Fraxel dual

What is fraxel dual?

Fraxel dual is a non-ablative fractional resurfacing laser meaning a treatment is performed over an entire area of concern but the system will pick out only a fraction or a percentage of the skin to treat. These selected areas are targeted as a narrow column; the damaged tissue in that column is destroyed but leaves tissue in between treated columns completely alone ensuring that healing will be a relatively simple thing for the skin tissues to achieve but at the same time allowing very significant and sometimes deep treatment to be performed on the selected sites. The difference between this treatment and the Fractionated CO2 is this system forces remodelling of damaged skin tissues while the fractionated CO2 physically removes damaged tissue.

Fine lines, irregular skin texture, sun spots, age spots, hyperpigmentation and acne scarring are all well treated with this modality. Previous technologies have only allowed facial resurfacing, but this treatment can be used on the face and anywhere else on the body including the hands, eyelids, chest and neck. The lasers enjoy their safety record because they leave the majority of the skin untreated; this has the effect of inducing a deep and focal wound. The laser will pick out only a fraction of the skin to treat usually about 20–40% at a session; this means that the patient does require a number of sessions to fill in the gaps between these very small holes in the skin.

What to expect during a fraxel dual procedure?

A local anaesthetic cream may be applied to the area 45 minutes to an hour prior to the procedure. Occasionally oral or other analgesia will also be used. It is normal to feel some pain with this procedure and you will experience a feeling similar to mild sunburn for 1-2 hours following the treatment. Your skin may have a bronzed appearance for 3-14 days, depending on the treatment level required and will naturally and vigorously exfoliate. The use of any prescribed skin care may enable faster recovery and help mask the appearance of flaking.

There are now a number of different wavelengths used for this type of technology. Some use more superficial penetrating laser beams to remove just the epidermis or top layer of skin. These more superficial resurfacing wavelength systems produce a peel like effect which exfoliates like a sunburn over 7-10 days.

How long will a fraxel dual procedure take?

Depending on the size of the treatment area the actual procedure can take anywhere from around 20 minutes to an hour. There is approximately 1 hour of preparation time needed in the clinic before and approximately 20 minutes of post-operative time spent in the clinic after.

What to expect after a fraxel dual procedure?

Complete healing time takes up to two weeks although “social downtime” consisting mainly of redness and swelling is more likely to be approximately two days. Paradoxically the more superficial systems have more downtime with swelling for the first two days and then peeling for much of the next week.

Are there risks associated with fraxel dual and if so what are they?

There is a small chance of scarring, including abnormal, raised scars. There is also the possibility of some pinpoint bleeding but this will not leave a lasting effect. In some instances bleeding may reach the upper level of the skin and may result in a dark red appearance, which resolves in 1-2 weeks. As the laser produces heat in the upper layers of the skin this may produce a separation between the upper and middle layers of the skin, resulting in blister formation. A scab may present after the blister forms which settles during the natural healing process of the skin.

Pigmentation or increased colouring of the skin may occur as a result of the laser; this is termed “post inflammatory hyperpigmentation”. This is more common in people with darker skin and when the spots of treatment are placed closer together. Loss of colour is rare but a more subtle decrease in colour may be seen occasionally.

Infection is very rare but an outbreak of acne in those prone to this condition may occur especially following the first treatment.

Temporary bumpy rashes may occur following treatment with the more superficial laser wavelengths.

Contact our reception staff to make an appointment by email or telephone (03) 9826 4966 to find out whether this is an appropriate treatment for your skin.

The treatment information contained on this site is of a general nature only. Please make an appointment to find out which treatment will be the most successful for your individual concern