Services & Treatments

Laser Resurfacing

Fraxel and Sciton Lasers: Fractional Skin Resurfacing and Rejuvenation

Have you wanted to have smoother, more youthful skin, but were reluctant to go through painful or risky procedures? If so, then the new Fraxel and Sciton lasers may be a perfect fit for your skin. Many men and women benefit from removal of brown spots and fine to moderately deep lines, as well as overall improvement in skin tone and texture. The Fraxel and Sciton lasers, in a series of short 20-30 minute outpatient procedures, can achieve all of these goals.

SkinCare Physicians was one of the first practices in the world to use these exciting new technologies, and has been instrumental in refining and improving these novel procedures. One of the unique advantages of the Fraxel and Sciton lasers is the ability to treat the face as well as other areas of the body, including the neck, chest, arms, and hands. Until now, we were unable to reliably improve skin tone, color, and texture off the face, These lasers have been a tremendous breakthrough in this area. Now you can have beautiful skin virtually everywhere!

Fraxel

The Fraxel laser employs a unique concept, fractional resurfacing. Fractional resurfacing is just as it sounds, affecting only a small portion of the total surface (ranging anywhere from 15 to 25%) of the treated skin with any one treatment. It is used to improve overall skin color, tone and texture, and is especially useful for people who have brown discoloration from sun-induced freckling and who also wish to improve texture at the same time. The Fraxel laser is also one of the best treatment options available for acne scarring.

Patients require between four to six treatments to attain desired results. Treatments are performed no more often than once every 7-10 days, but in most cases they are done 4 to 6 weeks apart. After arriving for the procedure, a topical anesthetic gel is applied to the treatment area and allowed to sit for an hour. After the topical anesthesia has had time to work, a blue dye is applied to the treatment area. More anesthetic gel is then applied, and the laser treatment is performed.

In addition to the anesthetic gel, we also use a device called the Zimmer Cooler (a hand-held cool air device), which chills the skin and makes the procedure even more comfortable.

After the procedure, the blue dye is washed off. There may be some slight stinging of the skin for about one hour following the procedure. Ice can be applied to reduce any discomfort. There is some redness and swelling following the procedure, which lasts an average of two to four days, and can be covered with makeup within a day or two. The entire visit lasts about 2 hours.

Sciton

The Sciton laser is a revolutionary new device that allows your physician to gently wipe away layers of damaged, photoaged skin. The Sciton laser works in one of two modes. One is similar to the Fraxel described above, utilizing fractional resurfacing. The other mode treats 100% of the target area, although less deep than the fractional devices, and is called the MicroLaser Peel. The advantage of 100% coverage is that we can eliminate many superficial aging changes in fewer treatments (most patients need 2 to 4). The breakthrough with the MicroLaser Peel is that we are now able to use powerful laser resurfacing technology to literally remove sundamaged skin one thin layer at a time.

The Sciton laser treatment takes about 30 minutes, and is preceded by one hour of topical anesthetic to make the procedure more comfortable. Following the procedure, your skin will be red, and you may experience a slight burning sensation. This usually improves rapidly with the application of Aquaphor ointment and/or ice. Mild redness continues for 3 to 5 days, and is often accompanied by peeling of the skin on days 3 and 4. Makeup can usually be applied 4 to 7 days after the procedure.

One of the most interesting features of the Sciton laser is that your physician is able to adjust the depth of skin s/he wants to treat on any given day. Your treatment is literally custom fit to your skin. The deeper the treatment you have, the longer the healing period. So it is possible to have a Sciton laser treatment that heals in as few as 3 days, or as long as a week. Depending on the amount of sun damage you have, and the amount of time you are willing to devote to healing, your doctor will help you pick a treatment strategy that is right for you.

Our patients have been thrilled with results using the Fraxel and Sciton lasers. For the first time ever we are able to significantly improve skin tone, texture, wrinkles, and color with easy, comfortable, minimal downtime procedures. The Fraxel and Sciton lasers represent a dramatic improvement in laser technology, and we are delighted to be able to offer them to our patients.

Carbon Dioxide and Erbium:YAG Laser Skin Resurfacing

Developed in the early 1990's and perfected over the past few years, laser skin resurfacing has revolutionized the treatment of aging skin and scars. Members of our Center are international experts and have pioneered and developed the newer C02 and Erbium:YAG lasers which are used to treat facial wrinkles around the mouth and the eyes, and on the forehead and cheeks. Before the arrival of laser skin resurfacing, only facelifts and deep chemical peels were available to rejuvenate aged skin. Laser skin resurfacing not only removes wrinkles, some creases, age spots, and skin discoloration, but also tightens sagging skin thus eliminating the need for a facelift for many individuals. These lasers are also effective at resurfacing scars and other textural irregularities. They allow gentle, layer by layer removal of the skin. All wrinkles, from fine to deep lines, improve with laser skin resurfacing, as do unsightly creases and wrinkles. Scars that have the most favorable response to this technique are sharply defined and shallow. In expert hands, laser skin resurfacing produces outstanding results. Performed on an outpatient basis, the procedure may take between 30 minutes and two hours, depending on the extent of the treatment.

Before the Procedure

During your initial consultation, we will evaluate your skin to determine if this is the best treatment for you. The procedure will be explained in detail. Your medical history will be reviewed, including information about any allergies or medications you may be taking. You may be given prescriptions for antibacterial and antiviral medications to be taken around the time of the procedure.

The Procedure

Photographs will be taken of the area to be treated. If a localized area is being resurfaced, local anesthetic will be injected at the treatment site. If you are having full face resurfacing you will likely be receiving intravenous sedation ('Twilight Sleep') which will be administered by an anesthesiologist. Your physician will use either the C02, the Erbium, or both lasers to remove layers of skin containing wrinkles or scars. Dressings will be applied afterward, and you will be given detailed instructions on the after care. An escort should accompany you to the procedure to drive you home.

Post-Operative Care

A special dressing applied immediately after surgery is left on for three days. This decreases discomfort and speeds healing. On the third day after surgery, the dressing is removed and for the next several days you will be asked to wash the area every few hours with a gentle cleanser (unscented Dove, Basis, or Purpose) and apply Aquaphor Healing Ointment® frequently to keep the area moist. Swelling will be gone within several days and new skin will have completely re-grown. The pink color usually fades within four to six weeks, although it may persist for up to three months. Skin care products and makeup, other than those suggested by our staff, should not be used until the treated area is completely healed. Sun protection is important during the immediate post-operative period.

We will follow you with regular appointments for the first two weeks after the procedure, and less often until six months to one year following treatment.

What to Expect

In the skilled hands of the Center's laser surgeons, laser skin resurfacing produces superb results. Scars, wrinkles, and age spots improve or disappear as the healing process evolves. Skin color and texture improve over the first six to 12 weeks, and your skin appears more smooth and healthy than it has in years. Although not quite Ponce de Leon's fountain of youth, laser resurfacing can erase years of aging and sun damage.