Fraxel

“The Fraxel Laser by Reliant Technologies is the most powerful 'gentle' laser on the scene today. Patients experience a dramatic repair of Aging and Sun-damaged Skin quickly and with little to no downtime. It is truly a major breakthrough in Laser Technology." - Dermatologist News

Learn about the new Fraxel CO2

Think of your skin as a family portrait or digital photograph in need of high-quality restoration or
touch-up.

Just as a damaged painting is delicately restored one small area at a time, or a photographic image is altered, pixel by pixel, Fraxel™ Laser Treatment improves your appearance by affecting only a fraction of your skin at a time with thousands of tiny microscopic laser spots.

Turn Back the Clock on Aging
After your very first Fraxel Laser Treatment, you will begin to feel the difference in your skin, as it gradually becomes softer, smoother and fresher. Fine lines around your eyes will noticeably fade. So will uneven coloring and the brown spots caused by aging and sun exposure.

The results are so discreet and natural that only you and your doctor will know you've had a laser surgical procedure. After several treatments, your friends and family will marvel at how youthful and healthy your skin looks.

Source - Reliant Technologies
Fraxel Video

Fraxel Laser Treatment produces thousands of tiny but deep columns of treatment in your skin, known as MicroThermal Zones. This treatment eliminates old epidermal pigmented cells. It also penetrates deeply into the dermis. Just as important, though, are the areas of skin the Fraxel laser leaves untouched.

The Fraxel laser is so precise that it penetrates the non-living, protective barrier of the skin, called the stratum corneum, as if it were a window and leaves it completely intact.

For every microthermal zone the laser targets and treats intensively, it leaves the surrounding tissue unaffected and intact. This "fractional treatment" allows the skin to heal much faster than if the entire area were treated at once, using the body's natural healing process to create new, healthy tissue to replace skin imperfections.

Patient Treatment Guide

Areas and Problems  treated by Fraxel:

• Face - Surface wrinkles, brown spots, pigmentation and roughness
• Face, neck and chest - Acne scars
• Neck - Wrinkles and pigmentation
• Chest - Sun damage, wrinkles, freckles, brown spots
• Hands - Age spots, weathered appearance
• Arms - Age spots, rough skin, actinic keratoses

Before starting treatment, Dr. Pilest will discuss which area(s) of your skin is appropriate for treatment, what kind of results you can expect, what to look for after treatment, and how often treatment will be scheduled. Because Fraxel™ Laser Treatment spares healthy tissue, it is effective even on delicate skin areas, such as the neck, chest and hands.

Clinical studies suggest that an effective treatment regime is three to five sessions, spaced about seven days to 14 days apart. However, treatment plans can be very flexible and effective, even spaced by weeks or months if that best meets the patient's needs. By design, each treatment session targets between 12-20% of the skin's surface, depending on the clinical parameters selected. Results are immediate and progressive. Optimal improvement is usually visible in about two to three months.

Preparing for Treatment
Fraxel Laser Treatments can be performed right in the Total Dermatology office using only topical anesthesia in most cases. Treatment is well tolerated and feels like a prickling sensation. The treatment area will be thoroughly washed prior to the procedure. then a layer of topical numbing gel is applied. Once the the numbing gel has taken effect, a clear gel is applied to the treatment area and your Fraxel Treatment begins. With the latest Roller Tips and sophisticated software, no blue dye is needed.

During Treatment
Dr. Pilest will glide the laser hand-piece across the area to be treated...face, neck, chest, hands or desired treatment location. A special cooling device will blow chilled air across the skin as it is being treated. As the hand-piece delivers the laser energy in tiny "dots", you will feel a heated prickling sensation and hear a sound from the machine that resembles radio static. In about 30 minutes, you're done.

What Happens After Treatment
You will experience a mild sunburn sensation for about an hour and then virtually no discomfort. The skin will have a pinkish tone for five to seven days. This is a normal sign that the skin is healing deeply, that dermal tissue is being repaired, and there is good blood circulation. Swelling is minimal and generally resolves in two to three days.

You may apply make-up or shave soon after treatment.
Typically patients find they can go back to work soon after treatment or the next day. Some patients may wish to use Lycogel instead of regular makeup for its special healing and camouflage properties.

What Happens When You go Home
New epidermal skin develops immediately, within 24 hours. This process of skin repair involves:

Bronzing: Your skin will have a bronze appearance that lasts anywhere from three to 14 days, depending on the treatment level.

Flaking: Your skin will naturally and vigorously exfoliate as the reorganized epidermal skin replaces dead tissue. Flaking is similar to that of minor sunburn, but without the associated pain. Use of a moisturizer will mask the appearance of flaking.

Over the following weeks and months, the body repairs the deeper dermal tissues that have been affected by the Fraxel treatment, producing longer beneficial changes associated with a healthy, youthful appearance.

Sunscreen: Be sure to use sunscreen at least twice daily to protect your skin from sun exposure during both the healing phase and for several months after treatment. Apply a moisturizing sun block with an SPF of at least 30-plus. For added protection, use wide-brimmed hats when in direct sunlight.

Safety-FDA approved

The Reliant Technologies Fraxel Laser System is cleared by the FDA for dermatological procedures requiring the coagulation of soft tissue and for treatment of periorbital wrinkles and pigmented lesions. As of July 27, 2005, the FDA has approved Fraxel for the treatment of Melasma.

Fraxel in the News

Treatment Results Page

Fraxel is often combined with the following Treatments:

Thermage for tightening and firming skin and reducing wrinkles
Botox for relaxing furrows, frown lines and crows' feet wrinkles
Cosmelan DePigmentation Program for resistant pigmentation of chloasma and melasma
Skin Rejuvenation Treatments such as Obagi or Chemical Peels
Fotofacial (IPL) for diffuse sun-induced hyper-pigmentation
Photo Dynamic Therapy for actinic keratoses and resistant acne and scarring
Vbeam Laser for veins and redness
Dermal Fillers such as Restylane, Cosmoplast and Hylaform