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Fractional Laser Treatments
Am I a good Pixel Perfect™ candidate?
If your skin looks older than you want it to, you’re a candidate for Pixel Perfect™ laser treatments. The best candidates have moderate sun damage, are in good health and take care of their skin.
Does Pixel Perfect work on my skin type?
Pixel Perfect™ is fractional laser resurfacing that can be performed on most skin types.
How long will it take?
Treatment time depends on many factors, but can take less than 30 minutes. If your condition is advanced, your treatment may take longer.
Is it safe?
Pixel Perfect™ resurfacing treatments have been performed all over the world and continue to be a safe and effective way of rejuvenating your skin. Some skin conditions can interfere with any treatment of this nature, so consult your provider to be sure.
Will it hurt?
Pain tolerance varies from person to person. Erbium Pixel Perfect™ treatments may feel like a sunburn while CO2 and Radio Frequency treatments may seem more intense. Either way, follow all post treatment instructions and know that pain symptoms are normal and fleeting.
What if I need a touch-up later?
While Pixel Perfect™ laser resurfacing and other laser treatments from Alma Lasers can give you great looking skin, nothing stops the hands of time! Depending on your starting point, you may need a touch-up treatment 6-12 months later. Your lifestyle is also a mitigating factor and, for best results, you should maintain a healthy lifestyle and take good care of your skin.
How much does it cost?
The cost of Pixel Perfect™ and any laser treatment varies depending on your skin condition and the extent of the treatment.
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Microneedling
What is Medical Micro-Needling?
For skin micro-needling, we use an electric skin needling device made especially for this purpose. The device is a pen shaped studded with 12 very fine needles. It is a medical device used in micro needling to break down old scar tissue and to stimulate skin cells to proliferate. This cell multiplication results in the formation of new tissue layers of elastin and collagen fibers as well as in new capillaries for an improved blood supply.
What conditions can be treated or improved with Medical Micro-Needling?
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Mild to moderate acne scarring; any new or old scars
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Fine lines and wrinkles;
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Loose, lax skin;
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Skin texture and pore size
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Stretch marks
How does Medical Micro-Needling work?
The device slides along the skin, penetrating the upper layers of the skin to a depth of up to 2mm to create numerous tiny needle wounds. The procedure prompts the body to respond through the creation of new collagen and elastin fibers. In response to the stimulus, the skin plumps and thickens, reducing the appearance of scars, and fine lines and wrinkles.
What does the procedure involve?
The skin is cleaned and numbing cream may be applied to lessen discomfort. For better results we use a collagen-stimulating product like Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin-C serum or skin lightener for pigmentation during the procedure. A small handheld pen like device with a sterile, disposable tip with 12 tiny needles is then used to pierce the skin. Our needling pen’s multi-speed and adjustable needle depth allow needles to pierce the skin’s layer at 90 degrees and increase the absorption of products. After the treatment, soothing Vitamin-C serum or Hyaluronic acid are used to hydrate, heal and protect the skin.
What will I look like after the treatment?
Most people will experience redness and mild swelling in a similar way as mild sunburn for 24-48 hours and there may be minimal pin-point bleeding and/or bruising. Within a week or two, you will notice that your skin is smoother and more radiant looking but the full effects won’t be seen until a few months later.
What is the down time after Medical Micro-Needling treatment?
The inflammatory reaction of the skin is extremely short and fades significantly within hours from redness to pinkish that may last for 12 to 48 hours. In order to reduce visible redness, we recommend hyaluronic acid after the procedure, and to protect the skin with zinc based sunblock. The use of mineral makeup is recommended after procedure.
What are the benefits of Medical Micro-Needling?
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Dramatically increases the effectiveness and penetration of active ingredients in topical preparation
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Stimulates circulation and collagen production
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Medical grade titanium needles makes it non-allergenic to human tissue
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Cost effective compared to other resurfacing procedures
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Can be performed on all skin types, including ethnic skin
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It can be used on all areas of the scalp, face, body including fragile skin like around eyes, mouth and neck
What effects does the Medical Micro-Needling have on the skin?
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improves skin texture and reduces the appearance of wrinkles
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stimulates tissue regeneration
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disfiguring scars, especially acne scars can be improved as new collagen fibers elevate the depressed scar tissue with the periphery skin
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pore size reduction
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improves the appearance of stretch marks
Is Medical Micro-Needling painful?
Prior to the treatment, numbing cream can be applied to minimize pain that is felt during the procedure.
Can Micro-Needling be performed on any skin color?
Medical Micro-needling is safe to use on all skin types and all skin colors. There is no risk of post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation.
How many treatments do I need and how often can Medical Micro Micro-Needling procedures be repeated?
