Fractional Resurfacing – Bellingham
Fractional Resurfacing is a versatile procedure that can:
•Minimize wrinkles, crow’s feet, forehead lines, lines around the nose, mouth and upper lip.
•Even out skin tone and texture for a more youthful look.
•Repair sun-damaged skin.
•Reduce scarring: acne scarring, stretchmarks, injury or surgical scars.
How does Fractional Skin Resurfacing work?
Fractional resurfacing offers individualized results with minimal risk and no down time. It is safe for all skin types because it is a non-ablative (non-invasive) technique that yields more consistent results than ablative procedures which strip off the outer layer of skin.
Microbeams of laser energy are passed through the skin and absorbed by the collagen beneath the surface, accelerating collagen growth in the deeper layers of skin. This approach alters only fractional amounts of the target tissue at a time, stimulating new collagen growth each time, resulting in a natural process of remodeling the skin’s surface. Think of it as “digital tissue editing” in phases with a series of treatments.
It results in replacing damaged or wrinkled skin with new skin cells and fresh elastin. Elastin gives healthy skin its “bounce back” when pinched or pulled; this is significant for skin tone and wrinkle reduction.
Scar reduction for acne, surgical, injury and stretchmark scarring is a process of replacing as much of the scar tissue as possible with fresh cell growth that has a smoother texture, causing the scar to blend in better with the surrounding skin. The goal is to minimize and camouflage the scar as optimally as possible. Different scar tissues respond to different kinds of laser beams. Our technology allows us to customize the laser energy for optimal response from the collagen within the scar.
What can I expect during the procedure?
Fractional Skin Resurfacing is the safest and most advanced treatment available because the depth and intensity of the laser energy is controlled precisely and can be customized to individual skin types and conditions. During treatment the patient feels only minor discomfort, like the momentary snap of a rubber band. We offer patients an anesthetic cream at no extra charge, applied prior to treatment, which effectively minimizes discomfort.
What can I expect after the procedure?
Generally, you can return to work or other activities with minimal recovery time. The skin will have a pinkish tone and feel warm (like mild sunburn) for a few days. You may experience a little puffiness or tightness in the treated area. Gel ice packs applied to the skin immediately following treatment can reduce these effects.
Following Fractional Resurfacing you should use moisturizers and sunscreen for about 10 days following the procedure. If you prefer to use a foundation makeup on top of the moisturizer, a mineral-based makeup is recommended.
Most patients see improvement in the first week, with increasing results over a 6-week period. Studies suggest that a series of 3 treatments at 4-6 week intervals produce the best results for wrinkle reduction, sun damage and skin texture.
The optimum number of treatments for scar reduction varies due to the diverse nature of scar tissue, but some improvement will be noticeable within the first week, with a cumulative effect following successive treatments, and continued improvement up to 6 months as new skin continues to replace the old scar tissue.