There are many people interested in eliminating different skin issues such as burn scars, acne scars, surgical scars, fine lines, and dullness. Imagine being able to decrease or eliminate your scars to reveal a new layer of healthy, glowing skin. Scar revision is now possible with two different treatments available at PFRANKMD™. These are micropigmentation and Fraxel®. Both of these treatments have become extremely popular for individuals concerned with scarring. This is especially true when the scars are located on the face. No matter what type of scarring you have, these treatments offer scar revision techniques to help bring the smoothness back to your skin. The majority of individuals experiencing these techniques have been satisfied with their results.
Scarring is caused by a chaotic response to healing from different types of wounds, incisions, and acne. The irregular formation of your collagen leaves fibrotic tissue behind resulting in scarring. There are a wide variety of scars such as hypertrophic, keloid, atrophic, and contracture. The best therapy for scar revision is dependant on the type of scar. Fraxel® is beneficial for small, mild, moderate, large, severe and traumatic scarring. Fraxel® scar revision is an extremely effective procedure for improving a wide range of scars, improving functional aspects, pigmentation and the texture of the skin. If you have certain types of surgical or acne scarring, Fraxel® is effective for decreasing both the vascular effect and pigmentation.
Scars resulting from traumatic injuries and burns are much more complicated. This type of scarring often has a negative impact on the individual’s quality of life. This can be due to disfigurement, bleeding, restrictions of the range of motion, pain, and itching. Fraxel® laser treatment has been shown to treat this type of scarring effectively. The result of scar revision is a significant and consistent improvement in function as well as noticeable cosmetic benefits. The majority of individuals interested in a Fraxel® laser treatment are because of acne or surgical scarring, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation from the sun. In most instances, the treatment is performed on the face. This procedure is also suitable for your decolletage, neck, arms, and hands.
Fraxel® lasers are more effective for acne scars, including rolling, boxcar, and icepick scars, than any topical treatment currently available. The laser has the ability to penetrate deep enough to break apart the scar tissue. This makes a difference in texture not possible with a cream. The most common type of laser you will see in the office of a healthcare professional is a Fraxel Dual® laser. This device contains two different lasers; each with their own wavelength. One laser penetrates deeper for scar revision, skin texture, and wrinkles. The other laser targets sun damage and pigmentation concerns. One of the most powerful lasers is called Fraxel Repair®. This is a carbon dioxide and ablative fractionated laser used for more serious issues. There is a little more downtime necessary with this laser.
The Fraxel Restore® is a non-ablative laser also used for scar revision. Non-ablative simply means this type of laser does not leave any open wounds. The best type of Fraxel® laser for your specific concerns will be determined by the medical skin professional during your initial consultation.
The Specifics of Fraxel® Treatments
If you have a traditional laser treatment, high temperatures are required for the vaporization of your unwanted surface tissue. Unfortunately, this type of treatment can cause damage to your nearby, healthy tissues, has extended downtime, and significant side effects are possible. The average non-ablative treatment has far fewer side effects, a lot less downtime and is a much gentler procedure. The technology of the Fraxel® laser offers you the power of the ablative treatments combined with the safety of the non-ablative lasers. Your result is more dramatic, offers excellent scar revision and less downtime. The issue with the thickened or hypertrophic scarring is these scars are usually not responsive to the more conservative topical treatments.
The fractional technology of Fraxel® treatments has been patented. This technology uses microscopic laser columns to target scarred skin and penetrates deeply into your scar. The laser beams emitted by the fractionated laser treat the numerous microscopic cores of your scar simultaneously. Your surrounding tissue is not harmed. This is what triggers the rapid thinning and healing of the scars you had treated. This procedure will also stimulate your body’s natural healing process. The length of time required for your Fraxel® laser procedure depends on the condition, location and size of your scarring. In some cases, only a 30-minute treatment is necessary. The number of treatments you will need is dependant on your desired outcome and goals regarding scar revision. You will most likely require a minimum of three treatments.
The Fraxel® laser treatment is appropriate for all skin colors and men and women of all different ages. The mechanism remains the same no matter which Fraxel® laser is used. All of the Fraxel® lasers create thermal destruction columns in your skin. This is what stimulates healthy new skin growth to replace the damaged, old cells. The lasers trigger the turnover of your skin and the production of new collagen. This is simply an acceleration of the natural healing process of your body. Prior to your treatment, you need to make certain you have no infections, open wounds or extensive breakouts on your skin. You need to discontinue using any products containing retinoids seven days before your procedure. On the day of your procedure, your treatment area will be topically numbed for 45 minutes to help ensure you remain comfortable.
Your actual procedure should take between 20 and 30 minutes. Your treatment will not be painful because your skin will be numb. To be safe, you should allow yourself between three and five days to recover from your treatment. The number of treatments you will need to reach your optimal results depends on what issue you are having treated. You will start to see your results after one or two sessions for pigmentation. If you are being treated for scar revision or wrinkles, you will need between three and five treatments. If you are being treated for acne or scar revision, you should schedule your treatments every four weeks. If your issue is photodamage, your treatments need to be every six to eight weeks.