Micro-needling can be safely repeated every 4-6 weeks until you achieve the desired results. For collagen induction we recommend to start with 3 treatments, but with a minimum separation time of 4 to 6 weeks between treatments. For scar reduction an average of 3 to 6 treatments are recommended. The number of treatments required will depend on how each individual responds to the treatments, and the extent of the damage at the beginning Micro-needling can be used on all skin parts of the body (neck, décolleté, arms, legs, etc). Most people will begin to see results after the very first appointment.
Risks of post-op infections?
Since the tiny pricking channels close within one hour, and provided the procedure is done under clinical conditions, post-op infections are extremely unlikely.
What should I avoid on my skin after treatment?
To ensure the right healing environment, for 2-3 days do not use AHA’s (glycolic Acid), retinol, acidic or “active” ingredients. Exposure to sun should also be avoided or zinc based sunblock should be used.
What are the side effects of the Medical Micro-Needling procedure?
There are virtually no negative side effects, and none have ever been reported in over 150,000 procedures performed worldwide.
Am I a candidate for the Medical Micro- Needling?
Medical micro-needling can be safely performed on all skin types and all skin colors. As the epidermis and in particular, melanocytes in the basal area are left intact. There is minimal risk of pigment change or post inflammatory hyper-pigmentation. Skin micro-needling can treat sensitive and fragile areas that are difficult to treat with other procedures. These areas include the eyes, the neck and the back of the hands. However, it is not suitable for patients who:
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Have a used Accutane (isotretinoin) within the last three months
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Have open wounds, cuts or abrasions on the skin
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Have had radiation treatment to the skin within the last year
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Have any kind of current skin infection, condition, herpes simplex in the area to be treated
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Are pregnant or breast feeding
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Have any history of keloid or hypertrophic scars or poor wound healing
Radiofrequency Fractional Microneedling
Sometimes also called RadioFrequency MicroNeedling, or Fractional RadioFrequency, RF MicroNeedling concentrates its energy into the most important part of the skin that is responsible for the textural irregularities and skin’s firmness and elasticity. By protecting the surface layer of the skin from heat energy, the risk of pigment change in skin of color is eliminated, and the downtime is truly minimized.
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RF MicroNeedling as Part of an Acne Scar Treatment Plan
RF MicroNeedling is usually one step in a multi-therapy acne scar treatment plan. For patients with deeply sunken-in scars (Box car and Ice Pick scar types), elevation of these deep scars usually occurs prior to RF MicroNeedling, which will help to put the finishing touches on skin texture and smoothness. Pigmented scars are also typically treated with laser therapy prior to RF MicroNeedling.
At Reflections, you can be sure your acne scar treatment plan will be hand-selected by the some of the nation’s foremost laser and cosmetic physicians, who will choose the best combination of therapies, based on the very latest science. To support our ability to create the ultimate in acne scar treatment plans, we offer the largest selection of technology-based cosmetic services in the Northeastern United States, including all of the leading Fractional RadioFrequency systems, the Endymed 3Deep Intensif, Lutronic INFINI, and Syneron-Candela eMatrix, as well as over 50 additional cosmetic technology-based treatments.
RF MicroNeedling works to smooth out the acne scars that plague so many people by stimulating new collagen and elastin in the deep layers of the skin, while bypassing the most superficial layer which is most prone to side effects and prolonged downtime. Before RF MicroNeedling, many treatments were provided with aggressive lasers or deep chemical peels that patients found difficult to fit into their busy lifestyle. Furthermore, many of these devices were not safe for patients with darker skin.
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How Fractional RadioFrequency Works
RF MicroNeedling uses very tiny microneedles (smaller than the diameter of a hair) to deliver safe radio frequency energy into the deeper layer of the skin where collagen and elastin fibers form support structures. The polarity of the energy emitted creates arcs of energy between the microneedles, delivering energy below the skin’s surface to remodel the skin without the visible top-layer downtime of previous technologies. Both the Lutronic INFINI and the Endymed 3Deep Intensif offer several settings for depth, intensity, and number of microneedles, which allows each system to provide a variety of treatments, customized to the individual.
By delivering the majority of the energy to the mid-level dermis, RF MicroNeedling targets the skin’s underlying support system of collagen fibers and restructures any areas that have damage due to acne scarring. Rebuilding the skin’s support system allows the epidermis, the top-most layer of the skin, to be smooth and strong. This is this as similar to rebuilding a cracked foundation in a house, allowing all of the layers above that foundation to be stronger, stabilized, and in their proper place. In the skin, this often means replacing the support “holes” in the dermis, which cause sunken-in scars, like ice pick and box car scars to form.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT RF MicroNeedling:
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What downtime or recovery should I expect with RF MicroNeedling?
