Fractional co2 laser is a commonly used instrument in clinical cosmetic medicine. In addition to treating acne scars, burn scars, and trauma scars, it also has a good effect on facial rejuvenation, freckle removal, skin beautification, pore shrinkage, and stretch marks.
In the communication with the beauty seekers, most people do not have a clear understanding and knowledge of fractional co2 laser. Here is a brief introduction to some basic knowledge about fractional laser.
Fractional co2 laser is a relatively new medical optical skin beauty method. It changes the light emission mode and is a minimally invasive treatment between invasive and non-invasive.
The principle is to use laser to evenly make tiny holes on the skin, which can directly penetrate into the dermis and form three areas of thermal exfoliation, thermal coagulation and thermal effect in the skin layer;Thereby starting a series of skin reactions such as tissue repair, stimulating skin collagen regeneration, collagen rearrangement, etc., so as to achieve the purpose of skin reconstruction.
The fractional co2 laser only irradiates a small part of the skin, and produces a tiny three-dimensional columnar thermal damage zone in the tissue, which is called “microscopic thermal damage zone” (MTZ, Microscopic Thermal Zone).
The surrounding tissue remains intact, and rapid repair is achieved through the migration and growth of surrounding active cells.
The fractional co2 laser can emit a 50μm-80μm focal spot through a high-focusing mirror, and scan these focal spots into up to 6 rectangular shapes;
Circle, square, rectangle, diamond, triangle, and line are suitable for operations on different parts and different skin types.
When it comes to choosing the best fractional co2 laser machine, there are several widely recognized devices on the market, among which the fractional co2 laser machine from NUBWAY is one of the better fractional co2 laser machines on the market.
2.Fractional co2 laser classification
· Non-Ablative Fractional Resurfacing
· Ablative Fractional Resurfacing
Fractional co2 lasers are divided into two categories: non-ablative fractional lasers and ablative fractional lasers; compared with the corresponding traditional lasers, their action modes are shown in the figure below.
The former mainly forms thermal coagulation, does not produce vaporization holes, and has less tissue damage and faster recovery;
The latter has a longer healing time because the entire epidermis and part of the dermis need to be vaporized during the treatment process; the comparison is shown in the figure below:
Non-Ablative：
Features：The action level is shallow, the epidermis is not peeled, and the damage is less
Common wavelengths：1550nm 1540nm 1565nm
Applicable range：Large pores, mild acne scars, mild fine lines
Recovery period：Slight scabbing and short recovery time
Ablative：
Features：Gasification and exfoliation of the epidermis, deep in the skin
Common wavelengths：2940nm 10600nm
Applicable range：Large pores, slight fine lines and various acne scars, especially deeper acne pits, hypertrophic scars, keloids, etc.
Recovery period：Obvious scab and longer recovery time
3.Who is suitable for dot-matrix laser?
Fractional co2 laser treatment has a wide range of applications and is suitable for all age groups and skin types;
Such as: acne scars (acne pits, acne marks), repair of superficial scars, enlarged pores, dull skin tone, fine facial wrinkles, stretch marks, facial rejuvenation, moles, flat warts, common warts and various skin growths, etc.
4.What symptoms can fractional co2 laser treat?
Fractional co2 laser acne scar removal:
Fractal co2 laser has a clear effect on improving acne scars. As for whether it can be completely removed, it depends on the individual skin condition and the severity of the acne scars. It will have an effect once it is done.
Depending on the severity of the acne scars, it usually takes 3 to 5 times.
The interval between each treatment depends on which type of fractionalco2 laser you are doing:
The recommended interval for ablative fractional co2 laser treatment is 3 to 6 months, because it takes about 3 to 6 months for the collagen inside the skin to regenerate;
The interval for non-ablative fractional co2 laser treatment is shorter. But you still need to follow the doctor’s advice. The interval varies according to individual conditions.
Fractional co2 laser facial rejuvenation:
If you have sagging skin, wrinkles, scars, large pores, age spots, and various moles, fractional co2 laser can be said to be the most cost-effective medical beauty project.
If combined with PRP to improve the texture of facial skin, it can be icing on the cake.
Fractional co2 laser treatment of acne scars:
Related studies have shown that the use of non-ablative fractional co2 lasers for scar patients has shown a significant improvement trend in skin lesions, and patients only experience slight pain after surgery, and have a high degree of satisfaction after surgery.
5.How long does fractional co2 laser treatment last?
Since there is intact skin between the pores, the skin recovers quickly and normal life will not be affected after treatment. The punctate scabs will naturally fall off after 5-7 days;
Therefore, fractional co2 laser not only has the rapid and significant effects of invasive treatment, but also has the advantages of non-invasive treatment with less side effects and short recovery time.
Cycle: Treatment once every two and a half months to three months, 3-5 times as a course of treatment.
Fractional co2 laser skin resurfacing, which is performed using local anesthesia with light sedation, typically lasts for about 20 to 30 minutes.
Regarding the healing process after fractional co2 laser treatment, patients can expect:
Light crusting for 2 to 3 days
Healing and return to normal activities within 3 to 7 days
The ability to resume wearing makeup after about a week
Redness to diminish within 1 to 3 weeks
Despite being in the recovery stage, the skin will already feel smoother and show fewer lines, less blotchiness, and a more radiant glow. It’s important to note that the co2 laser can be tailored to the individual needs of each patient. More advanced cases of skin aging and sun damage may require deeper treatments, resulting in longer healing and downtime, while less advanced cases may require more conservative treatments with shorter healing times.
As for the visibility of results, while patients may notice improvements in skin texture and tone within the first week, the final results of laser skin resurfacing will become apparent after approximately 3 months.
6.People who are not suitable for fractional co2 laser
Unsuitable groups include:
1. Women during menstruation, pregnancy, and breastfeeding are not suitable for fractional laser treatment;
2. People with epilepsy, solar rash and other diseases;
3. People who have been exposed to the sun recently and plan to take a vacation in the sun;
4. People with unrealistic expectations;
5. People with inflammation or infection in the treatment area are not suitable for treatment.
7.What should we do if hyperpigmentation occurs after fractional co2 laser treatment?
Possible reasons for hyperpigmentation after fractional laser treatment include:
1. Different types of fractional co2 lasers have different efficacy and side effects. Ablative fractional lasers are more likely to cause pigmentation than non-ablative fractional lasers;
2. Poor skin condition before surgery;
3. Excessive sun exposure recently;
4. Dark skin color;
5. Sensitive and dry skin;
6. Use of irritating products before surgery, etc.
If pigmentation occurs after fractional co2 laser treatment, further skin care is needed to help recovery, such as using a hydrating and moisturizing mask to increase the water content of the skin, daily sun protection, eating more fresh fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C, and taking vitamin C and vitamin E drugs orally to promote melanin metabolism. Generally, it will disappear within 3-6 months. In fact, the selection of fractional laser type and the setting of intraoperative parameters are key factors affecting the treatment effect. After the fractional co2 laser treatment, regular check-ups are necessary. Let us work with the doctor to help the skin recover smoothly!
