Bobbie Hawkins, 52 wanted to her face to have a healthier glow. She was concerned about her fine lines and wrinkles and enlarged pores around her nose and mouth. She had already had some non-invasive procedures such as micro-dermabrasion done, but the results did not seem very dramatic.
That’s when Hawkins heard about Fraxel, a new laser treatment which produces thousands of tiny, deep columns in the skin where the laser penetrates treating intensely, while leaving areas of the skin untouched. This “fractional” treatment allows the skin to heal faster than other skin resurfacing, and for Hawkins it meant she could go back to work almost immediately.
“It’s like you’ve got a new face, new skin—you’re left with skin that’s brand-new,” says Hawkins. And after her first procedure, others were already noticing her results. “That really was dramatic to me for people to notice,” she says.
Her first treatment at Dr. Enrique Silberblatt’s office in Roanoke, Aug. 12 was not painful, says Hawkins. “There’s really no pain. It’s nothing—a whole lot less than getting a filling done at the dentist.”
First, a white anesthetic cream was applied to Hawkin’s entire face, to numb the area. Then, during the procedure, the laser coupled with a hose directing cool air across her face made Hawkins comfortable. After the cream, a blue dye called OptiGuide Blue, a FDA certified water-soluble tint, was applied to Hawkin’s face, enabling the laser to trace the contours of her visage. “It just tingles, because your face is numb,” says Hawkins. Washing off the blue dye afterwards, Hawkins says was the hardest part, and even then, a gel was applied to her face beforehand so the blue dye would wash off more easily.
Later that day, there was some swelling, says Hawkins, but with a little Advil and her favorite ice pack—frozen peas—the effects are similar to sunburn. During the coming week, Hawkins face turned somewhat brown and was “tighter and a little crusty.” Within three days, the peeling began. Hawkins had been warned to let the dead skin slough off on its own and she did, describing the peeling as less noticeable with make-up—which she was able to wear that same evening, out to dinner.
“Some areas peel more than others, but the peeling is a good thing,” Hawkins says. The flaking was more severe under her nose and right under her lower lip, on her chin area.
“It’s just amazing after it peels how smooth it is,” says Hawkins. Hawkins’ second treatment was Sept. 22, and so far she’s been following the recommended skin regimen of cleansing her face with the very gentle bar of soap provided, staying out of the sun and applying sunscreen. So far her skin is very soft and smooth and has a more youthful appearance.
Gina Anderson, a skin technician at Silberblatt’s office worked closely with Hawkins and was very pleased with her results. “Bobbie had excellent results,” she says. “It improved what her concerns were.”
Anderson has experienced the same positive results on her own face, using Fraxel. “Personally, I’m actually prone to cystic acne,” says Anderson. She had minimal scars that left little shadows. “I felt the Fraxel did more for what I had than anything,” Anderson says.
Anderson is not the only one at Silberblatt’s office that has tried Fraxel. In fact, most everyone has, including Don Mundy, the administrator. Mundy has had three treatments of Fraxel, and he says his “skin is softer and the brown spots are gone.” Mundy even had a chicken pox scar on his chin that disappeared. “I had some places that wouldn’t heal that are gone,” says Mundy. Unlike the CO2 resurfacing where the laser burns the skin off, Fraxel does not have the tremendous healing process says Mundy, “I shaved the next day.”
Three to five sessions are recommended for Fraxel treatment, swelling is minimal and lasts two to three days and the skin usually has a pinkish tone for five to seven days. Peeling can last anywhere from three to 14 days after the treatment.
“Basically you look like you have a suntan,” says Mundy.
For more info on Fraxel call Dr. Silberblatt – 540-776-1600
