Fractional lasers are designed to improve your skin’s appearance by targeting a fraction of the skin, leaving surrounding tissue intact. This is a dermatology and cosmetic procedure that provides faster healing and less discomfort in comparison to traditional laser treatments. Here, we will discuss what fractional lasers are, how they work, common uses, and the benefits of choosing this treatment. Let’s start:

Definition of Fractional Lasers

Fractional lasers are a non-invasive treatment that uses concentrated beams of light to treat specific areas of the skin, leaving surrounding areas untouched. This technique stimulates collagen production. The two types of fractional lasers are:

Ablative fractional lasers: These create controlled wounds by removing microscopic columns of skin tissue. They penetrate deeper into the skin and require a longer recovery time (typically 7-14 days).
Non-Ablative fractional lasers: These heat the skin without removing tissue, making them gentler with minimal downtime (usually 1-3 days).

Common Uses of Fractional Lasers

Fractional lasers are versatile and can be used to treat a wide range of skin concerns. Some of the areas that are treated by this procedure include:

Acne scars
Fine lines and wrinkles
Sun damage and pigmentation
Stretch marks, uneven skin tone and texture, and enlarged pores

How Do Fractional Lasers Work

Fractional lasers are a type of advanced Skin laser Resurfacing technology that treats targeted areas of the skin with precision. They work by creating thousands of tiny, controlled micro-injuries known as microscopic treatment zones.

Fractional Laser Delivery

Instead of treating the entire surface of the skin simultaneously (as with traditional lasers), fractional lasers treat only a fraction of the skin at a time. This results in a grid-like pattern of treated and untreated skin. The untreated areas help the skin heal faster, reducing the downtime.

Controlled Thermal Damage

The laser creates tiny columns of thermal damage that penetrate deep into the skin’s middle layer. These controlled injuries stimulate the skin to replace damaged tissue with fresh, healthy cells.

Collagen and Elastin Remodeling

As the skin heals, collagen and elastin production increase, improving skin elasticity, firmness, and overall texture. This process takes over several weeks, leading to long-term improvements in fine lines, wrinkles, scars, pigmentation, and enlarged pores.

Benefits of Fractional Lasers

Fractional laser provides different benefits to rejuvenate your skin. Here are some of them:

Targeted treatment: Fractional lasers provide laser energy in a grid-like pattern, which further allows for targeted treatment. This helps in healing faster and better. The precise targeting addresses the specific issues without affecting the healthy skin. As it creates a more efficient healing environment, the results are faster, less risky, and more predictable.
Minimal downtime: As the laser only treats a fraction of the skin at a time, it reduces the risk of extensive damage, leading to quicker recovery. This means your skin can continue performing the normal protective functions while the treated areas heal. The surrounding untreated skin areas help to accelerate healing, providing healthy cells and growth factors. Most patients usually return to their normal activities within a few days.
Effective for different skin issues: Fractional lasers can address a wide range of concerns, including fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, acne scars, age spots, and skin texture irregularities. For fine lines and wrinkles, the laser stimulates collagen production in the deeper layers of the skin. It is effective if your skin has been damaged by the sun and has age spots. It can also be effective if you are concerned about acne.
Customizable treatment: Fractional lasers are easily customizable according to your skin. This allows you to get tailor-made treatments based on your specific skin concern being addressed. Dr. Philip Young customizes your treatment based on your specific skin type, tone, and the condition being treated. This level of customization ensures that your treatment is both safe and effective.
Long-lasting results: One of the benefits of fractional laser treatments is their ability to deliver long-lasting results. Compared to cosmetic procedures that provide temporary enhancement, fractional lasers work by stimulating your skin’s natural healing process. As collagen is a key structural protein, it helps maintain skin firmness, elasticity, and smoothness.

Fractional lasers are a non-invasive, effective solution for a variety of skin concerns, including wrinkles, acne scars, hyperpigmentation, and skin texture issues. As they have minimal downtime and provide long-lasting results, they provide a safe, targeted treatment that promotes collagen production and skin renewal. This treatment is right for you if you’re looking to smooth fine lines, tighten sagging skin, or reduce scars and discoloration.