In youth, the skin of the face appears smooth, fresh and toned, despite the well-being and lack of aesthetic care. Over the years, its appearance gradually changes: first a pleasant color disappears and the first wrinkles appear, then varicose veins, age spots, deep folds. Any change indicates that the skin is aging. When regular face masks stop helping, more powerful procedures come to the rescue, one of them being laser facial rejuvenation.
The advantage of fractional photothermolysis (this is its second name) is complete safety and high efficiency in eliminating wrinkles and other defects. This procedure is a gentler alternative to surgery or injection surgery.
laser technology for skin rejuvenation
What are the causes of skin aging? There are several main reasons:
- weakening of metabolic processes;
- slow or incomplete waste disposal;
- deterioration of cell growth function;
- reduction of nutrient transfer to cells.
Of course, it is impossible to initiate the reverse process of cell rebirth, but there is the possibility of activating the activity of "sleeping" cells. For this, laser facial rejuvenation is used. After heat treatment, viable cells are activated and weak ones die completely, giving way to stronger samples. In a word, there is a renewal of the cellular composition of the skin.
The quality and speed of the recovery process depend on the diameter of the laser beam. Its thickness should be less than 200 microns. Fractional thermolysis has enhanced the effect of laser treatment: instead of a single beam, many micro-rays act on the surface of the skin, as if forming a grid. Local micro-thermal zones are innovations in the application of laser technology. They help not to touch the healthy areas of the skin, thus contributing to the speedy recovery.
Types of fractional laser rejuvenation
Rejuvenation and lifting occur through the use of two effective methods of exposure, which differ in some features of the use of the laser.
Ablative photothermolysis
Its main function is the evaporation of the upper cells of the epidermis. The superficial and visible microsites are removed, causing a lifting effect: the skin seems to stiffen. As a result, the first sign of aging disappears - a network of fine wrinkles.
Non-ablative photothermolysis
It acts on the deeper and lower layers of the dermis and epidermis, without affecting the uppermost area. In this way it is recommended to solve deep problems related to the irreversible process of skin aging. With the help of a laser beam, a new frame of the cell membrane is built, the metabolic process is activated, the production of collagen improves, as a result, the skin becomes younger from the inside.
Both methods are aimed at local treatment, that is, the surrounding skin areas are not affected - this is necessary for a quick and complete restoration of the skin. In fact, laser fractional facial rejuvenation can be called heat shock, which resumes the growth of healthy cells.
The combination of both methods - ablative and non-ablative - allows to obtain the maximum result thanks to the double impulse of well-being from the outside and from the inside. This technique is practiced in many modern clinics with laser equipment.
The course of the procedure and its results
The advantage of laser skin treatment is painlessness, which is an interesting factor for people with a great fear of pain. The procedure itself is divided into several stages.
- Superficial anesthesia, after which the patient does not feel pain, but only feels a slight tingling in the area to be treated. An anesthetic composition is applied immediately before the session.
- Conduct a session using a special apparatus, the action of which is based on the use of a fractional laser. The duration of the session is one hour, although the exact time depends on the number of areas treated.
- Apply a revitalizing cream to the skin.
- Expert advice for skin care.
It will take about a week for the skin to acquire a renewed appearance. This is a fairly short period of time compared to, for example, surgery.
In the first two days, the swelling will remain on the face, then it will be replaced by redness, after which the skin will begin to peel off - the dead cell process is released. They will be replaced by healthy and young cells, which will give the face a fresh and youthful look.
Indications for fractional photothermolysis
Most women, and some men are no exception, closely monitor themselves, so not only fractional facial rejuvenation has become popular, but laser photothermolysis of other parts of the body as well. Most often, patients ask if they need:
- restoration of the skin of the whole body or of some of its parts, especially the visible ones;
- removal of the capillary network and pigmentation;
- reduction of pores;
- removal of scars, stretch marks, scars;
- skin whitening;
- alignment or elimination of wrinkles on the face;
- rejuvenation of the skin of the hands, chest, neck;
- renewal of the skin texture, lifting.
Contraindications to the procedure
Each procedure in the salon has general and particular contraindications, laser facial skin treatment is no exception. Therefore, procedures using a fractional laser are prohibited for patients with any of the following diagnoses:
- lack of immunity, as a result - frequent infectious diseases;
- period of pregnancy, lactation;
- dermatosis in the area to be treated;
- keloid scars;
- oncological disease;
- chronic blood diseases, diabetes mellitus;
- herpes.
Also, laser rejuvenation should be postponed if you have been taking retinoids for six months before the session and if you have a fresh tan on your body.
There are a number of diseases in which the procedure is possible, but only after consulting a specialist, therefore, before the session, you should consult with your doctor. If, on the other hand, one or more contraindications are identified, it is advisable to wait a certain period until complete recovery or the beginning of a state in which the body is ready for laser exposure. The procedure itself is safe, but if there is a disease, it can provoke its further development.
If it is impossible to use a laser, you should choose other methods of eliminating the signs of skin aging, for example, injections of Botox or hyaluronic acid.