Fraxel laser therapy for facial skin. Indications, before and after photos, reviews

Laser therapy for facial skin Fraxel, thanks to the positive feedback from many patients, is familiar to women who regularly visit beauty parlors. Before they carried out fractional photothermolysis, the fair sex faced endless skin rejuvenation procedures that were ineffective or had a short-term effect.

Over the past 2 - 3 years, Fraxel laser therapy has been popularized due to the speed of achieving the desired result in a small number of procedures and a short recovery period.

What is Fraksel

Fraxel is a type of non-invasive laser treatment and skin restoration that is used to improve skin texture, tone and clarity, encouraging the skin to heal itself.

The procedure itself is called fractional thermolysis and is aimed at eliminating skin defects caused by diseases, age-related changes, negative environmental influences, skin trauma, for example, post-acne or stretch marks on the skin caused by pregnancy or rapid weight gain and loss.

Fraxel - laser therapy for the skin of the face, reviews of which help to assess its effectiveness. It is indispensable for rejuvenating the skin of patients living in conditions of high carbon dioxide content, that is, residents of megacities and large cities.

The previously popular chemical peeling procedure usually does not meet the expected expectations, and it is impossible to remove visible defects in the form of stretch marks and scars using injections.

The mechanism of action of the procedure

The Fraxel laser device was developed by the American cosmetology company Reliant Technologies. The impact of the apparatus on skin cells occurs through fractional photothermolysis, which is a non-invasive process of processing soft tissues with a laser beam.

With the help of a laser, the areas of the skin to be corrected or rejuvenated are heated, as a result fractional cells, fatty deposits, adhesions and scars are destroyed.

At the same time, the skin heats up from the inside without affecting its surface layer, which leads to a reduction in the rehabilitation period. To achieve the best result, after fractional photothermolysis, laser resurfacing of the treated skin areas is performed.

Fraxel - laser therapy of the skin of the face, patient reviews of which indicate that as a result of its implementation, carbon dioxide and toxins are removed from the soft tissues, contributing to premature aging of the skin and strengthening of visible defects. Thanks to the Fraxel laser therapy, cells are moisturized and enriched with nutrients.

It helps to speed up metabolism, stimulates collagen production, increases skin elasticity and the ability to regenerate. The effectiveness of fractional photothermolysis in combination with peeling is immediately visible if the skin damage is minor. Removing or smoothing out extensive stretch marks or scars can take several procedures.

Don't miss the most popular column article: Face fitness for face contour lifting, rejuvenation, muscle tone. Master class from Elena Karkukli

Fraxel types

There are 2 types of fractional photothermolysis.

They are divided depending on the degree and strength of the effect on the skin:

• Ablative... Fractional lasers separate the light into many tiny beams, each point of the skin that is exposed to it is damaged, but the gaps between them are not affected. This treatment regimen provides effective treatment and faster healing and recovery. Fraxel ablative treatment is used for severe skin damage and deep wrinkles. Treatment with the ablative type of fractional photothermolysis can give results after a single application, while recovery lasts longer, but in the end, the patient gets a smoother skin texture and tone, as well as smoothing of wrinkles and folds.
• Non ablative Fraxel treatments are less intense and are used to treat minor sun damage and signs of aging. Usually, the course takes 3 to 5 sessions to stimulate the growth of new cells and the production of collagen. Non-ablative treatments are suitable for eyelid skin and patients with sensitive face and body skin.

It is very important for the patient to agree with the doctor about their expectations and goals in order to receive the correct treatment with the choice of the correct apparatus for the procedure.

Apparatus for the procedure

Currently, 4 types of laser equipment are used in cosmetology, which allow for fractional thermolysis procedures:

• Fraxel Refine (refine) has the most gentle effect on the skin. Suitable for sensitive and thin skin, it is able to penetrate into its deep layers no more than 0.7 mm. This device can safely work on the thinnest areas of the skin, for example, eyelids, without injuring the retina.

• Fraxel Repair (burr) Penetrates 1.1 mm into the processed soft tissues. This type of fractional phototrmolysis apparatus allows you to remove age spots of various areas, acne scars, age-related stretch marks and striae. Therapy with this device is prescribed for patients with overly active work of the sebaceous glands. Laser work reduces the overactive glands and can break the comedones that are formed as a result of their blockage.
• Fraxel Restore provides penetration of the laser beam into soft tissues to a maximum depth of 1.4 mm. The device removes deep stretch marks and skin damage caused by thermal and chemical burns, removes carbon dioxide from cells. Restore therapy rejuvenates the skin on any part of the body and face, improves its elasticity.
• Fraxel Restore Dual affects the skin simultaneously with two laser beams. It is the most modern and efficient apparatus. The first beam removes carbon dioxide from the upper layers of the skin. The second ray works on a deeper layer to break up comedones. With it, you can eliminate deep wrinkles, smooth out mechanical and post-acne scars.

Before using the device, the doctor carefully examines the structure of the client's skin. In exceptional cases, you may need to consult narrow specialists.

