Another advantage of Fractional Laser Resurfacing is that the treatment is performed in doctors’ roo ms with a topical anaesthetic cream and thus does not require a general anaesthetic! The treatment takes approximately 30 minutes and has an excellent safety profile.
Fractional Laser Resurfacing treats a small “fraction” of the skin, leaving intact, undamaged skin around each treated area to act as a barrier and a reservoir for rapid healing. Fractional Laser Resurfacing is done with a Fraxel™ Laser, which passes through the dry outer layer of skin and wounds the underlying collagen. Nearby undamaged cells then immediately mobilise to heal the wounded area. However, no visible wound is created, and so no wound care is required. The skin may appear bronzed and red for a day or so but makeup can be applied immediately. The Fraxel™ Laser is FDA approved for the treatment of facial wrinkles, age spots, and sun spots, but also for skin on which resurfacing would.
“Fraxel is a unique treatment for two reasons; firstly its’predictability – almost everybody sees improvement in skin-texture and elasticity, and secondly it is simply the safest and most effective treatment for “off the face”-indications such as neck, chest and hands.” Dr Ean Smit, Dermatologist Cape Town
“Fraxel™ is perhaps the best laser innovation for some years. It has been shown to be the best treatment for acne scarring and helps to build up depressed scars. And it usually helps wrinkles if they are not severe enough to require a facelift. It is also a great treatment for perioral rhytides, which cannot be treated by plastic surgery and there is no risk of hypopigmentation usually seen with deep peels. It usually helps melasma but we select only patients over 35 with no intention of further pregnancies. It often reduces other types of pigmentation as well, such as Becker’s naevus and café-au-lait patches and also reduces post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation when the cause of the problem is no longer active. With patience and perseverance, it even improves stretch marks.” Dr. David Presbury, Dermatologist Laserderm Morningside
”Incorporating Fraxel™ into my plastic surgery practice has significantly improved the aesthetic outcome of my patients, especially when used with the non-invasive radio frequency treatment Thermage™.” Dr. Vernon Ching, Plastic Surgeon Linksfield
“The new generation Fraxel™ is definitely the most innovative scientific advancement in non-surgical, skin laser resurfacing. This laser can be programmed to focus on the target areas of skin, in keeping with peer reviewed, published, academic principles of skin science. The skin re-modeling occurs without noticeable side effects and tissue reactions. It is definitely the gold standard in achieving optimum results from a minimal downtime procedure. Most of our clients are back to work in 24 hours. Fraxel™ resurfacing is an essential office procedure to any facility offering excellence in dermatology, plastic surgery and skin care.” Dr. Dylan Naidoo, Dermatologist Durban
“This is a fantastic, non-invasive, “no downtime” way to achieve skin resurfacing, and is ideal for the South African women aged 40-65 years with some sun damaged skin too”. Prof. Don Hudson, Plastic Surgeon Claremont
“At last a reliable tool for the treatment of hitherto ‘no go’ areas and difficult skin types.” Dr. Saul Braun, Plastic Surgeon Rosebank
“[Fraxel™ is] patient friendly with amazing results even on darker skin types.” Dr. Sian Hartshorne, Dermatologist Laserderm Dunkeld
“My patients were very happy with the results of their [Fraxel™] treatments and felt that the outcome was similar to pictures seen on the internet and in magazines. It reality did not disappoint. Although the treatments can be painful, I have not had anyone cancel as a result of this. On the contrary, many said they would like to extend the treatment to other areas.” Dr. Vivianne Jaques, Dermatologist Melrose
“Fraxel™ is an effective, safe laser that gives patients glowing new skin with minimal downtime. Because the depth of the laser can be set, it can be based to treat more superficial conditions such as skin pigmentation or deeper problems such as acne, scarring and wrinkles. Patient satisfaction is overall high.” Dr. Judith Budavari, Dermatologist Hyde Park
“We have had excellent results treating pitted acne scarring in Type 4/5 skin, 60 to 70 percent improvement with no downtime and no post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This has become my favourite indication and the patients are thrilled with it.” Dr Sya Beaton, Dermatologist Durban
