Fractionated Erbium:YAG Laser
Ablative Laser Technology
The Fractionated Erbium:YAG laser achieves excellent resurfacing results with minimal recovery time. It is a fractional ablative laser that is able to effectively treat wrinkles, skin laxity, and pigmentation in patients of all skin types. Fractionated Erbium:YAG laser is the gold standard treatment for acne and surgical scars.
What is the Fractionated Erbium:YAG Laser?
The Fractionated Erbium:YAG laser creates microscopic “channels” in your skin. This triggers the wound healing response and stimulates fibroblast activity, which in turn leads to the production of new collagen and elastin. As we age, we lose about 1% of the collagen in our skin per year. Stimulation of new collagen production is the key to reversing the signs of skin aging.
Early ablative lasers removed the entire surface of the skin, resulting in healing times of several weeks. The Fractionated ablative Erbium:YAG laser treats narrow columns of the skin, allowing rapid healing from the intact surrounding skin within just a few days.
Why Fractionated Erbium:YAG Could Be a Good Choice for You
Fractionated Erbium:YAG offers some of the following benefits:
- By stimulating your own collagen production, the Fractionated Erbium:YAG laser produces exceptionally natural-looking results.
- Just about any area of your body can be treated using Fractionated Erbium:YAG therapy. The most common areas are those that tend to receive the most sun exposure (the face, chest, and the backs of the hands).
- Profractional Erbium:YAG laser can be combined with additional therapies such as Platelet Rich Plasma and Sculptra to further enhance your results.
At Compass Dermatology, we have many lasers and other devices to effectively rejuvenate your skin. We’ll discuss the advantages of Fractionated Erbium:YAG therapy with you and determine whether this treatment is the best way for you to reach your aesthetic goals.
3 Treatments
A series of 3 treatments is typically recommended for optimal results.
Recovery Time
The recovery time for this procedure is 3-7 days.
Results Visible in Weeks
Results can be seen within a few weeks of your treatment. The quality of your skin will continue to gradually improve for 6 months following your treatment as new collagen and elastin are produced.
Who is Fractionated Erbium:YAG For?
In general, Fractionated Erbium:YAG therapy might be the best option for you if:
- You are interested in achieving optimal results and willing to allow for 4-5 days of recovery time.
- You have fine lines and wrinkles you’d like to diminish.
- You'd like to reduce sunspots and the appearance of pores.
- You want to reduce the appearance of acne or surgical scars.
- You'd like to improve the texture of your skin.
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Our Comprehensive Approach to Fractionated Erbium:YAG Laser Therapy
Once your consultation with one of our board-certified dermatologists is complete, your Fractionated Erbium:YAG session will be scheduled. For most patients, these sessions will last somewhere between 60-90 minutes, depending on the size of the area to be treated.
Prior to your treatment, a topical numbing cream is applied for 45-60 minutes. Most patients are able to tolerate the treatment with topical numbing, cooling, and Tylenol and/or Advil, but more aggressive pain management may be used.
A computer-guided scanning system ensures that the Fractionated Erbium:YAG laser treatment is evenly applied over the surface of your skin.
After your Fractionated Erbium:YAG treatment, most patients experience a “sunburn”-like sensation. There is often redness and some pinpoint bleeding. Your dermatologist will have specific recovery instructions for you, including strict avoidance of sun exposure.
The recovery time for this procedure is 3-7 days with improvement in the appearance of wrinkles, scars and sun damage gradually occurring over 6 months post-treatment. A series of at least 3 treatments is recommended.
The Science of Microcolumns: Understanding ProFractional Laser Precision
The revolutionary aspect of fractional erbium technology lies in its microcolumn approach. It creates thousands of microscopic treatment zones, each approximately 100-200 micrometres in diameter, that penetrate deep into the skin while leaving surrounding tissue untreated. These microcolumns of controlled thermal injury create what are called "zones of coagulation" surrounded by intact tissue.
Each microcolumn triggers intense collagen remodeling in that specific zone. The heat from the laser vaporizes damaged tissue while creating a rim of thermal coagulation around each column that stimulates fibroblasts. The untreated tissue between columns serves as a reservoir of healthy cells that rapidly move into the treated zones, accelerating healing from days to weeks down to just a few days.
The genius of this approach becomes clear when understanding the healing process. The body recognizes each microcolumn as requiring repair and floods the area with growth factors and healing cells. Simultaneously, the intact tissue between columns prevents excessive inflammation and provides the cellular resources needed for rapid regeneration. This creates the ideal balance: enough injury to trigger significant collagen remodeling, but not so much that healing becomes prolonged or complicated.
We can adjust both the density of microcolumns and their depth. Higher density means more aggressive treatment and more dramatic results, but also longer recovery. This customization allows precise tailoring of treatment intensity to individual concerns.
Combination Protocols: Smart Treatment Stacking for Better Results
The most sophisticated approach to skin rejuvenation recognizes that the Sciton ProFractional Laser rarely works in isolation. It's most powerful when strategically combined with complementary treatments.
With PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma): Applying PRP immediately after fractional laser treatment is one of the most synergistic combinations available. The microcolumns created by the laser provide channels for PRP penetration deep into the dermis, while the growth factors in PRP accelerate healing and amplify collagen production. This combination is particularly effective for severe acne scarring or aggressive anti-aging protocols.
With Sculptra: For patients with volume loss combined with textural concerns, pairing fractional laser with Sculptra (poly-L-lactic acid) creates comprehensive rejuvenation. Sculptra stimulates deep volumization through gradual collagen building, while the laser addresses surface texture and quality.
Strategic Sequencing
The key to successful combination protocols is proper timing. Most complementary treatments are scheduled either immediately post-laser or a couple of weeks afterward, once initial healing is complete.
Fractionated Erbium:YAG FAQ
What is Fractionated Erbium:YAG laser?
Fractionated Erbium:YAG laser is an ablative laser that creates columns of micro thermal zones in the skin. This removes damaged tissue and initiates collagen production to resolve a number of complexion issues, including fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, discolouration and scarring.
How long does it take to heal from Fractionated Erbium:YAG laser?
What is the difference between Fraxel and Fractionated Erbium:YAG laser?
Is Fractionated Erbium:YAG laser safe?
How does Fractionated Erbium:YAG laser work?
This ablative laser creates thousands of microscopic channels in the skin, stimulating the body's natural healing response. Collagen production increases for several months following your treatment, smoothing out wrinkles and producing firmer, more youthful skin.
Is Fractionated Erbium:YAG laser permanent?
What does Fractionated Erbium:YAG laser treat?
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Toronto, ON M4S 2N5, Canada
Phone: 647-351-9277
Fax: 647-351-9077
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