Non-ablative laser rejuvenation allows you to tighten skin, reduce expression lines, improve skin tone, even out relief, and tighten pores. This gentle laser exposure version is recommended for people with photo signs and skin aging.
Ablative and non-ablative laser rejuvenation: what's the difference?
Ablative and non-ablative rejuvenation methods differ in the degree of laser exposure to the treated area.
Ablative lasers, which act on the skin, damage its surface. The temperature of the treated area rises almost instantly to 150°C. There is targeted and controlled trauma to the skin to start the recovery process.
The depth of exposure depends on the laser used. Carbon dioxide penetrates deeper than the erbium, capturing the upper part of the dermis. The stronger the impact, the longer the recovery period the client will have to go through.
Non-ablative procedures are less severe and have no rehabilitation period. The doctor selects the power and diameter of the laser beam, which ensures the penetration of the beam deep into the skin. The surface of the treated skin area is not disturbed, only hyperemia remains.
The essence of non-ablative laser rejuvenation method effect
Skin firmness depends on the amount of structural protein. These include elastin and collagen. They are responsible for the skin's ability to stretch and contract.
If the amount of structural protein in the skin is reduced, it recovers worse after stretching, becoming flabby and saggy. Wrinkles began to appear.
The laser beam, which is a directed beam of light:
- Affects the structure of the dermis;
- Protein denaturation occurs;
- Stimulates the synthesis of new collagen and elastin molecules.
The goal of non-ablative laser treatment is to heat the structural protein to 42-80 ° C. At the temperature limit, protein denaturation occurs: it thickens, activating aseptic inflammation, which leads to the start of the recovery process. New fibroblast cells appear and the skin is gradually renewed.
Today, cosmetology clinic clients have access to laser rejuvenation with neodymium, erbium, diode, or alexandrite lasers.
Advantages of the procedure, disadvantages
Indications for non-ablative laser rejuvenation are:
- Photo and chronic aging of the skin of the face, neck, décolleté, hands;
- Decreased tone;
- Uneven skin tone
- post-acne;
- scar tissue;
- Vascular asterisk.
The benefits of non-ablative laser rejuvenation include:
- Save impact. The laser leaves no visible damage. Rarely, mild swelling may occur;
- physiological rejuvenation;
- Fast recovery. The surface of the skin is not disturbed, after the procedure, hyperemia, which disappears in 24 hours;
- Impact accuracy. On the laser device, the beam diameter, pulse power, and various operating options are set.
This procedure has drawbacks:
- More procedures are required relative to ablative methods;
- Mild impact is unable to remove deep scars;
- Monthly repeat. It is recommended to carry out a course of 3-6 procedures every 14-30 days. Then the cumulative effect will manifest itself in full and the results will be more visible;
- High price.
Non-ablative laser rejuvenation is recommended for people who do not want a rehab period and are able to perform the procedure as a course.
Possible complications
The likelihood of complications during non-ablative laser rejuvenation is significantly lower compared to traditional treatments (chemical and acid peels, surgical intervention, etc. ). The main risks are untrained personnel and poor quality equipment. The problem is easily solved by checking the clinic reviews.
At a private meeting with a cosmetologist, you should ask questions about the cosmetologist's education and request a certificate for the laser.
It would not be superfluous to clarify when the machine was last serviced and ask for confirmation that the laser was in order.
The patient should inform the doctor about a possible allergic reaction to the drug. Before the procedure, the doctor is obliged to inform about contraindications.
How does non-ablative laser skin rejuvenation work?
Before setting yourself up for non-ablative laser rejuvenation, please note that this procedure requires a mandatory consultation with a doctor. The cosmetologist assesses the condition of the skin, predicts the result, chooses a technique based on the individual characteristics of the patient's skin. It is important to ensure that there are no contraindications: pregnancy, skin neoplasms, inflammation and infectious diseases, and so on.
Preparing for the session
Before non-ablative rejuvenation procedures, it is advisable to stop using alcohol, tetracycline antibiotics, anticoagulants and retinol.
There should be no damage to the treated skin area.
A week before going to the doctor, you should give up aggressive skin, alcohol-containing cosmetics. Immediately before visiting the clinic, you do not need to apply decorative cosmetics, creams and lotions to the treated area.
Technique
The cosmetologist selects the procedure for the procedure, the intensity of radiation, the area of \u200b\u200btreatment. The client goes through 4 stages:
- Accommodation. The patient lies on the sofa, takes a comfortable position, where he will spend from 10 to 30 minutes. Hair is removed from the forehead under a disposable hat;
- Facial cleansing. The doctor removes the remnants of cosmetics, sebum and other impurities;
- Laser treatment. The beautician in scanning mode processes the required area;
- To reduce redness, a cream is applied to the treated area, which stimulates the regeneration process.
Most people experience no pain during non-ablative rejuvenation. For clients with sensitive skin, the doctor will offer local anesthesia.
Recovery
Slight redness in the treatment area and a warm feeling on the inside. These symptoms go away on their own within 1-2 days.
For the best effect, the first 3-4 days, you need to protect the treated area from high temperatures: leave the bath, sauna, solarium for 2 weeks. There is no need to rub the skin with hands, actively massage, apply decorative cosmetics.
Prices for non-ablative laser rejuvenation
Depending on the device used in the clinic and the type of radiation source (erbium, neodymium, diode, etc. ), the price of non-ablative laser facial skin rejuvenation is from $45 to $330. The number of procedures recommended is at least three, the full course will cost the client$140-1000.
Neck and hand treatments are cheaper - from $28 to $125 (these areas usually cost the same). Neckline - from $ 33 to $ 145. The procedure can also be applied to other parts of the body: stomach, buttocks, thighs, shoulders and arms. A number of clinics offer partial treatment: treatment of the frontal area, nose, facial wrinkles near the eyes.
Many clinics offer complexes: face + décolleté, face plus neck, face + neck + décolleté, etc. Such general anti-aging treatments are less expensive than treating the zones separately.
Service fees are set independently by each clinic. A significant drop in prices should be worrying. It is possible that the clinic used low-quality equipment or did not follow the recommendations for replacing consumable parts of the device.
Review
On the cosmetology clinic's website, clients post reviews of non-ablative laser rejuvenation, share their impressions and suggestions, publish "before" and "after" photos.
"I've completed a full course in laser rejuvenation. I'll tell you about the procedure itself, so beginners know what to expect: the beam heats up. Feels like a mild electric shock, burns a little, but you can endure it. If anyone has ever done laser hairremoval, then here's the one-on-one feeling.
The face after the treatment is a little red, but you can safely go to work the next day. The effect increases gradually: the face looks smooth, the skin thickens. After 5 days, my skin peeled off a bit, but nothing peeled off straight. In general, I am pleased with how the effect will wear off, I plan to repeat it. "
"The first time I decided on a non-ablative laser skin rejuvenation was in 2015. And I was surprised by the effect! The first few hours my face burned, as if scalded by hot water. Then the impression, like from light brown, no tightening occurred. Secondthe first time I made up my mind after constantly advertising my friend. He did it in another clinic and got younger, 10 years.
I went to consult a beautician, he explained to me that the first time the power was chosen incorrectly. I've told you something about wavelength, how neodymium lasers work, but I don't understand anything. And for the second time I love everything! So now I also recommend everyone. The main thing is to find a competent specialist. "
In most reviews of non-ablative laser rejuvenation, patients note visible results.
Non-ablative laser rejuvenation helps maintain skin tone, prolonging youth. The absence of an aggressive effect allows people with sensitive skin to use this procedure.
Before performing non-ablative rejuvenation, consultation with a beautician is necessary.