Q. What is Fractional Resurfacing?
Q. What skin problems does Fractional Resurfacing treat?
Q. I've heard you have to use a messy blue dye with Fractional Resurfacing. Is that true?
Q. Does Fractional Resurfacing treatment hurt?
Q. Can Fractional Resurfacing be performed on any areas below the neck?
Q. How long does a Fractional Resurfacing treatment take?
Q. How many Fractional Resurfacing treatments will I need?
Q. What is the difference between a Fraxel treatment vs Fractional Resurfacing treatment?

 

Q. What is Fractional Resurfacing?

Fractional Resurfacing is a process by which tiny portions of the skin are treated with a laser, causing the appearance of the rest of the skin to improve. The treated areas are very small, about 30 millionths of an inch in diameter. These tiny treated areas, called microthermal zones, will cause the surrounding skin to rejuvenate.

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Q. What skin problems does Fractional Resurfacing treat?

This treatment is intended to rejuvenate facial imperfections, including acne scarring, enlarged pores, fine wrinkles, irregular coloration, and uneven texture.

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Q. I've heard you have to use a messy blue dye with Fractional Resurfacing. Is that true?

Not at Epilution Med Spa. An earlier treatment that used a similar technology required that the skin be painted with a blue dye to prevent the microthermal zones from being created too close together. We use the most advanced equipment available. Our equipment does not require any dye.

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Q. Does Fractional Resurfacing treatment hurt?

The earlier treatment used a single, narrow laser beam that continuously moved over the surface of the skin. The micro thermal zones were created by having the beam pause for a very brief period of time before moving to the next spot. The blue dye was used to try to prevent the beam from pausing in the same spot over and over again. The problem was that the skin got quite hot because of the way beam turned on and off. This caused significant pain. The newer treatment uses a larger laser beam that is divided into 100 tiny, precisely placed laser points. With each pulse, 100 micro thermal zones are simultaneously created in a fixed pattern. The area between the points is protected and chilled with a contact cooling device. This method works much better and causes much less discomfort. Women rarely complain about any discomfort. Men seem to be much more sensitive!

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Q. Can Fractional Resurfacing be performed on any areas below the neck?

Yes. Most of the treatments are done on the neck and face, but the treatment could be used on almost any area of skin.

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Q. How long does a Fractional Resurfacing treatment take?

The length of time for a Fractional Resurfacing treatment depends on the size of the area being treated and how much energy is being delivered. Average treatment times for the face are between 15 and 45 minutes.

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Q. How many Fractional Resurfacing treatments will I need?

Typically clients receive three to five treatments spaced at one month intervals. Some clients get dramatic results from a single treatment. The skin continues to improve for about 4-6 months after the last treatment. More severe cases will benefit from more treatments.

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Q. What is the difference between a Fraxel treatment vs Fractional Resurfacing treatment?

Palomar Medical invented both the Fraxel Laser and the 1540 Fractional Resurfacing Laser. The Fraxel Laser works by using a single laser beam that moves back and forth across the skin that turns on and off to create the microthermal zones. This single beam of laser light tends to cause the skin to get very hot over a short period of time which seems to cause a lot of discomfort. The Fraxel Laser was sold to another company.

The newer equipment called the 1540 Fractional Resurfacing Laser works by using a much larger laser beam that is divided into smaller beams by a lens. This lens is continuously chilled and lays directly on the skin. This helps the skin stay much cooler which causes much less discomfort.

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