Procedure Details

On December 31, 2007, Dr. Min Ahn became the first physician in Massachusetts and one of the first fifteen in the country to incorporate the revolutionary skin rejuvenation tool, the Fraxel Repair laser into his practice. Dr. Ahn was offered the laser by the manufacturer several months before its official launch date based on his success with the Fraxel Restore laser. Since then, the Fraxel Repair laser has become an integral part of many surgical and non-surgical treatments available for facial rejuvenation at The Aesthetic Wellness Center. Because if his extensive experience with the laser, Dr. Ahn frequently treats patients who are willing to travel across the country or from other countries and was recently featured in Vogue Magazine (April 2010). 

Based on his clinical study presented at the national meeting of Facial Plastic Surgeons in 2008 (submitted for publication) Dr. Ahn has developed a unique protocol called the Hybrid Protocol. This differs from the basic settings that novice physicians use by combining both deep and superficial treatment of the skin with the Fraxel repair laser to not only stimulate collagen but also clear pigmentation and smooth lines more effectively. (Figure)

The Fraxel Repair laser employs a novel technique called fractional resurfacing that delivers thousands of microscopic points of laser contact to the skin in a computer-controlled pattern. Because the laser points are separated, much like pixels in a digital picture, only a fraction of the total skin surface is treated at one time. This leads to more rapid and safer than traditional bulk ablative resurfacing lasers popular 10-20 years ago. At each laser contact point, your body grows new collagen that will last for years. In essence, old skin is replaced with younger looking skin with better texture, smaller pores and more normal pigmentation.

The Fraxel repair laser system is FDA cleared for fractional ablative treatment of

• wrinkles
• rhytides
• furrows
• fine lines
• textural irregularities
• pigmented lesions
• vascular dyschromia

Fractional resurfacing was originally developed in the lab of innovative dermatologist, Dr. Rox Anderson, at the Massachusetts General Hospital. The first version of that laser became the Fraxel Restore laser, which uses a “gentler” type of laser called the Erbium laser. In contrast, the Fraxel Repair laser uses a carbon dioxide (CO₂) that results in more tightening of the skin and better smoothing of wrinkles, typically with just one treatment.   

The Fraxel repair laser has undergone extensive safety testing in the lab and out in the field. Recovery from Fraxel repair consists of an at home recovery for 5 days with redness, swelling, and some crusting. After that time patients can return to their normal activities with mild to moderate redness that lasts for 2-3 weeks and that can be covered with makeup.

Since 2007, Dr. Ahn has used the Fraxel Repair as a stand alone treatment to rejuvenate the skin or in combination with surgical procedures such as eyelid lifts or mini lifts. While surgery improves the facial shape and volume, it does not improve the skin quality significantly. The Fraxel Repair laser alone will not lift jowels, tighten the neck significantly or remove excessive eyelid skin. Combining the two treatments often in the same session makes use of their respective benefits resulting in a synergistic rejuvenating effect.

Dr. Ahn says he's excited about the results of patient studies using the Fraxel repair laser. "This may be the most technologically advanced anti-aging tool available today," he says. "The re: pair laser produces significant tissue tightening, wrinkle reduction and textural improvements to both the face and neck. Leading physicians throughout the country are reporting significant skin smoothing and tightening results," he adds.

"In my opinion, achieving such results in an office setting-with little recovery time-constitutes a breakthrough in anti-aging."

Perhaps even more promising, Dr. Ahn says, is the idea that treating skin with lasers earlier on in the aging process-at around age 40-50-may actually slow or prevent the skin from breaking down and appearing wrinkled and saggy later on in life.

"If we can remove some of the skin at an earlier age and stimulate the growth of new collagen, we might actually slow down the aging process significantly, allowing us to have healthier, better looking skin later in our golden years," Ahn says. "That's a benefit worth talking more about."

To determine if you are a candidate for Fraxel repair, please call our office and schedule a consultation with Dr. Ahn.