Even if you do all the right things and take every precaution to protect your skin, the fact of the matter is that it’s inevitable that we’ll eventually see age-related skin damage. The good news is that it’s never too late to refine the appearance of your skin. At Still Waters Day & Medical Spa in Pensacola, FL, we believe one of the best cosmetic options for rejuvenating your skin is the Fraxel Dual Laser, an advanced laser treatment ideal for most people.
The Fraxel Dual Laser at Still Waters Day & Medical Spa is a non-ablative laser treatment system that utilizes the power of microscopic laser energy rays to stimulate the body’s natural regenerative response, accelerate skin cell turnover, and stimulate better production of collagen within the sub-dermal layers of skin.
The combination of highly-precise laser energy and controlled thermal exposure is powerful enough to address a multitude of appearance-related concerns, including moderate and severe concerns.
The fact that this treatment uses a non-ablative laser is incredibly important. Non-ablative lasers are those that do not cause injury to the skin, even though they are as powerful as ablative lasers. The key differences between these two lasers are the depth of laser energy exposure to the sub-dermal layers of the skin and the severity of skin concerns being treated.
There are plenty of advantages to consider for non-ablative lasers. For example, non-ablative lasers do not harm the skin so they are also typically more comfortable to work with and have less risk of scarring or pigmentation. Non-ablative lasers are also a bit more diverse and can treat a wider variety of skin concerns.
This laser system can address several common skin concerns, particularly those related to aging. Like most laser treatments, this treatment works by speeding up the natural processes of the skin to restore a more youthful appearance. Some of the age-related skin concerns that can be solved with this treatment include:
Interestingly, while this treatment is typically used to correct superficial skin concerns related to aging, the laser treatment is powerful enough to also address medical issues. In particular, this laser system can be used to treat pre-cancerous skin lesions, also called Actinic Keratosis. For medical use to treat AK, you will likely need to complete certain labs in addition to your consultation.
The first thing you should expect from this treatment is a consultation appointment that allows us to get to know you and your skin concerns. We will gather relevant information about your skincare habits, including whether you sunbathe or tan your skin, as well as any previous cosmetic treatments you have tried. We will focus on the condition of your skin to determine whether this laser treatment is a good match for your aesthetic goals.
Your treatments with this laser system will be simple enough that they usually only take between 30 and 40 minutes to complete for most people; of course, if you are treating larger areas or multiple areas at one time, your appointments may take up to an hour. During your treatment, you may be able to use a topical numbing cream to remain comfortable. Most people do not experience any significant discomfort associated with this laser treatment.
The majority of people will need to have a few treatment appointments to achieve their desired skin results. The nature of laser skin treatments is to gradually build results over time, so depending on your exact skin concerns, you can expect to require a minimum of two or three treatments to achieve your desired results. Those who have more serious concerns or who are treating multiple areas of the body may require up to five or more treatment appointments.
When it comes to preparing for laser treatments, there are a few basic rules that need to be followed. For example, because laser treatments expose your skin to light and thermal energy, this can expose skin cells to new wavelengths; for this reason, you must avoid sunbathing, tanning beds, and self-tanning skin products for at least two weeks before your treatment appointment. By avoiding darkening your skin before your appointment, you can also avoid pigmentation risks and protect the health of your skin.
It’s also important to temporarily discontinue some skincare products about three to five days before your appointment. Laser energy treatments will accelerate your skin cell turnover cycle, which means the treatment will essentially make it easier to shed dead skin cells. To avoid overexposing your skin, you should avoid any active skincare products that accelerate this cycle, such as Retinol and some acids, including salicylic and glycolic acid.
After your treatment, you should be able to return to most of your normal daily activities, including going back to work or running errands. However, during the first week or so after your treatment, your skin will be sensitive and vulnerable to exposure to the elements. For this reason, you must minimize your sun exposure by wearing strong SPF when you plan to be outside, including wearing SPF under make-up.
You will need to continue avoiding the use of active skincare products like Retinol for at least three to five days after your treatment. It’s also important that you minimize any sweating or exposure to heat, including hot water in showers, saunas, and hot tubs for at least one week after your treatment.
Because you will require several treatment appointments to achieve your desired results, it will take some time to start seeing the results of this treatment. Most people don’t begin noticing any significant results until after their second or third treatment. By tracking the progression of your results, you will be able to better determine when you have achieved your goals. Depending on how quickly you see results, we may change the estimate of how many treatments you will need overall.
Your initial round of treatments will generally be spaced about one month apart to give your skin enough time to recover from the laser energy exposure. However, for treating sun damage, your treatment appointments may need to be spaced six to eight weeks apart for adequate recovery time. After your initial round of treatment, you may not need to have other treatments for several years.
Many patients are happy to learn that the results of this laser system are designed to last for several years at a time. In fact, for many people, the results of this treatment are permanent or can last up to five to 10 years depending on what skin condition has been treated.
Part of the reason the results of this laser treatment last so long is because the Fraxel laser completely rejuvenates and resurfaces several layers of skin at one time. For issues such as sun damage and acne scarring, this can produce results that last a lifetime as long as more skin damage is not sustained. However, for the treatment of fine lines, wrinkles, and skin laxity, the results of your treatment may only last for a year or more depending on how advanced your skin aging already is.
Yes. Some patients are surprised to learn that it’s better to have laser treatments during certain times of the year. Because the preparation and aftercare for laser treatments include avoiding excessive sun exposure, it’s often a better logistical step to plan your treatment appointments during the fall and winter months when there is less risk of exposure to heat and sunlight.
Scheduling your appointments during times of the year where there is less sunlight will help you protect your skin in the long-run, particularly if you are trying to correct previous sun damage. But that said, if you do want to have your treatments during warmer times of the year, you can absolutely schedule during those months – you will, however, need to take greater precautions for the health of your skin, such as using stronger SPF.
Laser treatments are some of the most popular cosmetic treatment options for several reasons. For example, Fraxel Dual Laser treatments tend to produce long-lasting results, sometimes even permanently resolving complex skin issues. Other reasons to choose laser treatments include:
Laser treatments are powerful cosmetic solutions that serve as an adequate alternative to invasive treatments. Laser treatments can be used for minor skin-related concerns, as well as for severe appearance concerns. The fact that these powerful treatments can comprehensively treat every layer of the skin makes it a good option for those who have complex or multi-layered skin concerns.
Unlike some treatments, laser treatments can be used on more areas of the body than just the face. For example, Fraxel Dual Laser treatments are also commonly used on the necks, the back of the hands, the underarms, and the upper chest area. Being able to treat more areas of the body means that laser treatments are generally more diverse, and that can mean that these treatments are also ultimately more convenient, as well.
Finally, laser treatments are simply more efficient than combining several different cosmetic treatments to produce your desired results. For example, while a chemical peel will eventually reduce scarring and sun damage, it often takes several treatments that have to be repeated every few months to produce results; laser treatments, on the other hand, require only one round of treatment to produce permanent results.
Good candidates for this laser system include those who have skin types and tones that are compatible with the treatment, as well as those who are not currently pregnant. We can better determine your candidacy for this treatment during a consultation.
Sometimes, even doing all the right things to protect your skin still isn’t enough. If you are noticing the natural aging process progressing more quickly than you would like, then the Fraxel Dual Laser may be the right treatment option for you. Please contact Still Waters Day & Medical Spa in Pensacola, FL to schedule your initial appointment today.
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