The FDA clearance was given partly because of data from a six-month study of 21 patients with AK, each of whom underwent a series of two to four laser treatments, spaced two to four weeks apart. Results showed that the treatment yielded a mean 83.5 percent decrease in age spot lesions on the face and other areas of the body, including the arms, hands and chest. Improvements in skin texture and pigmentation were also reported.

“In our study, we found the Fraxel re:store Dual to be the most effective treatment of multiple facial AKs, as it is safe and requires minimal downtime while simultaneously improving other signs of photodamage,” said Dr. Roy G. Geronemus, director of the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of New York, in a news release. “While the 83.5 percent removal rate was comparable to other topical therapies and AK treatment options, Fraxel was overwhelmingly well-tolerated by all the patients and offers the added benefit of improving a patients’ overall skin quality, color and texture.”

Fraxel re:store Dual has a 1927 nm wavelength in addition to a 1550-nm deep-penetrating Erbium fiber laser. The 1927 nm wavelength is optimized for treatment of pigmentation and other superficial skin conditions, such as AK.

The FDA has also cleared Fraxel re:store for:

• Skin resurfacing
• Eye wrinkles
• Acne scars
• Surgical scars
• Skin discoloration and pigmented lesions, such as age spots and sun spots

Patients frequently travel to Dr. Stacy Cosmetic  in Bellevue, Washington, from across Washington, Alaska, Idaho and Oregon for Fraxel re:pair laser resurfacing treatment. Fraxel re:pair treatment has FDA clearances for wrinkles, irregular texture, sun and age spots and sun-induced redness.

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Dr. Anne Chapas, a dermatologist in New York City, explained to Meredith Vieira how she used Fraxel, Thermage, and Isolaz to help the patients with a variety of skin problems, including skin laxity, acne, and sun spots—all without going under the knife.

Jill, a 40-something with years of skin damage from the sun, received Fraxel restore treatment. Dr. Chapas explains that Fraxel gives energy that stimulates new skin cells to grow and gives a refreshed appearance to skin, making it look more youthful and healthy.

Of the treatment, Jill says, “I’m thrilled. It really got rid of so much of the sun damage that I could see. It just makes me feel like I have fresh, new skin.”

Dr. Chapas estimates that it usually takes 1 to 3 treatments to see results. After treatment, patients may have a few days of redness and a little dryness, according to the doctor.

Lisa, a new mom, received Thermage treatment on her stomach. She says she had a lot of extra flab in her mid section after her second child.  Thermage tightened her belly and helps her fit better in her clothes.

Thermage can also be used to tighten the face. Lisa B. was suffering from skin discoloration, breakouts and blotches, and looseness. She first received Thermage treatment, which helped tighten her skin and build collagen, followed by Fraxel the next week to help even out her skin tone.

Thermage and Fraxel treatments are available at Dr. Stacy’s Bellevue, Washington office. She is the number one Thermage provider in the state of Washington and patients frequently travel from southwest and eastern Washington, Alaska, Idaho, and Oregon for Thermage treatment. Learn more about travel accomodations.

Are you and your BFF local celebs?  Write your own version of True Hollywood Story, explain why the two of you are best friends, and enter it with a photo for a chance to win.  Four pairs of BFFs will walk away with complimentary VIP Fraxel and Thermage treatment packages.

Check it out here on the Fraxel Facebook page.

The Fraxel system will be used to reduce the appearance of scarring caused by traumatic thermal damage. The Burn Center is a worldwide leader in innovative treatment and care for burn patients and their families.

In making the donation, the Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Solta Medical, Inc., Stephen J. Fanning, applauded the Grossman Burn Foundation’s efforts to provide highly-skilled non-profit reconstructive surgery to treat patients’ scars and help their recovery, adding that “The Grossman Burn Foundation is well known for their humanitarian efforts to assist burn victims and their families throughout the world…”

And it’s true. The Grossman Burn Foundation provides burn care and medical resources in developing countries all over the globe, including a burn center in Kabul and a physician triage training program for doctors in underdeveloped countries. The Foundation is also involved in the development and distribution of satellite based telemedicine equipment to doctors and first responders all over the globe. The donation of the Fraxel system, therefore, was a natural fit for Solta Medical, a world leader in the laser skin resurfacing technology.

“The goal of restorative burn care is to return the patient to as close to pre-injury status as possible…” said Rebecca Grossman, the Chair of the Grossman Burn Foundation. “We plan to use the cutting-edge Fraxel technology to restore our burn-injured patients and play a key role in providing better and faster patient outcomes.”

Advances in Technology

Skin resurfacing is a part of a growing trend in the medical aesthetics field. In fact, the same Fraxel technology being put to use in the Burn Center has been FDA-cleared to treat a wide-range of skin conditions including: age spots, acne scars, surgical scars, actinic keratoses, sunspots, melasma, and even wrinkles around the eyes. And, as the technology gets better, so do the results.

Today’s lasers are a gentler and safer alternative than those used in the past. As usual, however, there are a number of variables and options to consider when it comes to laser skin resurfacing and the type of treatment that may be right for each patient. Always consult with a surgeon who has performed a wide range of these procedures and is familiar with the many choices that are available.

• Read more about Fraxel laser treatment in Maple Valley and Bellevue

a) Distract tigers
b) Treat acne scars
c) Remove unwanted hair
d) Project giant image of Britney Spears into the stratosphere
e) All of the above

Click here to listen and find out.

Here’s a short video segment from another location in the tour. The focus is on the new Thermage CPT technology, which offers increased comfort and effectiveness in skin tightening.

Click here to read more about Thermage in Bellevue, Washington.

The new device is equipped with a unique 1927 nm wavelength Thulium laser that offers a few notable improvements that will benefit both patients and physicians.

Those who have been able to test drive the new laser say it offers excellent versatility and greater ease of use when treating body areas broader than the face. Some of the reported features are as follows:

• One laser system – Dual fiber technology
• Thulium laser provides quick removal of undesirable pigmentation
• Improved comfort and easier operation
• “Focal cooling” built into the handpiece
• Procedure speed may increase by 25 percent

Solta Medical will bring the new laser system to physicians this fall during the Fraxel illumiNATION tour (It’s not a rock concert – but there will be lasers!) To inquire about Fraxel laser skin resurfacing in Bellevue and Maple Valley, call Dr. Stacy’s office.

Here’s a video montage of Fraxel & Thermage media coverage that has been aired recently, courtesy of Solta Medical. You won’t find much information, but it’s still worth checking out if you’re considering treatment.

“Solta Medical” has become the new corporate name and a new logo has been created for the Thermage product.

The acquisition of Reliant Tech was initiated last year and recently finalized.  Reliant Tech was known for making the succesful brand of Fraxel laser skin resurfacing systems, which are now also under the umbrella of Solta Medical.

Thermage and Fraxel also feature new, more user-friendly websites that show an obvious departure from their previous, more clinical designs.

A new stock ticker symbol will be recognized as “SLTM” on the Nasdaq.

In a recent press release, Solta President Stephen J. Fanning commented, “the name and ticker symbol changes are a great start to the New Year and a key milestone in the integration of the acquisition of Reliant Technologies Inc.”