12 Nov What is Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing?

In the world of laser treatments, it’s clear that fractional laser resurfacing has quickly become the go-to for those seeking complete skin rejuvenation.

Known for its transformative results, this advanced procedure offers a minimally invasive way to achieve smoother, stronger and more radiant skin. This makes it appealing to a wide range of clients for a wide range of skin concerns.

Read on to learn exactly what fractional lasers do, the types available, what to expect during a treatment, and what improvements you should expect to see…

What Is a Fractional Laser?

Fractional technology is a modern laser method that divides laser energy into thousands of tiny beams to treat “fractions” of the skin rather than the entire surface.

Unlike traditional lasers which treat large sections of skin (often causing unnecessary redness and irritation), fractional laser treatments offer a more focused, controlled method that delivers effective results with minimised damage to the surrounding tissue.

What Does Fractionated Laser Skin Resurfacing Do?

A fractional laser treatment uses light to create microchannels in the skin. These tiny injuries stimulate and resurface the skin’s natural repair process, leading to an increase in collagen production.

As well as plumping the skin, it also addresses many other skin conditions such as sun damage in the form of sun spots and pigmentation, age spots, fine lines and wrinkles, and acne scarring.

Types of Fractional Skin Resurfacing Laser

There are two key categories of fractional laser – fractional ablative laser skin resurfacing and fractional non-ablative laser skin resurfacing.

Ablative lasers are very effective for deep-seated issues. They remove the top layer of skin, so they can pose the risk of hyperpigmentation in people with dark skin tones. On the other hand, non-ablative lasers offer more gradual, gentler results, so they tend to be a lot safer for darker skin types.

Within these two categories come a few specific laser types and brands. Each offers slightly different methods and benefits based on the treatment’s intensity and the skin concern targeted.

These main types are:

• Fractional CO2 laser: CO2 lasers are ablative. They use high-energy light to vaporise tiny sections of the skin’s surface. They are best for deep wrinkles, severe sun damage, acne scars, and skin tightening. It requires more recovery time but provides significant results.
• Fractional erbium laser: Erbium lasers can be ablative or non-ablative. They have a different wavelength than CO2 and are less aggressive, offering a milder approach. They are ideal to treat moderate wrinkles, mild scars, and sun damage.
• Fraxel laser: Fraxel Repair laser and Fraxel Dual laser are non-ablative. They work by heating the deeper layers of the skin without removing the top layer, meaning minimal downtime. Fraxel laser resurfacing is best for fine lines, pigmentation, and mild acne scars.
• Pico fractional laser: Pico lasers, such as the PicoSure, are non-ablative. They use ultra-short pulse durations (picoseconds) to deliver laser energy without significant heat buildup. They target pigmentation issues, acne scars, and even tattoo removal.

What Does a Fractional Laser Treatment Involve?

To get the best out of fractional laser resurfacing, you need to know how to prepare, what to expect during the treatment, and what to expect afterwards.

1. Consultation and preparation: The first step is to meet with a professional clinician. They will assess your skin type, discuss your desired results, and review your medical history to confirm you’re a suitable candidate. Once you book a session, you then need to do some basic prep. This includes avoiding sun exposure and discontinuing exfoliants, retinoids, acids or topical acne medications.
2. The treatment process: Before you start, a topical numbing cream is applied to minimise discomfort. Once it has had time to work (30 minutes or so), you’re ready to begin. Your clinician will pass a handheld laser over the predetermined treatment areas of your face. Some patients describe it as feeling like a tingling or prickling sensation. In total, the procedure will last 20-40 minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated.
3. Post-treatment and recovery: Immediately afterwards, you’ll notice some redness and a warm feeling. The easiest and most effective way to take care of your skin post-treatment is to apply cool compresses and use gentle moisturisers. You should also drink plenty of water, avoid hot showers and apply a daily SPF 30 or 50 sunscreen.
   Long-term aftercare: In the days following the treatment, you may notice peeling or flaking, which is part of the natural exfoliation process. It’s important to let your skin shed naturally to stop scarring. Use mild cleansers and avoid products containing tretinoin, vitamin C, glycolic acid, salicylic acid or lactic acid for at least 1 week (you’re clinician will advise you on any specific products to use to aid the healing process).
4. Side effects: Although the treatment is generally safe, you could experience some side effects. These can include redness and mild swelling for a few days, temporary hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation (although this is rare), and if you’re prone to acne or cold sores, a fractional laser could trigger a breakout. Most people see noticeable improvements in their skin within a few weeks, with full results emerging after a few months as collagen production continues.

Benefits of Fractional Laser Skin Rejuvenation

As previously mentioned, the biggest advantages of fractional laser skin rejuvenation are minimising the signs of ageing (wrinkles and sun-damaged skin) and fading acne scars.

However, there are many other amazing benefits too. These include improved skin texture, evening out of skin colour and tone, minimising the appearance of pores, and overall skin tightening.

Being a more targeted laser procedure, it generally has a quicker recovery time compared to traditional laser treatments. It is also much easier to customise and can be adjusted based on the patient’s needs, be that one intensive session or a series of mild treatments.

If you want to enhance your skin’s structural integrity, appearance and resilience to premature ageing, try a​ Fraxel Repair laser treatment at our Zecca Cosmedical clinic in Sydney.