Fraxel^® Laser Trio & AcuPulse™ Laser Skin Resurfacing

Treatments for Skin Resurfacing, Pre-cancerous Changes, Sun Damage, Fine Lines and Wrinkles, Uneven Texture and Skin Discoloration

Deborah H. Atkin, MD, our board-certified dermatologist, uses only the latest, proven effective technologies to help you improve your skin and make a real difference in your appearance. Some of the most innovative skin treatment techniques of the last decade have come in the form of laser technology – a virtually painless and extremely beneficial way of reducing signs of age and sun damage, as well as bringing out your healthier skin layers.

The innovative Fraxel trio of lasers and the AcuPulse CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing system are specially designed lasers that treat and improve the appearance of acne and other scars, discoloration, wrinkling , and sun damaged skin, improving the skin’s overall tone and texture. The Fraxel and AcuPulse lasers treat tiny microscopic portions of skin leaving “bridges” of healthy skin intact, allowing for a quicker healing process.

• How Does Fraxel Work?
• Fraxel Re:store Laser
• Fraxel DUAL Laser
• Fraxel Re:pair Laser
• AcuPulse CO2 Laser
• Laser Services at Dermatology & Laser of Del Mar

How Does the Fraxel^® Laser Trio Work?

To understand the Fraxel laser treatment, think of your skin as a family portrait or digital photograph in need of high-quality restoration or a touch up. Just as a damaged painting is delicately restored one small area at a time, or a photographic image is altered pixel by pixel, Fraxel laser treatment improves your appearance by treating only a fraction of your skin at a time with thousands of tiny microscopic laser spots.

After your very first Fraxel laser treatment, you will begin to feel the difference in your skin, as it gradually becomes softer, smoother, and fresher. Fine lines around your eyes will noticeably fade after the Fraxel laser treatment as will the uneven coloring and the brown spots caused by aging, acne, melasma, and sun exposure.

Re:store™ Laser by Fraxel^®

For mild to moderate skin damage on the face and body – Treats wrinkles around the eyes, acne scars, surgical scars, age spots, sun damage, melasma and other discoloration, and actinic keratoses. This treatment requires a little downtime and most patients return to normal activities within a day or two. This treatment is especially good for acne scarring and other types of scars.

Re:store™ Laser Results

*Results May Vary

The DUAL Laser by Fraxel^®

While still offering the safety, comfort, and minimal downtime of the previous Fraxel lasers, the Fraxel DUAL laser combines the benefits of the Re:store erbium resurfacing with new thulium laser for pigment and actinic damage, addressing both superficial and medium-depth resurfacing, in which all skin types can benefit. It was also designed to treat larger areas, allowing Deborah H. Atkin, MD to address multiple body areas in a single session. This makes it the ideal treatment for resurfacing sun damaged arms, legs and backs. Most patients return to normal activities within a day or two.
 

Fraxel Laser post care forms

DUAL Laser Results

*Results May Vary

What to Expect During Fraxel^® Dual Treatment?

After your Fraxel DUAL treatment you should expect to have mild to moderate redness (similar to windburn) and mild swelling. Most patients notice a very slight “sandpaper” feel to the skin the day after treatment. This is accompanied with a few days of slight flaking and peeling. To minimize any discomfort during the procedure, a strong topical numbing agent is applied in-office 1-1.5 hours prior to treatment. We recommend patients start on VitaMedica’s Healing Supplement program to prevent and minimize any bruising or swelling a few days before treatment. This supplement contains Bromelain and Arnica montana and can be purchased through our office.

• Length of Time for Procedure? This will depend on the size and number of areas being treated; however, many Fraxel laser procedures can be completed in 30 minutes.
• Who Will Perform This Procedure? Deborah H. Atkin, MD, our board-certified dermatologist.
• What is the Recovery Time? Depending on the size and locations of the areas being treated, many patients can resume normal daily activities soon after treatment. Patients having Re:pair by Fraxel may require a few days.
• Final Results of the Procedure? You should see a nice improvement in the color and texture of your skin within 1-2 weeks; however, new collagen will continue to form for 4-6 months after the procedure. Patients seeking this treatment for actinic sun damage, pre-cancerous changes in the skin, will also notice a significant improvement.
• Other Treatments or Skincare Products that May Improve My Result? Many patients also enjoy the benefits of using an injectable wrinkle reducer such as BOTOX^® Cosmetic or Dysport^® in combination with Fraxel DUAL. Deborah H. Atkin, MD and her staff recommend any patient having Fraxel laser skin resurfacing treatment maintain an anti-aging regimen of SkinMedica^® TNS Essential Serum, Retinol Complex, Dermal Repair Moisturizer and physical block sunscreen such as SkinMedica Total Defense and Repair or Revisions Intellishade Sunscreen. We strongly recommend starting an anti-aging program to maintain the results after your procedure.

Fraxel Repair Laser/ 600 micron post care forms

Find Out More About Fraxel^® DUAL

If you would like to learn more about Fraxel DUAL, Deborah H. Atkin, MD has included answers to several frequently asked questions (FAQs) about this laser treatment. For more help on how this technique can help you achieve your goals, contact us today.

