Aging is a natural biological process that affects all tissues of the human body, including those that make up a person's appearance. At the same time, facial tissues are more susceptible to aging than others, as they are constantly affected by environmental factors, chewing, facial functions and speech. Since the face is a kind of "business card" of a person, the issue of preserving and restoring the youth of facial skin is especially important and relevant. Among the many methods and techniques used today to solve this problem, laser facial rejuvenation deserves special attention.
The essence of this method is the fractional effect of a laser beam on the skin. The laser beam is divided into many thinnest rays, affecting the microscopic areas of the skin located at a strictly defined depth, and evaporates them. Intact cells located between these areas stimulate the active production of collagen and elastin - two main "building blocks", which with age are formed less and less in the human body. After this procedure, the skin color improves, fine and medium wrinkles are corrected, bags under the eyes are removed and the oval of the face is tightened. At the same time, the rehabilitation period is minimized. Fractional laser rejuvenation can be used not only as an independent method, but also to improve the results of plastic surgery or laser skin repair.
Lasers used for fractional laser rejuvenation
For the first time in the world, the patent for the principle of fractional laser exposure was obtained in 2004 by the American company Palomar Medical Technologies. Currently, fractional laser systems are represented by various laser technology companies. The most widespread are the laser systems from Palomar and Fraxel, Affirm laser from the famous American company Cynosure, GentleYAG laser from Candela and others. Since all these settings have a common principle of operation, the result of the procedure is largely determined by the professionalism of the specialist performing the procedure.
Contraindications to the laser rejuvenation procedure
The absolute contraindications for the procedure are:
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding.
- Focuses of the inflammatory process in the affected area.
- Psoriasis and dermatoses. Outbreaks of herpes infection in the affected area.
- Chemical peeling of the area of the intended treatment, performed less than two weeks before the procedure.
- Cancer.
- Systemic diseases of the blood, immune system, connective tissue.
- Diabetes mellitus in the stage of decompensation.
- Severe forms of hypertension and coronary heart disease.
- Varicose veins in the area of the procedure.
- Tendency to form keloid scars.
- Family history of vitiligo.
Relative contraindications include active sun exposure during the last three weeks before the procedure, ie the presence of fresh sunburn, as well as superficial and medium peels performed in the treatment area less than three weeks before the procedure.
Benefits of Fractional Laser Rejuvenation
Thanks to the point effect, the damage to the skin is minimal, so all traces after the procedure disappear within 3-4 days.
The method allows you to treat large areas of skin with a single procedure, while maintaining and activating the regenerative resource of the skin, which provides rapid rehabilitation and long-term growth of the positive effect.
The procedure does not require anesthesia, it can be performed in the neck, décolleté and eye.
Side effects are rare. Possible complications include the temporary appearance of red-purple spots in the treatment area, mild and transient itching, activation of herpes infection, changes in skin texture, including burns, peeling and crusting. Scars, hyper- and hypopigmentation of the skin in the area of the procedure are extremely rare, but can be permanent.
What is a full course of laser rejuvenation procedures
One session of fractional laser exposure lasts 20-40 minutes, depending on the nature of the problem and the area of the treated area. Repeated procedures are performed in 3-4 weeks. As a rule, a total of 3-4 sessions are required. The maximum positive effect occurs within three months after the last procedure. It is recommended to hold maintenance sessions once every 10-14 months.
What to do after the laser facial rejuvenation procedure
The slight burning sensation that may be felt after the procedure disappears after 1-2 hours, while the redness and slight swelling may continue for 1-3 days. During this period, external agents (creams, ointments, sprays) containing dexpanthenol, for example Bepanten, Panthenol, D-Panthenol, should be used. After the disappearance of the listed symptoms and before the next procedure, a cream with hyaluronic acid is applied.
You can take a shower and wash on the day of the procedure, but it is better to wait with the sauna and pool. The foundation can be used one day after the procedure.
It is mandatory to use sunscreen products with a protection factor of at least 30, because at this time the skin's metabolism is activated and becomes particularly sensitive to sunlight.
After the procedure it is necessary to follow the recommendations of the specialist who performed the procedure. The choice of cosmetic products, the frequency and duration of their use are determined individually and depend on the type of skin and its characteristics.
Fractional laser rejuvenation is a cosmetic procedure during which the skin is exposed to a laser array made of micro-rays. The purpose of this effect is to activate the processes of regeneration and collagenogenesis. This is a relatively new, but already very popular hardware technique. Otherwise called fraxel, fractional laser grinding or photothermolysis.
Principle of action and varieties of fractional laser rejuvenation
How does the fractional laser work? The micro-rays emitted by the device cause heat shock, in response to which the "lazy" skin cells begin to function more actively. To repair the damaged area, they separate faster. The old cells, which turned out to be inoperable, die, giving way to the young. The heating of the deep layers of the skin is accompanied by partial denaturation of proteins, as well as the formation of new components of the extracellular matrix, including elastin and collagen.
