Fractional Resurfacing

What is Fractional Resurfacing?

Fractional resurfacing is a quick and effective laser procedure with little downtime, used for improving the overall appearance of your skin. The treatment can be custom tailored to address a wide range of skin conditions and desired outcomes. 

ProFractional is a laser made by Sciton that uses a tiny beam to treat thousands of pinpoint areas of your skin. The laser used in this system has a very high attraction to the water in your skin. When the laser energy is applied, it ablates (vaporizes) a layer of skin to a precisely-controlled depth. 

Because only a fraction of your skin is directly treated with the laser, the surrounding untreated tissue promotes rapid healing. This body’s wound healing response creates new collagen which adds firmness and resilience to the skin. 

The Benefits of Fractional Resurfacing

Fractional resurfacing penetrates the skin deeply, but with very little heat damage to surrounding tissue. This combination allows for efficacious collagen remodeling (due to the deep treatments) and a high safety margin (due to low thermal damage) on all skin types.

This combination makes ProFractional one of the safest, yet most effective resurfacing lasers available today. 

What Areas Can it Treat?

Most skin areas can be treated with fractional resurfacing with the face and neck being most popular, although many patients also treat the chest and hands. Your Aesthetician can adjust the laser settings appropriately for the specific area being treated.

What to Expect During Your Fractional Resurfacing Procedure

The skin in the treatment area will be cleansed and your eyes will be protected with safety shields. A laser handpiece will be positioned gently on the skin. When the laser energy is applied, you will hear a rapid succession of snapping sounds as the computer-guided handpiece scans the laser beam over the treatment area. 

The handpiece will be moved around to adjacent locations until the entire desired area has been covered. The procedure normally takes 15 to 30 minutes. 

Fractional resurfacing is widely regarded as a comfortable procedure, usually tolerated with the use of topical numbing cream or a local anesthetic, depending on the depth of treatment.

What To Expect Afterwards

Immediately following the procedure you may experience mild redness and a sensation resembling sunburn. Your Aesthetician will advise you on specific after-treatment care recommendations, which may include analgesics and application of an ointment to keep the skin moist. 

You may be given skin care products and instructions on how to use them. Your skin will be sensitive to ultraviolet light after the procedure, so you must avoid direct sun exposure until fully healed. It is recommended that you always use sunscreen to avoid sun damage and premature aging of your skin. 

Complete healing typically occurs within a few days and most patients usually feel comfortable enough to get back to normal activities and apply makeup a day or two after the treatment. There may be some swelling that will subside within several days following the treatment. 

Fractional Resurfacing Results

As your skin heals in the days following your treatment, you may notice a general tightening effect. However, the true benefit of fractional resurfacing is the collagen remodeling that occurs during the 4 to 6 months following your treatment. 

It may, therefore, take several months to see maximum benefit from your treatment.

Are There Risks With a Fractional Resurfacing Treatment?

The procedure is widely regarded as safe. Because only a fraction of the skin is affected, even deep treatments can be very safe. Your Aesthetician can provide more information on the risks associated with any type of procedure, including fractional resurfacing.

One of the best ways to reduce the possibility of complications is to follow the after-treatment care instructions and follow-up schedule provided. Doing so will help reduce the possibility of infection and ensure proper healing.

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

Excellent results can be obtained in just one fractional resurfacing treatment, though the number needed may vary from patient to patient. Some patients seek the minimal downtime advantages of very conservative treatments and choose to extend their therapy over several sessions. Others desire more rapid results and are able to tolerate longer downtime, and thus pursue a more aggressive single treatment.

Your Aesthetician can personalize a plan based on your specific needs and may suggest you combine fractional resurfacing with other aesthetic procedures to enhance your results.

Learn more about laser resurfacing and deep resurfacing.

Find a location near you throughout the Austin area to make an appointment to discuss your cosmetic dermatology needs today: Bastrop, Burnet, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Harker Heights, Marble Falls, San Marcos, and Southwest Austin.