Co-authored with Dr. Leora Aizman
Over time, even the healthiest skin begins to show signs of sun exposure and aging. Fine lines deepen, brown spots appear, texture changes and acne scars can become more noticeable. While medical skin care can certainly help, sometimes you need a treatment that works on a deeper level.
Fractional Laser Resurfacing is one of our most effective tools for improving skin texture, tone and overall quality while still allowing for controlled healing and predictable downtime. UltraClear, our newest fractional laser resurfacing, adds to our toolbox with advanced features that are appreciated by our doctors and patients alike.
What is fractional resurfacing?
Fractional Resurfacing is a laser ablative treatment that creates tiny, tiny, precisely controlled holes in the skin. But instead of removing the entire surface layer (as older fully ablative lasers once did), fractional technology treats a “fraction” of skin at a time. The untreated skin environment dramatically helps speed up healing while reducing recovery time.
This controlled approach allows us to smooth lines, tighten skin, stimulate collagen and elastin, soften scars, and improve discoloration while maintaining a strong safety profile and minimal downtime.
What can it cure?
Fractional resurfacing is commonly used to:
- Fine lines and deeper wrinkles, especially around the mouth and eyes
- Skin tightening
- Sun damage and pigment abnormalities
- Acne scars and surgical scars
It is especially useful for patients who want a substantial improvement in texture and firmness, not just a subtle glow.
How does it work?
Ablative lasers such as CO2, Er:YAG and the new UltraClear target water inside the skin. Because our skin contains a large amount of water, the laser energy is absorbed into the surface skin and can precisely heat and remove damaged tissue while stimulating the formation of new collagen.
As the skin heals over the following days and weeks, the collagen remodels and tightens. Many of our patients notice continued improvements for several months after treatment as the skin rebuilds.
What advances UltraClear brings to our patients
Improved comfort
One of the main advantages of the UltraClear laser over other fractional resurfacing devices is the comfort of the treatment. While we generally need to use local anesthetic injections with other ablative lasers, the UltraClear rotates its pulses in a way that reduces discomfort to the point that in most cases we only need local anesthetic creams instead of injections. This is a dramatic improvement and advancement in laser resurfacing.
Custom resurfacing, from light to deep
The UltraClear laser is extremely versatile and can be adjusted to give a very superficial or very deep breakthrough depending on the patient’s needs. The more aggressive the treatment, the more improvement we can achieve – but that also means more downtime.
Depending on your treatment settings, you can expect several days of redness and peeling, and sometimes up to 7-10 days before feeling fully socially ready. We carefully tailor the settings to your goals, skin type and schedule to find the right balance for you.
Is UltraClear an option for you?
UltraClear fractional resurfacing can be a great option if:
- You want noticeable improvement in wrinkles around the mouth or eyes
- You are comfortable with a one week recovery period
- Opt for one more effective treatment rather than several lighter ones
- They are committed to appropriate aftercare
During your session, we’ll discuss your goals, examine your skin, and determine if ablative fractional resurfacing—or a lighter nonablative option—is the best fit.
When carefully selected and expertly performed, ablative fractional laser resurfacing with UltraClear can be transformative. If you’re interested in finding out if fractional resurfacing fits your goals, we’d be happy to evaluate your skin and create a custom treatment plan tailored to your needs.
