WHY IS FRAXEL SUPERIOR TO CO­₂ LASER?

How do the CO₂ and Fraxel laser work?

The CO₂ laser takes the CO₂ laser beam and fractionates, or pixellates that beam into thousands of tiny little shafts of light. These small shafts of light penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin. The skin at that point repairs those small shafts by pushing out the old sun damaged skin and supplanting it with new skin. The “collateral” heat damage also assists in shrinking existing collagen. While Fraxel laser treatment targets aging and sun-damaged skin with microscopic laser columns that penetrate deep into the skin to help the body’s collagen remodeling. Since the laser treats just a small amount of tissue at any given moment, it leaves the surrounding tissue intact, which promotes rapid healing. This treatment resurfaces the skin by stimulating the growth of new, healthy skin cells from the inside out.

How much does Fraxel and CO₂ laser treatments cost?

Contingent upon the patient’s condition and the areas to be treated, the cost of Fraxel ranges from $390 to $1,600 per treatment. Although, the greatest benefit is usually accomplished with an average of 3 to 5 treatment sessions spaced about 2 to 4 weeks apart. While the cost of CO₂ varies, Full face treatment is between $1,400-3,500. The dermatologist will give a specific statement at your consultation. For the most part, up to 2 areas at once can be treated. For example, face and neck or neck and chest would have distinctive prices. More regions at the same visit are not advised because of the potential toxicity of the numbing cream used before the treatment.

Would I be able to go back to work and activities straight off after being treated by CO₂ laser?

No, you should take the rest of that day off to ice and look after the treated region. For the lighter fractional CO₂ treatments, you will require 3-5 days of downtime. For the more in-depth treatments, anticipate 7-10 days of healing before you can go out in public.

How about Fraxel?

The Fraxel laser has just two days of downtime; since it is non-ablative, patients may apply makeup in the days following the treatment.

Are there any medical or cosmetic side effects for the CO₂ laser?

Here is the list of some of the possible complications of fractional CO₂ laser treatments:

Redness:

A pink color may persist for two weeks to two months after the laser surgery. In rare instances, it might last three to six months. This is more typical in patients who have a history of flushing and blushing easily or who as of now have dilated vessels on the surface of the skin.

Wound Healing:

The CO2 laser treatment causes a superficial wound to the skin that takes approximately 2 to 10 days to heal. The external injury of the outer layers of the skin may result in mellow to direct swelling. Crusting is uncommon, yet peeling is sure. Once the surface is treated, it might be sensitive to the sun for approximately 4-6 weeks.

Pigment Changes:

The treated zone may heal with increased or decreased pigmentation. This is uncommon and occurs most often in darker skin and 2-6 weeks after treatment. Hyperpigmentation usually fades in three to six months, however once in a while pigment changes can be perpetual.

Excessive Swelling:

Immediately after laser surgery, there will be swelling of the skin. This is an impermanent condition and will resolve more than three to seven days. Scarring; There is a small possibility of scarring. This includes hypertrophic scars or, once in a while, keloid scars. Keloid scars are thick, raised scar formations. To limit chances of scarring, it is essential to take after post-agent instructions carefully.

Eye Exposure:

Risk of harmful eye exposure to laser surgery is also a side effect that could be encountered. It is imperative to keep your eyes closed and have protective eyewear regularly while the treatment is going on.

Disease; Occasional infections can happen. If not treated expeditiously, these could result in scarring.

What side effects should I expect after Fraxel treatment and how long will they last?

Swelling and redness are the most well-known side effects of Fraxel treatment. Any swelling is typically negligible and subsidies not more than a day or two, and any redness usually fades within a few days. Other impermanent side effects may incorporate minor itching, dry skin, peeling or chipping, and a bronzed skin appearance. There is a constrained risk of disease, hyperpigmentation, or scarring. The intensity and duration of side effects rely upon the aggressiveness of treatment and on your specific healing characteristics. Your physician will give specific instructions about what to anticipate and how to limit any side effects.

Why exactly is Fraxel superior to CO₂ laser treatments?

The reasons are not far-fetched. CO₂ laser treatment creates perforations in the skin, so there is crusting, and the patient looks terrible for seven days. The Fraxel laser heats up columns of skin without “puncturing,” so there is zero crusting, and the patient just looks red and puffy for a few days. Fraxel treatment offers the most advanced new smaller scale laser restoration treatment, one that awakens the subsurface cells, so they rejuvenate themselves naturally, returning skin to its original excellence. Fraxel laser systems have been endorsed by the FDA to treat numerous skin conditions, which include sun spots, acne scarring, melasma and eye wrinkles. They’re safe, easy and gives amazing results. Fraxel treatment repairs damaged skin by treating just a small part of skin at once, leaving the territory surrounded by unaffected, healthy tissue. This “fractional” treatment allows the skin to heal significantly faster than if the whole region were treated immediately, using the body’s natural healing process to create new, healthy, more tightly tissue to replace skin imperfections. Fraxel is unique. The Fraxel laser can penetrate fractions of skin, spot by spot, without breaking the skin’s protective outer barrier. The result is natural stimulation of new collagen without the dread of downtime and risks associated with traditional ablative treatments. The product provides a highly effective, safe and predictable treatment for patients with acne scarring, melasma or hormonal skin discoloration, periorbital wrinkles and sun and age spots. The Fraxel laser passes through the top layer of skin like light through glass, venturing into the dermis beneath to create thousands of tiny, microscopic areas of thermal damage that stimulate the body’s wound healing response, in particular, new collagen production and supplanting of damaged skin surfaces with new epidermal skin.

Does Fraxel treatment hurt?

Most patients describe an increased sensation of heat during the treatment. To limit discomfort, topical anesthesia is used before the procedure, and cold air is utilized in the treatment zone during the procedure. After the treatment, most patients feel like they have a sunburn, which usually diminishes in 1 to 3 hours.

What are the benefits of Fraxel treatment?

Smoother, fresher, young-looking skin, Improved tone, and texture erasing of undesirable brown spots Reduced fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, Improved appearance of acne scars and surgical scars

What have FDA clearances Fraxel treatment gotten?

Wrinkles around the eyes (periorbital wrinkles) Acne Scars, Surgical Scars, Age spots (pigmented lesions) Melasma (sporadic patches of brown skin on the forehead, cheeks, upper lip, and nose) Actinic-solar keratoses (precancerous lesions) Skin were resurfacing.

How are Fraxel treatments performed?

First, your skin will be cleansed. At that point, about an hour before treatment, a topical anesthetic ointment will be applied to the treatment region. The Fraxel procedure takes about 30 minutes for a full face.

Are there any reasons not to be treated with any laser?

Reasons not to undergo a fractional laser treatment may involve the use of medications that increase photosensitivity, use of anticoagulants (some are fine), use of Accutane, chemotherapy, history of trouble healing or scarring, history of bleeding disorders, and pregnancy.