face was tightened, the vessels around the nose disappeared. For full effect, my doctor prescribed me 4 procedures with a break per month. Keep in mind that Fraxel is lighter for brunettes because it is similar to sunburn. "

"I did DOT laser rejuvenation. Day 1. The procedure is painful. I was anesthetized for an hour. But it still hurts. It smells like burnt meat. Immediately after the procedure the appearance is normal, only the eyes are swollen. The face hurts 2-3hours . . in the evening begins, to put it mildly, swelling . . . The view of a homeless woman with three stations. Day 2. In the morning there is horror! gradually opening Herpes 2 was crawling on her lower lip. The doctor warned me that if the herpes lived in the body, it would surely come out. So it came out. Health is impossible . . . Day 3. No pain. The swelling slowly subsides. The crust on the face. Look scary. Day 4. The bark gradually begins to disappear. There is no pain. The face is strange but not terrible. Day 5. The bark is removed. The face is pink, like after a severe burn. The skin is like a baby. All creams, all masks under the broom. Lips healed Day 9 - Feast for the eyes! Try in the mirror, I can't see enough. Turgor jis completely different. Under the eyes (my most painful place) everything is smooth. Not a single wrinkle. I don't know what will happen next. But for today, the 10th day, I am VERY happy. "

"I was lucky enough to own the heaviest scars on my face. Namely, shredded and boxy. If anyone doesn't know, these scars are characterized by sharp torn edges. I started this epic with their treatment 4 years ago. I knew of a variety of different methods. and I succumbed to the doctor's persuasion to do a fractional laser surface treatment on the Dot device. By the way, the doctor promised to make me a perfectly smooth face in 3 procedures. I intellectually realized it was impossible. I finally have complex scars. But hope burned in me. Comeis the day of the first procedure. Oh God! It was hellishly painful! The smell of burnt skin was still coming to an end. I had to sit at home without going out for about a week, endlessly smearing my face with a tissue regeneration stimulator and being afraid of my reflection in the mirror becauseAfter 6-7 days, I was already risking going out on people. The redness subsided, but the scars were in place. To my surprise, my whole face became a small hole in the dots. were traces of odlaser. I didn't expect that! They promised perfect smoothness. And finally, they added irregularities. "Well, " I thought, and moved on to another procedure. And then on the third. Personally, my eyes are dazzled by such smoothness. In my opinion, nothing has changed! The traces in the shape of a laser grid are, by the way, still with me. They are not conspicuous, but if you look closely, you can see them. I secretly expel them with ultrasonic massage, meso scooter and peelings. And on Dot, I’m not even a foot anymore! That’s absolutely stupid for my type of scar! "

Fractional rejuvenation certainly has a number of advantages. But there are negative criticisms from patients, there are cases when even one procedure caused health problems in people. This happened for various reasons, often due to contraindications for laser rejuvenation. To protect yourself from possible negativity after the procedure, be sure before that - go to the doctors, get tested, listen to not one, but several cosmetologists. Still, safety and health are two inseparable things.