Fractional laser rejuvenation: benefits and side effects

From this article you will learn:

The essence of fractional laser rejuvenation
4 types of fractional laser rejuvenation
Benefits of fractional laser rejuvenation
Indications for the rejuvenation procedure
Fractional rejuvenation for the treatment of scars and stretch marks
Contraindications for such rejuvenation
Preparation and progress of the procedure
Number of sessions
Possible side effects
7 tips for post-procedure care
Approximate prices for fractional laser rejuvenation
Frequently asked questions about fractional laser rejuvenation

Fractional laser rejuvenation is know-how in cosmetology. The procedure appeared quite recently, but has already proven itself on the positive side. Everyone who wants to rejuvenate the skin of their face, neck, and hands resorts to it. It has many indications and few contraindications.

This type of rejuvenation allows you to smooth the skin, remove scars and scars, and even out the tone. The procedure lasts a few minutes, and the effect lasts up to five years. Isn’t this what many women dream of – visiting a salon and staying beautiful for a long time? In any case, before signing up for a session, you should consult your doctor, as side effects are possible.

The essence of fractional laser rejuvenation

One of the newest modern developments in the field of cosmetology is the technique of fractional laser rejuvenation. Currently, it is not without reason that it can be called the most popular of all laser therapy procedures.

During the session, a laser beam passed through a special fractional grid breaks up into a large number of microbeams. This method provides a targeted (fractional) effect on the skin without completely disrupting it.

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Many tiny treatment areas are formed in the dermis layer, where the development of renewed young skin tissue occurs very quickly. Cells located around the affected areas begin intensive division, filling the damaged areas. As a result, rejuvenating processes in the deep layers of the dermis are stimulated. Micro-rays, affecting the middle and upper layers of skin tissue, help eliminate pigmentation, wrinkles and scars.

Fractional laser rejuvenation of facial skin helps it gain firmness and elasticity. In addition, thanks to the procedure, pores are significantly reduced, the oval of the face becomes more toned, the shade and texture of the skin becomes smoother, and wrinkles and scars are significantly smoothed out.

How does the technology work?

There are two factors that determine the effectiveness of DOT rejuvenation systems:

temperature effect on skin tissue;
influence of an indirect histochemical nature.

Note! This mechanism of action is interesting in that the rays emitted by the laser can only be absorbed in the body by water. This mechanism is based on the temperature and acoustic photoelectric effect.

This procedure is considered extremely effective

As soon as the protein structures are exposed to the laser, the tissue heating process begins. This leads to the most important effect - the selected zone is heated to almost 100 degrees Celsius, the consequence of which is the evaporation of water (vaporization). And along with the steam, dead skin particles and tissue structures are also removed. As a result, a crater with coagulated edges is formed.

Thanks to this procedure you can achieve the following results:

thermolifting, manifested by the rapid contraction of collagen fibers inside the skin;
the occurrence of aseptic inflammation;
elimination of cell debris by the internal structures of the body (blood macrophages).

The result of this procedure is thermolifting

It is important that as a result of therapeutic procedures, nearby tissue structures are not damaged, since heat is distributed evenly. Skin rejuvenation is achieved by creating a thermal shock situation in the skin and adjacent areas. This leads to the activation of enzymes that have the ability to dissolve protein components. That is, only those structural elements that provoke the processes of skin withering are destroyed. During DOT rejuvenation procedures, special amino acids are produced, thanks to which new structures appear in the places that were affected.

Due to the created thermal shock, rejuvenation is carried out

Benefits of fractional laser rejuvenation

This technology has been used in the field of cosmetology for more than 10 years. It is effective, safe and has a number of advantages when compared with other rejuvenating and healing techniques:

practically does not cause side effects;
non-invasive, so there is no chance of client infection (including HIV);
painless and quite comfortable;
allowed from 16 years of age;
hygienic, since the instruments do not come into contact with the skin;
suitable for atonic skin types;
it is possible to choose an individual treatment program;
Suitable for clients with any degree of skin pigmentation;
areas with defects are treated pointwise, so the possibility of damage to healthy tissue around is excluded;
due to the fact that only 25% of the skin is injured, the recovery period after the procedure is short (face – seven days, body – 14 days);
the effect becomes noticeable immediately after the first procedure;
the result obtained lasts for several years;
it is possible to treat delicate areas;
in affected areas, elastin production is significantly accelerated.

Indications for the rejuvenation procedure

Fractional laser rejuvenation can be used for:

general skin rejuvenation;
skin lifting (face, neck, décolleté, hands);
smoothing scars;
skin smoothing;
restoration of the oval contour of the face;
wrinkle removal;
elimination of pigment spots and melasma;
removal of stretch marks (striae);
eliminating the consequences of acne.

As a result of intense exposure to fractional laser, the skin may become hyperpigmented for a short period of time.

