• Suitable for all skin types, except for darker skin tones such as African-Caribbean and African skin
• Fast treatment time – treatments can take as little as 30 to 60 minutes
• Virtually painless - topical numbing may be required, but generally the treatment is well tolerated
• Downtime – following your treatment recovery may take up to 5 days

Previous laser skin resurfacing treatments used an ablative laser (removing the outer skin layers) to restore a youthful appearance to wrinkled, prematurely aged, scarred or sun damaged skin. These were excellent. However, the treatment was painful and led to extended downtime.

The introduction of the fractional ablative laser - iPixel - has changed this dramatically. The iPixel laser beam is not a solid beam, but split into many micro-beams or micro-thermal treatment zones (MTZ). The MTZ penetrate deep into the skin, removing the superficial skin layers, but leaving the surrounding tissues intact.

This triggers a fast and safer natural healing process that stimulates the formation of new collagen and healthy new skin. It is suitable for treating skin on the face, neck, chest and hands with minimal irritation.

Each treatment session usually takes between 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated.

Although this is considered a safe treatment, we will carry out a consultation prior to your treatment. During this consultation, we will take a full medical history to confirm your suitability for the treatment. You will also be asked to give informed consent. The procedure, its benefits and potential side effects will be explained to you. During this time, you are most welcome to ask any questions you may have. You will be provided with written after care instructions. We will make a recommendation for home care to further enhance your results. As the rays of the fractional laser heat your skin, we can apply a topical anaesthetic cream to the treatment area if you needed. However, the iPixel is virtually painless and generally well tolerated. Following your treatment, you will have some redness and swelling of your skin. You can apply a mineral make-up immediately after the treatment to help conceal any redness. Depending on the size of the treated area, each session can take between 30 minutes to one hour.

You may experience some discomfort during the treatment, although it is minimal. Immediately after your treatment you will have some redness and swelling of your skin. This could last a few hours up to a couple of days. You will also notice slight peeling and flaking for up to five days following the procedure. Most people notice improved skin 10 to 14 days after the first treatment. The results steadily improve with repeated treatments, with the full effect occurring 3 months after the last treatment.

We usually recommend a course of 3 to 5 treatments, at intervals of 4 weeks. This will depend on the severity and extent of the condition being treated. For optimal results, we recommend a maintenance session every 6 to 12 months after your initial treatment course.

You will notice peeling and flaking of the skin for up to five days following the procedure.

Immediately after your treatment you will feel hot and experience some redness, which will be similar to sunburn. You may also experience swelling, which is expected. The swelling and redness will resolve over the next few days, depending on the intensity of your treatment, the area treated and your skin type.

• Cold compresses or cold air may be recommended
• Analgesia (e.g. paracetamol) can be taken
• Do not apply any products with 'active ingredients' until healing has completed
• Cleanse your face with cool water and a mild cleanser or micellar cleanser
• Keep makeup application to a minimum. Mineral based face powders are the most appropriate to use.
• A broad spectrum sunscreen (e.g. Heliocare SFP50) must be used at all times during UV exposure to your treated skin. Sunscreen should be applied 20-30 minutes prior to sun exposure to ensure protection and be reapplied every 2 hours while outside.
• For the week following your treatment, we will advise you on a moisturiser or medical grade cream that is safe for laser treated skin (available from our clinic). This will aid the healing process of your skin by soothing it, reducing redness and irritation, and locking in moisture. It also limits the risk of any bacterial infection. The products can be used as often as required.
• Do not touch your face or treated areas unnecessarily and ensure your hands are clean, so you do not contaminate your recently treated skin
• A week after your treatment you may return to your previous skin care regime