What Is Fractional Laser?

Fractional laser is a type of cosmetic laser treatment used to tighten the skin and stimulate collagen production in the middle layer of the skin. This stimulation leads to a wide range of benefits, including skin rejuvenation, tightening, treating pigmentation, and more.

The Fractional Laser technique works by creating tiny thermal micro-injuries at a specific depth in the skin. These microthermal zones trigger the skin's natural healing response, stimulating it to rebuild and regenerate without the need for numerous sessions or extended recovery periods. Typically, 3 to 5 sessions are sufficient to achieve the desired results, with 4 to 6 weeks between each session.

The positive effects of fractional laser continue to improve even after the last session, due to its long-term impact on collagen regeneration. For this reason, patients often don't need to worry about when the results will appear—improvement is gradual and ongoing.

How Is Fractional Laser Treatment Performed?

• Before the session, a topical anesthetic cream is applied to the face to minimize discomfort.
• The doctor then passes the laser device over the targeted treatment areas. The depth and intensity of the laser are adjusted based on the condition being treated and the patient's skin type and color.
• The laser beams penetrate both the outer and middle layers of the skin, activating the cells in the middle layer, which divide, regenerate, and produce collagen. This process improves skin elasticity, strength, and radiance, resulting in new, healthier skin.
• A single session usually takes about 15 minutes. Doctors generally prefer to keep sessions short to avoid excessive heating of surrounding tissue, which could lead to swelling or burns.
• After the session, the patient applies doctor-prescribed creams to soothe the skin and reduce redness.
• Most patients can resume normal activities the same day as the treatment.

Benefits of Fractional Laser for the Skin

• Reduces acne scars that remain after acne has been treated, which often can't be removed by other means.
• Treats scars and pits caused by injuries, surgeries, or past cosmetic procedures.
• Corrects drooping eyelids.
• Exfoliates the face, removing dead skin cells and replacing them with a fresh, glowing layer of skin.
• Reduces hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, and dark spots caused by sunlight or aging.
• Helps treat melasma (pregnancy mask) by targeting pigment changes that occur during pregnancy and cause dark patches on the face.
• Minimizes the effects of sunburn, especially moderate to severe cases that are difficult to treat by other methods and may leave lasting marks without laser intervention.
• Treats chickenpox scars.
• Heals injury-related scars.

Fractional laser is a highly effective, non-invasive treatment that offers noticeable improvements in skin texture, tone, and firmness with minimal downtime.