Major Laser
You know that increasingly complicated skincare routine you’ve adopted? Trust me, girl, it’s great, but there’s only so much it can do for you. If you’re battling multiple signs of ageing and skin imperfections like hyperpigmentation, enlarged pores, sun damage, acne scars and fine lines, there’s a way to tackle all of them at the same time.
If it sounds too good to be true, it’s not, but make no mistake – this is not your mother’s facial, and it’s not for the faint of heart (or wallet). If you’re serious about getting rid of imperfections for good and revealing a fresh layer of glowy, healthy skin, then fractional laser treatments might be exactly what you’re looking for.
How does it work? In short, thermal energy emitted by a fractional laser creates columns of micro-injuries to the skin’s epidermis (the outermost layer) and dermis (just beneath the epidermis) thereby stimulating the growth of new, healthy skin to replace the old, damaged cells.
Fractional laser treatment is an ideal way to combat ageing for those who shy away from neurotoxins or fillers since it actually builds collagen. The healing process stimulates new collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid, which makes the skin tighter, plumper, and more elastic.
If you’re someone that suffers from troubling, textured acne scars, this is the solution you’ve been looking for. Simply put, lasers are far more effective than any topical treatment. The laser is capable of penetrating the skin deep enough to allow the scar tissue that’s the source of the textural difference to be broken up – something a topical cream just isn’t capable of.
What makes these treatments even more attractive is that they’re a fantastic option for all skin types, something that cannot be said about other treatments.
For skin rejuvenation, 2 treatments will produce visible results in as soon as 2 weeks and can continue to improve for up to 6 months. To optimize and maintain results, a yearly follow-up treatment is highly recommended.
What does a treatment feel like? To take the bite out of the laser’s heat, an anesthetic cream is usually applied to the treatment area 45 minutes to an hour before treatment begins. Cooled air is directed onto the treatment area throughout the procedure for additional comfort.
Most people would describe the discomfort and heat of the treatment as mild to moderate, and sometimes the laser’s beam hitting the skin can create a slightly unpleasant odor (But remember, that’s years of damage and discoloration being melted away in mere seconds. Totally worth it!). The treatment itself is quick and usually ranges anywhere from just a few minutes up to 30 minutes depending on the size of your chosen treatment area. Following treatment, your skin may feel sunburnt, but this generally resolves within several hours.
What’s the downside? Fractional lasers are highly effective, but treatment will mean a little bit of downtime. Pain, redness, swelling, peeling or flaking, crusting and hyperpigmentation can all be expected post-treatment. Depending on how sensitive your skin is, these side effects usually last no longer than a week following treatment. Correct aftercare is key, and the skin must be kept clean during the healing process in order to prevent further irritation and infection. Gentle skin care, avoiding retinoids and other potentially irritating products is an absolute must.
Remember that skincare routine we talked about? That’s still important! Your results will be more noticeable and last longer with diligent use of high-quality skincare products for your specific skin type and the daily use of a mineral sunscreen before and after treatment.
Finally, at $700 to $900, fractional laser treatments are an investment. The cost will ultimately be determined by the specific type of fractional treatment and the size of the area being treated. The bottom line? No matter where the real estate is (in this case, your face) remodelling is expensive, but oh-so-worth-it.
We’d love to create the perfect treatment plan for you! Consultations with our skincare experts are always complimentary – call and book today!