Laser used – Fraxel Dual (1550nm and/or 1927nm wavelengths).

What it Does

• The 1550nm wavelength tightens and smooths the skin.
• The 1927nm wavelength targets brown spots (melanin).
• Either or both of these wavelengths can be used in a treatment session depending on a patient's treatment goal.

How it Works

• The 1550mn wavelength disrupts the old collagen matrix and causes special cells to migrate to the area which lay down a new collagen matrix. The new collagen smooths and tightens the skin.
• The 1927nm wavelength targets superficial brown pigment (melanin) and breaks it up which allows the body to eliminate it.

Why it's Better

• The Fraxel is “fractionated” meaning that it makes tiny cores in a peg board pattern which leaves bridges of skin intact. The intact skin rapidly spreads over the injured area which is a faster healing process than if the whole surface of the skin were treated.
• The Fraxel laser treatment is gentle with a short recovery time.

Who Can Be Treated – Any skin type from light to dark (Fitzpatrick I - VI).

How to Prepare – Arrive 60 minutes before treatment with the intended treatment area clean and ready to have a topical anesthetic applied. Please also observe the guidelines found in Before Your Laser Appointment.

How it Will Feel – Patients can experience heat or a prickling sensation. Pain is limited by a powerful topical anesthetic and the Fraxel's special cooling system which blows cold air across the skin during treatment. The Fraxel laser can be set at different treatment levels; the settings I use are ones low enough to ensure patient comfort.

Procedure Time – 15 - 30 minutes depending on extent of area treated.

Recovery Time – Usually 2 days of redness and, rarely, swelling, during which you may not want the treated area to be seen by the public. After this, there are 2 days when the skin appears bronzed and has a sandpaper-like texture when touched (this texture is not visible). These are estimates based on the average patient, there is no guarantee that your skin will behave like this. Treatments are done on Saturdays and most of my patients are back at work on Monday and their skin returns to normal by Wednesday.

Treatments Necessary – 1 to 2 sessions for brown pigment and 4 for fine lines.

Procedure Results – Improvement in pigment is seen after 1 week. Fine lines improve more slowly as collagen production is gradual. Around 3 months after the first treatment, the skin becomes noticeably smoother which continues up to 6 months after the last treatment as the deeper layers of the skin continue to heal and produce collagen.

Enhancing Results – The Obagi NuDerm System continues the collagen building and excess pigment protection that the Fraxel Dual initiates. For patients who are olive complected or darker, it is advisable to start this system at least one month before laser treatment to prevent the laser from darkening the skin.