Fractional RadioFrequency works to minimize your downtime and maximize the speed at which you achieve results in two ways:
Fractionated Energy: “fractional” energy treatments deliver energy to a portion of the skin. The percentage of skin treated during Fractional Radio Frequency MicroNeedling can be adjusted during each treatment. Treating the entire skin at once would lead to a very long recovery with high risk for infection and complication (think intense chemical peels and fully ablative laser therapy). Treating a portion of the skin means the skin is able to recover quicker and keep risks and complications at a minimum. Using a series of treatments, Fractional Radio Frequency treats each cell at least once during the series. This way you can achieve the same effectiveness as an invasive treatment, with fewer risks and a shorter downtime.
Minimized Damage to the skin surface: Unlike laser skin resurfacing, Fractional Radio Frequency is able to deliver the energy where its needed most, in the lower dermis, while minimizing the damage to the skin’s surface. This means you will experience the absolute minimum in visible downtime, without sacrificing results.
Fractional RadioFrequency does have the potential to create bleeding, due to the microneedles. We have seen this vary from patient-to-patient. Typically bleeding is minimal and resolves immediately without any additional side effects or required action. Most patients elect to take the evening off from social activities. You should feel comfortable to return to normal social activities no later than 48 hours post-treatment, without the risk of anyone knowing you’ve had a procedure.
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Does RF MicroNeedling hurt?
Treatments with Infini and Intensif are tolerated quite well. To ensure your treatment is comfortable, we utilize a topical numbing cream (lidocaine), and can offer additional numbing with injection, if desired.
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When will I start to see results from a RF MicroNeedling treatment?
Fractional RadioFrequency works by causing your skin to rebuild old and damaged cells, thus the results are not immediate and depend upon the speed at which your body responds. typically, improvements are noticed 6-8 weeks after a session. Each patient typically wants to have 3 or more sessions to see significant results. However, the number of sessions recommended for your acne scars will be included in your customized treatment plan, provided during your consultation.
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Is RF MicroNeedling safe? Can RadioFrequency Microneedling be dangerous?
RF MicroNeedling is very safe. Because the energy spares the most superficial layer of the skin, most of the risks of side effects seen with aggressive lasers or deep chemical peels can be minimized or completely avoided. The two devices we use most often are the Intensif made by Endymed 3Deep and the INFINI made by Lutronic. Both have been FDA cleared for their safety and effectiveness. Infini is unique in that it insulates the tiny microneedles. This is an added safety measure to protect the very top layer of the skin, which is the area most prone to damage with laser treatments, especially in patients with darker skin. (epidemis not treated)
Is RF MicroNeedling safe for my skin tone or type?
The range of treatment settings in these two devices allow our physicians to create treatments which are safe for all skin types, including darker skin tones and skin which is prone to hyperpigmentation. This makes RF MicroNeedling a better alternative than laser skin resurfacing for the majority of patients with dark skin or skin which is prone to scarring or pigmentation. This also means those with lighter skin tones no longer have to post-pone laser therapies during the summer – Fractional RadioFrequency doesn’t have to wait for your tan to fade.
How many treatments will I need? How far apart are treatments spaced?
Generally, patients require 3-4 treatment sessions that are spaced one month apart in order to give the skin time to fully rejuvenate and rebuild its foundational matrix, restoring the skin’s texture and strength. Your initial recovery period should last no longer than 48 hours, but it’s important to allow your skin to naturally and sufficiently rebuild itself before your next treatment session. This treatment plan allows us time to measure your skin’s progress and determine whether further treatments are needed (or whether you might benefit from other treatment options in the meantime). We recommend you undergo at least 3 treatment sessions in order to see significant changes and improvements in the skin’s smoothness and texture, but this can vary based on your aesthetic goals and prior treatments. RF MicroNeedling can be a final step in an acne scar treatment process, however, which might also require other treatments prior to this procedure in order to elevate deep scars and achieve the best results for your skin. We offer a wide array of laser- and technology-based treatments for your unique skin concerns, so our experts can help you create the best treatment plan for you and your schedule during your skincare consultation.
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Will I need to go under general anesthesia?
No, general anesthesia is overkill for this procedure.
Typically, patients are either given a strong topical numbing cream or they are injected with lidocaine to numb the area that will be treated. Most patients do report some discomfort, but say the treatment is tolerable. In the case that you find you are experiencing discomfort, we do offer nitrous oxide (commonly referred to as laughing gas), for a pain and anxiety-free experience. None of these options in any way inhibit your ability to drive yourself home from the procedure.
In general, we try to steer clear of general anesthesia because of its negative side effects and potential risks. While it does serve a great purpose in emergency medicine and general surgery, the risks are too high for something such as RF Microneedling.