To get a good result, after the procedure it is necessary to treat the skin with sunscreen cosmetics with a protection level of at least SPF 50.

Fractional grinding can be compared with continuous grinding in terms of the resulting effect. Judging by the extensive foreign and domestic experience, this hardware technique is less traumatic and leads to an amazing rejuvenating and tightening effect.

Three modifications of the Fraxel laser –

There are three main original Fraxel devices, which are used in different clinical situations, and depending on the severity of the problem.

Fraxel Re'fine –

This is a fractional non-ablative erbium laser, with a wavelength of 1410 nm and a single pulse energy of 5 to 20 mJ (Fig. 10). This laser works to a depth of 0.7 mm, and the stratum corneum of the epidermis remains intact. This is the softest type of Fraxel laser, after which healing occurs as quickly as possible, and the procedure itself is as painless as possible and lasts only 20 minutes.

Fraxel refine is used to smooth out fine wrinkles around the eyes, tighten the skin of the eyelids, remove age spots and other pigmentation on the skin, and treat melasma. Also, this type of laser generally improves the condition of the skin and can be used primarily to prevent aging.

Thus, the indications for using Fraxel refine are exactly the same as for photorejuvenation techniques using IPL devices. The latter, as a rule, are much cheaper than Fraxel laser treatment. However, Fraxel can be used on people of any skin color, and IPL devices are not recommended for people with dark skin.

Fraxel Restore –

This is a fractional non-ablative erbium laser, with a wavelength of 1550 nm and a single pulse energy of 4 to 70 mJ (Fig. 11). The depth of exposure, depending on the settings, ranges from 0.4 to 1.4 mm. This type of laser is used to treat similar problems that Fraxel refine can eliminate, but only more severe. For example, to smooth out more pronounced wrinkles.

Fraxel restore reviews also claim that it does an excellent job of removing small atrophic acne scars, hypertrophic scars, and is also used to treat stretch marks after pregnancy, pigmentation and skin keratosis.

Fraxel Re'pair –

This is a fractional laser of the ablative type, belongs to the group of CO2 (carbon dioxide) lasers with a wavelength of 10600 nm and a single pulse energy of up to 225 mJ (Fig. 12). Unlike classic ablative lasers, which work only deep into the epidermis, Fraxel Repair works in both the epidermis and dermis. The depth of exposure ranges from 0.4 to 1.6 mm, and it can be adjusted by the settings of the device, on which modes can be selected: “medium ablation” or “deep ablation”.

Medium ablation mode primarily targets the lower layers of the epidermis and upper layers of the dermis, which is suitable for smoothing shallow wrinkles (such as around the eyes), reducing pore size and improving skin texture.

Fraxel repair in the “deep ablation” mode acts primarily on the middle layers of the dermis, which is excellent for smoothing out deep wrinkles. When using this mode, there is also a pronounced skin lifting effect, which you will notice immediately after the procedure. The device is also successfully used to remove age spots and spider veins, as well as to remove hypertrophic scars and scars.

Analogues of the Fraxel Repair laser produced by other manufacturers -

Active and Deep FX (Lumenis),
Quadralase (Candela),
Pearl Fractional (Cutera), etc...

Comparison of Fraxel refine and Fraxel restore – with Fraxel repair…

Fraxel repair fractional ablative CO2 laser is more aggressive than erbium non-ablative lasers Fraxel refine and Fraxel restore, which leads to greater synthesis in tissues of inflammatory mediators, proteins and factors that stimulate stem cells and fibroblast function. Accordingly, the effectiveness of the procedure with the Fraxel ablative CO2 laser will be 2 times higher, although healing will take 2-3 times longer. In addition, it is “Fraxel repair” that gives the best skin lifting effect.

Operation process of fractional CO2 laser: video

Fractional rejuvenation for the treatment of scars and stretch marks

This rejuvenation method is especially effective in treating scar tissue. Fractional laser beams have the ability to crush roughened scar tissue, after which it acquires elasticity, softness, and the tension of the surrounding healthy tissue decreases.

Fractional photothermolysis helps reduce the area of scars, making them elastic, unnoticeable, and as close as possible in appearance to healthy skin.

Fractional rejuvenation is indicated for the treatment of stretch marks. Sadly, stretch marks cannot be completely eliminated, you can only make them more invisible.

The effect of fractional treatment is:

reducing the area of stretch marks;
reducing tissue fiber breaks;
aligning the shade of stretch marks with the tone of healthy skin;
increasing the elasticity and firmness of the skin tissue around and relieving tension.

Contraindications for such rejuvenation

Fractional rejuvenation, like any cosmetic procedure, is not suitable for everyone. Therefore, in order to avoid negative consequences, before the session it is necessary to carefully study all contraindications.

