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 sensitive to aging than others, as they are constantly under the influence of environmental factors, chewing, facial functions and speech. Since the face is a kind of "business card" of a person, the issue of maintaining and restoring the youth of the facial skin is particularly 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 current is divided into many thinner rays that affect tiny areas of skin that are at a strictly defined depth and evaporate. Intact cells located between these areas stimulate the active production of collagen and elastin - two main "building blocks" that are less and less formed in the human body with age. After this procedure, the skin color improves, fine and medium wrinkles are corrected, the bags under the eyes are removed and the oval of the face is tightened. At the same time, the recovery period is reduced to a minimum. Fractional laser rejuvenation can be used not only as an independent method, but also to improve the results of plastic surgery or laser skin resurfacing.
Lasers used for fractional laser rejuvenation
For the first time in the world, in 2004 he obtained a patent for the beginning of fractional laser exposure from the American company Palomar Medical Technologies. Fractional laser systems are currently represented by a variety of laser technology companies. The most common are Palomar and Fraxel laser systems, Affirm laser produced by the famous American company Cynosure, GentleYAG laser by Candela and others. Since all these arrangements have a common principle of action, the outcome of the process is largely determined by the professionalism of the expert conducting the process.
Contraindications to the laser rejuvenation procedure
The absolute contraindications to the procedure are:
- Pregnancy, lactation. Outbreaks of inflammatory process in the affected area. Psoriasis and dermatitis. Herpes infection focuses on the affected area.
- Chemical exfoliation of the treatment area less than two weeks before the procedure.
- Oncological diseases.
- Systemic blood diseases, immune system, connective tissue.
- Diabetes at the stage of compensation.
- 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.
Benefits of fractional laser rejuvenation
Thanks to the point of effect, the skin damage is minimal, due to which all traces after the procedure disappear within 3-4 days.
The method allows you to treat large areas of the skin with one procedure, maintaining and activating the skin's regenerative source, which ensures fast recovery and long-term development of a positive result.
The procedure does not require anesthesia, it can be performed on the neck, décolleté and eye area.
Side effects are rare. Possible complications include the temporary appearance of red-purple spots in the treatment area, slight and rapidly passing itching, activation of herpes infection, changes in skin texture, including burns, exfoliation and crusting. Scars, hyper- and pigmentation of the skin in the area of the procedure are extremely rare, but can be permanent.
What is a complete course of laser rejuvenation procedures
A fractional laser exposure session lasts 20-40 minutes, depending on the nature of the problem and the area of the treatment area. Repeated procedures are performed in 3-4 weeks. As a rule, 3-4 sessions in total are required. The maximum positive result appears within three months after the last procedure. It is recommended that you have maintenance sessions once every 10-14 months.
What to do after the laser facial rejuvenation procedure
The slight burning sensation that can be felt after the operation disappears in 1-2 hours, while the redness and slight swelling can continue for 1-3 days. External agents (creams, ointments, sprays) containing dexpanthenol, for example Bepanten, Panthenol, D-Panthenol, should be used during this period. After the reported symptoms disappear and before the next procedure, a cream with hyaluronic acid is applied.
You can 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 with a protection factor of at least 30, as at this time the skin metabolism is activated and becomes particularly sensitive to the sun's rays.
After the procedure, it is necessary to follow the recommendations of the specialist who performed the procedure. The choice of cosmetic products, their frequency and duration of use are determined separately and depend on the skin type and its characteristics.
Fractional laser rejuvenation is a cosmetic procedure in which the skin is exposed to a series of microbial lasers. 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. Alternatively, it is called fraxel, fractional laser resurfacing or photothermolysis.The principle of operation and varieties of fractional laser rejuvenation
How does a fractional laser work? The micro-rays emitted by the device cause thermal shock, in response to which the "lazy" skin cells begin to function more actively. To repair the damaged area, they are separated faster. Old cells that have been shown to be inactive disappear, giving way to young ones. The heating of the deep layers of the skin is accompanied by partial denaturation of the proteins, as well as by the formation of new components of the extracellular matrix, including elastin and collagen.
Depending on the depth of impact, abstract and non-abstract laser rejuvenation can be distinguished. The first is superficial and looks like grinding. Laser treatment of the upper layers of the skin is accompanied by evaporation of moisture, damage to the skin. After healing, the skin becomes softer, its relief and color even out. During non-abstract photothermolysis, the laser affects the deeper layers of the skin. In this case, no open wounds are created.
