Active FX™

The CO2 laser has long been considered the "gold standard" in laser skin resurfacing, due to its unmatched results in skin tightening, wrinkle reduction, and improvement of skin texture and color abnormalities. Lumenis Corp. was the first laser company to combine the power of the CO2 laser with fractional technology to produce what is arguably the most efficient laser on the market as far as dramatic results with mimimal downtime and risk. The treatment with this laser (Ultrapulse Laser) is called Active FX, reflecting a rapid return to your active lifestyle.

Active FX is a fractional laser procedure performed in a single treatment with minimal patient downtime. The fractional technology teats a "fraction"of the skin surface, leaving healthy normal bridges of skin in between. This makes the healing process much faster, and gets you back to your normal activities sooner. The treatment is highly effective in producing skin tightening, reducing wrinkles and fine lines, eliminating hyperpigmentation, and stimulating collagen production.

Unlike other fractionated lasers (such as Fraxel™), Active FX requires a single treatment for dramatic results. Recovery varies from several days to one week, with minimal discomfort. This is one of the most popular procedures at our La Jolla office.

Example of Active FX Laser skin Resurfacing

Deep FX™ and Total FX™

In addition to fractionating the laser treatment, the Ultrapulse also has the ability to narrow the beam, allowing it to go deeper into the skin to cause more tightening and collagen growth. This modality is called "Deep FX." Deep FX is excellent for patients with deeper wrinkles or acne scars, and is safe for most skin types, including hispanic and asian skin.

By combining Active FX and Deep FX in a single treatment, patients are able to achieve the unmatched results of a deep CO2 laser peel with the safety and low downtime that comes with fractionating the laser. This treatment is called "Total FX."

Example of Total FX™ Skin Resurfacing:

Results rival traditional CO2, but with faster healing.

Total FX™ skin resurfacing may take between 20 to 30 minutes. Patients are discharged home shortly after the procedure, and are advised to apply cool compresses to the skin, as well as a moisturizing ointment. Laser resurfacing is generally less uncomfortable than a chemical peel, and patients usually have minimal discomfort after the first twenty-four hours.

Over the first week, it is normal to experience crusting and redness as the outer skin layers become separated and are replaced by new skin. Following this, the skin appears somewhat pink and sensitive for several days to one week, however most patients can resume applying makeup at 7-10 days if desired.

Risks of Laser Skin Resurfacing

Choosing the right doctor with the right laser goes a long way toward minimizing any complications, however patients should be aware of some basic risks:

1. Prolonged Redness. Several days to one to two weeks of redness may be completely normal depending on depth of treatment, however when redness persists for over a month this is commonly referred to as "prolonged erythema" or prolonged redness. This is generally considered minor and disappears with time or further treatment.
2. Hyperpigmentation. Occasionally the skin may respond to the laser treatment by laying down excessive pigment in the treated areas. This splotchy brown color is called hyperpigmentation. While very uncommon with fractionated lasers, this tends to occur in darker-skinned individuals or ethnic skin types. Hyperpigmentation generally resolves with time and with bleaching cream.
3. Infection. Infection is a rare complication, but if it occurs before the skin has healed can lead to scarring. The risk is lowered by keeping the healing skin clean at all times and using prophylactic antibiotics for the first week.
4. Hypopigmentation. The opposite of hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation is the (permanent) loss of pigment in the skin, leading to lightened areas of skin. This was very common with traditional deep CO2 laser skin resurfacing but fractionated technology has largely eliminated this risk.
5. Scarring. A very rare complication, scarring can be caused by very high laser energy and is more common in areas of thinner skin.

Points to consider when choosing a doctor or office for skin resurfacing:

Two main factors determine the quality of results achieved with laser skin resurfacing:

1. The quality of the laser
2. The skill and experience of the person administering the treatment

While many laser platforms offer CO2 and Erbium skin resurfacing, few offer FRACTIONATED  technology, and fewer still offer optimum power and spot size settings which produce exceptional results and minimal downtime. The Ultrapulse Laser from Lumenis was the first laser to offer fractionated CO2 skin resurfacing and has made significant progress in optimizing treatment parameters for results and safety. Non-ablative lasers (lasers that do not remove the outer layer of skin) have historically not produced results that compare to traditional-strength CO2 or Erbium lasers.

While laser technology has become very advanced over the years, the process of resurfacing is by no means "automatic." The best and most expensive laser technology can be useless if the physician is not experienced and well-trained. For example, the price of "Active FX" treatment may vary widely in a community. This is because there is great variation in results depending on which parameters are dialed into the laser, how many passes are done over the skin etc. Similarly, a "Total FX" treatment requires even more variables and is even more user-dependent.

Choosing an inexperienced practitioner in a non-surgical spa setting may lead to a "too" superficial treatment, with minimal results. Worse than this however is an overzealous treatment with subsequent side effects or complications.