All women dream of preserving their beauty and youth as long as possible, while resorting to various methods. Modern medicine does not stand still and is actively developing in the cosmetology field, offering all kinds of procedures and operations for rejuvenation.
Techniques that allow to hide obvious signs of aging without surgery and beauty injections are very well known and in demand. Fractional laser rejuvenation in the modern world is considered one of the most effective methods of dealing with age-related skin changes.
Fractional laser: what it is
When aiming the laser at the skin, a burn appears, which goes deeper. Regenerative processes are activated, which contributes to the achievement of the desired result. The procedure is also referred to as laser resurfacing.
In the fractional technique, the beam is split into several microbeams. The effect on the skin will be in the form of a mesh. After such exposure, the burns look like a large accumulation of microdots among the unaffected skin.
Important! This greatly reduces damage to the skin, promoting its rapid healing.
The cells of the skin that remain unaffected are actively dividing after laser treatment. In parallel with this, collagen and elastin are produced, which ensure youthful skin.
What is fractional photothermolysis and how does it work?
Fractional photothermolysisis a process of focal tissue destruction by heating them with light (laser) energy.
The effect is due to two phenomena:
- First, the old tissue is physically destroyed and removed, in the place of which a new one grows, free from a defect;
- Secondly, due to heating, skin cells are activated, a phenomenon of the so-called "heat shock" occurs, when cells begin to function like young ones, actively rebuilding the collagen-elastin framework of the skin.
Ultimately, the skin is not only tightened and freed from age spots, but also smoothed: scars and wrinkles are smoothed out, stretch marks disappear, pore sizes decrease, it becomes denser and more elastic.
The visible effect is already noticeable after ONE procedure, and after several procedures, a pronounced rejuvenating result is observed. In addition, there is a good lifting effect for several months after the procedure.
Procedure types
There are two kinds.
- Ablative. Exposure to the laser leads to dehydration of tissues, as a result of which an open micro-wound appears, and injured cells are around it. During the recovery process, there is a noticeable lifting effect, but there is a risk of infection.
- Non-ablative. With such radiation, the skin remains intact, water from the tissues does not evaporate and microscopic wounds do not appear. The process of appearance and healing of burns occurs under the epidermis, which eliminates the risk of infection, however, the result of such rejuvenation will be less noticeable.
Important! One or another technique is selected by a specialist, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient's skin.
Applied devices
The consequences depend not only on the skill of the doctor, but also on what kind of hardware the salon or clinic provided. In most cases, this is a European-made technique. Sale is carried out in special stores or on the official websites of manufacturers. For single use, rent is possible.
Only professional equipment is used, it is quite expensive. There aredifferent types: both ablative and non-ablative (the work surface is pressed against the skin or kept at a distance).
Problems that can be eliminated this way
Post-acne. Such scars are a very common problem that brings physical and emotional distress. The procedure can reduce the appearance of acne scars. Depending on the type of scar, various methods of skin resurfacing are used.
Wrinkles around the eyes. Expression wrinkles, dark circles under the eyes are considered the main indication. It will not be possible to get rid of all wrinkles in one procedure, but their depth will decrease and they will be less conspicuous. For a noticeable result, you will need 4-5 procedures.
Important! Dysport injections will help to cope with mimic wrinkles, which can also reduce the likelihood of new wrinkles appearing in the future.
Wrinkles around the mouth. Considered the most severe type of wrinkle. To get rid of them, continuous laser grinding is applied. This method helps to reduce the duration of the rehabilitation period, but it needs more sessions (4-5).
Important! To achieve maximum results in a short time, you can combine the procedure with the introduction of fillers.
What is the advantage of fractional photothermolysis over radio waves and photolifting?
Fractional photothermolysis, unlike laser resurfacing, removes the epidermis not immediately on the entire surface of the skin, but "fractionally" - in uniform micro-areas, each fractions of a millimeter in size. At the same time, since there is no extensive wound surface and intact skin remains between the micro-areas, healing occurs quickly and without negative consequences. The widely advertised photo- and radio-wave lifting is based on heating collagen fibers without removing the epidermis.
Merits
The main distinguishing feature from other procedures is the ideal ratio of efficiency and safety.
Key benefits:
- the ability to influence any part of the body;
- extensive list of indications;
- laser affects about 20% of the damaged skin area;
- speed of recovery (3-6 days);
- accessibility of the procedure for dark-skinned patients;
- long lasting effect (more than 1 year).
Important! The only drawback is insufficient disclosure of all the features of fractional laser rejuvenation, since the technology is relatively new.
Indications for use:
- wrinkles;
- insufficient skin elasticity;
- pigmentation;
- scars;
- enlarged pores;
- stretch marks.
Readings
Anyone who wants to rejuvenate without serious braces can use this method.
Fractional laser treatment fights many imperfections on the face, including:
- severe wrinkles on the forehead;
- nasolabial folds;
- thread of crow's feet around the eyes;
- epidermis, “flowing down”;
- skin pigmentation, scars, scars, spider veins;
- problem of enlarged pores, acne.
Laser therapy has been shown to be highly effective in eliminating all of these problems.
The only caveat is that depending on the severity of imperfection, several procedures may be required.
What is the method of facial electroporation and expert feedback on the effectiveness of the procedure. Read here the details about yellow peeling - what it is and for what purpose it is performed.
Procedure
Before the procedure, the cosmetologist may prescribe anti-infectious and antibacterial drugs for several days for prophylaxis.
Important! On the day of the procedure, it is worth completely abandoning physical stress, taking alcoholic beverages and smoking.
Before fractional rejuvenation, the skin must be well cleaned and treated with special anesthetic agents. Sometimes this is not necessary.
Laser exposure may cause a slight tingling sensation. The duration of the procedure varies from 10 to 60 minutes. The number of sessions required is assigned to each patient individually. At the end of the exposure, a soothing cream should be applied.
In the future, the skin needs special care.
- Apply a moisturizer to your skin a couple of times a day for 10-14 days.
- Protect skin from UV rays for 2-3 months.
- Do not use scrubs for 2-3 weeks.
- Give up cosmetics containing retinol and salicylic acid for 2 weeks.
- During the recovery period, try to give up or limit yourself to bad habits.
Pay attention!Typically, recovery takes 3 to 7 days.
Reviews & Results
According to the reviews of most patients, laser non-ablative rejuvenation is really very easy to tolerate and gives excellent results. After 3-6 sessions, which are carried out every 2-4 weeks, you can rejuvenate by 5-10 years, while not taking long breaks in work and without suffering serious inconveniences in the recovery period.
The technology allows to preserve the upper layer of the epidermis as much as possible.Partially the protective properties of the skin are preserved and you can safely go outside for 2-3 days, not forgetting about the protection from ultraviolet radiation. She successfully copes with most of the first signs of aging. But in order to permanently remove mimic wrinkles in the frontal area and nasolabial folds, it is advisable, after the completion of the rejuvenation course, to introduce Botox, which will not allow muscles to contract and create new skin creases. The lifting effect with proper facial care lasts up to 3-5 years.
Skin changes
After the procedure, redness, swelling, and discomfort may occur for 2 days. If this condition is difficult to tolerate, pain relievers can be used to cool the disturbing skin area.
Over time, the skin may appear slightly tanned.
Important! Don't do anything - normal skin color will return on its own after a couple of weeks. For a week, the skin will dry out and flake off.
Possible unpleasant consequences
Don't worry if after the first procedure your skin turns reddish and "burns". This does not indicate the incorrectness of the procedure, but is considered a natural response of the body. After 2-3 hours, swelling may also appear in the area of the nose and eyes.
Important! To get rid of it faster, you should take care of the rapid removal of fluid from the body (eat less salty and spicy foods, take a diuretic).
The next morning, many are horrified to see the blood on their skin. It can harden and turn into a crust. This is also considered a natural reaction. This type of procedure involves the removal of the upper protective skin layer - a new one appears under the crust. Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to touch with your hands and try to tear off the crust, otherwise there is a risk of infection, scars may appear on the face. The crust will peel off on its own as soon as the tissue heals. This can be observed after 5-7 days, so be patient. After another month, the skin of the face will have a pinkish tint, and will also be receptive to light - you will need to stock up on protective creams.
Adverse reactions after the procedure are no exception. A rash, mild scabies, and a different skin color in certain areas of the face may appear. Over time, this will pass, but the sensations are quite unpleasant. High risk of side effects in patients with excessive skin sensitivity.
The cosmetologist prescribes care after fractional thermolysis individually, but there are general recommendations. You need to wash your face only with clean and slightly warm water (in no case hot). For the duration of the recovery period, forget about peeling and scrubs. You cannot stay in the open sun for 7-10 days, after which you should use special creams. It is important to pay attention to proper sleep, nutrition and rest. Following all the instructions, after 2 weeks you can forget about the uncomfortable sensations.
Contraindications
To avoid unpleasant consequences, you should make sure that there are no contraindications.
Absolute contraindications include:
- pregnancy and lactation;
- tendency to scarring;
- chronic infectious diseases;
- oncology;
- serious problems with the immune system;
- exacerbation of psoriasis.
Among the relative ones there are:
- high blood sugar;
- kidney disease;
- mental health problems;
- unwillingness to follow the recommendations of a specialist;
- recent tan.
Important!Only beauticians with experience and skills can be entrusted with the procedure.
Preparation and Execution
It is extremely important to find a highly qualified specialist to perform the procedure using non-ablative technology. Due to the delicate effect on the skin, a universal technique that would suit everyone simply does not exist. And we have to select an individual program for each patient, taking into account the age and condition of the skin.
Before the session
The preparatory phase can be very short. With the non-ablative method, there is no need to wait until the tan is gone. It also allows you to work on skin with small, non-purulent pimples or acne (its condition improves markedly after the procedure). The most important thing is to make sure that there are no contraindications.
A few days before the first session, it is very important to avoid damage or severe irritation of the skin in problem areas. Therefore, it is better to give up alcohol-containing cosmetics and do not peel.
You should also stop taking anticoagulants, tetracycline antibiotics and retinol. On the day of the session, it is better not to apply any creams to the face at all.
