What is Fraxel®?
Under the surface of the skin are proteins, collagen and elastin, which are responsible for keeping the skin supple and youthful.  With age, sun exposure, smoking, and chemical exposure these proteins begin to break down.  This leads to sun damage, wrinkles, and sagging of the skin.

Fraxel® is a treatment that rejuvenates the skin from the inside out.  Using "fractional photothermolysis," Fraxel uses laser energy to penetrate the skin thru tiny microscopic laser columns.  The laser energy penetrates into the dermis thru these columns that are only one-tenth of the diameter of a hair follicle to create tiny wounds.  This triggers the body to go into a state of healing which promotes collagen and elastin stimulation and remodeling.

How is Fraxel® different from other laser procedures?
For years there have been two types of laser treatments available, ablative and non-ablative.  Ablative treatments act to rejuvenate the skin using high temperatures to vaporize unwanted tissue.  Down time, potential side effects, and cost lead many people to use this as an option to plastic surgery.  With the advent of non-ablative laser treatments the medical community has been able to treat sun damaged skin and rosacea with minimal down time, side effects, and minimal cost.  However; the results on improving skin texture, wrinkles, and acne scaring have been unimpressive.  With the advent of Fraxel®, there is now an option to treat the signs of aging and the results of acne with little down time and with fewer risks and lower cost than has been available with ablative treatments.

What types of Fraxel® treatments are available?
There are both ablative and non-ablative options available with Fraxel®.
*Non-ablative
          Fraxel re:fine- for preventing the sign of aging and maintenance.
          Fraxel re:store- for mild to severe skin damage and the signs of aging.
*Ablative
          Fraxel re:pair- for the most severe damaged skin.

What type of Fraxel® treatments does ANEWU Medical Spa offer?
We offer the Fraxel re:store.

How many treatments are necessary?
We recommend 3-5 treatments depending on what the individual's goals of treatment are.  These treatments are typically spaced one month apart.

How long before I will see results?
Individual results may vary.  Some patients will note noticeable improvement after their first or second treatment.  Others may not see an improvement in the treatment area for three months.  Results are progressive, as it takes the body time to rebuild and remodel collagen and elastin.

Do Fraxel® re:store treatments hurt?
Most patients tolerate the procedure well.  Others may complain of mild discomfort or the sensation of heat during the treatment.  A topical anesthetic cream is applied prior to the treatment to aid in patient comfort.

What are the side effects of Fraxel® re:store treatments?
The most common side effects are swelling and redness.  Typically swelling is minimal and will resolve within two to three days.  Redness may last up to five to seven days but typically resolves within three to five days.  Mild flaking and itching of the skn may occur after treatment and therefore moisturizing and sun block are importment.

There is a limited risk of infection, hyperpigmentation (brown spots), hypopigmentation (white spots), and scarring.
The intensity and duration of side efeects are effected by the initial condition of the skin, the intensity of the treatments, and the adherence to pre and post treatment recommendations.

What should I do before and after treatments?
One of the most important things you can do is to avoid the sun and use sun block with UVA and UVB protection both before and after treatments.  You may not be treated if the treatment area has had any recent sun exposure or active tan in the treatment area.  Sun exposure should be minimal for a minimum of 3 months after treatments to reduce the risk of delayed adverse effects as mentioned above.

How long do Fraxel® re:store treatment results last?
It is difficult to determine how long an individual may see results for.  The literature suggests 2-5 years however everyone's skin is different.  The longevity of results is dependant upon the individual's adherence to good skin practices including good at home skin products, use of sun screen, minimizing sun exposure, and smoking.  However: aging is a natural process and despite our efforts to reduce the break down in collagen and elastin it will occur with time.  However, treatments such as Fraxel® will help to reduce this.