The skin of your face and neck is the most delicate, which leaves it prone to signs of aging like spots, enlarged pores, wrinkles, fine lines, and acne scars. With countless rejuvenation treatments to choose from, choosing the best one for your time, money, and skin concerns can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, with advancements in cosmetic dermatology, looking younger doesn’t have to involve expensive and invasive surgical procedures. Now, you can refine and beautify your natural features without surgery to look more alert and refreshed.
At Dermatology Medical Group of San Francisco, one of our most sought-after treatments is Fraxel® laser skin resurfacing. The specialized technology included in this laser has become a secret weapon in many people’s anti-aging arsenals. Patients are excited to talk about how it’s helped improve their skin texture and treated their imperfections from the inside out – all without incisions, sutures, or weeks of recovery.
Keep reading to learn more about what makes Fraxel® laser skin resurfacing so popular in the San Francisco area, including how it works, its unique advantages, and who can benefit the most from treatment.
What Is Fraxel® Laser Skin Resurfacing?
The Fraxel® laser releases thousands of micro-beams that deeply penetrate the skin’s layers to reverse sun damage and minimize issues like wrinkles and discoloration. These precise points of light will also activate the skin’s natural healing responses, prompting a faster cell turnover, creating new collagen, and revealing a fresh, healthy complexion.
The Fraxel® device has various tools with different specializations and benefits. During your consultation, your doctor can help you decide which is best for you.
Most other laser treatments require longer downtimes and more significant recovery processes. With Fraxel®, which uses fractional photothermolysis, you can achieve dramatic results in comparatively less time.
What Makes Fraxel® a Popular Choice?
Imagine you could wave a magic wand to make your stubborn skin concerns disappear, peeling them away to reveal a new layer of fresh, healthy, glowing skin. Essentially, that’s what Fraxel® does, which is why it’s earned acclaim from people who are serious about blasting away their skin imperfections for good. Patients who have tried Fraxel® enjoy a self-esteem boost when they see their previous blemishes fade away for a smooth, flawless complexion.
Fraxel® is also safe for other areas of the body that are susceptible to sun damage and hyperpigmentation, include the neck, décolletage, hands, and arms. It can also successfully treat icepick, boxcar, and rolling acne scars.
Fraxel® laser treatments are more effective than average topical treatments at smoothing away textured scarring. That’s because the laser allows us to go deep into the dermal layer and break apart the scar tissue. The lotions and potions you buy at the drugstore cannot achieve that level of rejuvenation.
Benefits of Fraxel® Laser Skin Resurfacing
Since Fraxel® laser treatments are non-invasive and do not require any surgical intervention, there is less recovery necessary compared to other skin rejuvenation treatments. You can resume your usual activities after only three to five days. It is convenient for patients looking to lighten hyperpigmentation, smooth lines and wrinkles, and remove acne scars while improving their skin’s overall health and vitality.
The Fraxel® laser will leave you with a healthy glow without taking dramatic measures. It is more effective than topical treatments because it works to break apart scar tissue and congested pores that cause textural issues and imperfections.
How Fraxel® Works
If your goal is to achieve a balanced skin tone and rebuild your confidence in your complexion, the Fraxel® laser treatment is an excellent option. How does the Fraxel® laser work? The answer is straightforward – the unique fractional laser energy triggers a healing response that promotes collagen production. To promote cell growth, the Fraxel® laser will create controlled wounds using laser energy. However, the damage to the skin is significantly less compared to other treatments.
What Skin Conditions Can Fraxel® Treat?
Fraxel® laser treatments can repair the following skin conditions.
- Fine lines and wrinkles: Aging leads to displaced fat, depleted collagen, and sagging skin, all of which contribute to permanent creases and folds. With Fraxel® pinpoint laser energy, we’re able to activate the natural healing process to smooth out wrinkles and tighten skin.
- Irregular skin textures: Roughness and dryness are common skin imperfections that can be made worse by environmental factors, sun exposure, stress, and poor skin care. Fraxel® is able to resurface the skin and improve its overall texture, but rather than scraping off the surface, it stimulates the tissues to repair damaged skin cells with fresh, new, healthy skin cells from the inside out.
- Surface scars: Acne scars can appear like permanent blemishes on the skin. The skin forms these scars in reaction to damage or injury, particularly after a bad breakout. Using Fraxel®, our trained nurses can remove the damaged scar tissue so your body can replace it with healthy skin cells.
- Sun and age spots: Hyperpigmentation is the term for discoloration caused by sun exposure or hormone fluctuation. The Fraxel® laser penetrates the melanin in the skin, breaking it apart so your body can absorb it.
What to Expect During a Fraxel® Procedure
Your Fraxel® journey begins with a thorough examination and detailed medical history to help us determine if you are a good candidate for laser skin resurfacing or one of our other cosmetic treatments. If you meet the qualifications, your provider will clean your skin of any makeup, skin care products, oils, and debris. Then, we’ll apply a topical numbing agent, which will take effect in about a half-hour.
Once the numbing cream has set in, we will begin your Fraxel® treatment. One of our trained nurses will glide the device over your skin, specifically in the areas where you are experiencing the most problems. Thanks to the numbing cream, you shouldn’t feel any discomfort, though many patients compare it to a light snapping or tapping sensation.
After your session, you’ll be free to go about the rest of your day with a protective and soothing agent on your skin.
Is Fraxel® Laser Treatment Right for You?
Fraxel® laser treatments are best for patients who are in good overall physical health, without any dormant or active medical skin issues.
Patients should also be non-smokers or willing to quit for six weeks before their treatment and six weeks after, as smoking or vaping of any kind can adversely affect laser resurfacing results.
Fraxel® laser treatments are suitable for patients in their 20s and beyond who are concerned with premature signs of aging or who would like to address textural or pigmentation issues with their skin. We also like to ask our patients to have realistic expectations about what Fraxel® can and cannot achieve and be patient about their results. While one session can create a noticeable difference, it may take four to six weeks to experience the full results, as your skin needs time to recover.
During your consultation, we’ll further help you determine if laser resurfacing treatments are the best option for you by answering questions and describing the treatment in full.
Learn More About Fraxel® Laser Resurfacing Treatment in San Francisco
Radiant, clear, healthy skin is always in style, but it’s not always easy to obtain. Sometimes, you need a little bit of help to get back on the right track. If you would like to learn more about Fraxel® at Dermatology Medical Group of San Francisco, contact us today to schedule your consultation and discover the power of laser resurfacing.
