Reasons for Treatment

• ProFractional laser treatment is a cosmetic solution for patients of a wide variety of skin conditions, who ultimately seek younger-looking skin with an even skin tone and texture. Patients' most common goals are to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, diminish scars, and correct hyperpigmentation caused by sun damage. For younger patients who simply want to prevent the signs of aging and improve complexion overall, ProFractional laser treatment might be too harsh, and less abrasive anti-aging alternatives, such as microdermabrasion, would be ideal. Patients with specific areas of discoloration and texture irregularity, however, benefit from the deep-skin resurfacing of ProFractional laser therapy. Consult a dermatologist to determine whether you're a good candidate.
  
  

How it Works

• The ProFractional Laser treatment uses high-intensity, energy-filled laser beams to penetrate the specific areas of damaged skin tissue. The laser energy strikes the damaged tissue and produces "wounds," which are surrounded by healthier skin cells. These "wounds" trigger the skin's natural healing process, so that collagen growth is stimulated, and newer, healthier skin appears in place of the formerly damaged skin area. This revitalization and plumping up of the new skin cells smooths out wrinkles, scars, and other undesirable texture irregularities, as well as diminishes spots of skin discoloration.
  
  

Benefits

• ProFractional differs from other types of laser treatments because its design allows for specifically targeting only the trouble areas, while preserving the surrounding healthy skin cells. The important part of this treatment process is the design of the system that allows for targeting very specific areas and preserving the surrounding skin tissue. Other laser treatments use extremely high heat across the entire top layer of the skin, which, although effective for anti-aging, can produce more side effects and longer healing periods. Laser technology that doesn't heat the skin, however, may not produce the desired effects, even though it is safer. ProFractional laser technology combines the benefits of both of the aforementioned laser types, so that desired effects are definite while undesirable side effects are minimal. Sessions, generally 30 to 60 minutes depending on the skin condition, involve very little to no pain, a prickling sensation at most. Post-treatment includes minimal discomfort and healing time.
  
  

Effects

• Achieving the desired results depends on the individual skin condition, but once the goals are met, such as the reduction of wrinkles, the results are long-term to permanent. Multiple treatments are usually rendered from three to six weeks apart to allow post-treatment care and healing between sessions. (As this is a deeper skin treatment, healing time is required in order for collagen production to regenerate skin cells.) Treatment plans may be personalized by your dermatologist so that supplemental cosmetic solutions are used in addition to ProFractional laser therapy.
  
  

Risks and Warnings

• Since ProFractional Laser technology can deeply penetrate the skin layers, there is an increased risk of infection and/or scarring as a result of the treatment. The typical, less worrisome side effects are swelling and redness of the skin, which subsides after just a few days. Also, as with any anti-aging skin treatment, the "fresh" skin will be significantly more sensitive to UV rays, so high-strength sunscreen applications are even more important post-treatment.