According to the depth of impact, ablative and non-ablative laser rejuvenation are distinguished. The first is superficial and resembles grinding. Laser treatment of the upper layers of the skin is accompanied by evaporation of moisture, damage to the epidermis. After healing, the skin becomes more toned, its relief and color are evened out. During non-abrasive photothermolysis, the laser acts on the deep layers of the skin. In this case, no open wounds are formed.
Each type of rejuvenation has its advantages and minutes. Thus, the effect of the ablative laser coating is noticeable after the first procedure. With this method you can get rid of deep wrinkles and age spots, acne, stretch marks, scars. With a non-abrasive procedure there is no risk of infection, and the anti-aging effect is noticeable for several years. This type of photothermolysis is recommended for people under 40 years of age, with the first signs of aging: fine wrinkles, reduced turgor.
Indications and contraindications for the procedure
It is worth resorting to the photothermolysis procedure, if available:
- Lightness, loose skin.
- Both fine and deep wrinkles, crow's feet.
- Pigmentation of any origin.
- Increased sebum secretion.
- Enlarged pores prone to acne.
- Scars, stretch marks, post-acne.
- Vascular "stars" (rosacea).
- The cloudy complexion.
Contraindications for fractional laser rejuvenation are:
- Allergy, psoriasis.
- Autoimmune diseases.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding.
- Blood diseases.
- Skin infections, inflammation in the area of the prescribed treatment.
- Any chronic diseases in the stage of decompensation.
- Oncology.
- Fever.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Tendency to form keloid scars.
- Epilepsy.
Features of laser rejuvenation
Preparation for the fractional photothermolysis procedure consists of refusing to visit the solarium and the beach for two weeks. All this time you also can not clean your skin, do chemical peels, take sulfonamides, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines. Three days before the procedure, they stop going to the pool, bath, sauna, treat the area of the alleged exposure with cosmetics containing alcohol. To prevent complications, the beautician may prescribe antiviral and antibacterial drugs for this period. The day before the procedure you should spend without alcohol and cigarettes, refrain from going to the gym.
Before laser treatment, the skin is cleansed of cosmetics and impurities. In general, the effect of the laser is felt as an unpleasant tingling sensation, but sometimes it may be necessary to relieve the pain. In this case, the beautician applies anesthesia to the prepared area of skin. Once the ointment works, it continues to treat the skin with a laser. The duration of the procedure depends on the scope of the treatment area and varies from a few minutes to an hour. Finally, the skin is soothed with a nourishing cream.
The first days after the procedure you should not use alcohol-based products, compress the parts of the body where photothermolysis has been performed with compression underwear. It is recommended to exclude physical activity for a week, to visit the pool, sauna or bath, to limit the time spent on the street. The skin is moisturized with a special cream three times a day. And so for half a month. It is undesirable to make peels, to use cosmetics with retinol, salicylic acid. For two months it is necessary to use a cream with a sun protection factor of 35 or more.
How many procedures do you need to achieve the result? What effect can you expect?
The rehabilitation period after laser fractional rejuvenation lasts from 3 to 7 days. The speed of recovery depends a lot on lifestyle. Alcohol consumption, smoking, overactivity, unbalanced diet, insomnia and anxiety can slow down the regeneration process.
Redness and slight swelling may occur during the first three days after laser exposure. Anesthetics and skin cooling can help reduce the feeling of discomfort. It is normal if within a week you feel tight skin, there are flaky areas. A side effect of the procedure can be a bronze tan, which disappears on its own after half a month.
Stable result after fractional photothermolysis occurs after 2-5 procedures. In particular, the number of sessions can be determined only by a cosmetologist, based on initial data. The intervals between procedures are 3-4 weeks. As a result of fractional laser rejuvenation, the aging process is hindered: wrinkles disappear or become less noticeable, turgor increases, the weight of the pores decreases and the complexion improves. This method is an effective tool in the fight against scars, pigmentation, post-acne, stretch marks.
Laser fractional rejuvenation is one of the three most popular hardware cosmetic procedures. Its advantages include efficiency, short healing period, physiology. The result is visible after the first procedure and lasts up to three years. The method has a wide range of indications. It is possible to choose the depth of laser exposure.
A woman of any age wants to see beautiful skin in a mirror, but not everyone is ready to go under the knife of a plastic surgeon.
In this case, help will come fractional rejuvenation using a laser, which in modern cosmetology occupies one of the first places in anti-aging procedures.
Types and methods of exposure
Ablative photothermolysis
There are two methods of photothermolysis, each suitable for different cases. The right choice in favor of the best option will help the beautician to make the first appointment.
This method is suitable for rejuvenating skin that has just begun to undergo natural aging.
The laser microdamage network only affects the upper layers of the epidermis, forcing it to regenerate for a short time.The result appears after the first procedure as soon as the wounds heal.
Non-ablative photothermolysis
This method is a bit more serious. The laser beam penetrates the deep layers of the epidermis, ignoring the cells outside.
Damage also promotes the production of elastin and collagen, as in ablative photothermolysis.
The healing process takes more time and the effect is more pronounced. Suitable for eliminating serious facial problems.
Indications
Anyone who wants to rejuvenate without serious braces can use this method.
