What is a fractional laser?
Fractional laser actually refers to a working mode of the laser. As long as the diameter of the laser beam (spot) is less than 500 μm, and it is regularly arranged into a lattice, the laser working mode at this time is a fractional laser . Fractional laser is a minimally invasive treatment between invasive and non-invasive.
Principle of action
Using the fractional treatment concept, countless tiny wounds that are invisible to the naked eye are created on part of the skin. Through squeezing and regeneration, the old tissue of the epidermis is removed, and at the same time, it stimulates the remodeling of collagen to reach the skin. The role of regeneration.
Fractional laser classification
1.Bait laser dot matrix laser
2.Co2 dot matrix laser
3.1550nm dot matrix laser
4.2940nm erbium glass lattice laser
5.10600nm ultra-pulse CO2 lattice laser
Among them, CO2 laser and bait laser belong to exfoliative lattice laser;The laser wavelengths are 1450nm, 1540nm, 1550nm, 1560nm, which are basically non-ablative lattice lasers.
Ultra-pulse CO2 fractional laser
The ultra-pulse CO2 lattice laser has a wavelength of 10600nm, which belongs to the ablative laser. Compared with the traditional CO2 lattice, the laser energy can reach the peak value quickly, thereby reducing the damage to the surrounding skin. However, the current CO2 dot matrix machines are basically equipped with ultra-pulse.The ultra-pulse exfoliative CO2 fractional laser can instantly heat the water in the tissue to above 100 ℃, vaporize the epidermis and the dermis (scars) of different depths when it acts on the skin, causing the skin to produce vaporization pits.
Because of its high peak energy, small heat-induced secondary damage zone, precise vaporization of tissues, and slight damage to surrounding tissues, laser wounds can heal within 3 to 5 days, and the possibility of causing complications such as pigmentation or hypopigmentation is less, which improves In the laser non-lattice mode, the adverse reactions (scars, erythema, long recovery time, etc.) and the lack of obvious curative effect are relatively large, showing a good therapeutic effect.
Irradiable range and applicable symptoms
1.Treatment of acne and acne scars, scars, etc.
2.Removal of fine lines and dry lines around the eyes such as eyelids and crow’s feet.
3.Effectively improve facial and forehead wrinkles, joint wrinkles and stretch marks.
4.Treatment of pigmented lesions such as freckles and zygomatic mother spots.
5.Firming and lifting the skin.
Exfoliation/non-exfoliation
The exfoliative laser will generate high temperature in an instant, which will vaporize the epidermis and part of the dermis at the irradiated area, just like “scraping a layer of skin”, and then the skin here will grow again, and then stimulate new collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. To achieve the purpose of “laser skin resurfacing”.
For non-exfoliation, there is no “peeling” step, there is no visible trauma to the naked eye, and the skin can be repaired under relatively mild stimulation. In between is micro-exfoliation.
Non-ablative lasers are compared with ablative lasers: the former has less damage, faster recovery, and weaker efficacy. The ablative fractional laser is more effective than non-ablative fractional laser treatment, mainly because the ablative CO2 fractional laser penetrates deeper for hyperplastic and contractile scars, solidifies the surrounding tissues and causes a stronger remodeling reaction.
Therefore, in general, the treatment effect of exfoliation lattice is better than that of non-exfoliation, especially on depressed scars (acne pits). However, the recovery period of the exfoliation dot matrix is longer, and it is prone to the risk of pigmentation.
Further reading:CO2 fractional laser introduction