Each type of rejuvenation has its advantages and subtleties. Thus, the effect of laser laser reintroduction is felt after the first procedure. With this method, you can get rid of deep wrinkles and age spots, acne, stretch marks, scars. With a non-removal procedure, there is no risk of infection and the anti-aging effect is felt for several years. This type of photothermolysis is recommended for people under the age of 40 with the first signs of aging: fine wrinkles, reduced edema.
Indications and contraindications for the procedure
The process of photothermolysis is worth resorting to if there is:
- Relaxation, relaxation of the skin.
- Both fine and deep wrinkles, crow's feet.
- Coloring of any origin.
- Increased sebum secretion.
- Enlarged pores, prone to acne.
- Scars, stretch marks, after acne.
- Vascular "stars" (rosacea).
- Dull skin.
Contraindications to fractional laser rejuvenation are:
- Allergy, psoriasis.
- Autoimmune diseases.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding.
- Blood diseases.
- Skin infections, inflammations in the field of prescribed treatment.
- Any chronic diseases in the decompression stage.
- Oncology.
- Increased body temperature.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Tendency to form keloid scars
- Epilepsy.
Laser rejuvenation features
The preparation for the fractional photothermolysis process consists in refusing to visit the solarium and the beach for two weeks. All this time, you can also 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 that contain alcohol. To avoid complications, your cosmetologist may prescribe antiviral and antibacterial medications for this period. The day before the procedure should be carried out without alcohol and cigarettes, not to go to the gym.
Prior to laser treatment, the skin is cleansed of cosmetics and impurities. Generally, the effect of the laser is felt as an unpleasant tingling sensation, but sometimes pain relief may be required. In this case, the beautician applies an anesthetic to the prepared area of skin. After the ointment works, it proceeds with the laser treatment of the skin. The duration of the procedure depends on the extent of the treatment area and ranges from several minutes to an hour. Finally, the skin is soothed with a nourishing cream.
During the first days after the procedure, you should not use alcohol-based products, compress the parts of the body where photothermolysis was performed with linen compression. It is recommended to exclude physical activity for a week, to visit the pool, sauna or bath, to limit the time you spend on the road. The skin is moisturized with a special cream three times a day. And so for half a month. It is not desirable to peel, to use cosmetics with retinol, salicylic acid. For two months it is necessary to use a cream with sun protection factor 35 and above.
How many procedures do you need to achieve the result? What result can you expect?
The recovery period after fractional laser rejuvenation lasts from 3 to 7 days. The speed of recovery depends a lot on the lifestyle. Alcohol consumption, smoking, overactivity, a balanced diet, insomnia and stress can all slow down the regenerative process.
For the first three days after laser exposure, redness and slight swelling of the skin may occur. Anesthetics and cooling the skin can help reduce the feeling of discomfort. It is normal if the tightness of the skin is felt within a week, there are areas with flakes. A side effect of the procedure can be a bronze tan, which disappears on its own after half a month.
A persistent result after fractional photothermolysis occurs after 2-5 procedures. More specifically, the number of sessions can only be determined by a cosmetologist, based on the initial data. The intervals between procedures are 3-4 weeks. As a result of fractional laser rejuvenation, the aging process is inhibited: wrinkles disappear or become less noticeable, edema increases, pore severity decreases and skin improves. This method is an effective tool to fight scarring, staining, post-acne, stretch marks.
Laser fractional rejuvenation is one of the three most popular 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 select the depth of the laser exposure.A woman of any age wants to see beautiful skin in the mirror, but not everyone is ready to go under the knife of a plastic surgeon.
In this case, fractional rejuvenation through the use of laser will come to the rescue, which in modern cosmetology holds one of the first places in anti-aging procedures.
Types and methods of exposure
Abstract photothermolysis
There are two methods of photothermolysis, each suitable for different cases. The right choice in favor of the best choice will help the cosmetologist to make the first appointment.
This method is suitable for rejuvenating skin that has just begun to experience natural aging.
The laser micro-damage network only affects the upper layers of the skin, forcing it to regenerate in a short time.
The result appears after the first procedure, as soon as the wounds heal.
Non-abstract photothermolysis
This method is a slightly more serious intervention. The laser beam penetrates the deep layers of the skin, ignoring the cells outside.
Damage also promotes the production of elastin and collagen, as in abstract photothermolysis.The healing process takes longer and the effect is more intense. Suitable for removing serious facial problems.
Readings
Anyone who wants to rejuvenate without serious braces can use this method.
