New Fractional Laser, a Success
Every year new advances rise to the surface of the plastic surgery industry. America’s increasing obsession with physical appearance and youth has attributed to this fast evolving industry.
Of the many new advances, one of the most recent is a new laser that is being used to help reverse the signs of aging. The new laser is designed to penetrate deeper in to the skin to battle the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation, and to tighten the surface of the skin.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the laser for initial testing before it was available to patients. Two centers were granted approval to conduct tests by the FDA; one of the centers being UT Southwestern. Plastic surgeons at UT Southwestern have completed a series of tests and have begun to put the new laser to use on their patients.
Benefits of the New Laser
The tests ran by surgeons of UT Southwestern proved the laser to be successful. The laser is a carbon dioxide-based fractional laser and combines minute focused columns of laser-induced injury with heat deposition. The newfound technique gives patients a younger, fresher appearance with less damage to the skin and a quicker recovery time.
“Fractional lasers are like aerating your lawn, where you have a bunch of holes in your lawn, but you have normal lawn in between. This allows for more rapid healing because intact, normal skin bridges the gap between the laser-induced injured skin,” said Dr. Jeffrey Kenkel, vice chairman of plastic surgery whose research involves the effects of lasers on tissue.
According to Kenkel, the development of the new fractional laser may just be the biggest advancement in the laser world.
“What’s appealing about carbon dioxide lasers is that not only can you get surface and deeper skin changes, but you get heat that’s deposited into the skin resulting in improvement in wrinkles and skin tightening,” said Dr. Kenkel.
Countless Options for Restoring a Youthful Appearance
Currently, there are some 200 lasers available on the market designed to reverse the signs of aging and restore a youthful appearance. Leaders in the plastic surgery industry, however, like Kenkel, are giving their votes to the new carbon dioxide-based fractional laser; at least for now.
With the ever increasing desire to look our best, it is only a matter of time before the next, newer and better laser hits the shelves. Until then, the carbon dioxide-based fractional laser seems to take the gold medal.
