Laser Skin Resurfacing with CO2 Fractional (Fraxel) Laser Technology Erases Imperfections

If you came to Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center to have a mole removed from your knee, you might find it strange if we treated your entire leg. The original CO2 lasers used for laser skin resurfacing weren’t fractionated, so instead of targeting specific skin imperfections, the lasers treated the entire face equally. That means, even if you had rosacea and melasma only on your cheeks, your whole face would be treated with the exact same frequency. Luckily, today’s fractionated laser technology can specifically treat skin imperfections without the dreaded line of demarcation between treated and untreated skin.

If you keep up with our blog, you know the importance of quality laser equipment. Since Laser Lights is co-owned by Dr. David Whiteman of Southern Plastic Surgery, we are able to house the highest quality, medical grade lasers. Equally important to laser equipment is a highly trained laser technician as risks associated with laser skin treatments decrease significantly when performed by properly trained technicians. Details such as these are of utmost importance in facial laser treatments as well as procedures like laser tattoo removal and laser hair removal.

So you may be thinking, why CO2 Fraxel? What makes this laser treatment so different? You can get Botox® or Dysport® injected into muscles that cause wrinkles to relax and smooth lines away. You can also be treated with cosmetic injectables like Juvèderm®, Restylane®, and Perlane® to plump areas of lost volume and fill in wrinkles. Treatments like microdermabrasion and chemical peels can help correct conditions like sun damage, uneven pigmentation, and other surface imperfections. Although these are all great treatments for isolated cosmetic issues, CO2 Fraxel is most effective for overall facial rejuvenation, or those patients who exhibit multiple signs of aging like sun damage, skin texture irregularities, and blotchiness. This technology penetrates deeply into the layers of the skin that are untreatable with the softer facial rejuvenation procedures mentioned above to improve the overall surface texture of skin and help new, healthy youthful skin cells reproduce. Not only will you feel a difference in the firmness of your skin shortly after treatment, but once your skin heals (typically about one week after the treatment) you will no longer see fine lines, red spots, brown spots, or other blemishes.

Patients who are searching for a lighter facial laser treatment may be interested in our Erbium laser, which does not penetrate as deeply into the layers of skin as our CO2 fractionated laser. While CO2 fractionated laser treatment can improve many skin conditions, the procedure’s appropriateness will depend on the individual cosmetic needs of the patient. Schedule a consultation to determine which cosmetic skin service will best meet your needs. Be sure to connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for updates on our monthly specials.