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Straight Talk about Cosmetic Surgery (Yale University Press Health & Wellness)
The Fraxel is a brand of fractionated laser. A fractionated laser gives small intense light beams to the skin to cause contraction of the skin, reducing the wrinkles and sun damage.
What are the basic types of fractionated laser?
The erbium fractionated laser gives columns of laser energy with medium deep beams. Recovery is quicker, complications are fewer, and results are less than for the CO2 fractionated laser.
With the CO2 fractionated laser, the beams go deeper into the skin and cause more injury to the dermis, the non recycling layer of the skin. Results are better, but down time and redness are a bit more than for the erbium fractional laser.
Ablative laser is the most effective laser for the facial skin but should not be used on other areas.
It is very important that the doctor performing the laser is knowledgable and conservative, to avoid burns and complications. If the doctor has his nurse do the treatments, he should be involved in the decision making tree.
A careful doctor will balance results with risk, and know which treatment will give the best result, and, most important of all, know when to stop.
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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.