Looking to turn back the clock and give your skin a youthful glow? Look no further than Fraxel. Our anti-ageing gold standard and the superhero of laser treatments! We like to think of the treatment as a yoga retreat, if you took away the relaxing yoga part and replaced it with a week of downtime and lots of redness. Think of a fresh start, a skin reset, you come away from the treatment two weeks later glowing inside and out.
With results like ironing out your bed sheets after they’ve gone through the wash, quite frankly, we know you’ll want more. The science and history of Fraxel is important to understand to grasp why this treatment keeps people coming back again and again each.
The Science and History of Fraxel
In 2004, the first fractional thermolysis (FT) device was introduced to the world [1]. Fractional thermolysis produces arrays of microscopic thermal wounds called microscopic treatment zones (MTZs) at specific depths in the skin without injuring surrounding tissue [2].
Fractional thermolysis was developed as a way for laser surgeons to get closer to ablative laser resurfacing clinical outcomes with less patient downtime and fewer overall adverse events [3].
According to [4], Fraxel treatment uses patented fractionated laser technology to target damaged skin with microscopic laser columns that penetrate deep into the skin. The laser treats only a fraction of tissue at a time, leaving the surrounding tissue untouched, which promotes rapid healing.
In terms of focusing on anti-ageing, the laser device focuses on the dermis section within the skin. The dermis is where your collagen sits, which is what we want to target. The stimulation of collagen occurs due to the light energy permitted from the laser, which triggers an inflammatory response resulting in collagen remodelling and repair [5].
What you can expect
During the treatment we apply a topical numbing which helps with easing the sensation of the Fraxel. The numbing will be left for around half an hour. All up the treatment should take around an hour to an hour and a half. Sensations that you can expect to feel throughout include a gradual heating sensation followed by skin tightness.
Post treatment you will feel like you’ve been sunburnt, your skin will appear quite red and swelling is to be expected. This sensation will last 2-3 days and your skin may feel dry. Generally, we do recommend you come into the clinic for an LED a few days post treatment to help with the wound healing while applying deeply hydrating ingredients to help rehydrate the skin.
After about a week to a week and a half, your skin will be glowing to the Gods with a visible change in fine line appearance and complexion. You can expect full results in 3 months time, as the new collagen that has been stimulated during treatment will heighten.
Skincare to compliment your Fraxel treatment
As mentioned previously, hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and panthenol B5 will aid with reducing that tight, dehydrated feeling post treatment. These ingredients can also help reduce dehydration lines which can often be mistaken for ageing lines.
Another powerhouse ingredient that can offer a little bit of a further reduction to fine lines is retinol. Retinol has the ability to penetrate into the dermis layer of the skin [6], and therefore create the changes necessary to our collagen production.
Protecting our skin from the sun can make a huge difference to extrinsic ageing. Extrinsic ageing is ageing that occurs due to environmental factors such as harsh UVA and UVB rays. Applying sunscreen everyday can reduce the risk of this occurring.
Further, Vitamin C is a fantastic antioxidant to prevent glycation and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when we are exposed to the sun and have more free radicals than antioxidants within the skin; therefore your Vitamin C will restore the lost antioxidants and enhance skin appearance. Without active ingredients such as Vitamin C in your routine, Glycation can be the result of this where we get a breakdown of sugars in the dermis layer which results in collagen denaturation.
Flawless Rejuvenation Melbourne
At the end of the day, maintaining your results can be achieved through a strong skincare routine. Unsure on where to go from here? Book in a skin consultation with one of our knowledgeable Dermal Clinicians, and lets get you started on your skin journey with us.