Women at all times sought to look young and beautiful. Previously, hiding wrinkles and acne could be veiled only with creams and powder. Then Botox injections, chemical peeling, mesotherapy, laser resurfacing appeared in the arsenal of cosmetologists.
A wonderful alternative to all these methods is fractional thermolysis, which performs rejuvenation and healing of the skin of the face, hands, eyelids, neck and other areas at the cellular level. This procedure is almost as effective as surgical braces, but in contrast to them it is much less traumatic, and after thermolysis, skin cells begin to actively produce collagen and elastin, as in youth, that is, beneficial changes occur in several layers at once, rather than only in the outer epidermis. This explains the long-term visual effect of the procedure.
The essence of the method
Fractional thermolysis has other names - photothermolysis, fraxel, nanoperforation. It was developed in the USA and has been successfully used since 2004. The essence of the method is that the laser beam is divided into thousands of ultrathin beams (fractions).
Their microscopic diameter allows them, without injuring the epidermis, to pass through it into the deeper layers of the skin. There, the rays, whose energy power is extremely high, evaporate old dermal cells, collagen, elastin and pigments that have lost their functions. In this case, no more than 30% of the cells are destroyed, so the recovery phase after this procedure is very short.
So, after treating the skin with a carbon dioxide laser, which has been used in cosmetology for 40 years, rehabilitation can stretch for 2 months, and after fractional thermolysis it takes a maximum of a week. The remaining intact cells receive an impulse to develop a new, actively working elastin and collagen, which creates a rejuvenating effect.
Types of used lasers
In everyday life, many people call a laser a thin luminous beam, but in reality it is a setup (quantum generator) that converts various types of energy into a narrowly directed radiation flux.
Fractional thermolysis is performed using erbium and thulium generators. The first uses a yttrium-aluminum garnet crystal, in which erbium ions are interspersed. The wavelength of the energy fluxes or rays they produce is only 1550 nm. In the second installations, an aluminum garnet crystal with thulium ions is used, which creates streams with a wave of 1920 nm. Erbium rays penetrate the dermis to a depth of maximum 1.4 mm, thulium rays up to 2 mm.
In both cases, they operate with high accuracy, affecting only the microscopically small area that is directly directed to. In these places, cells evaporate almost instantly.
The energy of the rays in the ranges of erbium and thulium waves is completely absorbed by the water contained in the skin of each person. Due to this, overheating of neighboring tissues does not occur, and they remain completely intact.
Types of Fraxel exposure
Having invented the revolutionary Fraxel unit, American specialists developed methods by which fractional laser thermolysis in cosmetology will be carried out for each specific task. To date, there are devices in which only the erbium or only thulium rod is involved, or two at once. The cosmetologist uses them, depending on the treatment area and on the skin problem that needs to be solved. Types of laser devices:
- "Fraxel re: store." This is a classic setup that uses an erbium rod. With its help, stretch marks, traces of acne, hyperpigmentation, and eyelid bags are best removed.
- "Fraxel re: store DUAL." The installation uses both rods, erbium and thulium. It is very effective for smoothing wrinkles, pronounced scars and scars, and can be used to get rid of hyperpigmentation.
- "Fraxel re: pair." Here the thulium rod is used, which provides a deeper penetration of the rays into the dermis. The method helps to correct even very deep wrinkles and traces of acne, vascular dyschromia, remove gaping pores, and adjust the degree of oily skin.
- "Fraxel re: fine." In this installation, flows with a wavelength of only 1420 nm are generated. It is advisable to use them to affect particularly delicate areas, such as the skin of the eyelids, mammary glands.
Indications for the procedure
Fractional thermolysis can be carried out for people of any gender who have reached the age of 18 years, if they have such skin defects:
- scars and scars;
- wrinkles of different localization and depth;
- gaping pores, pronounced striae (stretch marks);
- pigmentation;
- reduced skin turgor (for example, there is no clear line of the oval of the face);
- sagging skin;
- post-acne.
This technology will allow you to remove scars and other defects on any part of the body, not only on the face or in the decollete.
