Pro Fractional Laser Resurfacing Vs Other Laser Treatments What Makes It Different

Laser skin resurfacing has long been aesthetic medicine’s gold standard for treating signs of aging and providing all-round skin rejuvenation. In recent years, Sciton’s ProFractional laser has taken medspas across the world by storm, revolutionizing what is an already highly effective treatment. But how does ProFractional laser resurfacing compare to other laser skin treatments, and what does the procedure involve? Let’s take a look at what makes this remarkable treatment so popular among Restorative Medspa’s clients.

What Is Laser Skin Resurfacing?

Most laser skin resurfacing treatments work according to the same basic principle: the skin is exposed to a high-energy light beam, and on contact with the skin tissues, this light energy is converted into heat energy, which then destroys targeted skin tissues and activates the skin’s natural healing processes. In particular, laser skin resurfacing triggers increased collagen production, which is the protein that maintains the skin’s structure and elasticity. By boosting collagen production, laser resurfacing repairs and improves the skin’s structure, tone, and texture from deep within the dermis.

Insofar as non-surgical skin rejuvenation goes, you can’t go wrong with laser resurfacing. However, there are many different types of laser skin treatments out there, and some are more effective at addressing certain skin concerns than others. Choosing the right laser treatment for your particular needs is the first step to achieving glowing, rejuvenated skin with a minimally invasive procedure.

Types of Laser Treatments

There are two main types of laser skin treatments: ablative and non-ablative. Ablative (i.e. resurfacing) laser treatments vaporize entire layers of the skin to stimulate extensive collagen regeneration, whereas non-ablative laser treatments heat the skin’s tissues without destroying them, gently stimulating increased collagen production. Intense pulsed light (IPL), which technically involves the application of a light beam and not a laser, is the most common non-ablative treatment, whereas erbium and CO2 are the leading ablative laser treatments. ProFractional laser resurfacing is an erbium laser treatment.

IPL

IPL therapy is by its nature less invasive than other light-based treatments, because it does not involve laser skin resurfacing but rather targets and destroys particular skin cells only – specifically, melanocytes, the cells that produce pigment, and superficial blood vessels. For this reason IPL is a highly effective treatment for targeting uneven skin tone, sun spots, spider veins, pigmented lesions, and rosacea.

BBL™ HERO therapy – a cutting edge IPL treatment that delivers broad-based light therapy to target a range of skin concerns and boost collagen production – is an excellent option if you are considering IPL. IPL involves little to no downtime, and the main side-effect you will experience during the recovery period is mild flaking.

ProFractional

ProFractional is an erbium laser technology developed by Sciton to target deep wrinkles, scarring and melasma. The ProFractional laser beam is 2940 nm in wavelength and tunable, which means it can be precisely adjusted to provide tailored skin resurfacing treatments. Because the laser beam is fractionated, the skin is exposed to multiple tiny columns of laser light, as opposed to a full-field laser. This means that a smaller surface area of the skin’s tissues are affected, but the skin’s healing response is still triggered to the same extent as it would be with other deep resurfacing laser treatments. By creating multiple tiny wounds deep in the skin’s dermal layer, ProFractional stimulates the production of new collagen fibers and restructures existing fibers, resulting in firmer, smoother and brighter skin.

ProFractional laser resurfacing offers the deepest skin resurfacing of all the laser treatments in Sciton’s range, which also includes Micro and Nano laser peels. These peels target the uppermost layers of the skin, which means that they are more suitable for treating fine lines, poor texture, and less severe melasma, and have a quicker recovery time.

CO2 Laser

Carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers offer the most powerful skin resurfacing treatments, but involve significant downtime. Electricity is based through a tube containing carbon dioxide, and this reaction creates a laser beam of a precise wavelength which is then passed over the skin to remove the entire epidermis and upper dermis. This stimulates collagen remodeling in the deepest layers of the skin and triggers total skin rejuvenation. Because the uppermost layers of the skin are entirely removed, the treatment usually requires approximately two weeks of downtime (at minimum), and full recovery will take several weeks.

This form of laser treatment is suitable for those with significant surgical or acne scarring. It is also highly effective for treating deep wrinkles and advanced skin laxity (i.e. looseness) in aged skin. It produces dramatic, long-lasting results, but the healing process is intensive and requires significant disruption to your daily routine for several weeks. You will experience significant swelling, redness and peeling, and will need to follow a rigid after-care routine to avoid risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).

What Are The Distinctive Benefits of ProFractional Laser Resurfacing?

The precision of the erbium laser, combined with the fact that it is fractionated, places ProFractional in a league of its own when it comes to achieving maximum results with minimum downtime. Since only a fraction of the skin is treated while surrounding tissues remain intact, the healing period is much shorter than CO2 laser treatments. The extent of the swelling, redness and bruising you are likely to experience with ProFractional is also much less than what you would experience with a CO2 treatment. For this reason, ProFractional also presents less risk of complications, is suitable for a wider range of skin types, and is less likely to lead to PIH. In sum, it’s the go-to treatment for those who are looking for dramatic skin rejuvenation but cannot afford the significant downtime that CO2 treatments involve.

What Does ProFractional Laser Treatment Involve?

If you are seeking deep skin resurfacing that will yield dramatic results, ProFractional is the ideal aesthetic solution for you. At Restorative Medspa, Dr Asma Ghafoor will first ensure you are a suitable candidate for treatment and that your lifestyle can accommodate the required downtime before proceeding with the treatment.

Consultation and preparation

During your initial consultation, Dr Ghafoor will examine your skin to determine whether ProFractional would be the most appropriate depth of laser given your skin’s condition and your desired aesthetic outcomes. You will then be given a topical anesthetic and protective goggles to wear, and the laser will be precisely adjusted to a depth necessary to treat your particular skin concerns. The entire treatment will typically take between 30-45 minutes.

Recovery and downtime

What makes ProFractional laser resurfacing so remarkable is that it is able to deliver extensive skin resurfacing while requiring significantly less downtime than comparable laser treatments. Your recovery should be complete within about a week, and you should be able to return to your usual daily routine within a day or two. Your skin will likely be mildly itchy and appear swollen and red for a few days. Dr Ghafoor will provide you with detailed aftercare advice and recommend a gentle moisturizer to help soothe and protect your skin during the recovery period. You should also wear a strong broad-spectrum SPF daily.

Results

Your initial results will start to become apparent within about a week of your treatment, and thereafter will continue to improve for up to several months afterwards. The most dramatic results typically become visible within three to four months. For those with deep, stubborn scarring and/or wrinkles, multiple treatments may be necessary.

Transformative ProFractional Laser Resurfacing Treatments From Oak Park’s Leading Medspa

If you’re struggling to reduce the appearance of stubborn acne scars, or are unhappy with the way the years are starting to show on your face, ProFractional laser resurfacing is the ideal aesthetic treatment for you. This remarkable technology will leave you with youthful, plump, firm skin in just one or two sessions – achieving dramatic results with minimal downtime.

To learn more about this exceptional treatment or schedule your first consultation, please don’t hesitate to contact our practice today at 630-441-4160.