Fraxel

As you age, your skin’s collagen and elastin simply break down faster than your body can rebuild them. The slowed remodeling of these skin-tightening proteins causes your skin to thin, droop and lose elasticity – which often leads to winkles, furrows and fine lines.

If you have wrinkles on your face or around your eyes, you’ve probably had a wonderful life rich with laughter and emotional experiences. After all, expressions like smiling, laughing, pondering and squinting naturally involve the contraction of muscles – which can lead to wrinkles, furrows and fine lines.

Scars are depressions or indentations in the skin that occur after a medical condition such as acne or after a surgical incision. Especially when they’re on the face or other visible areas, scars can carry the stigma of adolescent acne long after the acne is gone, or they can serve as unpleasant reminders of a past surgery.

Acne scars can occur as the skin heals from pimples, whiteheads and blackheads that form when oil, bacteria and dead cells get stuck below the skin’s surface. Acne scars are typically indented marks or raised, red areas that sometimes give the skin a wavy appearance. Surgical scars, meanwhile, form naturally as skin heals from an incision.

Despite their name, age spots are due more to sunning than aging. These spots – also called sunspots, brown spots or liver spots – are flat, uneven dark patches on the face, neck, chest, hands, arms, shoulders and other such areas that are regularly exposed to the sun. Even though they’re usually harmless, these blotchy brownish patches can make you look and feel older than you really are.

When you’re in the sun, your body reacts by producing a pigment called melanin to protect your skin from ultraviolet rays. If you spend a lot of time in the sun, your skin may overreact by producing too much melanin. That increased pigmentation can result in age spots, which fall into a broad medical category called “pigmented lesions.”

Melasma – which is most common in women and affects about 45 million people worldwide – appears as irregular patches of brown skin on the forehead, cheeks, upper lip and nose. Like most other pigmented lesions, melasma is not dangerous, but it can be a self-confidence crusher, prompting many women to hide behind a mask of make-up.

Melasma is most common during hormonal fluctuations associated with pregnancy, oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy. So instead of celebrating the beauty of motherhood, women with melasma must wear what’s often called “the mask of pregnancy.”

Over the years, your skin is exposed to sun, air pollution, stress, fatigue and lifestyle factors such as smoking. It all can affect your skin’s texture, color and tightness.

To resurface your skin and correct imperfections, there are many options from chemical peels to dermabrasion. But unlike other remedies that scrape, peel and cut the surface of your skin, Fraxel laser treatment has been approved by the FDA to safely, gently and effectively resurface your skin from the inside out. That means improved texture, more even tone and smoother skin – all without the risks, discomfort and prolonged downtime of other procedures.

Fraxel treatment is a safe, non-invasive procedure that enables you to rediscover the fresh, healthy skin of your youth. Fraxel is the pioneer of "fractional photothermolysis," a technology in which thousands of microscopic laser columns - each just one-tenth the diameter of a hair follicle - treat a fraction of the skin at a time without affecting the surrounding tissue. These laser columns stimulate the production of younger, smoother, healthier skin to replace damaged tissue.

Traditionally, two kinds of laser treatment have been available for cosmetic skin treatment: ablative and non-ablative. Typical ablative treatments, which use a high temperature to vaporize unwanted tissue, can be effective but with significant side effects and several weeks of recovery time. Non-ablative treatments, meanwhile, have very few side effects and low downtime, but they commonly require numerous treatments to produce only modest results.

Fraxel laser treatment delivers the potency of ablative treatments with the gentle safety of non-ablative lasers. So you get the best of both worlds: dramatic results and minimal downtime.

The Fraxel family of products has three treatments, all delivering remarkable results safely with fast recovery. The three Fraxel treatments fall into two categories:

• Non-ablative
  • Fraxel re:fine treatment for prevention and maintenance
  • Fraxel re:store treatment for mild to severe skin damage

As non-ablative laser treatments, Fraxel re:fine treatment and Fraxel re:store treatment dramatically improve mild to moderate skin damage with little to no downtime.