Fractional laser treatment combats many facial imperfections, such as:
- very intense wrinkles on the forehead.
- nasolabial folds?
- thread the crow's feet around the eyes.
- skin "flows down"?
- skin pigmentation, scars, scars, spider veins
- problem of swollen pores, acne.
Laser treatment has proven to be extremely effective in eliminating all of these problems.
The only caveat is that depending on the severity of the defect, 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 the use of such a procedure is prohibited.
This includes:
- the presence of severe inflammation on the face.
- infectious, fungal skin lesions?
- skin diseases - psoriasis, eczema?
- excessive dry skin?
- malignant tumors in the body?
- history of epilepsy?
- heart disease?
- varicose veins on the face?
- herpes in the acute stage.
- pregnancy, breastfeeding?
- immunodeficiency conditions?
- bronchial asthma, severe allergic reactions.
- neurological diseases.
All contraindications are subject, that is, the beautician weighs all the risks of the patient.
Sometimes you have to first be treated for skin problems or wait for the chronic diseases to subside, after which the rejuvenation continues.
Preparation
Because surgery is not surgery, no serious preparation is required. First, 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 manifestations of chronic diseases in the last six months.
If present, the specialist will advise you to visit specialist doctors to evaluate the safety of the procedure.
You should also have a blood and urine test to detect or rule out inflammatory processes in the body. The date of the first visit is then set.
Execute
Fractional laser skin rejuvenation in the facial area is performed on outpatients, ie the patient enters, is treated and then goes home.
Previously, the cosmetologist would apply an anesthetic cream or ointment based on lidocaine to the skin.
In fact, the procedure is not too painful, so sometimes the treatment is performed without going through this stage.
You should be aware that the use of local anesthetics slightly inhibits the natural regeneration of the skin afterwards.
Next, the patient lies on the couch and the specialist adjusts the penetration depth of the laser beam into a special device. The device is aimed at certain areas of the skin, deep into which the laser penetrates.
Operations last from half an hour or 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 session, a grid of red dots is visible on the face, the skin is red, slightly swollen, so it is best to take care of how to return 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 the inexperience of the cosmetologist or the lack of proper facial care during the recovery period.
What is not the rule:
- severe pain or swelling at the point of exposure to the laser beam.
- lesions do not heal in two weeks.
- pigmentation and scars appeared.
Redness of light, flaking and itching is a predictable condition for any skin type.
Such effects disappear on their own within 1-2 weeks, leaving no visual imperfections behind.
Restoration
The outcome of the procedure is greatly influenced by the patient's own behavior. He must carefully monitor the skin, protect it from aggressive environmental influences and not apply decorative cosmetics during the treatment.
General instructions:
- The first three days of the wound should be lubricated with dexpanthenol ointment,will contribute to the rapid healing of minor damage. Next, it is recommended to use a light moisturizer with hyaluronic acid, which is advised by the beautician.
- Washing is not allowed.For 2 weeks, the skin should not be exposed to intense heat, so it is better to avoid baths and saunas, do not take hot baths.
- You should not go out without sunscreen,and it is best to choose 50 protection. The cosmetic product should be applied until healing is complete, even if it is winter outside.
After a few weeks, it is recommended that you visit the specialist who performed the fractional laser rejuvenation again. It should assess the condition of the skin on the face, to rule out complications.
Prediction
The effect can be seen immediately after healing, if the imperfections were not too severe. Deep wrinkles or scars should be removed with several treatments.
Visually, the skin is smoother, has a natural color, the face tightens and blooms visible in 99% of cases.
One percent is dedicated to unforeseen circumstances, inadequate care and lack of medical qualifications.
Advantages of the method
For many patients, this method gains significant advantages that are worth noting. By choosing photothermolysis, a person receives the following:
- low cost with high efficiency.
- pain?
- result from even one process.
- non-invasiveness
- lack of strong side effects.
In addition, the laser effect solves many problems of the aesthetic component of the skin at the same time, which is good news.
Disadvantages
If you choose the wrong clinic for rejuvenation or do not strictly follow the recommendations of the cosmetologist, you can gain huge age spots on half of the face, something that will not be easy to remove.
In addition, laser treatment takes a long time, during which the patient feels an unpleasant odor of damaged skin, which not everyone can stand.
Another disadvantage is the incomplete result of a procedure with deep depressions, scars and wrinkles.Overview of views
Fractional rejuvenation is gaining popularity in cosmetology. Every year more and more women choose lasers instead of scalpel.