Fractional photothermolysis is not recommended:

during pregnancy and during breastfeeding, since any changes that occur in the body of a pregnant or lactating woman affect the baby - you should not risk the child’s health, it is better to postpone the procedure;
in case of inflammation (or redness) in the treated area, the cosmetologist will refuse to carry out fractional laser photothermolysis in the cheek area if they are covered with an allergic rash (the laser beam can damage the skin up to deep scars);
for chemical peeling - if you have cleansed your face, you need to allow the layers of the epidermis to strengthen for two weeks (minimum) and prepare for exposure to the laser beam;
in the presence of oncological diseases, since spontaneous complications may arise as a result of laser exposure;
with diagnosed diabetes mellitus;
in the presence of viral and bacterial infections - in order to avoid the invasion of foreign elements into the cell structure during fractional rejuvenation, it is first necessary to recover completely.

Preparation and progress of the procedure

To avoid disastrous consequences in the form of complications after a cosmetic procedure, it is necessary to carefully prepare for it.

First, you need to consult with a cosmetologist and get an assessment of the condition of the skin on your face. The specialist will determine a list of contraindications and give the necessary recommendations.

Before the procedure, it is not advisable to visit the bathhouse, sauna, or solarium for 3–4 weeks. In addition, sunbathing in the open sun is prohibited. Before going outside, you need to apply sunscreen to your face.

It is very important to stop taking certain medications, particularly antibiotics and blood thinners. In addition, doctors recommend taking antiherpetic medications.

No later than two weeks in advance, it is not recommended to perform manipulations that injure the skin tissue.

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Fractional laser rejuvenation of the eyes and other areas takes place in several stages. First, the cosmetologist must prepare the skin areas for the procedures. To do this, it removes the remnants of decorative cosmetics from the skin, as well as dirt, dust, and sweat. Then the surface is treated with an antiseptic.

The next step is to apply an anesthetic cream, which is left on the skin for about an hour.

After anesthesia, contact gel is evenly applied to the face so that the sensor glides smoothly and evenly over the surface of the skin.

The tip is then used to process the skin tissue in straight lines in several directions. The device is equipped with nozzles of different sizes. Typically, 2 cm² of skin is treated in one pass.

At the end of the procedure, the specialist should remove the remaining contact gel and apply a soothing cream.

Patient reviews

Inna, Krasnoyarsk

“The consequences of acne made me uncomfortable, so I resorted to a variety of cosmetic procedures, but did not achieve the desired effect. Finally, I managed to get an appointment with a competent cosmetologist, who spoke in detail about DOT rejuvenation. I signed up for the procedure - the session lasted about two hours, I didn’t experience any unpleasant sensations, and after 9 days I noticed a good result.”

Most often, patients respond positively to the DOT rejuvenation procedure

Arina, Tula

“Rejuvenation using DOT technology helped me get rid of facial wrinkles and the effects of skin aging. The procedure is absolutely painless, takes no more than 1-2 hours, and after a couple of weeks the skin smoothes out and looks much younger. I can recommend this procedure to anyone who wants to look younger.”

Nadezhda, St. Petersburg

“I can say with confidence that laser DOT rejuvenation works real wonders on facial skin. It was hard to believe that a procedure during which I felt nothing could have such a positive effect on my skin. The top layer is sanded, making restoration much faster. After the procedure, you may notice some redness, but don't worry, it will go away quickly. I recommend it to anyone who wants to quickly and painlessly become 5-10 years younger.”

This procedure makes you look much younger

Vladislava, Perm

“The results of the procedures are pleasantly surprising - it was hard to believe that such a wonderful effect could be achieved. In a couple of hours, under the guidance of an experienced cosmetologist, all the necessary actions were completed. The procedure can be called pleasant, I didn’t experience any pain or discomfort, but I was a little discouraged by the redness afterwards, however, it quickly went away, and after 5 days I was able to fully enjoy the result.”

Anna, Ivanovo

“A couple of years ago I had surgery to remove a wart on my face, which left me with small scars that were very noticeable. Decorative cosmetics did not help much, so I decided to resort to the DOT rejuvenation procedure. The result exceeded all expectations - the skin looks great, it is smooth, the color has evened out, and the consequences of the operation are now almost invisible. I think that in the future I will again resort to this procedure, but this time to eliminate age-related changes. You always want to look younger than your age and receive compliments!”

You can achieve an even complexion

Number of sessions

After fractional laser rejuvenation of the eyelids and other problem areas, rehabilitation of 3–7 days is required. The duration of the rehabilitation period will depend on the patient's lifestyle. For example, bad habits, poor nutrition, excessive physical activity, stress and disturbed sleep can significantly slow down skin regeneration after the procedure.

During the first three days after the session, redness and slight swelling may appear on the skin. To reduce the level of discomfort, you can take painkillers and use skin cooling products.

It is considered normal if during the first week the skin feels tight and peels in some places. Side effects include a bronze tint to the face, which disappears after 14 days.

