While aesthetic skin treatments often help a person feel more confident about her looks, they can provide more than just an ego boost. For deeper damage like acne scarring, sun damage and age spots, as well as wrinkles, Fraxel® Laser Treatment offers an opportunity to rejuvenate the skin’s appearance and texture with quicker recovery time than traditional laser treatments. Currently, the procedure is available at the McDonald Murmann Center for Skin, Laser and Healthy Aging.  

How it works

The Fraxel® laser targets aging and damaged skin by creating microscopic “wounds” within the targeted areas that penetrate well beneath the skin’s outermost layer. In this way, Fraxel® laser treatments trigger the body’s own natural production of new collagen and skin cells which rise to the surface and replace the old skin.

“Doing a lift does nothing for the skin texture or tone,” explained Sarah Carpenter, R.N., B.S.N. “Fraxel® is the most aggressive (non-ablative laser treatment), the gold standard of resurfacing skin.”

What it treats

Fraxel® laser treatment is designed to repair sun damage, melasma, acne scarring, age spots, wrinkles and other signs of aging. It can be used on the face, neck, arms and hands. Pam Albrecht was excited to try the Fraxel® as soon as it was available. She had always been a sun-worshipper, but after her sister got skin cancer, Pam stopped completely. 

“I wanted Fraxel® for the sun damage and freckles.”

Pam was covered in dark freckles before, but since the Fraxel® treatments, “I’ve had fantastic results,” she said, beaming on how it lightened and eliminated many of her freckles. 

“It’s like the skin is plumper, rejuvenated,” Pam added. “It’s fresh skin.” 

Differences  from  traditional laser treatment

Traditional laser treatments are ablative, literally burning the outer layers of skin. It requires a physician to perform, and recovery time is much longer. By contrast, Fraxel® laser treatments are non-ablative and work on the layers underneath the skin. The discomfort is minimal and the results are gradual. 

Before Fraxel®, there was no substantive laser treatment for the neck and décolleté. Fraxel® is gentle enough for those areas, plus it can help with stretch marks and scars. 

Treatments needed

Fraxel® is semi-permanent. Most people do well with three to four treatments, explained Carpenter. How many sessions are needed will depend on the extent of the damage and how much improvement each client wants to achieve. The cumulative effect is better if sessions are done closer together. Before the procedure numbing cream is applied. The procedure typically takes thirty minutes. Afterwards the skin will feel hot like a mild sunburn, explained Carpenter. Once the procedure is complete, it’s imperative to be diligent about skin care.

“Wear sun screen and cover up,” advised Carpenter. “Wear SPF 30 on the face and hands, more than just your daily moisturizer, and use an antioxidant serum.”

Results 

“The first time I could see results.” Pam said. “I could see the results in the first week, and it continued working for three months.”

“I have more confidence with fewer freckles,” she continued. “I feel much better about myself now.”

To learn more about Fraxel® Laser Treatment, visit www.mmwcskinandlaser.com. • 

by Hollie Haynie