• What side effects can I expect after a Fraxel^® Dual treatment
  and how long will they last?

  The most common post-procedure side effects are mild redness, tenderness, and dryness. Our trained staff will review your post-care in detail with you at your visit.

• What should I expect after a Fraxel^® Dual treatment?

  Most patients notice a sunburned sensation in the treated area, including minor redness, for about 24 hours after treatment. If desired, you can cover this effect with mineral powder or tinted sunscreen. Similar to a sunburn, you will experience flaking and exfoliation in the affected area. While this is a normal response, you can apply moisturizer to minimize this effect and reduce dryness.

• What are the benefits of the Fraxel^® Dual treatment?

  -Reduction of actinic keratoses (pre-skin cancer blemishes)
  -Smoother, fresher, younger-looking looking skin
  -Improved tone and texture
  -Erasing of unwanted brown spots
  -Reduced fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes
  -Improved appearance of acne scars and surgical scars

• Does a Fraxel^® Dual treatment hurt?

  Our trained staff will assist you during your treatment to keep you as comfortable as possible. We do provide an application of topical numbing cream prior to your procedure, so your discomfort should be minimal. The staff will also assist in providing you with instructions and products for your post-care treatment to ensure you’re comfortable whilst healing at home.

• Am I a candidate?

  Almost anyone can be a candidate for Fraxel^® laser resurfacing! If you have complexion concerns such as fine lines and wrinkles, freckles/age spots, melasma, or acne scarring, Fraxel^® can help improve the color, tone, and texture of your skin. Fraxel^® can also reduce your skin cancer risk; it is FDA indicated for the treatment of actinic sun damage that is often a precursor to skin cancer.

  While Fraxel^® is a very high satisfaction procedure, it is important to maintain realistic expectations about what laser resurfacing can achieve.

Re:pair^® Laser by Fraxel^®

For more moderate to extensive skin damage – The Re:pair Laser by Fraxel treats deeper wrinkles, fine lines, furrows, uneven texture, age spots, actinic sun damage, and works to tighten loose skin. The Re:pair Laser by Fraxel is a safer and less invasive alternative to traditional eyelid surgery. Many patients also choose this as an alternative to a facelift. Most patients will return to normal activities in about a week.

Re:pair^® Laser Results

*Results May Vary

AcuPulse C02 Laser

Dermatology & Laser of Del Mar is pleased to introduce another advanced tool for helping you achieve excellent aesthetic results: AcuPulse CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing.

AcuPulse gives us the ability to erase years of aging in a single treatment, without surgery or the downtime of traditional CO2 resurfacing. This has made this one of the most popular skin rejuvenating treatments we have available.

AcuPulse delivers tiny, concentrated beams of heat energy that create microscopic channels in the tissue. This in turn triggers collagen and elastic fiber production resulting in significant skin tightening. Intact skin is left between the channels to reduce healing time.

What can AcuPulse treat?

AcuPulse improves:

• Fine lines and deep wrinkles
• Sun damage including some pre-skin cancers
• Acne scars and/or surgical scars
• Stretchmarks
• Rough or irregular texture and pigment

AcuPulse is our most customizable resurfacing treatment and can be tailored to your specific skin issues and desired results. The treatment can be a Fractional CO2 resurfacing with less downtime and healing or fully ablative in individual areas that require more improvement. For more information, or to schedule your consultation please contact us today!

What areas of the body can be treated with AcuPulse?

Face, neck, and chest are the most popular AcuPulse treatment areas. We can treat surgical scars and stretch marks on any area of the body.

What is the downtime with AcuPulse?

Downtime really depends on each patient’s individual treatment plan. We suggest you time your treatment when you can have 7 days of not looking your best.

Is AcuPulse painful?

We use a very strong topical numbing agent for AcuPulse. We can also offer ProNox and/or oral medication to alleviate discomfort and anxiety during the procedure, although most patients find it very tolerable.

Who performs the AcuPulse treatment?

Only Dr. Deborah H. Atkin, MD will be performing your AcuPulse procedure. Dr. Atkin has over 25 years of experience as a board-certified dermatologist and is extremely well versed in medical and laser technology, ensuring the highest safety standards are upheld.

What Makes Your Laser Treatment with Dr. Atkin Different from other Practices?

With more than 20 lasers at Dr. Atkin’s disposal, she is able to customize and streamline the best combination of treatments to help meet each individual’s goal. She personally evaluates your skin type and considers your concerns and goals. She then will appropriately put together a combination of treatments for you. In some instances, there is no additional charge when two or more lasers are used in your treatment. Your concerns are important, and this is just one way that Dr. Atkin will work with you to achieve optimum results.

I feel like I had a mini-face lift, without having to go through surgery. My skin feels smoother and looks tighter, and I feel like I look a good five years younger. My friends couldn’t tell exactly what I had done, but they knew I looked better. I continued to notice improvement in my skin for months following the procedure.*

Judith Jarcho – Fraxel^® and Thermage^® Patient
*Results May Vary

Contact Dermatology & Laser of Del Mar

Do you have additional questions? Contact our office or schedule a consultation with Deborah H. Atkin, MD.