Women have always strived to look young and beautiful. Previously, hated wrinkles and pimples could only be veiled 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 rejuvenates and improves 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 unlike them, it is much less traumatic, and, after thermolysis, skin cells begin to actively, as in youth, produce collagen and elastin, that is, beneficial changes occur in several layers at once, and not 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. Hedeveloped in the USA and 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 to pass through it into the deeper layers of the skin without damaging the epidermis. There, the rays, the energy power of which is extremely high, evaporate the old cells of the dermis, collagen, elastin and pigments that have lost their functions. In this case, no more than 30% of the cells are destroyed, so the recovery stage after this procedure is very short.
So, after skin treatment with a carbon dioxide laser, which has been used in cosmetology for 40 years, rehabilitation can take up to 2 months, and after fractional thermolysis, it takes a maximum of a week. The remaining intact cells receive an impulse to produce new, actively working elastin and collagen, which creates a rejuvenating effect.
Types of lasers used
In everyday life, many people call a thin luminous beam a laser, but in fact it is an installation (quantum generator) that converts various types of energy into a narrow beam of radiation.
Fractional thermolysis is performed using erbium and thulium generators. The former uses an yttrium-aluminum garnet crystal interspersed with erbium ions. The wavelength of the energy flows or rays produced by them is only 1550 nm. In the second installations, an aluminum garnet crystal with thulium ions is used, which creates flows with a wave of 1920 nm. Erbium rays penetrate the dermis to a maximum depth of 1.4mm, thulium up to 2 mm.
In both cases, they act with high precision, affecting only that microscopically small area, which is directly directed. In these places, the 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, there is no overheating of neighboring tissues, and they remain absolutely intact.
Types of Fraxel exposure
Having come up with the revolutionary Fraxel installation, American specialists have 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 an erbium or only a thulium rod is involved, or two at once. The beautician uses them depending on the area being treated and the skin problem to be treated. Types of laser machines:
- "Fraxel re: store". This is a classic setup that uses an erbium rod. With its help, stretch marks, acne marks, hyperpigmentation, bags on the eyelids are removed in the best way.
- "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". A thulium rod is used here, which provides deeper penetration of the rays into the dermis. The method helps to correct even verydeep wrinkles and acne marks, vascular dyschromia, remove gaping pores, adjust the degree of oily skin.
- "Fraxel re: fine". In this installation, streams with a wavelength of only 1420 nm are generated. It is advisable to use them to influence especially delicate areas, such as the skin of the eyelids, mammary glands.
Indications for the procedure
Fractional thermolysis can be performed on people of any gender over the age of 18 if they have the following skin defects:
- scars and scars;
- wrinkles of different localization and depth;
- gaping pores, pronounced striae (stretch marks);
- pigmentation;
- lowered skin turgor (for example, there is no clear line of facial oval);
- flabbiness of the 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 décolleté.
Fractional thermolysis, contraindications
The procedure should not be performed on people who have such disorders and conditions:
- pregnancy;
- breastfeeding;
- mental disorders;
- epilepsy;
- diabetes mellitus;
- oncology of any localization;
- skin diseases localized at the sites of laser exposure (psoriasis, eczema, dermatosis);
- thyroid problems;
- autoimmune diseases;
- allergic to analgesics used during the procedure.
Execution technology
Some women are hesitant to do fractional thermolysis for fear of pain. Reviews of those who passed it, note that there may indeed be a slight burning sensation, but nothing more. Prior to the procedure, the beautician thoroughly cleanses the patient's skin and applies an analgesic cream with lidocaine. Usually they 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 a gel so that the device slides without obstacles. The procedure lasts up to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the treated areas.
Impact on the skin is carried out using nozzles with different contact areas. The beautician performs alternating light tangential movements in the horizontal and vertical directions.
For additional pain relief, chilled air is simultaneously supplied. Some women, in order to save money, do not use Emla cream, the application of which costs from 500 rubles. They note that the procedure was painful but bearable.
At the end of it, the face is covered with Bepanthen cream to reduce inflammation. To obtain a cooling effect, you can apply Bepanthen Plus cream.
Rehab
Almost every patient who has undergone fractional thermolysis, after the lidocaine wears off, feels pain on her face, as after a burn. The skin becomes very inflamed, hypertrophied, swelling of varying degrees is often noted. Atsome patients may have a fever and worsen the general condition. All these symptoms are observed in the first 24-48 hours, so thermolysis is recommended at the end of the working week on weekends.
At home, you need to rinse your face with cool water, lubricate with anti-inflammatory cream. It is very undesirable to apply decorative cosmetics over inflamed skin. 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 several fractional thermolysis procedures. You can repeat them at intervals 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 skin around the eyes with all sorts of defects, which is far from the best way to reflect on appearance. Fractional thermolysis of the eyelids is taken to correct these shortcomings. He is capable of:
- remove "crow's feet" (small wrinkles near the eyes);
- eliminate or visibly reduce overhanging upper eyelids;
- around the eyes rejuvenate and firm the skin;
- make the look open and clear.
Before the procedure, the beautician must put protective lenses in the patient's eyes. All other actions are performed in the same way as fraxel for other skin areas. The laser is used only with an erbium rod and with a wavelength of maximum1420 nm. Usually, to achieve a good effect, several procedures are required, which are carried out on the eyelids with an interval of one and a half (possibly two) months.
Some useful tips
Sufficiently safe, but not cheap procedure is fractional thermolysis. The price may vary depending on the price of the clinic, the area of the laser exposure area, the purchase cost of materials and other things. On average, 1 session of thermolysis for the face, neck, abdomen, decollete costs 20,000 rubles each zone. Fraxel for eyelids can cost from 12,000 rubles. Each clinic has its own price list for different treatment areas (whole face, cheeks only, eyelids only, abdomen, arms, buttocks, etc.).
Before the procedure, you can not visit the solarium or sunbathe in the open sun, drink alcohol. Six months before the Fraxel session, you need to stop taking retinoids "Isotretinoin", "Roaccutane" and others. Doctors recommend taking a course of preparations with collagen, hyaluronic acid, as well as antioxidants, and conducting biostimulating procedures for the face.
In order for the achieved effect to last longer, after fraxel, you need to avoid prolonged sun exposure and visits to the solarium, carry out supportive 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 advantagenoted by the respondents - a noticeable positive effect. After fraxel, the skin becomes tender, matte, toned, elastic. In addition, pigmentation, shallow post-acne, scars, fine wrinkles disappear completely, and deep ones become less conspicuous.
Noted flaws in the procedure:
- high price;
- pain;
- flushed skin.