The benefits and harms of a laser

Fraxel - laser therapy of facial skin, reviews of which reflect the advantages and disadvantages of the procedure.

The main advantages of Fraxel's rejuvenation technique are:

• Relative safety for the life and health of the client due to the lack of direct intervention in the body, therefore, the risk of infection and the development of inflammatory processes is minimized.
• The procedure provides excellent results. The effect of the laser is limited to a short list of contraindications; it can be used for any type of skin, regardless of the patient's age or immunity.It is recommended that you follow the treatment regimen for best results.
• High speed of the therapeutic procedure. It is limited by the time of application of the anesthetic cream and the laser exposure to the operating area. It takes no more than 2 hours, and the busiest persons can have a session in one evening.

• A short post-rehabilitation period will allow the client not to change the rhythm and schedule of life before and after the operation, following the doctor's recommendations for skin care in the postoperative period.

The most significant disadvantages of fractional photothermolysis include the high cost of the procedure.

Indications for the use of fractional thermolysis

Fraxel - laser therapy of the skin of the face, reviews and recommendations of doctors about which indicate that a direct indication for the use of fractional photothermolysis in cosmetology is the rejuvenation of the skin of the face and body, the removal of acquired and birth defects.

In addition to the Faxel, laser resurfacing of the treated surface eliminates the appearance problems that bother most women.

Fraxel laser therapy is recommended for patients with the following skin problems and defects:

• Vascular blockage and the difficulty of their patency, excess carbon dioxide and toxins in the thickness of the skin. Treatment of soft tissues with a laser beam increases their tone, speeds up metabolism.
• Face contour correction feasible only if the pathological changes did not affect the bone tissue. The laser treatment helps to tighten the saggy skin on the chin and cheeks.
• Removal of wrinkles and skin folds... Their elimination or reduction to minimum visibility occurs due to an increase in the tone of the skin, as well as the filling of folds with new cells.
• The presence of areas of pigmentation. The hardware procedure removes or suppresses discolored cells. In their place, new healthy, hydrated cells are formed, full of minerals.
• Enlarged pores... With Fraxel therapy, pores can be narrowed. The skin is smoothed and leveled, and the amount of sweat and sebum produced will decrease.
• Mechanical visible damage to the skin, for example, scars after surgery, traces of pustular inflammation of the skin (boils, carbuncles, wen).

• Stretch marks and striae caused by a sharp weight gain and weight loss, age-related decrease in skin elasticity.

Hardware fractional photothermolysis is able to remove visible skin defects in a small number of sessions, making it smooth and uniform.

Don't miss the most popular column article: Facial massage according to the system of the Japanese doctor Asahi Zogan.

Contraindications

The laser procedure can have significant therapeutic and corrective effects without causing significant harm to the patient's body, however, there are several restrictions imposed on potential patients.

It:

• the patient's age is up to 18 years old and after 65 years;
• open foci of inflammation and open wounds in the treated area;
• chronic form of skin diseases;
• neoplasms of a malignant or benign form;
• acting cardiac pacemaker;
• tuberculosis of various organs - lung and bone tissue;
• infectious diseases;
• violation of blood coagulability, disease of the hematopoietic organs (liver, spleen, bone marrow);
• diabetes mellitus of the first and second types;
• mental disorders;
• pregnancy and lactation;

• heart failure, bradycardia and tachycardia.

Fractional photothermolysis is not recommended immediately after chemical peels, tanning beds, or if the skin has been damaged by the sun - sunburn. Before the laser procedure, the skin must undergo a complete recovery.

As part of the anesthetic cream, which is applied immediately before the photothermolysis procedure, there is lidocaine, therefore, patients are advised to undergo a test with an allergist for the absence of an allergic reaction to the anesthetic.

Consequences and possible complications

Patient reviews, as well as the recommendations of cosmetologists, allow us to talk about Fraxel as a miraculous laser therapy for the skin of the face and body, however, the effect of the laser has a risk of complications after it is carried out, which do not pose a serious danger to the patient's health.

The most common postoperative events after Fraxel:

• Pain and bloated sensation in the laser treatment area;
• The appearance of cyanotic and burgundy hematomas;
• Edema in the postoperative areas;
• Rash, drooling, runny nose, as a manifestation of an allergic reaction;
• Purulent foci and fistulas;
• Redness of the skin in the area of ​​the operation.

Undesirable manifestations on the skin disappear in a few days, and full recovery takes 3-4 weeks. If the manifestations on the skin remain unchanged, then such patients are recommended to be examined by a dermatologist.

Precautions

The precautions for fractional photothermolysis only concern the limitations of the procedure. Despite all the loyalty of the applied laser therapy to the patient's skin, it cannot be carried out by everyone without exception. The list of restrictions in the Fraxel procedure is described above.

