Over the past 30 years lasers have evolved significantly in order to
improve the skin's appearance. The goal of laser facial skin
rejuvenation is to improve the appearance of the skin by reducing
wrinkles, improving the skin's color/tone/texture (reversing sun damage
and sun spots), and tightening the skin. The fractional CO2 laser is the
latest technology to help improve the appearance of your skin.
Here are 4 reasons why the fractional CO2 laser technology makes sense:
1) Time Tested Technology- The CO2 laser is the gold standard laser
for skin resurfacing and rejuvenation. It has been around for over 20
years and is proven to work well. Fractional CO2 technology uses this
same type laser that is time tested.
2) Decreased Downtime- The fractionated CO2 laser has significantly
less down time then the traditional CO2 laser. Whereas the traditional
CO2 laser resurfaced 100% of the skin to which it was applied, this
created a long (2 week) healing time and produced significant and
long-term redness (up to 3 months). On the other hand the "fractionated"
in fractional laser means that only a fraction of the skin is treated.
Since bridges of healthy skin are left in between the treated areas, the
downtime is significantly less, with the peeling portion complete in
around 5 days.
3) Less Side Effects- The most hated side effect of the traditional
CO2 laser is a long-term lightening/whitening of the skin that it
produced by damage to the pigment producing cells of the skin
(melanocytes). This was an effect of treating 100% of the skin. Since
fractional technology only treats a fraction of the skin surface,
permanent lightening of the skin (hypopigmentation) is not a risk.
4) It can be used on most skin types- Many lasers cannot be used in
darker skinned individuals. The fractional laser can be safely used, by
an experienced physician, in most skin types.
It is important to note that not all of these lasers are equal in
technology. It is important to go to a physician who has experience with
the fractional laser technology and can advise you appropriately.
