Cosmetic dermatology, plastic surgeons, medical spas and their patients will be hearing more and more about fractional skin resurfacing technologies like ActiveFX, DeepFX, Starlux 1540, Starlux 2940, Fraxel Repair.
To grasp the significance of these new laser skin resurfacing devices some minor understanding of the technologies of cosmetic laser skin rejuvenation treatments as well as older cosmetic laser skin treatments is a good start.
Cosmetic Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacings History
Fraxel was the first on the scene with a non-ablative fractional laser for the cosmetic medical market. Fraxel has been upgraded and has been improved on by a number of other competing fractional laser skin resurfacing technologies including the Lumenis DeepFX and ActiveFX, and Palomar Medicals Starlux 1540, and Starlux 2940.
Fractional skin resurfacing is new area of cosmetic medicine that intersects cosmetic dermatology and traditional plastic surgery. Advances in these types of cosmetic medical technologies are occurring frequently and are fueled by an aging population of patients. The benefit for these patients is a rapid increase in the effectiveness of fractional laser treatments and less down time and potential side effects.
Fractional laser technologies new cosmetic applications are quickly expanding into related cosmetic medical areas like skin tightening, where fractional treatments compete with radio frequency (RF) treatments (Thermage), and are now moving into fat removal and cellulite treatments.
What was a revolutionary advance in 1995, full face CO2 Laser Resurfacing for wrinkle removal using the Ultra pulse CO2 laser, fairs poorly when compared to new fractional laser treatments and although the wrinkle removal results were fantastic, the CO2 laser resurfacing created a very real "burn wound" that took many months of recovery and the need for general anesthesia. After a year, the skin would turn white or show hypo pigmentation. Because of the side effects, few patients today choose to have this very effective wrinkle removing procedure.
The Newest Fractional Skin Resurfacing & Rejuvenation Technologies
Within the last few years the technologies around cosmetic Fractional Skin Rejuvenation or Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing has changed to eliminate many of the older technologies shortcomings. The erbium laser used in the Starlux is divided or 'fractionated' into many tiny micro-beams which treats only a portion of the skin (think tiny pin pricks) and leaves the surrounding skin intact and greatly improves the healing time.
These 'fractionated' treatment areas are referred to as micro-treatment zones and cause just enough injury to the layers of the dermis to trigger new collagen production and stimulate the replacement of collagen damaged by aging and sun exposure. This production of new collagen 'fills in' or 'plumps' the underlying dermal tissues and smoothes wrinkles. The surrounding, untreated skin speeds the healing process to a mere 3-4 days. Since most of the pigment cells remain intact, hypo pigmentation is effectively prevented.
Starlux 1540: Palomars New Fractional Non-Ablative Laser Resurfacing Technology
The Fraxel and Starlux 1540 are new non-ablative lasers (ablate means to "surgically remove) which means that the skin is not removed by the laser. Instead, the laser instantly heats the skin, causing new collagen growth.
Results for wrinkle removal and skin tightening are less dramatic than with ablative lasers, but the benefit of reduced recovery time and fewer side effects are mean that non ablative laser treatments are often the patients first choice.
Starlux Fractional Ablative Laser Resurfacing In The Near Future
New fractional ablative lasers have recently been developed that provide the benefits of fractional treatments (less down time and reduced complications) as well as the benefits of ablative skin resurfacing (better wrinkle removal and facial rejuvenation).
These newer fractional ablative lasers remove the tissue in the micro treatment zone rather than just heating it as is done with the old Fraxel and the Starlux 1540.
The benefit of this new form of fractional laser ablation is that more wrinkled, sun damaged skin is removed than with the older laser technologies, and a better cosmetic result is attained. There is some increase in recovery time with redness and pink skin for around 5-6 days. The Starlux fractional ablative lasers still require much less recovery time than the old non fractional erbium and CO2 ablative lasers which actually burned off the top layers of the dermis.
Competing Fractional Laser Technologies
Reliant (the company that makes Fraxel) has launched a new CO2 fractional laser called Repair
Lumenis: CO2 fractional ablative lasers called ActiveFX & DeepFx
Palomar: Starlux 2940 Erbium fractional ablative skin resurfacing laser. - 15438
To grasp the significance of these new laser skin resurfacing devices some minor understanding of the technologies of cosmetic laser skin rejuvenation treatments as well as older cosmetic laser skin treatments is a good start.