Preparation for the procedure

The preparatory process for the operation using the Fraxel device for the procedure begins with a conversation between a specialist and a patient and his examination. The doctor examines the client, clarifies the problems, listens to the wishes and expectations of the patient, then verbally interviews the patient about his lifestyle, possible bad habits, past illnesses.

If necessary, the cosmetologist can appoint a visit to narrower specialists. If the specialized doctors do not confirm the fears of the cosmetologist, then he appoints the time for the first session, having previously determined the zones of laser exposure.

Before the procedure, the patient is advised to reduce the intensity and time spent in the sun and frost, do not drink alcohol, give up saunas and baths, and do not use cosmetics.

Procedure for performing the procedure

For a successful session of laser photothermolysis, the cosmetologist performs actions strictly according to the protocol of the procedure. With their high power, Frxel devices can lead to disastrous results if you make mistakes in their use.

Fractional photothermolysis stages:

1. Treatment and preparation of the skin for surgery. The patient is placed on a couch or table, the skin is cleansed of impurities and fat with lotion. The beautician applies an anesthetic cream with an anesthetic to the operating field, which takes effect within half an hour.
2. Using carbon paper, the treatment regimen drawn up before the operation is transferred to the skin. It is necessary for the doctor to execute the treatment and rehabilitation plan with millimeter precision.
3. Laser treatment. The doctor adjusts the apparatus and applies it to the body, while passes are made in different directions, depending on the intended results. The treatment time for the operating area depends on the selected body parts.
4. Cleansing the skin from carbon paper ink, applying a soothing cosmetic composition or lotion that helps in reducing the negative effects of the procedure.

Due to local anesthesia, clients do not feel pain during the Fraxel procedure, but in the postoperative period the skin can recover. For all patients, the rehabilitation period is individual and takes a different amount of time. It depends on the age of the patient and his body.

Rehabilitation period

During fractional photothermolysis, skin cells vibrate and heat up, therefore, almost all patients after surgery have edema and redness - a reaction to external stimuli on soft tissues, so the skin requires recovery from a kind of stress. The post-rehabilitation period of fractional thermolysis takes 3 - 4 weeks.

The minimum number of sessions in the course is from 3 to 5. Repeated sessions can be started after complete restoration of the skin. In some difficult cases, to achieve the set goals, the entire course of treatment can take 12 sessions.

Patients note that the skin is significantly tightened, it looks younger and more moisturized, and minor defects can be removed in 3 to 4 sessions. The therapeutic effect of the procedure can last up to 8 years with proper skin care.

Recommendations for skin care after fraxel

Fractional photothermolysis, as well as peeling after it, do not have a strong effect on the upper layers of the skin, but not to an insignificant extent violate their integrity. The main rule in caring for injured skin is to ensure its speedy regeneration due to the growth of its stratum corneum.

During skin care after the Fraxel hardware procedure, you must adhere to the following rules:

• daily treatment of postoperative areas with a cream with moisturizing ingredients;

• treatment of the most affected area with a cream with panthenol or lanolin;
• daily skin cleansing with ph neutral soap;
• do not visit the sauna and solarium for a month;
• do not use cosmetics with active ingredients, scrubs with coarse particles;
• exclude a long time outdoors during the period of solar activity or use protective creams with UF filters;
• temporarily exclude alcohol and caffeinated drinks from your diet, which increase blood pressure;
• postpone fitness and engage in heavy physical activity.

How often can you do the procedure

The Fraxel procedure does not have a depressing effect on the treated skin, however, cosmetologists and practitioners recommend waiting for its full recovery during the rehabilitation period, during which redness and swelling will go away. The rehabilitation period after one session is about 3 - 4 weeks.

The client can feel the visible effect of a full session of fractional thermolysis for 3 to 8 years. If desired, the patient can correct the result at any convenient time.

Session cost

The Fraxel procedure is a relatively new procedure in the cosmetic services market, therefore its main disadvantage is cost and possible side effects.

The purchase, delivery of equipment from the United States and training of personnel in the intricacies of working on it is considered to be quite high, which has a significant impact on the cost of the operation for patients.

The cost of fractional photothermolysis depends on the area of ​​laser treatment, surface area and the patient's treatment regimen.

Comparison of fraxel therapy with other methods of rejuvenation

Alternative methods of non-invasive skin rejuvenation and elimination of small defects can be radio frequency, ultrasound or intense pulsed radiation in combination with the use of low radio frequency vibrations. Alternative methods affect the deeper layers of the skin, while not exerting proper influence on the defects of the upper layers.

Therefore, problems such as enlarged pores, fine wrinkles, stretch marks, which cause complexes in most patients, can be solved using the Fraxel complex procedure.

Fraxel is currently an indispensable laser therapy for the skin of the face, and the scheme for its implementation and patient reviews suggest that there is no alternative to fractional photothermolysis.

The Fraxel procedure is aimed at a high result with a minimum investment of time, as well as at reducing the negative impact on the client's skin and postoperative rehabilitation.

Article design: Anna Vinnitskaya

Video about laser resurfacing

Laser resurfacing process with visual pictures: