A dermatologist describes the most exciting skin cosmetic treatments offered today - Fraxel ™ and Thermage CPT laser therapy, developed by Solta Medical from Hayward, CA. These procedures are minimally invasive treatments that improve the appearance of the skin with minimal patient downtime. You can literally handle any surface area of the body, as well as all types and colors of skin. Below is a list of conditions that can usually work effectively with these technologies:
* Wrinkles
* Bad texture
* Large skin pores
* Sun damage
* Sunspots
* Brown spots
* Acne scars
* Surgical scars
* Traumatic scars
* Melasma
* Uneven pigmentation
* Stretch marks
* Syroma
Fraxel ™ Laser Therapy
The Fraxel ™ laser treatment system works with microscopic laser columns that penetrate deep into the skin. Two main skin layers are involved in the treatment:
* Epidermis or outer layer of your skin
* Dermis or skin underlays that include collagen and elastin
The network of collagen and elastin in the dermis is proteins that help keep your skin young and taut. As people age and are exposed to the more detrimental effects of the sun, these proteins are destroyed faster than the body’s ability to regenerate them. Then the skin begins to breed wrinkles, lines, age spots and sagging associated with age.
The Fraxel ™ system combats this process by focusing microscopic (1/2 thickness of the hair follicle) laser columns deep into the dermis. Because the laser columns are so narrow and precisely focused, laser treatment causes tiny wounds only on part of the skin, leaving the surrounding skin unaffected. It stimulates the body’s natural healing system to regenerate new collagen and elastin, which tightens the skin and gives it a more youthful appearance. And since only part of the skin is affected, it is able to heal much faster. This means that the patient has much less downtime. Depending on the procedure, the patient may return to normal activities on the same day.
This is an outpatient procedure requiring local anesthetic cream. As a rule, the only side effects are sunburn, such as redness, which usually disappears after a couple of days. The miracle of this treatment process is not only amazing results, but also a speed of recovery with little or no downtime and minimal risk of complications.
The Fraxel ™ laser system is much more effective than any classic cosmetic procedures, such as chemical peels, dermabrasion and CO2 laser polishing. Usually, optimal results are achieved with 3 or 4 treatments, each of which includes from 15% to 30% of the skin. If you have always wanted to improve the appearance of your skin, but were afraid of the effects and long time associated with other procedures, you can consider Fraxel ™ Laser.
Thermage CPT
The Thermage system uses monopolar capacitive radio frequency (RF) energy to tighten and contour the skin. Unlike other treatments that may require multiple treatments to achieve results, the Thermage system can benefit from a single treatment. Treatment involves the delivery of a controlled amount of radiofrequency (RF) energy deep into the dermis, thereby heating the volume of collagen. This causes a tightening of existing collagen and, over time, stimulates the regeneration of new collagen. This collagen remodeling helps to create a smoother, tighter skin; improved tone and texture; and a general view of the young look. At the same time, deep heat occurs, the skin surface is cooled to protect it from any damage. As a result, the skin does not require recovery time, and the patient can return to normal activities quickly.
This process is also performed on an outpatient basis, usually using a local anesthetic cream. Depending on the length of the procedure, the doctor may also use a relaxing and / or pain-relieving drug. Thermage is the only non-surgical procedure that can provide results with a single treatment.
Both Fraxel ™ Laser and Thermage CPT treatments should be performed only by a certified physician who has been specifically trained in the use of these procedures. You should consult your dermatologist to determine if these treatment options are suitable for you.
