- If you are having a facial treatment you can either come without makeup, or you will be asked to remove it when you arrive. If you wish, you can reapply your makeup immediately after treatment. (Most people decide not to, however.)
- You will be red and notice the greatest amount of swelling on the morning after treatment. The intensity and duration of these side-effects depends on the aggressiveness of your treatment and how you heal. It is best not to schedule this treatment within two weeks of an engagement for which you have concern about your appearance.
- Stop all active tanning, either from the sunshine or tanning booth, at least two weeks prior to treatment. There are no restrictions on the use of self-tanning products.
- Do not have any laser or other light-based treatments until your series of Fraxel® Laser Treatments is complete, unless approved by your our office.
- If you use products that contain glycolic acid, retinoids, or retinols; stop them 2 weeks prior to treatment. Read the labels on all of your skin care products, including over-the-counter.
- Plan to use non-irritating and non-clogging skin care products for the first week or so after treatment. We recommend NeoCutis Gentle Cleanser, NeoCutis BioCream or BioGel and a Physical UV Defense SPF 50.
- If you take an oral medication for pain or anxiety, you will need someone to drive you home.
- If a bleaching regimen is prescribed; stop it 2 days prior to treatment.
- If you have a history of cold sores please advise us; you will need to take preventative medication.
Post Care Instructions
Fraxel® Laser Treatment produces side-effects. The intensity and duration of your side effects depends on the treatment aggressiveness your individual healing characteristics. Generally, patients who are treated more aggressively experience more intense side-effects that last longer. However, some patients have greater than “expected” reactions to less aggressive treatments and others have fewer side-effects to aggressive treatments than would ordinarily be expected. Notify Greenwich Medical Spa if the severity of your side-effects becomes a problem for you. Swelling. You will notice most of the swelling on the first morning after treatment, particularly under the eyes. Swelling usually lasts two to three days. To minimize swelling do the following:
- Apply cold compresses to the treatment area for 10 minutes of every hour on the day of treatment, until you go to bed.
- Sleep elevated the first night. Use as many pillows as you can tolerate.
- Redness. Most redness resolves during the first week after treatment, but a rosy “glow” can remain for several weeks. If you wish, you can apply makeup immediately after treatment to minimize the redness.
- Dry skin. Your skin may feel dry, peel, or flake. You may notice a “sandpaper” texture a few days after treatment. This is the treated tissue working its way out of your body as new fresh skin is regenerated.
- Bronzing, Crusting and Small Dark Dots. Fraxel Laser Treatment causes destruction to microscopic cylinders of skin which then exfoliates during the healing process. In individuals with heavily pigmented skin, or in areas where sun damage has produced pigmented lesions, these microscopic wounds, known as MENDs, contain large amounts of melanin. Because there are so many MENDs, they can make the skin look bronzed, or small areas appear crusted (do not try to scratch them off). When high energies are used to produce deep and wide lesions, the MENDs can sometimes be seen as individual dark dots. On the face, the MENDs will shed within 7-10 days. Off the face, it may take as long as 3 weeks for the MENDs to shed.
- Raw Skin. If you develop areas of raw skin post treatment, keep them moist with something like Aquaphor® or Bacitracin®. You do not need to apply band-aids, but keep the areas moist and do not pick at them. They will heal very rapidly on their own and without problems.
How to Care for Your Skin After Treatment
Congratulations! You have taken the first step toward more healthy and radiant looking skin by having a Fraxel re:store™ laser treatment. Now it is important to help your skin heal quickly and protect your skin investment.
- DUAL LASER ONLY – FIRST 3-4 DAYS. Apply light layer of Aquaphor or petrolatum (fresh product only) after cleansing 3-4 times per day.
- Skin Care Products. All of your skin care products should be non-irritating and non-clogging for a few weeks after Fraxel Laser Treatment. We recommend NeoCutis Gentle Cleanser and NeoCutis BioCream or BioGel.
- Sunscreen. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, proper and frequent application of sunscreen is very important. The sunscreen should offer broadband protection (UVA and UVB) and have a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more. We recommend SkinCuetical’s Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50. You should first apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going outside, and again, immediately before. After that, reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours. If direct sun exposure is necessary, wear a hat and clothing that covers the treated area. Use this regimen during the healing period and always. You will probably find that you use about 1 bottle of sunscreen per month, rather than the 1 bottle per year that most people use.
- Moisturizer. Remember that peeling and/or flaking is normal during the healing process. You could develop breakouts. We recommend NeoCutis BioCream or BioGel. Reapply whenever your skin feels dry.
- Scrubs, Toners, Glycolic Acid, and Retin A. Your skin will be sensitive for the first week or so after treatment, so do not use products that will cause irritation during this time. Do not use abrasive scrubs, toners, or products that contain glycolyic acids or Retin A. Read the product labels.
- Bleaching Creams. Discontinue use of your bleaching cream while your skin is tender. Restart your bleaching cream on: ____________________.
- Resume your normal skin care regimen when your skin has fully healed.
- Cold Sores. If you have a history of cold sores, ask your doctor about care!
Fraxel for Stretch Marks Pre-Post Care
- Stop all active tanning, either from the sunshine or tanning booth, at least two weeks prior to treatment. There are no restrictions on the use of self-tanning products.
- Do not have any laser or other light-based treatments until your series of Fraxel® Laser Treatments is complete, unless approved by your our office.
- You will be prescribed a Retinoid and bleaching regimin to use for 4 weeks prior to your Fraxel Stretch Mark treatment. This will help reduce/prevent Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation. You will stop the regimen 2 days prior to treatment.
- Plan to use non-irritating and non-clogging skin care products for the first week or so after treatment. We recommend SkinCuetical’s Physical UV Defense SPF 50.
- If you take an oral medication for pain or anxiety, you will need someone to drive you home.
- If you have a history of cold sores please advise us; you will need to take preventative medication.