★HOW DOES THE MedMatrix CO2 FRACTIONAL LASER WORK?
The fractional CO2 laser takes the CO2 laser beam and fractionates, or pixelates that beam into thousands of tiny little shafts of light. These tiny shafts of light penetrate into deeper layer of the skin. The skin then repairs those tiny shafts by pushing out the old damaged skin and replacing it with new skin. The “collateral” heat damage also helps to shrink existing collagen.
★WHAT ARE THE RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS WITH CO2 FRACTIONAL LASER?
Depending on the aggressiveness of your laser treatment, you will have some degree of redness, swelling or a sunburn sensation.
These feelings are normal and are signs that your body’s natural healing process is building new skin.
★CO2 FRACTIONAL LASER RECOVERY PERIOD
You can return to routine activities in 2 – 3 days in lighter treatments but more aggressive, deeper, more effective treatments may require a week off. To protect your skin after treatment, we suggest that you to wear sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, avoid direct sun exposure, and wear a wide-brimmed hat when you’re under the sun.
★HOW MANY CO2 FRACTIONAL LASER TREATMENTS WILL I NEED?
The number of CO2 Laser Resurfacing treatments you will need is based on your individual skin and your aesthetic goals. Some may require as little as 1 treatment to achieve their desired results, for others it may take several like 3 to 6 treatments to achieve their goals.
★WHAT SHOULD I DO PRIOR TO CO2 FRACTIONAL LASER TREATMENT?
During the booking for your first treatment you will be given a consultation with our professional consultant before you undergo treatment. This enables us to tailor a bespoke skin care plan to target your specific skin type and concerns, so that we can do our best to target these areas to achieve your desired results. Our therapist will also explain how it works, what happens during the treatment, and what you can do beforehand to prepare your skin and here are some of the basics.
1. For 2-4 weeks before your treatment, avoid self-tanners and excessive sun.
2. Discontinue minocycline, tetracycline, doxycycline or Retin-A/Renova several days prior to each treatment.
3. Avoid taking aspirin, ibuprofen, or Aleve one week prior to treatment unless medically indicated to help prevent bruising.
4. Protect your improved skin with sunscreen every morning. Hats and sunglasses are also good protection from the sun.
★CO2 FRACTIONAL LASER TREATMENT RECOVERY PERIOD
Recovery period depends on the aggressiveness of the treatment; the redness will gradually subside over the next 2 – 5 days. In some cases it lasts up to 4 weeks. Until the redness has resolved, avoid all of the following:
* The use of AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) or Vitamin A products
* Swimming pools and spas with multiple chemicals/chlorine Activities that cause excessive perspiration
★Always remember to apply your SPF 30+ / 50+ sunscreen every day to protect your skin from the sun.
★WHAT SHOULD I DO AFTER CO2 FRACTIONAL LASER TREATMENT?
It is very important that you follow the advice carefully after treatment to help make the procedure as successful as possible and to reduce the risk of complications.
Post – treatment advice may include :
* Using tepid or cold water to cleanse the face for the first 48 hours following treatment and drying the area gently without rubbing.
* Ensure your hands are always clean when touching the area treated, to avoid infections.
* Do not applying conventional make-up products to the skin for the first 7 days following treatment.
* Do not pick, scratch, scrub or rub the treated skin during the fractional laser process.
* Applying the prescribed skincare products according to the regimen specifically designed for you.
* Always use sunscreen. Do not exposing the area treated to the sun without a sunscreen to reduce the risk of disturbing pigmentation in that area. A high factor sun block should be used daily to protect the skin.
Individuals’ skin is different, so reaction and results may vary. When post-treatment advice is followed well, the risks of infection are very low. In case if the area looks infected, experience an unusual discomfort, any other complications develop, or any questions or concerns, PLEASE CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY.
★REPEAT TREATMENT PROCEDURES AND CONSULTATION
It can take between 4 – 8 weeks before visible signs of skin regeneration are seen and the process will continue over the following months, providing a gradual enhancement effects.
A single treatment can produce noticeable results, however a program of 2 – 10 treatments spaced 1 – 3 months apart is often recommended to achieve optimum results, in conjunction with an at-home regimen.
The specific number of sessions required will depend on the area being treated and the severity of the indication, as well as the level of natural response from the individual’s body.
We would like to invite any client who’s considering this treatment to make an appointment with us for a Free-of-Charge Consultation. During the consultation, our professional therapist will explain the treatment in full and carry out a skin analysis to you. From there we can make a recommendation on the number of treatments we think you may need. We do have a single treatment or package options, to help lower the cost.