Fine Lines & Wrinkles: Typical Treatments
Improving Tone and Texture in a Single Treatment
Laser Skin Resurfacing
The goal of laser skin resurfacing is simple: replace damaged skin with new, fresh skin. Techniques for skin resurfacing have made enormous advances, allowing nearly everyone to achieve close to flawless complexions. Many systems allow for light, moderate or deep laser resurfacing. The primary targets of laser skin resurfacing include:
- Fine lines and wrinkles of the face, especially around the upper lip, cheeks and forehead
- Loose eyelid skin
- Crow's feet around the eyes
- Pucker marks (smoker's lines) and frown lines
- Brown spots and splotchy, uneven skin tone
- Scars, especially acne scars
- Loose skin around the neck and jowls
How it Works
The gold standard of laser resurfacing systems, the UltraPulse® CO2 laser delivers thousands of tiny laser pulses in a pattern over the skin. Each pulse heats a column of tissue eliminating pigment discolorations at the surface and creating a zone of heating deep in the tissue. Unique to the UltraPulse Encore, these zones of heating shrink collagen immediately*. The CO2 laser also offers the benefits of heating deeper layers of skin tissue, thereby stimulating collagen remodeling the skin further. Patients can select from a range of treatments depending on the needs of your skin and lifestyle.
What is ActiveFX “fractional” laser resurfacing?
ActiveFX is a fractional laser procedure performed in a single treatment with minimal patient downtime. During the procedure, a high-energy beam of laser light is used to smooth out lines, wrinkles and scars, remove brown spots and other irregularities. It also stimulates formation of new underlying collagen to continue improvement over time. With fractional laser treatment, only a fraction of the skin’s surface is treated by the laser, leaving small “bridges” of untouched skin. This technique makes the healing process much faster and enables you to get back to normal activities sooner.Download the informational ActiveFX/DeepFX brochure [pdf].
What is DeepFX?
DeepFX is a revolutionary fractional laser technology for aged, sun-damaged or scarred skin. The low-downtime procedure uses fractional CO2 laser microbeams to precisely target the deep dermal layers of the skin. This stimulates a cascade of healing responses that leads to tissue regeneration and new collagen formation throughout the entire treatment area. And because only a fraction of the skin is actually touched by the laser, healing time can be limited to just a few days.Download the informational ActiveFX/DeepFX brochure [pdf].
Is ActiveFX or DeepFX right for you?
ActiveFX or DeepFX is ideal for you if you:
- Have a busy lifestyle or cannot be away from work for a long time
- Want noticeable results with minimal downtime
- Want to treat dyschromia, fine lines, wrinkles and skin laxity*
- Want to reduce the appearance of scars, deep lines, and folds
What you can expect from ActiveFX or DeepFX
Most physicians perform the procedure in the office with a topical anesthetic cream that is applied 30-40 minutes before the ActiveFX or DeepFX procedure begins. There is little to no pain associated with the procedure – most patients say they feel warmth similar to sunburn. You can drive yourself home after the procedure. With a gentle washing and moisturizing regimen, your photodamaged skin will begin to flake off within 2 days. After about 3-5 days, your doctor will probably let you wear make-up. Pinkness should be gone in about a week.
ActiveFX and DeepFX benefits
ActiveFX treatment produces a dramatic effect on the skin:
- Reduces wrinkles and fine lines, and softens deeper frown lines
- Noticeably improves skin tone and texture
- Stimulates new collagen formation and plumps the skin
DeepFX is a revolutionary fractional laser technology for aged, sun-damaged or scarred skin. The low-downtime procedure uses fractional CO2 laser microbeams to precisely target the deep dermal layers of the skin. This stimulates a cascade of healing responses that leads to tissue regeneration and new collagen formation throughout the entire treatment area. And because only a fraction of the skin is actually touched by the laser, healing time can be limited to just a few days.
DeepFX treatment produces a dramatic effect on the skin:
- Improves wrinkles, scars and folds
- Noticeably improves skin tone and texture
- Stimulates new collagen formation and plumps the skin**
The results of ActiveFX of DeepFX laser treatment are long-term and, with proper sun protection, can persist for many years. Most effects of treatment become visible right away, whereas others – such as new collagen formation – build up gradually and become more evident over time. Therefore, most people look even better 3-5 months after the procedure.
View a video of the procedure: * D. Railan, Skilmer Ablative treatment of photoaging 2005 Dermatol Therapy 18:227241** Ross E, McKinlay J, Anderson R. Why Does Carbon Dioxide Laser Resurfacing Work?
Archives of Dermatology, 135:444-454, 1999.