Cosmetic Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacings History
Fraxel was the first on the scene with a non-ablative fractional laser for the cosmetic medical market. Fraxel has been upgraded and has been improved on by a number of other competing fractional laser skin resurfacing technologies including the Lumenis DeepFX and ActiveFX, and Palomar Medicals Starlux 1540, and Starlux 2940.
Fractional skin resurfacing is new area of cosmetic medicine that intersects cosmetic dermatology and traditional plastic surgery. Advances in these types of cosmetic medical technologies are occurring frequently and are fueled by an aging population of patients. The benefit for these patients is a rapid increase in the effectiveness of fractional laser treatments and less down time and potential side effects.
Fractional laser technologies new cosmetic applications are quickly expanding into related cosmetic medical areas like skin tightening, where fractional treatments compete with radio frequency (RF) treatments (Thermage), and are now moving into fat removal and cellulite treatments.
What was a revolutionary advance in 1995, full face CO2 Laser Resurfacing for wrinkle removal using the Ultra pulse CO2 laser, fairs poorly when compared to new fractional laser treatments and although the wrinkle removal results were fantastic, the CO2 laser resurfacing created a very real "burn wound" that took many months of recovery and the need for general anesthesia. After a year, the skin would turn white or show hypo pigmentation. Because of the side effects, few patients today choose to have this very effective wrinkle removing procedure.
The Newest Fractional Skin Resurfacing & Rejuvenation Technologies
Within the last few years the technologies around cosmetic Fractional Skin Rejuvenation or Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing has changed to eliminate many of the older technologies shortcomings. The erbium laser used in the Starlux is divided or 'fractionated' into many tiny micro-beams which treats only a portion of the skin (think tiny pin pricks) and leaves the surrounding skin intact and greatly improves the healing time.
These 'fractionated' treatment areas are referred to as micro-treatment zones and cause just enough injury to the layers of the dermis to trigger new collagen production and stimulate the replacement of collagen damaged by aging and sun exposure. This production of new collagen 'fills in' or 'plumps' the underlying dermal tissues and smoothes wrinkles. The surrounding, untreated skin speeds the healing process to a mere 3-4 days. Since most of the pigment cells remain intact, hypo pigmentation is effectively prevented.
Starlux 1540: Palomars New Fractional Non-Ablative Laser Resurfacing Technology
The Fraxel and Starlux 1540 are new non-ablative lasers (ablate means to "surgically remove) which means that the skin is not removed by the laser. Instead, the laser instantly heats the skin, causing new collagen growth.
Results for wrinkle removal and skin tightening are less dramatic than with ablative lasers, but the benefit of reduced recovery time and fewer side effects are mean that non ablative laser treatments are often the patients first choice.
Starlux Fractional Ablative Laser Resurfacing In The Near Future
New fractional ablative lasers have recently been developed that provide the benefits of fractional treatments (less down time and reduced complications) as well as the benefits of ablative skin resurfacing (better wrinkle removal and facial rejuvenation).
These newer fractional ablative lasers remove the tissue in the micro treatment zone rather than just heating it as is done with the old Fraxel and the Starlux 1540.
The benefit of this new form of fractional laser ablation is that more wrinkled, sun damaged skin is removed than with the older laser technologies, and a better cosmetic result is attained. There is some increase in recovery time with redness and pink skin for around 5-6 days. The Starlux fractional ablative lasers still require much less recovery time than the old non fractional erbium and CO2 ablative lasers which actually burned off the top layers of the dermis.
Competing Fractional Laser Technologies
Reliant (the company that makes Fraxel) has launched a new CO2 fractional laser called Repair
Lumenis: CO2 fractional ablative lasers called ActiveFX & DeepFx
Palomar: Starlux 2940 Erbium fractional ablative skin resurfacing laser. - 15438
About the Author:
Medical Spa MD is a cosmetic medical community of Plastic Surgeons, Cosmetic Dermatologists, and Medical Spas with more than 2,000 physician members and provides current physician discussion forums on Starlux 2940 Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing and non-surgical cosmetic medical technologies and treatments.