A lasting result can be achieved by performing two to five procedures. A cosmetologist can tell you exactly how many sessions are needed, depending on each individual case and the client’s initial data.

The interval between sessions should be at least 3-4 weeks. Fractional laser rejuvenation slows down aging: wrinkles decrease or disappear completely, turgor increases, pores narrow, and complexion evens out. This method effectively removes pigmentation, post-acne, stretch marks and scars.

Technique

The cosmetologist selects the procedure method, the intensity of radiation, and the treatment area. The client goes through 4 stages:

Accommodation. The patient lies down on the couch, taking a comfortable position, in which he will spend from 10 to 30 minutes. Hair is removed from the forehead under a disposable cap;
Facial cleansing. The doctor removes remaining cosmetics, sebum and other contaminants;
Laser processing. The cosmetologist processes the required areas in scanning mode;
To reduce redness, a cream with panthenol is applied to the treated area.

Most people experience no pain during the non-ablative rejuvenation process. For a client with sensitive skin, the doctor will provide local anesthesia.

Possible side effects

Complications after fractional laser rejuvenation procedures are extremely rare. Most often, negative consequences are observed due to the unprofessional actions of a cosmetologist who neglects the processing instructions. Sometimes side effects occur due to the client's failure to follow skin care recommendations.

Most likely complications:

severe hyperemia of the skin, which goes away on its own after three days;
swelling;
dark skin tone;
excessive dryness and flaking of the skin;
burns;
scars and cicatrices;
white or yellow milia raised above the surface (dense nodules that form under the skin);
inflammatory processes in damaged areas;
the phenomenon of hyperpigmentation (may appear as a result of exposure to sunlight).

Complications after fractional laser rejuvenation will not appear if you prepare well before the procedure, choose a reliable clinic and an experienced professional.

Advice for patients

How to prepare for the procedure? Usually, before a DOT rejuvenation session, no special actions are required. It may be advisable to pre-exfoliate and cleanse your facial skin yourself.

You can cleanse your skin before the procedure

Recommendations for the recovery period after a session are usually made by the doctor who supervises the procedure. Special balms are prescribed, for example, “Cicaplast”, and the use of thermal water. The use of decorative cosmetics is limited for several days; purified water and special preparations are used for facial care to help combat consequences such as swelling and redness.

During the recovery period, doctors often recommend using Cicaplast balm.

Before choosing a clinic and starting the procedure, it is recommended to pay attention to what equipment is used there. To achieve a good result, only high-quality and certified equipment, for example, the SmartXide DOT laser, is suitable. A qualified cosmetologist will help you choose the appropriate procedure parameters, taking into account all the individual characteristics of the skin. Most negative reviews about laser DOT rejuvenation are due to the fact that the procedure was carried out using inexpensive equipment, usually made in China, or by a specialist without sufficient qualifications.

It is important that the clinic uses certified equipment

It is also important to take into account that for 3-4 weeks after the procedure the patient should avoid visiting a solarium, as well as being in direct sunlight. In addition, skin exfoliation and exfoliation are prohibited for a month.

Note! If you carefully follow all medical recommendations, you will be able to achieve the maximum result from the procedure.

Frequently asked questions about fractional laser rejuvenation

Minimum age allowed for laser facial rejuvenation

There are practically no restrictions. The procedures can be performed as early as 17 years of age to get rid of acne scars.

For women over 40 who want to maintain youth and attractiveness, the technique is especially useful, since laser beams provoke the production of their own collagen by skin cells.

The recovery period after fractional laser rejuvenation is usually 7–14 days. The duration of rehabilitation depends on the complexity of the problem and the type of laser treatment.

When can I start working?

This depends on what type of laser treatment was used, on the area of problem areas, and on the experience and skills of the cosmetologist. The recovery period, based on the method and complexity of the defects, ranges from two days to three weeks. It happens that the patient can start working just a day after the session.

How long does it take to see results?

It takes about six months for the skin to be completely renewed and the effect to become noticeable. The result lasts for about five years.

Fractional laser facial skin rejuvenation is a highly effective cosmetic procedure. It has many advantages compared to similar anti-aging techniques. But you need to know that this procedure is not suitable for everyone and has contraindications. Therefore, you must first consult with a specialist. And to reduce the risk of complications, you should choose only reliable and trusted clinics.

Why clients choose Veronika Herba Beauty and Health Center:

This is a beauty center where you can take care of yourself at a reasonable cost, while your face and/or body will be treated not by an ordinary cosmetologist, but by one of the best cosmetologists in Moscow. This is a completely different, higher level of service!
You can receive qualified help at any time convenient for you. The beauty center is open from 9:00 to 21:00, seven days a week. The main thing is to agree with your doctor in advance on the date and time of your appointment.

, and you will see for yourself!