Fraxel Restore, Fractional CO2/Active FX, and Erbium are effective laser resurfacing treatments for wrinkles and scars.
Laser skin resurfacing is often used to smooth such textural imperfection as wrinkles and scars. Perfected over the last five years, fractional CO2 resurfacing laser treatment uses pattern-generated scanners to map out a treatment area targeting only the problem tissue. Erbium type lasers are designed for surface-level scars and wrinkles and have fewer side effects. CO2 lasers heat tissues better than erbium lasers, causing more skin contraction and collagen stimulation; however, downtime is longer and there is more risk of side effects. A comprehensive skin consultation is necessary to determine the best kind of laser treatment for you.
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Below are laser treatments offered at the Rocky Mountain Laser Center specifically designed to reduce wrinkles and scars …
Fraxel Dual 1550/1927 ReStore
Also called fractional photothermolysis, Fraxel is a fractional diode laser designed to minimize scars and wrinkles with a series of treatments. It is approved for use on the face, neck, abdomen, chest, arms, hands and thighs. Fraxel works by targeting tiny areas of skin with a calibrated laser beam. As controlled damage is caused in problem areas, fresh new skin cells grow back.
Who is a candidate for this treatment?
While Fraxel is tolerated well by most patients, if you have experienced problems with wound healing or keloid formation or have used Acutane in the past 12 months, you should avoid this treatment. Patients with darker skin may not be good candidates as the procedure can cause lightening of treated areas.
What is the procedure?
Normally, the treatment takes about 30 minutes and may involve mild to moderate pain. A topical anesthetic may be applied prior to application of laser.
What can I expect afterwards?
Fraxel can accommodate light, moderate or deep laser resurfacing. Because it allows for deep penetration remodeling, it is highly effective for skin tightening, wrinkle removal and youth-enhancing collagen stimulation.
You may experience some redness, bronzing, dryness, and swelling for a day or two, but should be ready to resume normal social activities within five to seven days. Because the Fraxel laser heats up columns of skin with actually perforating the skin, there is some redness and puffiness but little or no crusting.
Fraxel Before and After Photos
Below are real patient before-and-after photos …
Please note that every patient is different. Thus, results may vary patient-to-patient. Please consult with one of our laser treatment specialists to discuss realistic outcomes for your particular situation.
Active FX Fractional CO2 Laser Resurfacing
How does it work?
Tiny but deep columns of light, called microthermal treatment zones, are ‘pushed’ through the microscopic holes of a scanner, creating a custom-made treatment zone. Areas in between these microscopic dots are left unaffected and intact, allowing for a ‘fractional’ treatment that lets skin to heal much more quickly. The diameter, depth and amount of dots can be adjusted to each patient’s specific needs. As the lasered areas heal, scarred and sun-damaged skin cells are removed and the skin is stimulated to create new skin and collagen to smooth out wrinkles and scars.
Who is a candidate for this treatment?
Most patients desiring an improvement in the appearance of wrinkles, scars or prominent pores can have laser resurfacing treatment on the face, neck, chest, arms or hands. Treatment can be calibrated to gentle use, requiring virtually no down time, or more aggressively. Patients with darker skin may not be good candidates.
What can I expect afterwards?
Healing time for fractional resurfacing is much shorter than the two to four weeks of healing once associated with CO2 laser resurfacing. As the skin exfoliates, you may also see flaking similar to that of a minor sunburn.
Erbium Laser Resurfacing
A procedure designed to remedy superficial lines, wrinkles, scars and sun damage on the face, chest and hands while rejuvenating the skin, erbium laser resurfacing uses radio-frequency energy instead of CO2 energy to lay down pixels, or dots, that make skin tighter and smoother as they heal. The laser is designed to treat problem areas with fewer side-effects and complications than other types of lasers. It is primarily used on superficial and moderately deep wrinkles and involves minimal burning of surrounding tissue. Although downtime is shorter, the treatment may not be as effective on deeper wrinkles or scars.
Who is a candidate for this treatment?
Although all skin types can benefit from erbium laser resurfacing, it is often the best choice for patients with darker skin tones.
What can I expect afterwards?
Because the cool light of the erbium laser is less harmful than with other laser treatments, downtime is shorter and healing is more rapid. With less post-operative redness and swelling, patients usually are fully recovered and back to normal activities within seven to 10 days.