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How Does the PicoSure Focus Compare to Fraxel Skin Resurfacing?

Mom and Dad may not have been so lucky, but today’s generation of aging adults can avoid facelifts and painful laser treatments thanks to non-ablative laser technology that improves year-in and year-out.

Offering optimal results with little to no recovery and zero downtime, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Douglas Key is an asset for Portland patients seeking facial enhancement treatments. Under his care, they can refine their appearance and achieve their cosmetic goals with minimally invasive options.

What is Laser Skin Resurfacing?

Laser technology has brought exciting developments into aesthetic medicine, allowing doctors to enhance the skin’s texture, tone, and pigmentation. It produces phenomenal results with aggressive, ablative treatments making lasers the most requested non-surgical cosmetic treatment for the last decade.

Unfortunately, the benefits came with a significant drawback: a downtime of up to two weeks, requiring time off from work, not wearing makeup, and avoiding socializing. Although ablative laser resurfacing dramatically enhances skin appearance, some patients prefer a more gradual, gentle treatment to improve skin health and appearance.

With the introduction of Fraxel skin resurfacing laser in 2005, patients now had access to the best gentle and safe aspects of fractional and non-ablative technology. As a result, treatment for mild to moderate sun damage, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, acne scarring, and brown spots became available without the downtime of ablative laser technology.

Although more gentle than the ablative treatments, Fraxel treatments come with some discomfort and a moderate amount of downtime, producing focused and effective results across the target areas. Gradually improved facial scarring, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and tone, with only two to three days of downtime, Fraxel treatments are scheduled across three sessions, 3-4 weeks apart.

Picosure FOCUS

The latest advancement in non-ablative, fractional skin rejuvenation is the FDA-cleared PicoSure FOCUS, a revolutionary picosecond laser technology available at the Key Laser Institute. The PicoSure FOCUS laser delivers laser energy in ultra-short pulses, producing a remarkable effect on the skin by eliminating excessive pigmentation, erasing fine lines, wrinkles, shrinking pores, and acne scarring while stimulating the production of elastin and collagen.

The most remarkable advantage of the PicoSure FOCUS laser facial is the non-thermal effect (no significant heat) on the skin, which provides a genuinely gentle treatment. In addition, unlike Fraxel and other fractional laser treatments, there is no need for anesthesia before treatment. However, we do offer patients a topical numbing cream before each treatment session.

And because there is limited redness for less than an hour with no significant swelling, there is no downtime.  Although we recommend a series of three laser treatments for optimal results, patients notice improvements after their first PicoSure FOCUS treatment session. These improvements include:

  • Wrinkles and fine lines smoothed
  • Lightened age spots
  • Skin texture and tone improved
  • Skin that glows!
  • Acne scarring faded (after two to three treatments)

PicoSure FOCUS has become the gold standard for non-surgical facial rejuvenation, replacing Fraxel laser resurfacing for many reasons!

  • NO downtime
  • Ultra-fast treatment (twenty minutes max)
  • Proven to treat Melasma
  • Safe for ALL skin types (Fitzpatrick I – VI)

To learn more about our facial rejuvenation and skin treatments by calling 503-291-1953 or contacting the Key Laser team online today!

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