AILESBURY COSMETIC: 'ActiveFx laser explained' by Dr. Patrick Treacy

PR Log (Press Release) – Jun 22, 2009 – Patients should understand this is a real ablative CO2 laser (totally different to other heavily marketed and much less efficient devices such as the desquamative type lasers which, require multiple treatments to achieve a much less favourable result). During fractional treatment, only a portion of the skin's surface is treated by the laser, leaving small "bridges" of untouched skin. This technique makes the healing process much quicker and enables patients to get back to their normal life styles sooner. It is also less painful than other skin tightening RF devices . Other major benefits include the ability to use it under eyes to remove lines that Botox cannot to used to treat.

Note Full face Dublin €1500 London €5,000 or £3,000

Dramatic improvement in tone, texture and tightening*

With the increasing availability of aesthetic treatments, more and more patients are now seeking a remedy for fine lines, wrinkles, dyschromia, and skin laxity* that requires minimal downtime. These patients have usually active personal and professional lives, and want a treatment that is both effective and convenient. ActiveFX is the solution for these patients.

* D. Railan, Skilmer Ablative treatment of photoaging 2005 Dermatol Therapy 18:227241

ActiveFX provides remarkable results:

- Skin heals within 4 days
- Reduces wrinkles and fine lines
- Reduces or removes lines under eyes
- Only requires a topical cream
- Causes immediate skin tightening*
- Noticeably improves skin tone and texture
- Doctor can go deeper if required

Note Full face Dublin €1500 London €5,000 or £3,000

As they both use fractional technologies, what exactly is the comparitive differences between ActiveFx and Fraxel?

1. Yes, both ActiveFX and Fraxel use "fractional" coverage but Fraxel covers only about 20%, while ActiveFX covers about 80%. Clinical studies have shown that patients got consistent results with 80% (less coverage had too little results on some patients and more caused too much down-time). While 20% will reduce down-time, it also required multiple procedures or you have diminished results.

2. If one has an "aggressive" treatment with Fraxel (to try to eliminate the need to go back and forth to the doctor for multiple procedures), the Fraxel brochures indicate that down-time is 14-20 days! With ActiveFX, you get very noticeable results with downtime much less than a week. In fact, most people can put make-up on in 3-4 days and all pinkness is gone in less than a week. Now let's consider there is considerable PAIN associated with an aggressive Fraxel treatment: with ActiveFX, most people have little or no pain and can drive themselves home!

3. Fraxel uses NON-ablative technology. Without ablation, there is no immediate contracture. And, it takes a long time for dyschromia to diminish -- immediate with ActiveFX. Some pateints may remember the old CoolTouch system, which used a 1320nm wavelength to try to reduce wrinkles -- this is a very similar wavelength to Fraxel. That system has basically dissapeared now  as there were little noticeable results despite multiple treatments!)

4. According to their Physician Guide, Fraxel's heat penetrates to 900microns. The eyelid's epidermis + dermis is only about 300microns thick. Therefore, many physicians feel uncomfortable about using this laser inthis area. However, the ActiveFX procedure is impressive on the eyelids, especially when you consider that this is a single treatment with minimal downtime.