Fractional laser skin resurfacing aficionados will be hearing more and more about the Starlux 1540, Starlux 2940, Fraxel Repair, ActiveFX, DeepFX, and Fractional Skin Rejuvenation in the future.
A small bit of history surrounding fractional laser treatments and C02 laser ablation treatments provide a place to start when looking at what's here in cosmetic medicine regarding fractional treatments, and what's coming next.
Cosmetic Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing's History
Fraxel was the first non ablative fractional laser for the cosmetic medical market. It's been upgraded since first being introduced and has been followed by a number of other fractional laser skin resurfacing technologies including the DeepFX and ActiveFX from Lumenis and the Starlux 1540 and Starlux 2940 from Palomar Medical.
Fractional laser skin resurfacing is new area of medicine that intersects cosmetic dermatology and traditional plastic surgery. Rapid advancements and new breakthroughs 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 expanding into related areas like skin tightening treatments, where fractional treatments compete with radio frequency (RF) treatments like Thermage, and will eventually move into fat and cellulite treatments and removal.
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
Now, cosmetic Fractional Skin Rejuvenation or Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing has evolved and eliminated many of the previous technologies shortcomings. The new erbium lasers are 'fractionated' into tiny micro-lasers, treating only a small portion of the skin (think tiny pin pricks) and leaving surrounding skin completely intact, greatly improving healing times.
These 'fractionated' treatment areas are called micro-treatment zones, and cause just enough injury to the dermis to trigger new collagen production to replace collagen damaged by aging and sun exposure. This production of new collagen 'fills in' or 'plumps' the underlying dermal tissues and smoothes out wrinkles. 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 Starlux1540 are non ablative lasers (ablate means to "surgically remove) which means that the skin is not removed by the laser, rather the laser beam instantly heats the skin, causing inflammation and new collagen growth.
Results for skin laxity and wrinkle smoothing are less dramatic than with ablative lasers, but the benefit of reduced recovery time and reduced 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) with ablative skin resurfacings benefits (better wrinkle removal and facial rejuvenation) offering the best of both worlds.
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 Starlux 2940 fractional ablative laser treatments is that a greater amount of wrinkled and sun damaged skin can be removed than with the older laser technologies, and with a better medical result. There is some minor increase in recovery time with redness for around 5-6 days. Still, the Starlux 2940 fractional ablative lasers require much less recovery time than the old non fractional erbium and CO2 ablative lasers.
Competing Fractional Laser Technologies
Reliant: CO2 fractional laser called Repair
Lumenis: CO2 fractional ablative lasers called ActiveFX & DeepFx
Palomar now has the Starlux 2940 Erbium fractional ablative skin resurfacing laser. - 30516
A small bit of history surrounding fractional laser treatments and C02 laser ablation treatments provide a place to start when looking at what's here in cosmetic medicine regarding fractional treatments, and what's coming next.
Cosmetic Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing's History
Fraxel was the first non ablative fractional laser for the cosmetic medical market. It's been upgraded since first being introduced and has been followed by a number of other fractional laser skin resurfacing technologies including the DeepFX and ActiveFX from Lumenis and the Starlux 1540 and Starlux 2940 from Palomar Medical.
Fractional laser skin resurfacing is new area of medicine that intersects cosmetic dermatology and traditional plastic surgery. Rapid advancements and new breakthroughs 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 expanding into related areas like skin tightening treatments, where fractional treatments compete with radio frequency (RF) treatments like Thermage, and will eventually move into fat and cellulite treatments and removal.
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
Now, cosmetic Fractional Skin Rejuvenation or Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing has evolved and eliminated many of the previous technologies shortcomings. The new erbium lasers are 'fractionated' into tiny micro-lasers, treating only a small portion of the skin (think tiny pin pricks) and leaving surrounding skin completely intact, greatly improving healing times.
These 'fractionated' treatment areas are called micro-treatment zones, and cause just enough injury to the dermis to trigger new collagen production to replace collagen damaged by aging and sun exposure. This production of new collagen 'fills in' or 'plumps' the underlying dermal tissues and smoothes out wrinkles. 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 Starlux1540 are non ablative lasers (ablate means to "surgically remove) which means that the skin is not removed by the laser, rather the laser beam instantly heats the skin, causing inflammation and new collagen growth.
Results for skin laxity and wrinkle smoothing are less dramatic than with ablative lasers, but the benefit of reduced recovery time and reduced 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) with ablative skin resurfacings benefits (better wrinkle removal and facial rejuvenation) offering the best of both worlds.
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 Starlux 2940 fractional ablative laser treatments is that a greater amount of wrinkled and sun damaged skin can be removed than with the older laser technologies, and with a better medical result. There is some minor increase in recovery time with redness for around 5-6 days. Still, the Starlux 2940 fractional ablative lasers require much less recovery time than the old non fractional erbium and CO2 ablative lasers.
Competing Fractional Laser Technologies
Reliant: CO2 fractional laser called Repair
Lumenis: CO2 fractional ablative lasers called ActiveFX & DeepFx
Palomar now has the Starlux 2940 Erbium fractional ablative skin resurfacing laser. - 30516
About the Author:
Medical Spa MD is a cosmetic medical community of Plastic Surgeons, Cosmetic Dermatologists, and Aesthetic Physicians with more than 3,500 members. Medical Spa MD offers laser clinic training and provides information on non-surgical cosmetic medical technologies and treatments.
