Fraxel® Laser
Is your skin looking tired and worn out, giving the people in your life an impression that you might feel that way too? Is your skin plagued by brown spots, large pores, and fine wrinkles? Residents of the Boston area have a variety of laser skin treatments available to help them regain vibrant, young-looking skin. Board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Anna Petropoulos offers Fraxel® and many other non-surgical treatments that can revive your skin and your confidence.
“Dr. Petropoulos is the perfect combination of incredible physician and artist. Your face is her canvas, but she’s so subtle with the modifications she will make and the procedures she will suggest that you’ll still be yourself, just the best version possible. Her staff is wonderful.
The ladies who administer Thermismooth, thermage, and other non-invasive, non-surgical enhancements are extremely professional, communicating what they’re doing as they do it, always ensuring your comfort. I will also mention that I never felt as if prices were exorbitant or that there was a huge margin compared to going to a MedSpa. In fact, in some cases, the pricing here was a bit less.
In summary, using Dr. Petropoulos is perhaps the best investment I’ve ever made, with ripple effects in my self-esteem, happiness and life in general.”
Source: RealSelf
The ladies who administer Thermismooth, thermage, and other non-invasive, non-surgical enhancements are extremely professional, communicating what they’re doing as they do it, always ensuring your comfort. I will also mention that I never felt as if prices were exorbitant or that there was a huge margin compared to going to a MedSpa. In fact, in some cases, the pricing here was a bit less.
In summary, using Dr. Petropoulos is perhaps the best investment I’ve ever made, with ripple effects in my self-esteem, happiness and life in general.”
Source: RealSelf
Benefits
Non-Ablative Yet Effective
Fraxel achieves impressive results without being an ablative treatment. Using ‘fractional’ technology, it targets only a fraction of the skin surface, sparing the surrounding areas, which leads to effective rejuvenation with less downtime.
Collagen Remodeling for Tightening
The laser energy of Fraxel penetrates the epidermis, creating microscopic channels and triggering the body’s healing response. This perceived heat in the dermis layer prompts the body to remodel collagen in the treated areas, leading to instant skin tightening.
Improved Skin Texture
As the laser creates channels, it also helps break down areas of poor texture. The ongoing collagen production over the next few months further enhances skin repair and healing, leading to significant improvements in skin quality.
Rapid Healing with Fractional Technology
The fractional aspect of Fraxel is a key benefit. The microscopic channels are surrounded by healthy, untreated skin, which aids in quick healing. This process not only addresses skin texture issues but also promotes the generation of new skin cells, elastin, and collagen, resulting in comprehensive skin improvement.
Skin Improvements Through Fraxel Laser
Dr. Petropoulos offers a series of gentle Fraxel Re:store® laser treatments designed for skin rejuvenation and retexturization with no social downtime. These treatments are effective for various areas including the face, neck, chest, and hands. Patients experience a multitude of skin improvements through Fraxel, such as fading sun spots, age spots, and uneven pigmentation, diminishing large pores, effacing fine wrinkles, and smoothing superficial scars caused by acne or chicken pox. Additionally, Fraxel treatments contribute to the re-plumping of the skin through collagen formation and tightening, ultimately resulting in smoother, softer skin.
Moreover, combining Fraxel laser treatments with PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Therapy can significantly accelerate and enhance the process of skin rejuvenation. This combination approach leverages the benefits of both treatments, maximizing the effects on skin texture and overall appearance, and offering patients a more comprehensive solution for their skin care needs.
Moreover, combining Fraxel laser treatments with PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Therapy can significantly accelerate and enhance the process of skin rejuvenation. This combination approach leverages the benefits of both treatments, maximizing the effects on skin texture and overall appearance, and offering patients a more comprehensive solution for their skin care needs.
Your Fraxel Treatment Plan
Dr. Petropoulos gives her Boston area patients impressive results with Fraxel treatments.
Most patients are treated in a series of sessions. At your consultation, Dr. Petropoulos examines your skin, listens to what you want to change, and sets the number and spacing of treatments around that. If tightening, volume loss or deeper lines are part of the picture, she will tell you whether pairing Fraxel with another non-surgical treatment makes sense, or whether Fraxel on its own is the better path.
