Plastic surgeons, cosmetic dermatologists, medical spas and patients will be hearing an increasing amount about fractional skin resurfacing technologies like ActiveFX, DeepFX, Starlux 1540, Starlux 2940, and 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.
Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacings Previous Technologies
Fraxel was the first non ablative fractional laser for the cosmetic medical market. From the beginning it's been upgraded and has been improved on by a number of other competing fractional laser skin resurfacing technologies including the DeepFX and ActiveFX from Lumenis, 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 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.
The revolutionary cosmetic medical advance in 1995, full face CO2 Laser Resurfacing to treat wrinkles using the Ultra pulse CO2 laser, now relates poorly when faced with the new fractional laser technologies and although the wrinkle removal results for the time were fantastic, CO2 laser resurfacing created a very traumatic "burn wound" that literally vaporized the top layers of the skin that took many months of recovery in addition to the need for general anesthesia and the extra problem of the skin turning white with hypo pigmentation as the pigment cells were destroyed. Because of the side effects, few patients choose this procedure.
The Newest Fractional Skin Resurfacing & Rejuvenation Technologies
Within the last few years, cosmetic Fractional Skin Rejuvenation or Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing has evolved and eliminated many of the existing technologies shortcomings. The erbium laser used in the newest Starlux is 'fractionated' into tiny micro-lasers, treating only a small portion of the skin (think tiny pin pricks) and leaving surrounding skin intact, greatly improving healing.
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.
Palomars Starlux Fractional Non-Ablative Laser Resurfacing
The Fraxel and Starlux 1540 are non-ablative lasers that don't actually vaporize or remove the skin. Instead, the laser instantly heats the skin, stimulating 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
Starlux 2940 fractional ablative lasers now provide the benefits of fractional treatments (less down time and reduced complications) with ablative skin resurfacings benefits (better wrinkle removal and facial rejuvenation) offering patients 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 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: CO2 fractional laser called Repair
Lumenis has released a CO2 fractional ablative laser called ActiveFX and DeepFx
Palomar: Starlux 2940 - Erbium fractional ablative skin resurfacing laser. - 15683
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.
Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacings Previous Technologies
Fraxel was the first non ablative fractional laser for the cosmetic medical market. From the beginning it's been upgraded and has been improved on by a number of other competing fractional laser skin resurfacing technologies including the DeepFX and ActiveFX from Lumenis, 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 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.
The revolutionary cosmetic medical advance in 1995, full face CO2 Laser Resurfacing to treat wrinkles using the Ultra pulse CO2 laser, now relates poorly when faced with the new fractional laser technologies and although the wrinkle removal results for the time were fantastic, CO2 laser resurfacing created a very traumatic "burn wound" that literally vaporized the top layers of the skin that took many months of recovery in addition to the need for general anesthesia and the extra problem of the skin turning white with hypo pigmentation as the pigment cells were destroyed. Because of the side effects, few patients choose this procedure.
The Newest Fractional Skin Resurfacing & Rejuvenation Technologies
Within the last few years, cosmetic Fractional Skin Rejuvenation or Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing has evolved and eliminated many of the existing technologies shortcomings. The erbium laser used in the newest Starlux is 'fractionated' into tiny micro-lasers, treating only a small portion of the skin (think tiny pin pricks) and leaving surrounding skin intact, greatly improving healing.
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.
Palomars Starlux Fractional Non-Ablative Laser Resurfacing
The Fraxel and Starlux 1540 are non-ablative lasers that don't actually vaporize or remove the skin. Instead, the laser instantly heats the skin, stimulating 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
Starlux 2940 fractional ablative lasers now provide the benefits of fractional treatments (less down time and reduced complications) with ablative skin resurfacings benefits (better wrinkle removal and facial rejuvenation) offering patients 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 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: CO2 fractional laser called Repair
Lumenis has released a CO2 fractional ablative laser called ActiveFX and DeepFx
Palomar: Starlux 2940 - Erbium fractional ablative skin resurfacing laser. - 15683
About the Author:
Medical Spa MD is a 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.