Technique
The procedure is quite comfortable and takes from 10 minutes to half an hour. The patient does not experience severe pain, so the use of even local anesthesia is usually not required. But for people with a high threshold of sensitivity, it is allowed.
The procedure execution diagram looks like this:
- the patient is comfortably placed on the couch;
- hair must be tucked under a disposable hat;
- the face is thoroughly cleaned from the remains of cosmetics;
- a cooling conductive gel is applied to problem areas;
- the head of the apparatus is slowly moved over the skin;
- when the button is pressed, a laser beam is generated;
- after treatment of the entire surface, apply a mask with panthenol.
Within 15-20 minutes after the end of the session, you can safely go home.
Rehabilitation period
After laser treatment of the skin, a light crust forms on it. The time of its disappearance depends on the characteristics of the recovery process of a particular type of skin. It also affects the rehabilitation period. Its duration is 2 to 4 weeks. In this case, it is not necessary that the patient is constantly monitored by specialists, however, it is worthwhile to unswervingly follow all the prescribed recommendations for a month, namely:
- give up physical activity;
- do not go to the solarium, baths, saunas;
- give up decorative cosmetics for a while;
- protect yourself from any mechanical stress.
Important! To achieve the desired result and keep it for a long time, it is worth visiting a beautician periodically. It will not hurt to undergo a whole course of procedures consisting of 4-5 sessions.
Method Action
The laser beam penetrates into the depth of the skin from a few microns to 3-4 mm. At the same time, its surface layer is not completely destroyed, although the natural protection is significantly weakened. As a result of such exposure, one gets:
- reduction of the depth of mimic wrinkles;
- almost complete elimination of small ones;
- noticeable skin tightening;
- restoration of the sharpness of the face oval;
- reduction of fenders and double chin;
- elimination of shallow pigmentation;
- smoothing of skin relief;
- elimination of spider veins and mesh;
- narrowing of enlarged pores;
- increased skin tone;
- improvement and alignment of complexion.
Visually, after non-ablative rejuvenation, patients begin to look fresher. And after a competently carried out course of treatment from the face, you can "erase" from 5 to 10 years. At the same time, there are no wrinkles, scars and other traces like from surgical operations.
Procedure duration
The duration is determined by the size of the area to be affected by the laser. The chin will take about 15 minutes, and the whole face will take no more than 80 minutes. If it is necessary to carry out only laser cleaning or resurfacing of the upper layer of the skin, it will take much less time compared to the correction of deeper layers.
Fractional CO2 laser
Fractional ray rejuvenation involves the use of pinpoint techniques on the epidermis in order to correct age-related skin problems. The principle is the basis for most modern cosmetology devices. Fractional CO2 laser is popular and is considered to be the most innovative development.
Important! The procedure is abbreviated as "fraxel".
Principle of action of fractional CO2 lasers
The basis of the laser operation is the mechanism of a point effect, only the upper layers of the skin are heated, and between the “damaged” points, unaffected areas of the skin remain. Rejuvenation with the help of such a laser is in many ways superior to the outdated methods, when the entire surface of the skin was injured, and the likelihood of infection, burns and other adverse reactions was several times greater.
The effectiveness of the technique is explained by the formation of microthermal areas in the tissues, which are the epicenter of active processes of cell regeneration. Regeneration not only extends to these areas, but also affects healthy tissues.
Important! After fractional rejuvenation, the skin regenerates much faster than the effect on the entire skin of the face, and the effect lasts for several years.
Fractional lasers are a relatively new development that already has specific stages of development.
Stage 1.Creation of an erbium laser, which is used in the non-ablative form of fractional laser rejuvenation. The surface layer of the skin is not affected during its application, the effect occurs only on the deep layers. The procedure has received many positive reviews from cosmetologists and patients.
Important! After a while, some shortcomings in the apparatus were discovered, which is why they had to start improving it.
Stage 2. The advent of fractional CO2 laser. It differs from erbium in that it runs on gas mixtures. During the operation of the device, microthermal columns appear, which affect absolutely all layers of the skin. Around them, the process of cell division begins, new ones appear. The advantages of this technology lie in the possibility of influencing even the most complex scars. Also, using this method, you can cope with deep creases and porosity of the skin. Lasers also help to achieve a more noticeable result of skin rejuvenation, which is the primary goal of this kind of procedure. The device will cope with deep wrinkles, scars and pronounced skin defects without any problems. Laser beams are quickly absorbed by water, which evaporates immediately.
Important! The device makes it possible to influence even such areas as décolleté, eyelids and neck.
These days, most anti-aging drug manufacturers are developing similar lasers. By the way, each patient can purchase one or another type of apparatus himself. When buying a device with a fractional laser, it is important to pay attention to its technical description and properties: energy density, size of the microthermal area, etc.
Fractional CO2 laser is distinguished by its ease of use due to simple control, the ability to choose different geometric shapes and sizes of the illuminated area.
Important! Those who plan to purchase such a device for rejuvenation should make sure of the reliability of the manufacturer and suppliers, since lasers are quite complex from a technological point of view.