Laser Resurfacing

Our CO2 fractional laser system, the UltraPulse®, represents a major advance in laser technology. It delivers a pattern of thousands of tiny, instantaneous laser pulses to the skin. Each pulse heats a column of tissue, eliminating pigment discolorations at the surface -- creating a zone of heating deep in the tissue to vaporize aging collagen -- and heating even deeper layers, stimulating new collagen growth to remodel and rejuvenate the skin.

Each of these tiny pulses leaves the surrounding tissue intact to form bridges of healthy skin. This technique -- sometimes called "bridge therapy" -- achieves remarkable results in a single, long-lasting treatment with minimal downtime. Furthermore, we can precisely control the configuration of the pulses, as well as their depth, placement and intensity -- which allows us to offer light, moderate or deep laser resurfacing treatments for a variety of circumstances.

The precision of laser resurfacing allows us to tailor treatment to your individual needs; whether a particular treatment is appropriate for you will depend upon the needs of your skin and lifestyle. Some patients choose deeper resurfacing for its maximum effect, while others require only light resurfacing or desire a faster recovery.

The options available are:

ActiveFX
ActiveFX is a fractional laser procedure performed in a single treatment with minimal patient downtime. ActiveFX provides immediate collagen contraction, noticeably improves skin texture and tone, reduces uneven pigmentation and sun damage, and stimulates new collagen formation. It's especially useful when skin shows moderate signs of aging and exposure to the elements, and is effective in treating fine lines and moderate wrinkles, loose eyelid skin and crow's feet, pucker marks and frown lines, brown spots, splotchy skin tone, and acne scars.

This technique operates much more rapidly than traditional laser resurfacing; yet it provides optimal results in many situations. Results can be seen after only one session, and improvement can continue for up to 6 months as collagen formation continues over time.

There is little to no pain associated with the procedure – most patients say they feel warmth similar to sunburn; the treated skin will begin to flake off within 2 days, and most remaining pinkness will be gone in about a week. ActiveFX patients are generally able to conduct business in 24 hours and return to the public eye in 4 – 6 days.

DeepFX
The DeepFX procedure uses fractional CO2 laser microbeams to target the deeper dermal layers of the skin with even greater precision. This stimulates a cascade of healing responses that leads to tissue regeneration and new collagen formation. Each laser pulse removes a narrow column of tissue and the deep heating causes immediate collagen contraction and long-term collagen remodeling. DeepFX is particularly effective in treating moderate to deep wrinkles, deeper acne scars (including those caused by cystic acne); it can improve skin texture and tighten the skin in more serious instances of laxity, and in some situations involving loose skin around the neck and jowls.

Local anesthesia may be used during the procedure. Immediately following treatment, the skin will feel warm and will be similar in appearance to a deep sunburn. As the skin heals, it will begin to flake off and the improvement in the skin's appearance will begin to appear. Downtime is typically 3-5 days, although healing can take longer for some people.

TotalFX
TotalFX a combined procedure that targets features closer to the skin surface while penetrating more deeply to target more severe problem areas with extreme precision.

Laser resurfacing vs. IPL
Skin resurfacing with the UltraPulse® CO2 laser may be the most effective treatment for those with skin marked by fine lines, shallow and deep wrinkles, and inconsistent coloring. However, this type of resurfacing actually removes the very thin, outermost layer of the skin, not unlike surgery. Patients require careful follow-up care for healing, and most must allow some time for initial swelling and redness to dissipate. For patients who have the option of taking this time, effort and expense, the result can be satisfying and quite dramatic.

Another approach for some patients, frustrated with more superficial signs of aging — including early changes in skin tone and texture — is Intense Pulsed Light. This procedure does not remove any outer layers of skin, and as a result there is no recovery time. Patients simply seeking a "refreshed" complexion