• Ablative
  • Fraxel re:pair treatment for the most severe skin damage

Fraxel re:pair treatment is a revolutionary new way to correct the most severe skin damage without the risks, complications and prolonged downtime of other ablative procedures. Fraxel re:pair treatment uses a high-intensity carbon dioxide (CO2) laser to vaporize unwanted tissue, but thanks to fractional technology, the treatment delivers dramatic results with dramatically faster recovery time all in a single treatment.

Fraxel re:fine treatment targets age spots/sunspots, fine lines around the eyes, and other pigment irregularities such as melasma and uneven skin tone. The treatment uses microscopic laser columns that penetrate deep into your skin to expedite your body's remodeling of collagen. And since the laser treats only a fraction of tissue at a time, it leaves the surrounding tissue intact, which promotes very rapid healing. You won't have any downtime, and you'll have very little swelling or redness. Unlike treatments such as IPL or microdermabrasion, which target a very superficial layer of your skin, Fraxel re:fine treatment actually resurfaces your skin by stimulating the growth of new, healthy skin cells from the inside out.

• Smoother, fresher, younger-looking looking skin
• Improved tone and texture
• Erasing of unwanted brown spots
• Reduced fine lines around the eyes

• Fine lines around the eyes (periorbital fine lines)
• Age spots/sunspots (pigmented lesions)
• Melasma (irregular patches of brown skin on the forehead, cheeks, upper lip and nose)
• Skin resurfacing

First, your skin will be cleansed. Then, about 60 minutes prior to treatment, a topical anesthetic ointment will be applied to the treatment area. The Fraxel re:fine procedure takes 20 to 25 minutes for a full face.

Clinical studies suggest that on average, an effective treatment regimen is 4 to 6 sessions spaced about 2 to 4 weeks apart. Depending on your condition and schedule, you and the physician may choose to space treatment sessions further apart. Results are immediate and progressive, with optimal improvement usually visible in 2 to 3 months. This time frame and treatment structure allow for complete healing and the production of new collagen and elastin to replace damaged tissue.

Most patients describe a "prickling" sensation during treatment. To minimize discomfort, topical anesthesia is applied before the procedure and cold air is used on the treatment area during the procedure. After the treatment, most patients feel like they have a sunburn, which usually diminishes in 1 to 3 hours.

During the first 24 hours after treatment, your skin may feel like it's sunburned, and it will appear pink or red. You can wear make-up to reduce the sunburned appearance. Your skin will naturally bronze over the next week or two, and as you continue treatment, the sunburned-to-bronzed appearance will repeat. As with a sunburn, your skin will flake and exfoliate normally. Use a moisturizer to reduce the appearance of dry flakes.

Swelling and redness are the most common side effects from Fraxel re:fine treatment. Any swelling is typically minimal and subsides within a day or two, and any redness typically fades within a few days. Other temporary side effects may include minor itching, dry skin, peeling or flaking, and a bronzed skin appearance. There is a very limited risk of infection or scarring. The intensity and duration of side effects depend on the aggressiveness of treatment and on your particular healing characteristics. Your physician will provide specific instructions about what to expect and how to minimize any side effects.

Wear sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, avoid direct sun exposure for at least 3 months after your last treatment, and wear a wide-brimmed hat when you're in the sun.

It depends on your particular condition and how you care for your skin. Once your skin is treated, continue to protect it as described above. For conditions such as melasma, it is very important to avoid direct sun exposure. Your physician will give you specific advice based on your individual needs.

Depending on your condition and the areas to be treated, the cost ranges from $750 to $1,000 per treatment. Keep in mind that maximum benefit is usually achieved in 4 to 6 treatment sessions spaced about 2 to 4 weeks apart.

Fraxel re:store laser treatment targets aging and sun-damaged skin with microscopic laser columns that penetrate deep into your skin to expedite your body's remodeling of collagen. And since the laser treats only a fraction of tissue at a time, it leaves the surrounding tissue intact, which promotes very rapid healing. Fraxel re:store treatment resurfaces your skin by stimulating the growth of new, healthy skin cells from the inside out.

