Wrinkles, scars, and dark spots might all be part of life. But you don’t have to simply accept the fact that they have appeared on your face. If you want to fight the signs of aging, you have a number of non-surgical options for doing so. One of those options is treatment with Fraxel laser.
Fraxel is considerably different from other laser skin resurfacing options out there. It not only treats a variety of skin and aging concerns. It also does so in a more gentle fashion. If you are considering Fraxel treatment, the first step is to schedule a consultation with a surgeon to learn more about the procedure and if it’s a good option for you. To help you get the full scoop on Fraxel, here are a few questions it’s worth asking.
How Does Fraxel Laser Work?
Like other laser skin resurfacing treatments, Fraxel laser uses energy from light to stimulate collagen beneath the surface of the skin and to encourage the exfoliation of dead skin cells. But Fraxel works in a way that’s different from older, more traditional lasers, such as carbon dioxide lasers.
It’s a non-ablative laser, which means that it leaves the top layer of your skin intact and undamaged. More traditional laser treatments were ablative, meaning the outer layer of skin was damaged. The results might have been more dramatic, but the healing and recovery time was considerably longer.
Fraxel lasers are fractional, which means they send intermittent bursts of energy into the lower layers of the skin. The top layer is left unharmed. The laser itself creates tiny “micro-wounds” beneath the skin, which stimulates the production of collagen, helping skin to become firmer and smoother. The treatment also helps ease the appearance of scars and dark spots.
Your surgeon can provide you with a more thorough and in-depth explanation of how Fraxel works during your consultation.
What Can I Expect During and After Fraxel Laser Treatment
So that you you can plan your life, it helps to understand what will happen during your treatment with Fraxel laser and after the treatment. Since Fraxel is non-ablative, it’s generally a more comfortable experience than other laser treatments. You won’t need a sedative or general anesthesia during it. In contrast, patients usually receive a sedative or general anesthesia during a CO2 laser treatment.
Instead, you might be given a topical anesthetic to help numb the area being treated with Fraxel and to improve your comfort during the process. Your surgeon will provide more details on the type of anesthetic and what you can expect to feel during the procedure.
Usually, the treatment doesn’t take longer than one hour. The length of the procedure depends on the size of the area being treated and your surgeon should be able to give you more details on duration based on what you’ve having done.
You might see some changes in your skin with the first few hours after treatment. In many cases, recovery after the laser treatment can take up to a week. At first, your skin is likely to feel swollen and as if you’ve gotten a bad sunburn. Within a day or so, it can start to darken and flake. Usually, the skin will flake and peel for up to a week or two afterwards, at which point refreshed, more youthful looking skin will be revealed.
Your surgeon is likely to give you specific instructions for caring for your skin after the Fraxel treatment. While you won’t have to stay home for the entire length of the recovery process, you might want to take a few days off from work. It’s also a good idea to use sunscreen on the skin after treatment, as exposure to the sun’s UV rays can cause further damage.
One thing that varies from patient to patient is the number of Fraxel treatments that are needed. Many patients need more than one treatment to get the results they want. Your surgeon will recommend a certain number of treatments to you based on what you want and the condition of your skin. You can usually expect each procedure to be spaced between four and eight weeks apart.
What Is Your Experience with Fraxel Laser?
It’s always a good idea to see a practitioner with ample experience with Fraxel laser. Ask your surgeon how many procedures he’s performed. It’s also important to learn who will be performing your treatment. A trained esthetician might be the one who actually administers the laser.
Along with learning more about your surgeon’s and esthetician’s experience, it’s a good idea to ask to see pictures of previous patients, both before and after the treatment. Looking at photos will give you a sense of what Fraxel can do to improve skin and can help you decide if it’s the treatment for you.
Fraxel laser is one of several non-surgical, anti-aging treatments offered at Mirror Mirror Beauty Boutique in Houston, Texas, under the supervision of board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Vitenas. If you think Fraxel is the treatment for you or want to learn more about it, call 281-810-9083 to schedule your consultation today.