“Out, damned spot!” While we’re sure MacBeth wasn’t referring to facial spots like acne scars and sun damage, many of us lament about our skin spots. This is where a laser skin resurfacing treatment like the Fraxel laser comes in.
Spot Removal with Fraxel Laser
While previous laser skin resurfacing treatments would treat the entire face, Fraxel was one of the original spot removers. As a fractionated laser, it targets specific areas of skin imperfections like brown spots, scars, fine lines and wrinkles, and even the pores. Basically, if ablative CO2 laser resurfacing is laundry detergent, Fraxel laser is the spot treatment for red wine and coffee stains.
How Does Fraxel Work to Reduce Skin Imperfections?
The Fraxel laser skin resurfacing treatment targets areas of the skin to stimulate the skin and cells beneath. This speeds up skin cell turnover and triggers collagen growth. New skin begins growing while scars and other imperfections fade away. After a series of Fraxel laser treatments, patients walk away with younger, brighter looking skin.
And yes, Fraxel even minimizes the appearance of your pores!
How Fraxel Reduces Skin Imperfections: Fraxel Laser Animation
Fraxel Laser is Customizable
If you have a few fine lines and some light pigmentation concerns, your provider may give you a lighter Fraxel laser treatment. If you want to treat deeper lines and wrinkles, shrink pores, and minimize the appearance of scars, a more aggressive setting may be used. Each Fraxel laser procedure shows results following a very short amount of downtime. Full results will not be seen until a series of treatments are completed. The number of Fraxel laser treatments you will have depends on your needs. Like we said: customizable!
Maintenance After Fraxel
Fraxel laser should be repeated about once per year; however, some patients benefit from routine Clear and Brilliant laser treatments, a much less aggressive laser skin resurfacing treatment with no downtime. These lasers may also be used together to achieve better results, depending on your needs.
The Fraxel Laser Experience
After we apply numbing cream and allow the time necessary to get nice and numb, we will proceed with your Fraxel laser treatment. As this is a laser treatment, eye protection is crucial for both patient and provider. Your provider will wear goggles and place protective covers over your eyes. We then use a hose that blows a steady stream of cool air to help keep your skin cool and comfortable during the laser treatment. Most patients tolerate the treatment and are able to hold a conversation comfortably and without any difficulty. However, if during the treatment, you experience any pain or discomfort that you are unable to tolerate, speak up. Periodically, your provider will check in with you to make sure you feel comfortable during the Fraxel treatment.
What to Expect After Your Fraxel Laser Treatment
Following your Fraxel laser treatment, we will instruct you to protect your skin from direct sunlight. This is to avoid further sun damage or skin irritation. Your skin is exposed, so UV rays can be more harmful to your skin. When you get into your hot car, it’s a good idea to blast the air conditioning to keep your skin cool. This is especially important here in the desert and a big reason why laser treatments aren’t as popular during the summer months.
You will experience some redness on the treatment area that can look like a light sunburn. You may use skin care products on your skin that evening; in fact, the little channels in your skin can help soak up the beneficial ingredients, giving you a little more benefit from certain products. Some patients will experience light swelling and notice that their dark spots appear darker following treatment. The skin may also feel a little bit like sandpaper. These side-effects are completely normal and will fade over a few days.
It’s very important to drink a lot of water and use a moisturizer with sunscreen after a Fraxel treatment.
After approximately four days, you may notice peeling of the skin, similar to a chemical peel or peeling after a sunburn. These are the old, damaged skin cells peeling away to make room for the new, bright, and healthier skin cells. You’re almost there! Following this step, you may notice some minor eruptions of pimples and blackheads. This is also completely normal and is expected to clear up within a few days.
After about two weeks, your skin will shine bright with fewer noticeable imperfections, tighter pores, and a youthful glow.
Fraxel Isn’t Just for the Face
While Fraxel is most often used on the face, it can be used almost anywhere on the body. The arms, hands, and chest are very popular places for Fraxel treatments. These areas are often covered in sun damage, hyperpigmentation, and brown spots. Fraxel helps reduce the appearance, leaving behind more even toned, youthful looking skin.
Fraxel Laser in the Media
The Fraxel laser was featured on Oprah, The Doctors, and other popular daytime TV shows. Courteney Cox, Kim Kardashian, and Kelly Ripa all love Fraxel.
Where to Get Fraxel Laser Treatments
When you consider where to go for a Fraxel laser treatment, it’s important to check into your provider’s credentials. Some centers have providers who do not have the experience to provide Fraxel and other laser treatments. An inexperienced or even unlicensed provider can burn you and seriously damage your skin. If injured, you may require very specialized dermatologic care, which may or may not reverse the damage. Be sure to see an experienced laser technician for all of your laser skin resurfacing procedures.
Patients choose Ultra Smooth Skin because of our extensive experience with laser skin resurfacing. Our founder, Lisa Williams, ANP-C, is not only a licensed laser provider, she is a trainer. Lisa has been a Fellow of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery since 2005 as well as a Certified Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner. Read more about Lisa’s credentials.
Fraxel Laser in Scottsdale & Chandler, Arizona at Ultra Smooth Skin
With three convenient locations in Scottsdale & Chandler, AZ, Ultra Smooth Skin is one of the top Fraxel providers in the Phoenix-area. We are also one of the few providers that offer Saturday appointments, enhancing our convenience and dedication to patient service and satisfaction. If you think Fraxel is right for you, or if you want to schedule a consultation to find out which treatments, services, and products are best for your skin care and anti-aging goals, contact Ultra Smooth Skin today.
