Laser surgery has earned a bad reputation for both the pain and the long periods needed for healing. But, with the advent of more sophisticated laser technology, we can now bid goodbye to the long, anointing procedures of the past and say hello to a younger looking, fully recuperated self in just a fraction of the time.
At a time when most women live a fast-paced lifestyle, nothing has revolutionized skin resurfacing as much as the advent of fractional laser technology, the new wonder of the derma world that creates a suppler skin in just a short time.
These days, non-invasive surgery has redefined the battle against fine lines. Worldwide, six in every 10 cosmetic surgeries are injections, skin peeling, or lasers. And perhaps the greatest evidence of the growing glamor for fractional lasers is the rapid increase in the number of laser skin resurfacing treatments.
It is easy to know why women are asking for more of these laser treatments. Powerful beams pierce through the skin, inciting natural collagen production while leaving the healthy skin unscarred.
So why should you choose fractional laser to battle the scars of aging?
During the 1990s and early 2000s, when the derma industry held on to the promise of skin resurfacing lasers, the technology was met with disappointment. Patients did achieve beautiful glowing skin but only after the month-long agony of what looked like sunburn face.
Around this time, the standard for skin resurfacing was CO2 laser technology. In one recent study, the rate of patients getting post-inflammatory hypopigmentation could go as high as 20 percent, and the potential side effects include edema, persistent erythema, infections, and post-laser hyperpigmentation.
Since then, technology has greatly improved and so have the results. The industry figured out a way to focus high-intensity light only on damaged areas. In the mid-2000s, fractional lasers entered the market to counter the effects of ablative lasers.
Dermatologists worldwide agree that fractional lasers have changed the way skin resurfacing is done. Healing is quick as the laser targets only the damaged area while protecting the surrounding healthy skin from harm.
Depending on the intensity of the treatment and damage of the skin, fractional laser treatment required multiple clinic visits, anesthetics and for some painkillers.
This wonder laser can treat a wide range of skin related problems. Fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, acne, dark spots, and scars.
Fractional lasers are safe and proven effective on Asian skin after adjusting the energy and density settings. Asian patients who receive high energy, low-density treatment have lower chances of getting post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
But just how effective are fractional laser procedures?
Fraxel, a leading non-ablative fractional laser, was clinically proven to improve lines around the eyes and wrinkles. By the end of the month, the treatment improved as much as 54 percent of the affected skin. And after three months, wrinkles could be gone by almost 34 percent and skin texture could improve by 47 percent. It works well in treating fine to moderate rhytids and vertical lip lines.
The same is true for ablative fractional lasers. Those who underwent the procedure saw a 75 percent improvement in skin, rhytids, and fine lines, according to one clinical study.
In this century of high-speed transactions, women live by a single rule: time can never be wasted. Social events are penciled one after the other. Travels here and abroad are booked in an instant. Business deals are closed by the clock.
With this kind of lifestyle comes an unfortunate cost: stress sketches lines on women foreheads, busy schedules give little time for pampering, and aging comes faster than its natural pace.
For many 21st century women, invasive surgeries waste the little time they have on their hands. And in a society that frowns upon the process of undergoing the knife, fractional laser procedures that treat skin problems in an instant offer people a viable and faster option to fight off aging.
Gone are the days that laser surgeries offer more harm than good. The advent of fractional laser technology has revolutionized the fight against skin aging. Women of today live fast-paced lives and fortunately, now we have fast-paced ways to stay young and beautiful.
How it works
The fractional laser does its magic by boring grid-like tiny holes called microthermal zones deep into the skin, pushing out old skin and replace it with the new skin. By creating these tiny zones, the laser perks up the production of collagen, which gives the skin its strength, smoothness, and elasticity.
Two types of Fractional Laser Treatment
Treatment can be either ablative or non-ablative.
Ablative
- Ablative fractional lasers remove the top layer and sub-layer of the skin.
- Ablative procedures may provide a single treatment option.
- Ablative fractional lasers: one clinical study showed that it produced 75 percent improvement in skin, rhytids, and fine lines.
Non-ablative
- Non-ablative lasers keep the outer layer in place to achieve faster healing.
- Non-ablative procedures take minimal downtime, while ablative procedures may provide a single treatment option.