Most patients are treated in a series of sessions. At your consultation, Dr. Petropoulos examines your skin, listens to what you want to change, and sets the number and spacing of treatments around that. If tightening, volume loss or deeper lines are part of the picture, she will tell you whether pairing Fraxel with another non-surgical treatment makes sense, or whether Fraxel on its own is the better path.
Reach out TODAY!
If you are ready to discover how Fraxel treatments, alone or in combination with other non-surgical treatments, can renew your skin, request a consultation online with Dr. Petropoulos or call her at 978-739-9500. She has been helping North Shore residents from cities such as Beverly, Peabody, and Gloucester, and people throughout New England, restore and maintain their beauty for over a decade
- 978.739.9500
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions patients ask us most.
Who Is A Good Candidate For Fraxel Treatments?
Anyone looking to address common skin concerns could be an ideal candidate for treatments with Dr. Petropoulos, as most of us deal with issues like sun damage, age spots, fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. Fraxel is particularly effective for a variety of skin problems including fine lines and wrinkles like crow’s feet, surface scarring from acne or other causes, pigmented lesions and areas of darker pigmentation, sun-damaged skin, and actinic keratoses. This versatility makes Fraxel a suitable procedure for those seeking comprehensive skin rejuvenation and a solution to multiple skin imperfections.
How does the Fraxel Laser Treatment Work?
Unlike many traditional laser treatments, there is no downtime with the Fraxel Re:store laser treatment since it treats tiny, pinpoint “microcolumns” of the skin’s surface leaving alternating areas untouched. Fractora™ treatments work in a similar manner using radiofrequency energy instead of a laser.
Collagen production and new skin generation is stimulated in the treated microcolumns. As collagen is gradually restored, your skin tone and texture improve. Because alternating pinpoint areas remain unaffected, the skin appears normal after the treatment with no downtime.
Are There Side Effects Or Risks With Fraxel Treatments?
The FDA has cleared Fraxel for these uses: periorbital wrinkles, acne scars, surgical scars, age spots, sun spots, melasma, actinic keratoses, and skin resurfacing. That means these procedures had to pass rigorous safety testing prior to receiving approval.
Swelling and redness are the most common side effects from a Fraxel treatment. Swelling is minimal and usually only lasts a day or two. Redness fades within a few days. Pigmentation spots become darker initially, which can be disconcerting, but that is a sign they’re on the way out. You may have some minor itching, dry feeling skin, slight peeling or flaking, and some bronzing of the skin, but these are all temporary effects.
What Is The Recovery From Fraxel Treatment?
For the first day after your session your skin will feel as though it has a mild sunburn. It will appear pink, possibly even red. Your skin will bronze as the first sign the pigmented spots have received the laser energy and are about to peel away. This can all be effectively covered with makeup.
If possible, it’s great to have a Fraxel treatment late in the day on a Friday. That way your skin can calm down over the weekend.
What Can I Expect With Fraxel Laser Resurfacing?
After applying a topical anesthetic cream, we smooth the Fraxel laser treatment wand over the targeted areas producing a prickly sensation. After treatment your skin might look and feel like you had mild sun exposure for the first 1 to 2 days. Most patients need a series of 3 to 5 treatments spaced about a month apart for optimal results.
What Is Recovery Like After a Fraxel Treatment?
Recovery after Fraxel is straightforward. Your skin will be somewhat red and may feel tight for a few days after your session. Most patients return to their usual routine right away. If you would rather let the redness settle first, plan for a day or two at home, or cover it with makeup once your skin feels comfortable.
When Will I See Results From Fraxel?
Your results are immediate and then progressive. You’ll see the response to the laser energy as your pigmented spots darken. That is the beginning of the end for them, as your body has started to replace those cells with excess melanin with new, healthier skin cells.
The collagen and elastin increases take some time, showing their peak somewhere between 2-3 months. This is the healing mechanism where new collagen production ramps up and damaged tissue is replaced.
Whether you have Fraxel on its own or combine it with PRP, this is still the timeline you can expect.