Who doesn't dream of young, beautiful and healthy skin? Unfortunately, its aging is an inevitable process. With age, elasticity is lost, pores enlarge, wrinkles and age spots appear. How to deal with this and is it possible to do without surgery?
One of the most effective options is fractional laser thermolysis. It is a non-surgical rejuvenation procedure that can solve a wide range of aesthetic and age-related issues, including smoothing out wrinkles and correcting scars.
How it works?
The photothermolysis procedure is based on the directed action of a laser beam, divided into several hundred of the finest beams (the so-called fractions, hence the name). When they hit the target skin area, they cause small, strictly controlled temperature damage.
In response to these microtraumas, a process of natural regeneration begins. There is an increased production of collagen - a protein responsible for skin tone and elasticity. The damaged layer is completely renewed. As a result - a pronounced rejuvenating effect, achieved mainly through the activation of the natural internal resources of our body.
Indications for fractional thermolysis
With this procedure you can:
- smooth fine lines;
- improve skin tone, make it more elastic;
- correct the relief: tightened pores, eliminate traces of acne (post-acne), small stretch marks, scars after burns or cuts and other scarring defects;
- lighten pigmentation, melasma (including those related to age);
- perform a full-fledged laser peel - from superficial resurfacing to total resurfacing.
In general, fractional thermolysis is a universal technique, it is suitable for patients of any age and is considered an ideal option for those who wish to achieve a rejuvenating effect, but are not yet ready to consult a plastic surgeon. It is allowed to work both on the face, including the delicate area of the eyelids and the skin around the eyes, and on the body - for example, with the neck, décolleté or hands.
What are the devices
Photothermolysis is carried out using different CO2 and erbium lasers, two of which require special attention:
- Fraxel - has long been a leader in its category, and its very name has become a household name for the fractional rejuvenation procedure. Today it is considered obsolete, although quite effective. There are several varieties (re: store, re: fine, re: pair) designed to work with different skin types and at different depths.
- Mixto is a new generation laser and today's "gold standard". It differs from Fraxel in wavelength and also uses a particular beam path. For this reason, it surpasses its eminent predecessor in all respects: the procedure becomes more comfortable and safer, fewer sessions are required, and recovery is faster.
There are also many analog devices, mostly of Asian origin. They may be similar to Fraxel and Mixto in terms of principle of action, but still inferior to them in safety, as they do not have such precise settings for beam splitting, intensity and depth of penetration.
How is the procedure
The session begins with a consultation with a beautician, where the indications and other nuances are specified. No special training is required, so you can go straight to working with the laser:
- The first step is to cleanse the skin. An anesthetic (usually a lidocaine-based gel) is then applied to the target area.
- The patient and the beautician wear special glasses to protect the eyes from accidental laser shots.
- Then the doctor adjusts the device - sets the depth of penetration, power in joules, pulse frequency and other parameters. They are selected according to the problem to be solved.
- After that, the beautician slowly pushes the manipulates on the desired area of the skin, providing it with the same light fractions. It can be quite uncomfortable (depending on individual sensitivity to pain), but in general it is tolerable - more often patients describe their sensations as a slight tingling or burning sensation.
- The whole procedure, excluding preparation, takes about 20 minutes, the exact time depends on the size of the treated area. Immediately after the end, a soothing cream is applied to the face. You can go home and resume your usual routine with minimal restrictions.
How long does the rehabilitation after fractional thermolysis last and how to take care of your skin during this period?
Up to 24 hours after the session, redness persists on the face, sometimes a slight swelling. It is similar to what happens when a person is slightly sunburned. Have no fear, this is a natural reaction that indicates the initiation of the rejuvenation mechanism.
The next day, characteristic brown spots appear. And on the third day, another indicator of the changes that have started appears - micro-exfoliation of the skin (exfoliation of old surface particles), which, however, passes quite quickly. In addition, for 1 to 2 weeks after the session, the tan may persist, i. e. the effect of tanning.
There are few post-procedural restrictions, but it is extremely important to adhere to them, otherwise there is a risk of not only not achieving the desired effect, but also facing complications:
- For 2-3 weeks you cannot sunbathe, including in the solarium, nor go to the bath / sauna (the day before the session you can). At the same time, the fractional thermolysis itself is carried out only during the period without the active sun.
- Moisturizing cosmetics (a light cream that does not clog the pores) should be applied to the treated area for the first few weeks.
- It is imperative to protect the treated skin from strong mechanical stresses. Until complete healing, all scrubs and scrubs, acid creams are prohibited. Under no circumstances should you peel off the scales, scratch or intensely rub the area where the laser thermolysis was performed.
The rejuvenating effect develops and reaches its peak within a month. To achieve a complete result with the Fraxel laser, in most cases a cycle of 3 to 6 procedures is required. Mixto solves minor faults in 1 session, with more serious faults - in 2-3. The interval between them is several weeks so that the skin has time to fully recover.
The end result does not have a "status of limitations", but it makes sense that over time, under the influence of age and external factors, the condition of the skin worsens.
Contraindications, complications and side effects
Like other methods of hardware correction, fractional thermolysis is not carried out in the following cases:
- oncological diseases;
- epilepsy;
- inflammatory processes of the skin in the target area (neurodermatitis, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis);
- fresh herpetic rashes;
- acute infectious diseases;
- recent or deep chemical peels, mechanical dermabrasion;
- gestation and lactation period.
When it comes to complications and side effects, the most common are increased pigmentation in the treated area. The Fraxel, other previous generation lasers, with incorrect settings, could cause quite severe burns, up to the appearance of deep scars. Mixto does not create such problems.
Nevertheless, the effectiveness and the safety of the intervention still largely depend on the esthetician: the doctor must understand what exactly, why and how he is doing with such a powerful device. Therefore, the way to guard against complications and other unwanted consequences is very simple - contact only an experienced specialist who knows how to work with modern lasers.
How much does fractional thermolysis cost?
The cost of the service depends on several factors: the brand of the device used for the laser correction, the volume of the treated area, the duration of the course and the qualifications of the specialist. Ask your beautician for the exact amount.