Fractional Non-ablative Laser
Non-ablative fractional laser therapy is a safe and effective form of skin resurfacing and collagen stimulation that treats a number of textural skin imperfections.
Am I a suitable candidate?
This laser-based therapy can be used on all skin tones to treat a number of conditions on the face and body such as:
- Fine lines and wrinkles of the face, neck and chest
- Acne scars
- Traumatic scars - such as those which are present after a laceration of puncture
- Surgical scars
- Stretch marks
- Overall poor skin texture
How does it work?
The Icon 1540 by Palomar uses an array of hundreds of high precision microbeams to create narrow columns of tissue coagulation in the skin (both epidermis and dermis). Coagulated collagen and dead skin cells are expelled as skin is resurfaced as the body's natural healing process is initiated, resulting in new healthy tissue and collagen formation. The Icon 1540 is non-ablative, which means that it penetrates well below the epidermis and into the dermis in the treatment zones without compromising the integrity of the top layer of skin; this results in accelerated healing and thus less downtime after a treatment compared to ablative procedures.
What does the procedure involve?
Depending on the severity of the condition being treated and the desired outcome, 3 to 5 treatments are usually required. Some patients may wish to have three full face treatments and then have additional procedures that target only problem regions. During the treatment, you may experience a sensation of pins and needles, however numbing is applied prior to treatment to minimize this, as well as ice applied immediately after to relieve any lingering heat. Sunblock and proper home care are required after the treatment, particularly during the initial healing phase that can last 2-7 days, and then is recommended on an on-going basis to protect the newly rejuvenated tissue.