Fractional Resurfacing With Other Cosmetic Treatments

• 1 January 2024
• MCC Marketing

Last updated on July 23, 2024

Optimising Results: Combining Fractional Resurfacing with Other Cosmetic Treatments

Dealing with common skin concerns like pigmentation, sun damage, scars, and wrinkles can be challenging once they become visible. While routine maintenance is essential, addressing these concerns before they progress can be critical in maintaining your skin’s natural beauty. Here’s why laser skin treatments can help. Quick and minimally invasive, laser skin treatments offer a solution that erases surface damage and triggers a natural healing process from within.

However, selecting the right laser treatment for your skin can be difficult. The first step is to identify your skin concerns, focusing on your goals and the results you are looking for. Fractional resurfacing may be ideal if you want to reduce acne scars and wrinkles, treat sun damage, or improve skin tone. It promotes collagen production, gently tightening the skin and addressing specific concerns like scars. Moreover, it can be combined with other cosmetic treatments, enhancing results and providing a multifaceted treatment that ensures a comprehensive skincare solution for results that align with your skin goals.

In this guide, we’ll explore fractional laser skin resurfacing in more detail, delving into its many benefits, procedure and how it can work with other cosmetic treatments to help deliver optimal results. Let’s get started!

What is Fractional Skin Resurfacing Treatment?

Fractional skin resurfacing is a non-invasive laser treatment that targets specific areas of the skin. Controlled light beams create microscopic treatment zones, stimulating collagen production for improved skin texture. With minimal downtime and suitability for various skin types, fractional resurfacing can boost collagen production, shrink pore size, and blur scars, improving overall skin quality.

Laser skin resurfacing targets a fraction of your skin’s outermost and second layer, delivering laser light beams into the smaller and deeper columns of the skin. These beams concentrate on a fraction of the skin, removing old pigmented epidermal cells and stimulating collagen production.

Procedure

An initial consultation is needed to assess your skin, take your medical history, and understand your skin concerns. Your dermal therapist will identify which areas to treat and map out a personalised treatment plan, providing information on the procedure and answering any questions you may have. Limiting sun exposure two weeks before the treatment is usually recommended to reduce skin sensitivity.

A fractional skin resurfacing procedure may involve:

• The procedure begins with cleansing your face and applying an anaesthetic cream to ensure comfort. The cream usually takes about 10 minutes to work. It is then removed, and a gliding gel is used to prepare for the laser.
• A fractional laser device is used to deliver controlled beams of light to specific areas of the skin. Unlike traditional lasers, fractional resurfacing treats only a fraction of the skin at a time, creating microscopic treatment zones.
• The laser creates tiny, evenly-spaced treatment zones, penetrating the skin’s surface and stimulating a natural healing response. The controlled wounds prompt the production of new collagen, a vital protein that contributes to skin firmness and elasticity.
• The gliding gel is removed after the treatment is complete. You might feel slight tenderness and tingling, which subsides within an hour or two. Some swelling and redness can also be expected. However, this will go down two to three days after the procedure.

The laser skin resurfacing procedure takes at least 30 minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated. It’s suitable for all skin types and can be used on the face, neck, chest, and hands. Results may not be immediately visible after the treatment. Your skin will start shedding and flaking 24 hours after the procedure. Don’t panic. This is a natural response from the micro-injuries as your skin begins to heal and renew. Apply a moisturiser to keep the skin moist and avoid picking or scratching the exfoliated area. Limit UV exposure for at least four weeks after the treatment, using sunscreen to protect your skin.

You may need multiple sessions for optimal and gradual results. The number of sessions and any accompanying treatments will be discussed with you during the initial consultation. If you’re getting fractional laser resurfacing, opt for the autumn or winter, as the days are shorter and there is less sunlight. Sunlight exposure can irritate the skin and cause hyperpigmentation after the treatment.

Cosmetic Treatments Used with Fractional Resurfacing for Optimal Results

Laser treatments can help treat a range of skin conditions for lasting results. However, combining laser with other treatments, as recommended by your dermal therapist, can provide even better results.