Fraxel® laser treatments are effective for improving the look of disfiguring scars resulting from trauma or burns. The laser provides you with good results with less downtime than other more invasive treatments. The dual Fraxel® laser is state-of-the-art, has different options for energy, and deeply penetrates scars. This laser is also effective if you have any pigmentary discoloration. The wavelength of the Fraxel® Erbium flattens scars by reorienting your deeper collagen for efficient scar revision. The Thulium wavelength targets your melanocytes. These are the cells close to the surface responsible for the production of pigment. This will lighten dark pigmentation.
Micropigmentation for Scar Revision
Whether a surgery is performed to attain cosmetic or functional benefits, the overarching goal of these efforts is often simply restoring normalcy to the treatment area. Unfortunately, by their very definition, all invasive procedures require one or more incisions. In fact, some additionally entail actual excision of local tissues. As such, those who undergo these treatments do so at risk of scarring. This can be disheartening for patients who have a very specific level of aesthetics that they’re hoping to achieve. The good news is that when scarring results in pigment loss, the resulting discoloration may be possible to correct with micropigmentation for scar revision.
Surprisingly, despite its very formal-sounding name and its frequent use in the medical setting, micropigmentation is not unlike the very common process of skin tattooing. It involves the strategic introduction of pigments into the skin so as to create a seamlessly blended and toned surface. It can be used to address scarring that is the result of many surgical procedures, and can be safely employed in a vast range of body and facial areas. During this treatment, specialized needles are used to introduce pigment into the scalp or skin, so that the color of the treated surface is able to perfectly match that of the surrounding areas.
Many people are already familiar with the tattooing procedure. This ancient art of skin coloring has been used for cosmetic, religious, and spiritual purposes for many centuries. When applied in medicine, it is performed much the same way, but used according to a singularly focused goal: to significantly improve the appearance of the treatment area. With scar revision, this treatment is intended to replace the melanin responsible for natural skin pigment that may have been lost as a result of a prior surgical treatment or trauma. During any invasive procedure, incisions and tissue removal can destroy important, melanin-producing cells known as melanocytes. The result is a region of the skin that’s visibly lighter. Not only does this manner of scarring diminish patient outcomes, but for some people, it can also result in both reduced self-confidence and lower morale.
Color mixing is sometimes used to achieve an exact pigment match. After selecting or creating the perfect color for matching the local skin, a special instrument that’s fitted with several needles will be used to push the desired pigment into the targeted area. This appliance can be either manually or electronically operated. Topical or local anesthetics can be used to minimize discomfort during this process. Although the results of this procedure will be apparent right away, it may take several days for the exact color of the injected pigment to manifest.
Is Micropigmentation for Scar Revision Right for You?
This is a completely different form of scar revision from Fraxel®, which makes it a good choice for those who aren’t interested in a laser treatment or who might not quality for Fraxel® scar revision. Micropigmentation, however, is not a suitable treatment for all forms of scarring. For scars that are darker than the surrounding skin, treatments such as dermabrasion, dermaplaning, and laser skin resurfacing will likely provide the best benefits. If you’ve developed noticeable, light-colored scars as the result of a recent medical or cosmetic procedure, then this treatment may be perfect for you. The procedure has also been very successful for hiding birthmarks and scarring from burns. Those with acne scars may also be good candidates, but only if the scars are able to be hidden through the use of darker pigments.
The benefits of micropigmentation include:
- Blending the coloration of the scar tissue with the surrounding skin
- Covering scarring from a surgical procedure
- Making the scar appear flatter, softer with the appearance of a smoother texture
Your treatment area will be completely healed in approximately four to six weeks. Depending on the severity of your scarring, you may need a follow-up treatment. There is a lot of variation in the levels of experience and skill necessary for performing micropigmentation. This is the reason you need to make certain your procedure is being performed by a professional with both expertise and skill to obtain the best possible results. If the scars you are wanting to cover are raised or bumpy that we recommend our scar relaxation technique. This usually involves microneedling to help break up the scar tissue. Microneedling stimulates blood flow so the area is able to properly heal and flatten out.
Unfortunately, if you have melasma, micropigmentation will not be effective for your needs. Some individuals who have experienced this procedure said they felt a vibration and a sense of warmth on their skin but the procedure was not painful. These sensations are caused by the medical professional working on both your scar tissue and damaged tissue. You may notice begin to see some improvement after your first treatment.
Contact Us Today
If you are interested in receiving either of these treatments, we invite you to come to PFRANKMD™ in New York, NY to speak with our professionals. We have many different treatments available that can help you look your best, from wrinkle-reducers to scar revision. Our team is dedicated to helping you reach your goals. We look forward to meeting with you! Contact us today to schedule your consultation!