• Smoother, fresher, younger-looking looking skin
• Improved tone and texture
• Erasing of unwanted brown spots
• Reduced fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes
• Improved appearance of acne scars and surgical scars

• Wrinkles around the eyes (periorbital wrinkles)
• Acne scars
• Surgical scars
• Age spots/sunspots (pigmented lesions)
• Melasma (irregular patches of brown skin on the forehead, cheeks, upper lip and nose)
• Actinic Keratoses (precancerous lesions)
• Skin resurfacing

First, your skin will be cleansed. Then, about 60 minutes prior to treatment, a topical anesthetic ointment will be applied to the treatment area. The Fraxel re:store procedure takes 20 to 25 minutes for a full face.

Clinical studies suggest that on average, an effective treatment regimen is 3 to 5 sessions spaced about 2 to 4 weeks apart. Depending on your condition and schedule, you and the physician may choose to space treatment sessions further apart. Results are immediate and progressive, with optimal improvement usually visible in 2 to 3 months. This time frame and treatment structure allow for complete healing and the production of new collagen and elastin to replace damaged tissue.

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

During the first 24 hours after treatment, your skin may feel as though it is sunburned, and it will appear pink or red. You can wear make-up to reduce the sunburned appearance. Your skin will naturally bronze over the next week or two, and as you continue treatment, the sunburned-to-bronzed appearance will repeat. As with a sunburn, your skin will flake and exfoliate normally. Use a moisturizer to reduce the appearance of dry flakes.

Swelling and redness are the most common side effects from Fraxel re:store treatment. Any swelling is typically minimal and subsides within a day or two, and any redness typically fades within a few days. Other temporary side effects may include minor itching, dry skin, peeling or flaking, and a bronzed skin appearance. There is a very limited risk of infection or scarring. The intensity and duration of side effects depend on the aggressiveness of treatment and on your particular healing characteristics. Your physician will provide specific instructions about what to expect and how to minimize any side effects.

Wear sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, avoid direct sun exposure for at least 3 months after your last treatment, and wear a wide-brimmed hat when you're in the sun.

It depends on your particular condition and how you care for your skin. Once your skin is treated, continue to protect it as described above. For conditions such as melasma, it is very important to avoid direct sun exposure. Your physician will give you specific advice based on your individual needs.

Depending on your condition and the areas to be treated, the cost ranges from $750 to $1,500 per treatment. Keep in mind that maximum benefit is usually achieved with an average of 3 to 5 treatment sessions spaced about 2 to 4 weeks apart.

Fraxel re:pair treatment is a revolutionary new way to correct deeper wrinkles and tighten skin. Fraxel re:pair treatment also has a much lower risk of scarring or delayed pigment changes than other ablative procedures. Fraxel re:pair treatment is a safe and effective way to remove years from your appearance.

Like some other ablative procedures, Fraxel re:pair laser treatment uses a high-intensity carbon dioxide (CO2) laser to vaporize unwanted tissue. But unlike other ablative procedures, Fraxel re:pair treatment uses fractional technology to deliver dramatic results with dramatically faster recovery time all in a single treatment. Fraxel re:pair treatment uses thousands of microscopic laser columns to penetrate deep into the skin and remove old, damaged skin cells. This stimulates your body's own natural healing process, which replaces the cells with fresh, glowing, healthy skin. Because the technology is so precise, Fraxel re:pair treatment works not only on the face, but also on delicate skin areas like the neck, chest and hands.

Both Fraxel re:pair treatment and Fraxel re:store treatment use fractional technology, but in different ways. As an ablative procedure, Fraxel re:pair treatment uses a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser to vaporize microscopic columns of tissue deep within the skin. Because Fraxel re:pair treatment intensely treats the most severe skin damage, results are achieved in a single treatment and recovery time is generally longer than other Fraxel treatments. Fraxel re:store treatment, on the other hand, is a non-ablative technique that intensively treats older skin cells while leaving the skin's protective barrier intact, thus resulting in no clinical downtime.