Here are some popular cosmetic treatments that can be combined with fractional resurfacing laser:

Antiwrinkle Injections

Wrinkle Reduction Injections temporarily relax facial muscles, preventing them from contracting and forming wrinkles. Botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, is the main ingredient in these injections. Wrinkle Reduction Injections create a smoother and more youthful complexion by inhibiting muscle movement. They are commonly applied to the forehead, frown lines, and crow’s feet around the eyes. These injections offer a quick and minimally invasive solution to achieve a refreshed and rejuvenated appearance without surgery. The results are temporary and only last for a few months. You may need another treatment once the effect has worn off.

Volume Enhancement Injections

Dermal fillers are injectables that help add volume, reduce fine lines, and enhance facial contours. Typically composed of hyaluronic acid, they are injected beneath the skin and used to smoothen wrinkles on the forehead, around the eyes and mouth corners, nasolabial folds, marionette lines, and thinning lips, providing a non-surgical solution for facial rejuvenation. Dermal fillers can be used with laser treatments to plump up the skin and restore a youthful look by defining targeted areas of the face. They provide the benefits of improving skin quality, reducing the signs of ageing and maintenance as laser works to correct specific problems like scarring, pigmentation and sun damage.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels involve the application of a chemical solution to the skin, causing it to exfoliate and eventually peel off. This process promotes the removal of dead skin cells, allowing new, regenerated skin to emerge. Chemical peels come in different strengths, ranging from mild to deep, and can be tailored to correct skin concerns such as uneven skin tone, sun damage, fine lines, wrinkles, and acne scars. While chemical peels and laser resurfacing help with the same issues, the laser penetrates deeper, focusing on specific skin areas. Whereas chemical peels target the outer layer, helping improve the overall facial skin to exfoliate and improve skin texture.

PRF Treatment

Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) treatment is a regenerative procedure that uses your blood components to promote natural healing and tissue rejuvenation. Unlike traditional PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) treatments, PRF contains a higher concentration of platelets, growth factors, and white blood cells suspended in a fibrin matrix. This fibrin matrix acts as a scaffold, supporting a more sustained release of growth factors over time. During the procedure, a small amount of the patient’s blood is drawn and then processed to separate the PRF. The resulting PRF is then applied or injected into targeted areas, stimulating collagen production, improving skin texture, and aiding in the repair of damaged tissues. 

Thread Lift

A thread lift is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that helps lift and tighten sagging facial tissues. During the procedure, dissolvable threads with tiny cones or barbs are strategically inserted under the skin through small incisions. These threads are gently pulled to lift the skin, providing a subtle yet effective rejuvenation. The threads also stimulate collagen production, improving skin elasticity over time. Thread lifts are commonly used to address sagging in the midface, jowls, and neck areas, offering a non-surgical alternative to a traditional facelift. While the results are not as dramatic or long-lasting as a surgical facelift, thread lifts provide a more natural-looking lift with minimal downtime.

Skin Boosters

Skin boosters improve skin hydration, firmness, and overall radiance. These treatments involve injecting hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the skin that attracts and retains moisture, into the deeper layers of the skin. Unlike traditional dermal fillers that add volume to specific areas, skin boosters aim to enhance the skin’s overall quality by providing deep hydration. They are used on the face, neck, and hands to address fine lines, dullness, and dehydration. The result is a refreshed and rejuvenated appearance with a natural-looking glow. Skin boosters are administered through a series of injections, and the results are gradual, requiring periodic maintenance sessions for optimal benefits.

Reveal That Skin Glow!

These non-surgical treatments can work as a standalone or in combination to deliver bespoke skin enhancements, from correction and rejuvenation to maintenance and overall improvements. At My Cosmetic Clinic, we offer a range of surgical and non-surgical treatments tailored to your skin’s needs. With personalised treatment plans designed to provide lasting results, state-of-the-art technology and trained doctors and dermal therapists, we can help you achieve healthy and radiant skin. Book a consultation with us to get started! We offer services in seven convenient locations to make quality skincare accessible for you.