Fractional laser treatment fights many facial imperfections, including:
- very pronounced forehead wrinkles;
- nasolabial folds;
- crow's foot thread around the eyes;
- epidermis "flowing down";
- skin pigmentation, scars, scars, spider veins;
- problem with enlarged pores, acne.
Laser therapy has been shown to be very effective in eliminating all these problems.
The only caveat is that depending on the severity of the imperfection, several procedures may be required.
Contraindications
Like any other external influence on the body, fractional laser rejuvenation has its own contraindications, in the presence of which it is forbidden to resort to such a procedure.
This includes:
- the presence of severe inflammation on the face;
- infectious, fungal skin lesions;
- diseases of the epidermis - psoriasis, eczema;
- excessive dryness of the skin;
- malignant neoplasms in the body;
- history of epilepsy;
- heart disease;
- varicose veins on the face;
- herpes in the acute stage;
- pregnancy, lactation;
- immune deficiency states;
- bronchial asthma, severe allergic reactions;
- neurological diseases.
All contraindications are conditional, ie the beautician weighs all the risks of the patient.
Sometimes it is necessary to first undergo treatment for skin problems or wait for remission of chronic diseases, after which rejuvenation is still performed.
Preparation
As the intervention is not a surgical operation, no serious preparation is required. Initially, you should consult a cosmetologist, who will assess the condition of the skin, and will also give recommendations for the necessary method of photorejuvenation.
The patient is obliged to inform the doctor about all conditions and diseases in the history, as well as about the exacerbation of chronic diseases during the last six months.
If there are any, the specialist will advise you to visit specialized doctors to assess the safety of the procedure.
You should also take a blood and urine test to identify or rule out inflammatory processes in the body. The date of the first visit is then determined.
Execution
Fractional laser skin rejuvenation in the facial area is performed on an outpatient basis, ie the patient enters, is treated, and then goes home.
The beautician will first apply an anesthetic cream or ointment based on lidocaine on the epidermis.
In fact, the procedure is not too painful, so sometimes the therapy is performed without going through this stage.
Keep in mind that the use of local anesthetics slightly inhibits the natural regeneration of the skin afterwards.
The patient then lies down on the sofa and the specialist adjusts the depth of penetration of the laser beam using a special device. The device is aimed at certain areas of the epidermis, deep into which the laser penetrates.
The manipulations last from half an hour and more, depending on the area to be treated with the device. During the procedure, the patient may feel a slight tingling sensation as well as an unpleasant odor.
Immediately after the facial session, a network of red dots is visible, the skin is red, slightly swollen, so it is better to take care of a way home in advance.
Possible complications
Fractional rejuvenation does not rule out complications. In some cases, they are normal and disappear within a few days.
Others develop due to inexperience of cosmetics or lack of proper facial care during the rehabilitation period.
What is not the norm:
- severe pain or swelling at the site of exposure to the laser beam;
- lesions do not heal in two weeks;
- pigmentation and scarring appeared.
Mild redness, scaling and itching is a predictable condition for any type of epidermis.
Such effects disappear on their own within 1-2 weeks, leaving no visual defects.
Rehabilitation
The outcome of the procedure is strongly influenced by the patient's behavior. He must carefully monitor the skin, protect it from aggressive environmental influences, do not apply decorative cosmetics during healing.
General guidelines:
- The first three days of the wound should be lubricated with an ointment based on dexpanthenol, will contribute to the rapid healing of microdamages. Subsequently, it is recommended to use a light moisturizer with hyaluronic acid, which is advised by cosmetics.
- Washing is not prohibited.For 2 weeks the epidermis should not be exposed to strong heat, so it is better to refrain from baths and saunas, do not take hot baths.
- You should not go out without sunscreen,and it is better to choose a protection of 50. If this is not done, hyperpigmentation will appear. The cosmetic product should be applied until complete healing, even if it is winter outside.
After a few weeks, it is recommended that you revisit the specialist who performed the fractional laser rejuvenation. He must assess the condition of the facial skin, rule out complications.
Forecast
The result can be seen immediately after healing if the imperfections were not severe. Deep wrinkles or scars should be removed with several procedures.
Visually, the skin is smoother, has a natural color, the face is firm and visibly blooms in 99% of cases.
One percent is devoted to unforeseen circumstances, inappropriate care and lack of qualification from a doctor.
Advantages of the method
For many patients, this method benefits with significant benefits that are worth noting. By choosing photothermolysis, one gets the following:
- low cost with high efficiency;
- painlessness;
- effect of even one procedure;
- non-invasive;
- no strong side effects.
In addition, the laser effect solves several problems of the aesthetic component of the epidermis at once, which is good news.
Disadvantages
If you choose the wrong rejuvenation clinic or do not strictly follow the recommendations of the cosmetologist, you can gain huge age spots on half of the face, which will not be easy to remove.
In addition, laser treatment lasts quite a long time, during which the patient feels an unpleasant odor on damaged skin, which not everyone is able to resist.
Another drawback is the incomplete result of a procedure with deep dents, scars and wrinkles.
Review opinions
Factional rejuvenation is gaining popularity in cosmetology. Every year, more and more women choose a laser instead of a surgical scalpel.