Fractional & ProFractional Laser
Facial laser resurfacing has become a popular option for patients seeking to enhance the appearance of their skin. Unlike traditional laser peels, where effective results are associated with long periods of downtime, fractional technology offers a short-downtime solution for treating wrinkles, scars, pigment, and other signs of aging.
How Fractional & Profractional Laser Works
Fractional lasers use energy to create micro-ablated channels deep in the dermal tissue, covering only a fraction of the total surface area and leaving the surrounding skin intact for faster healing and increased comfort. The wound healing process produces fibroblasts that generate new collagen, plumping the skin and correcting skin imperfections.
Fractional Therapy allows the physician to select from a wide spectrum of treatment depths and densities, depending on the indications treated, the desired outcome, and the patient’s tolerance of downtime. We use superficial depth treatments for pigment, medium depth for fine lines and wrinkles, and maximum depth for deep scars, acne scars, and deep wrinkles.
First generation fractional devices use non-ablative laser energy, leaving columns of necrotic debris in the tissue. They require multiple treatments and are not very effective on wrinkles or deep scars.
Profractional-XC Tunable Profractional Solution takes fractionated resurfacing to the next level for dramatic improvement in wrinkles, scars, pigment, tone, and texture. Sciton’s unique Tunable Fractional technology allows the use of any ablative fractional technology, thereby optimizing treatment depth, area coverage, and the ratio of ablation to thermal zone for each patient’s condition, skin type, desired outcome, and tolerance of downtime.
New generation fractional devices use ablative wavelengths–Er: YAG, CO2, or Er: YSGG. The results are more dramatic, but limited by the characteristics of the wavelength used.
Laser Deep Resurfacing: CO2 or Erbium-YAG
The ablative CO2 or Erbium-YAG laser is absorbed by your tissues regardless of pigmentation or vein condition because it targets water. The depth of penetration is a function of its wavelength and can be customized to the problem being treated by changing energy, by increasing or decreasing the number of passes, and by using super-pulsed or ultra-pulsed technology.
Ablative lasers were the very first lasers used in cosmetic laser dermatology. Vaporizing your top layer of skin removes all damage to it while heating the deeper layer to stimulate collagen production, resulting in smoother, clearer and firmer skin. This procedure is recommended for advanced skin damage with fine and deep wrinkles, discoloration, and sagging. The procedure requires about 7–10 days recovery time but we think the rewards are worth it!