Fractionated Lasers (Fraxel) – Sydney & Canberra

Fractionated Lasers can completely transform your skin!

“Fractional” Laser Resurfacing is a new technology which promises to deliver results approaching that of deep chemical peels or ablative laser resurfacing, without the discomfort and inconvenience of a lengthy healing period AND with minimam risk. All traditional resurfacing methods treat the entire skin surface, to obtain a significant, “permanent” result.

The entire top (epidermal) layer of skin is damaged or removed, creating a visible wound and a loss of the skins protective function. Fractional Laser Resurfacing treats a small “fraction” of the skin, leaving intact, undamaged skin around each treated area to act as a barrier and reservoir for rapid healing.

The image below illustrates how fractionated lasers work by only treating a “fraction” of the skin at a time.

Fractional Laser Resurfacing with the Profile Sciton Laser (Profractional) uses an invisible laser beam which is strongly absorbed by water. The beam is less than 100 millionths of an inch in diameter, about the size of a human hair. The beam passes through the dry, outer layer of skin and wounds the underlying collagen. Nearby undamaged cells immediately move into this microscopically damaged area and heal the wounded area. During each treatment, millions of these microscopic areas are created, but most of the skin remains undamaged, allowing rapid healing. Further collagen remodeling and some skin tightening takes place over the next 3-6 months.

Fraxel Laser Results

Indications for use

• Indications for Fractional Laser Resurfacing include:
• Sun-damaged skin
• Fine wrinkles
• Age spots and sun spots
• Hyper-pigmentation
• Acne and other scarring
• Rosacea

Because fractional laser resurfacing emulates “traditional” ablative procedures, many conditions may be treated with either method. Fractional Laser Resurfacing has the advantage of ease of treatment with minimal discomfort and downtime.

The number of treatments necessary for a given result will vary with the power settings of the laser and the desired endpoint of treatment. Higher powers will cause larger “spots”, a greater penetration depth and more improvement per treatment, but with more redness, flaking, increased chance of blistering and a greater recovery time. Lower settings will cause the opposite effect. Likewise, the degree of desired improvement will vary from patient to patient. A typical treatment course might consist of three treatments spaced four weeks apart.

The treatment is performed in the office with topical anaesthetic, supplemented by required anaesthetic injections, especially if sensitive areas are treated and/or higher powers are used. Our protocol is to apply topical anaesthetic cream for 20 minutes.

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