WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING TREATMENTS?
We request that patients apply a numbing cream prior to each treatment. Once the skin has been anesthetized, the numbing cream is removed and the treatment begins. During the 20 minute treatment, patients will express feeling a slight heat sensation or stinging. This warm feeling will persist for another 1-2 hours.
HOW LONG IS RECOVERY TIME FROM FRACTIONAL LASER RESURFACING?
The 1540 laser is far less invasive than most ablative lasers. You may experience swelling and redness for a few days following the treatment, but treatments are gentle and don’t require a lot of downtime.
WHAT DOES FRACTIONAL LASER RESURFACING TREAT?
The CynoSure 1540 laser treats acne scars, surgical scars, age spots, melasma, fine lines and wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. Contact Illuminate to see if fractional laser resurfacing is appropriate for your skin condition.
HOW SOON WILL I SEE RESULTS?
Our medical staff often recommends that this treatment be performed in a series. The results of each treatment are compounding. To maximize your results, we recommend that you space your treatments four weeks apart with full results seen 3-4 months after the last session.
HOW MUCH DOES FRACTIONAL LASER RESURFACING COST?
Your cost for Cynosure fractional laser resurfacing will vary depending on the size of the area and number of treatments needed. Many of our patients enjoy the convenience of monthly payments with CareCredit and Alphaeon. Many of our patients will choose to apply for credit cards with longer terms at 0% interest.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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WHICH IS BETTER ABLATIVE OR NON-ABLATIVE LASER RESURFACING?
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While both ablative and non-ablative lasers are effective, they are drastically different from each other. As you can imagine, ablative lasers that remove a layer of skin are far more invasive. These lasers are best for treating more severe aging symptoms such as deep lines and wrinkles, pitted acne scars and severe discoloration. They often require a form of local anesthesia to minimize pain and discomfort.
Non-ablative lasers such as fractional resurfacing are more effective in treating earlier signs of aging such as fine lines, mild wrinkling, new pigmentation and even stretchmarks. This form of resurfacing is not very painful and generally involves much less downtime.
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HOW SHOULD I CARE FOR MY SKIN AFTER FRACTIONAL RESURFACING?
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In the first 3-4 days following treatment, the skin will have a rough, sandpapery texture. We recommend using gentle cleansers, moisturizer, and sunscreen during this time. After one week, it is safe to exfoliate the skin. Many patients choose to undergo a HydraFacial treatment at this time to remove excess debris from the laser treatment.
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IS FRACTIONAL RESURFACING SAFE ON ALL SKIN COLORS?
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Fractional resurfacing can be used safely on all skin types. Darker skin types require more precautionary measures and expertise. Our Nurse Practitioner Molly specializes in the treatment of ethnic skin and is an excellent resource for patients with skin of color.
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ARE FRACTIONAL RESURFACING TREATMENTS PAINFUL?
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Patients tolerate the procedure very well with little to no discomfort.
