Exposure to the sun, pollutants and the natural ageing process can all contribute to skin irregularities on the face and body. From acne scars to pigmentation changes, visible blood vessels and fine lines and wrinkles – our skin eventually loses its elasticity and glow that was once evident in our younger years.
While the traditional method of removing the signs of ageing is to undergo facelift surgery; we understand that it might not be suitable for every patient’s preferences and needs.
This is where non-invasive facial rejuvenation treatments truly shine – tackling age spots, wrinkles and smoothening out the skin texture. Best of all, they do not come with the long downtime and unwanted side effects that surgery has.
In particular, there are a few that stand out amongst the rest – Erbium and Long-Pulsed ND:YAG laser. To better understand why and how they work, let’s first dive deeper into what facial rejuvenation means.
Understanding facial rejuvenation
Our skin is composed of multiple layers, including the epidermis (uppermost layer) and the underlying dermis which is primarily composed of collagen – which are essential to keeping our skin looking radiant, youthful and healthy. Unfortunately, the natural ageing process, exposure to UV rays and unhealthy lifestyle habits such as not getting enough sleep can cause our precious collagen resources to deplete over time.
The good news is: facial rejuvenation treatments help remove the appearance of mild-to-moderate skin concerns, damaged skin cells and ramp up our skin’s natural collagen production to get our skin back on track. According to a 2019 study, non-ablative fractional lasers such as the Erbium and long-pulsed Nd:YAG are among the most popular options for facial rejuvenation.
The results showed a significant improvement in wrinkles, nasolabial folds and skin laxity, with both lasers having comparable effects in facial rejuvenation with little to no downtime.
At our aesthetic clinic, we are proud to offer our patients the Fraxel 1,550nm (Erbium) and the Vbeam Prima (Long-Pulsed ND:YAG) laser.
Fraxel 1,550nm Laser
Essentially, Fraxel means that the laser only targets a fraction of the skin at a time. Designed to promote cellular skin turnover without harming the surrounding healthy skin, the Fraxel 1,550nm laser works by creating micro-injuries to the skin that kickstarts its natural healing response. In turn, this produces new collagen and elastin to give you a tighter and toned appearance.
An FDA-approved treatment that is safe to use on all skin types, Fraxel is a customizable treatment that can be tuned based on your lifestyle, goals and the amount of downtime you desire. The benefits of a Fraxel treatment include:
- Improved skin tone and texture
- Improved appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Improved appearance of acne scarring and pigmentation
- Reduced pore size
- Younger-looking and healthier skin
The most common side effects are minor swelling and redness which are temporary and will subside over the next few days after getting your procedure. The results are gradual – meaning to say that your skin will continue to see improvements over the next few months. As a non-ablative, fractionated laser, this is a great choice for those who wish to return to work after their treatment while maximising their results! Depending on your skin condition, it is recommended that patients go for 3-5 treatments spaced 2-4 weeks apart for the best results.
At our clinic, we also offer the Fraxel Dual, which combines the 1,550nm Erbium Glass laser and 1,927nm Thulium laser into one powerful platform that can be used to treat a whole range of skin problems like acne scars, stretch marks and melasma. Each laser excels at a different purpose; but together, they work extremely well to simultaneously treat skin tone and texture with fewer overall treatments required.
If you are worried about any pain or discomfort, our aesthetic doctor will apply topical anaesthesia before the procedure and utilise the integrated cooling device to maximise comfort.
Vbeam Prima Laser
An FDA-approved treatment that has been proven to produce excellent results in treating vascular conditions such as rosacea, broken capillaries, acne, port wine stains, scarring, pigmentations and fine lines and wrinkles – the Vbeam Prima laser is one of the most versatile and flexible machines that we offer at our clinic. Utilising a powerful but gentle burst of laser light to target pigments in the blood vessels while sparing the surrounding healthy tissues, it is a virtually painless process that comes with minimal side effects.
A highly customizable treatment, the wavelength that is used can be tuned to treat different conditions from redness, benign pigmentation lesions, inflammatory acne vulgaris and wrinkles to rejuvenating ageing skin. In fact, Vbeam is a wonderful acne treatment option that helps eliminate the dreaded P.acnes bacteria!
Using two possible wavelengths, 595nm and 1,064nm, the Vbeam Prima system also features a large 15mm max treatment spot size for faster, more efficient treatments. The handpiece also has a special Dynamic Cooling Device™ (DCD™) that ensures the skin is protected and the energy remains consistent throughout. As an extremely tolerable procedure, there is no anaesthesia required for the treatment.
Our clinic is the first in Singapore to offer Long-Pulsed laser treatments for large pores and fine lines and wrinkles. The longer wavelength allows the laser energy to be delivered deeper in the dermis to trigger rejuvenation from within, and 2-4 treatments spaced 4 weeks apart are recommended. Best results are seen about 4-8 weeks after the last session, and side effects include mild redness and bruising, and patients should be mindful to limit their sun exposure in the days leading up to and after their treatment.
It’s time to reclaim your skin’s youthful glow
Today, there are plenty of other facial rejuvenation treatment options including thread lifts, injectables, dermal fillers, chemical peels and microneedling radiofrequency that all work to slow down the natural ageing process. Each of these treatments has their list of benefits and tend to work best when used in combination.
Most importantly, patients need to take a proactive approach to take great care of their skin and starting treatments as soon as they start to notice the first signs of skin laxity and ageing.
Our patient’s safety is our highest priority, and we are dedicated to providing results-driven, safe and reliable treatments that are executed by highly-trained and experienced doctors. Offering a plethora of treatments such as acne scar removal and non-surgical eye bag removal to the FUE hair transplant – if you are ready for a real skin overhaul and give your skin a fresh start, contact us to book your first appointment today!