• Significant results in a single treatment
• A preemptive strike against a facelift through skin-tightening that defends against loose, saggy skin
• Smoother, more even skin tone and texture
• Softening of deep frown lines and wrinkles
• Improved appearance of redness caused by sun damage

Fraxel re:pair laser has received FDA clearance for many indications on and off the face, including:

• Wrinkles
• Irregular texture
• Age spots/sunspots (pigmented lesions)
• Sun-induced redness (vascular dyschromia)

Clinical studies suggest that for most people, maximum results are realized in just one treatment. The Fraxel re:pair treatment was specifically engineered to enable your physician to tailor the treatment to your particular needs. If you have deep, severe sun damage, your physician may treat the skin more aggressively, which can mean up to a week of social downtime. No matter what your situation is, Fraxel re:pair treatment can produce remarkable results without the prolonged recovery time and complications of other procedures.

First, your skin will be cleansed. Then, 60 to 90 minutes prior to treatment, a topical numbing agent will be applied to the treatment area. Your physician may also choose to give you another medication, such as Ativan, to relax you. Most patients describe an increased sensation of heat during the treatment, and there may be some discomfort or pain. However, unlike the experience in traditional CO2 treatments, you will feel quite comfortable immediately after a Fraxel re:pair treatment. The procedure takes approximately 30-40 minutes for a full face.

Depending upon the aggressiveness of your treatment, there might be some pinpoint bleeding following the procedure, as well as some oozing for up to 48 hours until the wounds close up. The most common side effects are edema (swelling), which usually subsides after a week, and erythema (redness), which may last up to a month, depending on the aggressiveness of treatment. Other temporary side effects may include minor itching, dry skin, peeling or flaking, and a bronzed skin appearance. Some of these skin reactions may not occur with all patients.

Follow your physician's advice on wound care, which is essential for your skin to heal properly. Wear sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, avoid direct sun exposure for at least 3 months after your last treatment, and wear a wide-brimmed hat when you're in the sun.

The results of Fraxel re:pair treatment are both immediate and progressive. Soon after the treatment, the surface of your skin will feel softer, look brighter and show more even tone. The next 3 to 6 months will bring more improvement as the deeper layers of the skin continue to heal.

Depending on your condition and the areas to be treated, cost of the treatment ranges from $3,000 to $5,000.

The Fraxel Skin Ecology System is a unique line of skincare products designed specifically to enhance and extend the benefits of Fraxel re:fine treatment and Fraxel re:store treatment. Made with natural healing ingredients, this comprehensive regimen moisturizes, soothes and protects your skin immediately following the procedure and between any future treatments. This skincare line is available exclusively from authorized Fraxel physicians.

You may already have a favorite moisturizer, cream or facial cleanser, but the Fraxel Skin Ecology System is the only skincare regimen developed exclusively to enhance and accelerate the benefits of Fraxel treatment. Since this regimen was formulated by the same scientists who developed Fraxel laser treatment, you can feel confident you're using the best products for your skin after treatment. This regimen takes the guesswork out of post-treatment care.

The dermatologist-tested skincare line includes four daily products: the gentle Foaming Cleanser, the lightweight Antioxidant Infusion Serum, the Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30, and the Hydrating Night Cream. All of the products are specially formulated to enhance the benefits of Fraxel treatment.

The Skin Ecology System moisturizes, soothes and protects your skin through this easy, 3-step, at-home regimen:

DAILY - AM

1. Cleanse with the Foaming Cleanser
2. Nourish with the Antioxidant Infusion Serum
3. Protect and moisturize with the Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30

DAILY - PM

1. Cleanse with the Foaming Cleanser
2. Nourish with the Antioxidant Infusion Serum
3. Moisturize with the Hydrating Night Cream

All products in the system are hypoallergenic and fragrance-free, and all of the topicals contain antioxidants such as green tea, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E, which help protect the skin from wrinkle-causing free radicals. Plus, the Fraxel Skin Ecology System contains the unique HFA Complex, formulated to deliver maximum effectiveness without irritation. The HFA Complex includes these key ingredients:

• Hyaluronic Acid - a naturally occurring substance that hydrates the skin
• Flavonoids (elderberry extract and red clover extract) - natural plant ingredients that neutralize harmful free radicals that can cause wrinkles
• Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C) - a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin and helps minimize fine lines and wrinkles. Studies have shown that vitamin C stimulates the synthesis of collagen.