Pigmentation Perfection – Introducing Fraxel Re:store Dual
Posted: Sunday 11 April 2010 03:35pm
In the US it’s touted as The Cougar’s secret anti-ageing weapon. In Australia, where hyperpigmentation is the third largest skin concern among women*, Fraxel Re: store Dual laser is a dream come true for women and men of all ages and skin types.
In one, one-hour surgery visit, years of accumulated sun damage, age spots, dark discolourations caused by hormonal changes or acne scarring and other issues can be permanently zapped and the skin restored to an even, youthful tone and radiance within a matter of days.
“The only thing that can cause the skin to produce new collagen and elastin is something that penetrates the dermis and causes mechanical or thermal stress,” says Dr Jeremy Cumpston, of Ageless Clinics in Randwick, Sydney. His was the first aesthetic practice in Australia to purchase the Fraxel Re: store Dual late last year and, with clinics across NSW, is leading the way in its use.
“These are deep treatments aimed at improving collagen and elastin formation and superficial treatments can be combined to get optimal results regardless of skin type or condition.”
Fraxel Re: store Dual introduces thulium laser fibres to remove pigment at the epidermal/dermal junction. It combines the existing Fraxel Re: store, wavelength 1550 nanometers and new 1927nm wavelength (thulium laser) in one device. It has full Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approval in Australia for treatment of facial pigmentation.
> Watch a video demonstration of Fraxel laster treatment
Hyperpigmentation is the development of an area that is darker in colour than the surrounding skin. The most common causes are sun exposure, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (a darkening that can occur after any injury) and melasma, which is a condition that affects primarily pregnant women and those taking contraceptives.
“The increase of environmental stressors, such as UV exposure and pollution, and inflammatory responses such as acne and [to] harsh cosmetic treatments, affect the skin and act as a trigger for dark spots and discolourations,” says Clinique’s Executive Director of Research & Development, Dr Paolo Giacomoni.
“When skin is exposed to external assaults, it becomes more susceptible to irritation and this reaction can trigger an excess production of melanin.
“According to consumer market research, women of all ages and all ethnicities, all around the world, are concerned with uneven skin tone.”
“Essentially the Re: store Dual with the erbium and thulium wavelengths lets us do traditional resurfacing and rejuvenation but with the added benefit of being able to treat pigment and age spots with a gold standard laser fibre (thulium). The thulium component of the Fraxel Re: store Dual has led the treatment to be called the “Cougars’ secret weapon” in the US media.
Dr Cumpston says laser therapy is ideal for improving skin integrity. “Without having collagen and elastin at peak levels (as you get from Fraxel treatments), in many cases the skin will not hold “wow factor” deep volumising treatments with filler.
“Base integrity with removal of pigment is imperative in reducing the appearance of ageing,” he adds.
Fraxel fractional laser systems deliver multiple pinpoints of laser energy – like thousands of superfine acupuncture needles – that penetrate to the deeper dermal layer of the skin.
The laser targets water in the dermal layer and causes pinpoint heating.
“Fraxel works for all skin types, but is best suited to people who have acne or other scarring, women with pigmentation issues – from the Pill or pregnancy – and women in the 35 years-plus bracket who want to improve the skin on their hands, neck, décolletage and face,” says Dr Cumpston .
After a consultation pre-treatment, a numbing cream is applied to the face, which stays on for 45 minutes. After this, the Fraxel laser is rolled over the area. The treatment requires multiple “passes” of the laser over the face.
The sensation is one of prickling initially, then slight heat. The treatment takes about 15 minutes for face, hands, neck or décolletage.
There may be one to two days of redness and mild swelling, followed by five to seven days of light peeling. After redness and swelling subsides your skin will be softer and brighter.
“As the Fraxel is a medical grade laser it has the potential to cause excess thermal damage or burning if the settings are not properly applied,” warns Dr Cumpston. “Go to medical practitioners with licences and training to use these powerful lasers.”
Although one treatment is usually enough to rectify average pigmentation, two to five treatments, two to six weeks apart, may be recommended depending on the depth of the patient’s condition.
“For pigmentation/age spots, best results are after one to two treatments,” says Dr Cumpston. “For treating acne and fine lines, it’s best after five treatments.
“It can be a long-haul treatment but results are excellent and achieved with a degree of subtlety.”
Ballpark cost: $750 to $1,500 per treatment, depending on the areas treated.
* Clinique asked 600 Australian women aged between 18 and 64 about hyperpigmentation in February, 2010, while trialling their Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector. They found hyperpigmentation was the third largest skin concern in Australia and that it affected 62 per cent of women surveyed.