Fractional thermolysis, contraindications
The procedure can not be performed for people who have such violations and conditions:
- pregnancy;
- lactation;
- mental disorders;
- epilepsy;
- diabetes;
- oncology of any localization;
- skin diseases localized in places of laser exposure (psoriasis, eczema, dermatosis);
- thyroid problems;
- autoimmune diseases;
- allergy to the analgesics used during the procedure.
Execution technology
Some women, fearing pain, hesitate to do fractional thermolysis. The reviews of those who passed it note that there may indeed be a sensation of a slight burning sensation, but nothing more. Prior to the procedure, the cosmetologist thoroughly cleanses the patient’s skin and applies an analgesic cream with lidocaine. Usually use Emla.
After 10-15 minutes, depending on the individual reaction to lidocaine, the remains of the cream are removed and the skin is covered with gel so that the apparatus glides without obstacles. The procedure lasts up to 30 minutes, which depends on the size of the treated areas.
The effect on the skin is carried out using nozzles having different contact areas. The cosmetologist performs alternating light tangential movements in the horizontal and vertical directions.
For additional pain relief, chilled air is supplied simultaneously. For the sake of economy, some women do not use Emla cream, which costs from 500 rubles to apply. They note that the procedure was painful, but bearable.
At its end, the face is covered with Bepanten cream to reduce inflammation. To obtain a cooling effect, you can apply Bepanten Plus cream.
Rehabilitation
Almost every patient who has undergone fractional thermolysis, after lidocaine ends the action, feels pain on the face, like after a burn. The skin becomes very inflamed, hypertrophied, swelling of various degrees is often noted. In some patients, fever and general condition may worsen. All these symptoms are observed in the first 24-48 hours, so thermolysis is recommended at the end of the week for the weekend.
At home, you need to rinse your face with cool water, lubricate with an anti-inflammatory cream. Applying makeup over inflamed skin is very undesirable. Approximately on the third day the pain completely disappears, the swelling subsides, but itching and peeling may appear.
On the fifth or sixth day, the skin is completely restored. For some patients, the doctor recommends undergoing several fractional thermolysis procedures. You can repeat them with an interval of at least a month.
Eyelid correction
Eyes play the most important role in the attractiveness of any person. Unfortunately, age, some diseases and lifestyle "decorate" the eyelids and the skin around the eyes with all kinds of defects, which is far from the best way affects the appearance. Correct these flaws is taken fractional thermolysis of the eyelids. He is capable of:
- remove crow's feet (small wrinkles near the eyes);
- eliminate or significantly reduce the overhang of the upper eyelids;
- rejuvenate and strengthen the skin around the eyes;
- look open and clear.
Before the procedure, the cosmetologist must put protective lenses in the eyes of the patient. All other actions are performed in exactly the same way as fraxel for other skin areas. The laser is used only with an erbium rod and with a wavelength of maximum 1420 nm. Usually, to achieve a good effect, several procedures are required, which are carried out for centuries with an interval of one and a half (maybe two) months.
Some useful tips
Fractional thermolysis is a fairly safe, but not cheap procedure. The price may vary depending on the price-list of the clinic, the area of the laser exposure area, the purchase price of materials and other things. On average, 1 thermolysis session for the face, neck, abdomen, and décolleté costs 20,000 rubles each zone. Fraxel for a century can cost from 12,000 rubles. Each clinic has its own price list for various exposure areas (the whole face, only the cheeks, only the eyelids, stomach, arms, buttocks and so on).
Before the procedure, you can not visit a solarium or sunbathe in the open sun, drink alcohol. Six months before the fraxel session, you need to stop taking the retinoids Isotretinoin, Roaccutane and others. Doctors recommend taking a course of drugs with collagen, hyaluronic acid, as well as antioxidants, and biostimulating procedures for the face.
To keep the effect lasting longer, after fraxel, you need to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and visiting a solarium, carry out maintenance therapy for youthful skin - do massages, use high-quality masks and creams, refrain from smoking and alcohol abuse.
Reviews
Each woman’s skin reacts differently to fractional laser thermolysis. Reviews about this procedure are generally good. The main advantage noted by the respondents is a noticeable positive effect. After fraksel skin becomes soft, matte, toned, elastic. In addition, pigmentation, shallow post-acne, scars, small wrinkles completely disappear, and deep ones become less conspicuous.
Noted disadvantages of the procedure:
- high price;
- painful sensations;
- reddened skin.