Perhaps you saw the piece about Fraxel on Good Morning America today (2/1/08). What is so exciting is that the new fractional skin rejuvenation is a great improvement over older CO2 laser resurfacing. In the past CO2 ablative laser resurfacing (see photo below) was the “Gold Standard” for wrinkle removal and skin tightening, however prolonged and difficult recovery time with peeling skin made this procedure unacceptable for most people.

During the past three years new technology called fractional laser skin rejuvenation has been developed which does not require significant recovery or anesthesia.

With Fractional laser skin rejuvenation the laser beam is broken up or fractionated into many small micro beams which are separated so that when they strike the skin surface small areas of the skin between the beams are not hit by the laser and left intact. These small areas of untreated skin promote a much more rapid recovery and healing with less risk of complications. The small areas of the skin treated by the fractional micro beams cause sufficient laser effect to promote new collagen production which plumps the skin improving wrinkles, pigment and acne scars.

The first fractional laser Fraxel and a newer technology called the Lux1540 have produced excellent results treating wrinkles, acne scars and facial pigmentation and have improved skin texture.

To ablate means to “surgically remove”. The Fraxel and Lux1540 are non ablative lasers which mean that when the laser beam strikes the skin the skin is not removed as it was with the traditional CO2 ablative lasers, rather the laser beam heats the skin to cause inflammation and new collagen production. The benefits of non ablative Fraxel and Lux1540 laser skin treatments are dramatically reduced recovery time. After the treatment your skin is pink the first day and the second day the skin may have “bronzing” which is easily covered by make up.

The new fractional skin rejuvenation lasers safely go deep into the skin (see diagram below) where they can produce more effective new collagen production than more superficial laser treatments. This new collagen production replaces collagen that has been damaged by sun, aging, and acne. The new collagen produced can actually plump the skin wrinkles and acne scars and improve skin texture.

This skin plumping effect can significantly improve wrinkles and acne scars, reduce enlarged pores, remove pigment and actually improve surgical scars. (See below)

We have the new Palomar Lux1540 fractional non ablative laser in our practice and I am very impressed with the results.

The Lux1540 treatment takes about 30 minutes and we use a topical numbing cream for your comfort. Your face will be pink the first day but your skin is intact, no oozing or open areas. The second day you may have a “bronze” cast to your facial skin but make up can be applied. In some patients who have more significant scars or wrinkles we use higher settings and in these patients there may be peeling and redness for 3-4 days after treatment. Patients with thin skin from prior use of Accutane or previous dermabrasion or laser resurfacing can benefit from the skin plumping effects but may also have 3-4 days of redness

The new fractional skin rejuvenation lasers are very exciting and a very significant development in non surgical facial rejuvenation.

Dr Seckel

2/01/08