Fractional photothermolysis: types and parameters of the procedure

Theory and practice

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Fractional lasers are used for rejuvenation, removal of pigmentation, smoothing of scars, stretch marks, post-acne. Their use in a number of cases gives many advantages over traditional laser polishing and IPL rejuvenation. What is hidden under the term "fractional photothermolysis"?

As can be understood from the term itself, fractional photothermolysis is the destruction (lysis) of tissues during heating (thermo) due to the absorption of light energy (photo) by these tissues. At the same time, tissue destruction does not occur over the entire surface or volume, but in the form of fractions.

Unlike traditional laser resurfacing, when a large area of ​​the skin is simultaneously affected, in the case of fractional exposure, it is thousands of microareas - fractions around which live, intact tissue is preserved. The main idea of ​​fractionation is to leave the body with large resources for the rapid healing of damaged areas and recovery.

The zones affected by the laser beam are called micro-treatment zones. The effectiveness and safety of the fractional photothermolysis procedure is largely determined by the parameters of such zones, namely their depth and diameter. The smaller the diameter of the microzone, the faster its healing will occur, and the greater the depth of the microzone, the higher the effect of leveling the relief of the skin (for example, smoothing wrinkles).

Full version of the access article in Ukrainian

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