call Cardiff/Bristol 029 2009 0809 or Manchester/Chester 0161 850 5060 or email us at info@dermaskin.co.uk

Advanced Facial Aesthetics
by Professional Doctors

Fractionated CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing

We are specialists in safe non-surgical treatments to enhance your natural beauty. All the treatments offered are carried out by professionals trained specifically in the procedures offered.

What is Laser Resurfacing and how does it work

The term LASER originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. In other words a Laser is a device that emits a high energy beam of light of any spectrum (visible, infra-red, UV etc). The use of lasers for medical procedures developed in the 1960s as cutting tools but since then has developed a wide range of uses from skin treatments & hair removal to vision correction.

Skin Resurfacing Lasers are known technically as “selective photothermolysis” lasers. This is due to the fact that they have been designed to “selectively” target the skin by using light (photo) to damage the skin through heat (thermolysis). The light heats the water held within the skin causing the water and tissue to turn to vapour.

There are 2 types of Skin Resurfacing Laser; Ablative and Non-Ablative.

Ablative Lasers use this method of vapourising the water and tissue to remove the outermost layers of skin in a precise and controlled manner. The skin will heal over a period of time, resulting in the production if new layers of collagen. Once healed there will be a vast improvement in the appearance of the skin with a reduction in pigment from sun damage, lines and wrinkles. There are 2 main types of ablative laser – carbon dioxide and erbium:YAG.

Laser skin resurfacing

Fractionated CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing

Non-Ablative Lasers have a lower energy level than their ablative counterpart and aim to cause damage within the dermal part of the skin leaving the outer layers intact. This reduces the recovery time post-operatively but gives a more conservative result in terms of the improvement of lines and wrinkles. The types of non-ablative laser used in practice are more commonly Intense Pulsed Light, Light Emitting Diode and Light Heat Energy.

What is Fractionated Laser Resurfacing

This is the adapted use of the conventional Ablative Laser resulting in “Fractional Photothermolysis”.  Instead of targeting the whole top layer of skin the fractionated Laser targets smaller spaced areas leaving undamaged skin in between. This causes a much reduced amount of damage allowing the skin to heal much quicker than if the area was fully ablated. Though this technique can be applied to a non-ablative laser again its efficacy is far inferior to the fractionated ablative laser .

What type of Laser Resurfacing do you offer

We offer Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing or Fractionated CO2 Ablative Photothermolysis treatment.

What can Laser Resurfacing be used to treat

Primarily it rejuvenates by promoting the skin to increase its cellular turnover and lay down new collagen. It is mainly used to reduces and remove fine lines, refine the texture of scarred and pitted skin, reduce age spots & blemishes and help to repair sun damage on the face, neck, shoulders and hands.

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