Fraxel

Fraxel Laser Treatment is a line of lasers developed by Reliant Technologies in 2004. It was developed from a US patent licensed from the Wellman Center for Photomedicine. R. Rox Anderson was the inventor. Fraxel lasers cause fractional photothermolysis for skin resurfacing.

Complications observed in a study of 961 fractional laser treatments included acne and herpes outbreaks. There have also been anecdotal negative accounts of bad scarring and hyperpigmentation following the use of Fraxel lasers.

Treatment purposes

Fraxel laser is used primarily to rejuvenate skin. It is used to treat hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and superficial signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles, as well as acne scarring.

Types

Several variations of Fraxel lasers exist, each with distinct characteristics. These systems are distinguished by their laser types and the depth of tissue ablation they achieve.

Fraxel Restore employs a 1,550nm erbium glass laser, which is categorized as a non-ablative laser, meaning it does not remove the outermost layer of skin. This characteristic positions it as the gentlest Fraxel laser and is used for improving skin texture, fine to moderate wrinkles, photoaging, and mild acne scaring.
Fraxel Restore Dual incorporates a combination of a 1,550nm erbium glass laser and an ablative 1,927nm thulium fiber laser. It is commonly used to treat wrinkles, photoaging, surgical scars, and acne scars.
Fraxel Repair uses an ablative 10,600nm-wavelength carbon-dioxide (CO₂) laser. This laser is the most aggressive among Fraxel lasers and is commonly used in treating wrinkles, especially those around the mouth or eyes.

References

↑ Graber, Emmy M.; Tanzi, Elizabeth L.; Alster, Tina S. (March 2008). "Side Effects and Complications of Fractional Laser Photothermolysis: Experience with 961 Treatments". Dermatologic Surgery. 34 (3): 301–307. doi:10.1111/j.1524-4725.2007.34062.x. PMID 18190541. S2CID 23942929.
↑ Hoene, Christine. "Adverse Effects Fraxel Repair". realself.com. RealSelf, Inc. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
1 2 3 4 5 Preissig J, Hamilton K, Markus R (August 2012). "Current Laser Resurfacing Technologies: A Review that Delves Beneath the Surface". Seminars in Plastic Surgery. 26 (3): 109–16. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1329413. PMC 3580982. PMID 23904818.
↑ Ong, M. W. S.; Bashir, S. J. (June 2012). "Fractional laser resurfacing for acne scars: a review". The British Journal of Dermatology. 166 (6): 1160–1169. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2012.10870.x. ISSN 1365-2133. PMID 22296284. S2CID 205262673.
1 2 Utley C, Gold M (2021). "Treating acne scars in 2020: Use of lasers". Dermatological Reviews. 2 (1): 4–10. doi:10.1002/der2.35. ISSN 2637-7489.

Hantash BM, Bedi VP, Kapadia B, Rahman Z, Jiang K, Tanner H, Chan KF, Zachary CB (February 2007). "In vivo histological evaluation of a novel ablative fractional resurfacing device". Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. 39 (2): 96–107. doi:10.1002/lsm.20468. PMID 17311274.
Tanzi EL, Wanitphakdeedecha R, Alster TS (2008). "Fraxel laser indications and long-term follow-up". Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 28 (6): 675–8, discussion 679–80. doi:10.1016/j.asj.2008.09.006. PMID 19083597.
US 8313481, Kin F. Chan, George Frangineas, David Dewey, Leonard C. Debenedictis, "Apparatus and method for adjustable fractional optical dermatological treatment", issued 16 October 2012
US 8323253, Basil M. Hantash, Kin F. Chan, "Method and device for tightening tissue using electromagnetic radiation", issued 4 December 2012
US 8435234, Kin F. Chan, Leonard C. DeBenedictis, "Method and device for tightening tissue using electromagnetic radiation", issued 7 May 2013
US 8690863, Kin F. Chan, Basil M. Hantash, G. Scott Herron, Vikramaditya P. Bedi, "Laser-induced transepidermal elimination of content by fractional photothermolysis", issued 8 April 2014

[1] Graber, Emmy M.; Tanzi, Elizabeth L.; Alster, Tina S. (March 2008). "Side Effects and Complications of Fractional Laser Photothermolysis: Experience with 961 Treatments". Dermatologic Surgery. 34 (3): 301–307. doi:10.1111/j.1524-4725.2007.34062.x. PMID 18190541. S2CID 23942929.

[2] Hoene, Christine. "Adverse Effects Fraxel Repair". realself.com. RealSelf, Inc. Retrieved 17 February 2014.

[pmid23904818-3] 1 2 3 4 5 Preissig J, Hamilton K, Markus R (August 2012). "Current Laser Resurfacing Technologies: A Review that Delves Beneath the Surface". Seminars in Plastic Surgery. 26 (3): 109–16. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1329413. PMC 3580982. PMID 23904818.

[4] Ong, M. W. S.; Bashir, S. J. (June 2012). "Fractional laser resurfacing for acne scars: a review". The British Journal of Dermatology. 166 (6): 1160–1169. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2012.10870.x. ISSN 1365-2133. PMID 22296284. S2CID 205262673.

[Utley_Gold_2021-5] 1 2 Utley C, Gold M (2021). "Treating acne scars in 2020: Use of lasers". Dermatological Reviews. 2 (1): 4–10. doi:10.1002/der2.35. ISSN 2637-7489.