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Fraxel™
Laser Treatments
What is Fraxel Laser?
Fraxel™
Laser Treatment is a revolutionary new
approach to skin rejuvenation. This one laser
therapy allows improvement of the full
constellation of aging changes in the skin
Typically, a series of three to five treatments is
carried out every two weeks to create a reduction in skin wrinkling
along with improvement in pigment irregularities
and acne scars. A minimal degree of
skin tightening is also often obtained. All of
this is accomplished without a raw skin
surface or time away from work or social
activities.
Above performed by R. Garcia, our Physician
Assistant
(before treatment -above and after- below)
Before treatment of under eye lines After treatment of under eye lines
performed by R. Garcia PA-C
 
Fraxel™ and Restylane™ used to treat the
forehead and glabellar complex (one session).
performed by R. Garcia PA-C
Before treatment of forehead
After treatment of forehead
Benefits of Fraxel™
· Minimal down time!
·
No anesthesia required!
·
Treats wrinkles, pigmentation, vascular changes!
· 3-5
treatments are usually all that is needed
(performed every 2 to 4 weeks)
Before After Before After
How does Fraxel™
Laser Treatment Works
Fraxel™ Laser Treatment
produces thousands of tiny but deep columns of
treatment in your skin, known as microthermal
treatment zones. This treatment eliminates old
epidermal pigmented cells. It also penetrates
deep into the dermis. Just as important, though,
are the areas of skin the Fraxel laser leaves
untouched. 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 tighter tissue to
replace skin imperfections.
This reduces wrinkles or
scars, pigment variation, brown age spots,
spider veins and other vascular changes in the
skin. Active acne is also generally reduced.
Optimal improvement is
usually visible in about 2 to 3 months. Because
Fraxel™ Laser Treatment spares healthy tissue, it
is effective even on delicate skin areas, such
as the neck, chest and hands.
 Improvement in
Melasma
Note improvement in skin
pigmentation as evidenced by before and after
pictures to the left. Effectiveness can be enhanced
with the use of Obagi ™
products.
Before After
What should I expect
with treatments?
Your skin will be cleansed
gently with a scrubbing cleanser, an anesthetic
gel will then be applied. After 45-60 minutes,
your skin will be tested to insure adequate
anesthesia, a blue dye that interacts with the
laser will then be applied. Next, the face is
treated by passing the laser hand piece back and
forth over the skin. A warmth and faint
prickling sensation is felt during the
treatment, which requires 20-30 minutes. After
the treatment, the skin is cleansed with a warm
towel and moisturizer applied.
You will experience a mild sunburn sensation
for about an hour and then minimal discomfort.
The skin will have a pinkish tone for 2-3 days.
This is a normal sign that the skin is deeply
healing. Swelling is minimal and generally
resolves in 2 to 3 days.
Improvement in Acne Scarring
Note
improvement in acne scarring as evidenced by before
and after pictures to the left. 5
(five) sessions may be needed for the results seen
Before
After
You may apply make-up or shave soon
after treatment.
We encourage the use of
Dermacia MD Lycogel® Camouflage
products to help with healing and to minimize post
treatment redness.
Some patients are able
to return to routine activities, including work
and social obligations, the same day of
treatment. Others require a little more time,
depending upon their skin condition and
treatment. Please consult
our practice
to
understand how Fraxel™
Laser Treatment help you benefit the most
New epidermal skin develops within 24 hours.
This process of skin repair involves:
- Bronzing: Your skin
will have a bronze appearance (which
looks similar to a tan) that lasts anywhere
from 3 to 14 days, depending on your
treatment level.
- Flaking: Your skin will
naturally and vigorously exfoliate as new
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.
- 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.
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. Results should be
clearly visible within two weeks of finishing a
series, although the skin will continue to
improve for several months.
What are the limits of Fraxel?
Fraxel laser treatment is
not designed as a substitute for surgical skin
tightening such as a facelift.
The degree of
wrinkle reduction will vary from individual to
individual but can not be predicted in
advance. While risks of treatment include
infection, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation,
blistering, protracted erythema and scarring the
safety profile has been superb compared
to chemical peels and laser resurfacing. One of
the most impressive advantages of Fraxel Laser
Treatment is the that improvement in wrinkles
seems to be much more notable than with nonablative treatments.
If you have a history of
cold sores, hyperpigmentation , or dry eye syndrome, be sure
to inform our medical team
during your consultation with us.
If you
have any questions, or wish to schedule a
Fraxel
treatment, please
call Ponte
Vedra Dermatology
& Aesthetic Surgery at (904) 285-7546 or email
consultation@pvderm.com.
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