You may have been reading postings and promotions about Fraxel on my http://www.facebook.com/mdskin page. What exactly is this Fraxel thing and why should I care about it? Good questions, especially since there are so many options available today regarding skin care, anti-aging, and skin damage.
Fraxel treatment is a revolutionary laser treatment that helps you remove YEARS from your appearance and regain a more youthful look. Over the years, your skin becomes damaged from unavoidable exposure to sun, environmental pollution, stress, fatigue and even lifestyle choices such as smoking, poor diet, alcohol consumption and sun tanning. These skin agers keep you from looking on the outside, as good as you feel on the inside. Fraxel Laser can address these issues - is an FDA approved device cleared to treat a variety of common skin conditions such as acne scarring, wrinkles, and hyper pigmentation without lengthy healing and significant side-effects.
How does this Fraxel Treatment work?
Imagine a Laser Beam – then let’s imagine that beam being broken into even smaller beams, or "fractionalized" into smaller, narrower beams – up to hundreds of tiny columns of energy. Because the laser is split into tiny bits, the Fraxel laser beams only affect the parts of the targeted areas typically about 25% of the surface area. This means that (again, typically) 4 sessions should treat 100% of the targeted area. The energy laser beams work by making tiny wounds deep in the dermis, which activate collagen production and prompt the growth of new skin cells. The end result is plumper, smoother, healthier-looking skin.
Tell me more about Benefits of Fraxel Laser Treatment.
After your very first Fraxel Laser Treatment, you will begin to feel the difference in your skin, as it becomes softer, smoother and fresher. Wrinkles around your eyes and mouth will noticeably fade. So will the hyper pigmentation or brown spots caused by aging and sun exposure. Fraxel Laser Treatment has become the “Gold Standard” for treating acne scarring and even extremely effective for other scar like post traumatic or surgical scars and stretch marks. Fraxel typically treats:
• Acne Scarring
• Hyper pigmentation
• Age Spots
• Brown Spots
• Melasma
• Fine facial lines and wrinkles
• Stretch marks
Common areas to treat are the face, neck, chest and hands, though other areas like thighs and abdomen can be effectively treated. Scars on knees and elbows can also be treated. Really the only areas to avoid are the eyes and lips.
What does Fraxel Laser Treatment feel like?
If someone tells you that it doesn’t hurt, they are lying to you!!!! Yes! IT HURTS! Having that out of the way, I will tell you that there are options to make the treatment tolerable. A topical anesthetic ointment is massaged into the area to be treated. While you are waiting for that to take effect, a low dose anti-anxiety tablet may be offered. TAKE IT! I personally think this makes all the difference in the world. It takes about 45 minutes for the topical cream to begin to work. More topical anesthetic should be massaged again into the area to be treated 10 - 15 minutes prior to beginning the treatment. Fraxel feels like a prickling sensation, like I would imagine constant bee stinging. The actual treatment takes only about 20-30 minutes.
When finished, skin feels like an extreme sunburn and appears bright red and warm. Swelling will subside within a day or so, and redness usually will fade over several days. Some patients do apply make-up immediately after treatment and return to their routine activities. I think having treatment on a Friday would allow you to safely plan on a Monday return to a public workplace, as that is about the time I think the swelling is sufficiently reduced.
After the redness goes away, typically the treated area takes on a Bronzed Glow – just like the bronzed look your skin takes after a sunburn fades. In about a week or so, the treated area begins to dry and flake, peel or slough. A good suggestion is: Fraxel – wait 2 weeks, then have a light Microdermabrasion to get that dry, itchy skin removed - 2 weeks again, have another Fraxel Laser Treatment – repeat. Your skin will continue to improve for months after ending treatment!
How much does Fraxel Laser Treatment cost?
Across the country you’ll find per treatment cost varying quite a lot. It can be found from $750 to $1500 per single session. Since you will get the best results with a series of 4, purchasing a treatment package is the best way to go.
I will probably begin offer Fraxel Laser Treatment in August, one day per week, within the medical office of Kelly Scott Hynes, MD (1924 Blossom Street, Columbia, SC 29205). I will offer grand opening prices of $500 for single session and series package of $1800. This will be for a limited time and I invite you to call for more information.
I am thrilled to be able to bring this to you and look forward to hearing from you regarding Fraxel Laser Skin Treatment!
Marci
m.d. Skin llc
561 Meeting Street
West Columbia, SC 29169
http://www.themdskin.com
http://www.facebook.com/mdskin
