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The “Bridge” to Rejuvenation of Aging and Photo-Damaged Skin

September 09, 2009

Bridge Therapy differs from other aesthetic procedures employing the fractional approach because it was the first to utilize CO2 laser energy. It penetrates deep into the dermis,eliminating damaged cells and stimulating the growth of new collagen in a single session. Compare this with non-ablative lasers, such as Fraxel, which usually require about four to five treatments over six months to achieve similar results.

Every morning when we look into the mirror and see those progressive deep and superficial lines, pigment spots, dry and flaky red areas and abnormal blood vessels, we are reminded of our days in the sun. "Photo-aging" is the term used to describe the changes that take place in the skin as a result of over-exposure to the sun. It is the punishment that the sun gods and goddesses experience after years of unprotected swimming, tanning beds, iodine, oils and reflectors.

The gold standards of treatment in the past have been superficial and deep chemical peels, (which can be unpredictable due to inexact chemical absorption), carbon dioxide (CO2) or erbium lasers. Prolonged healing, seeping open wounds and prolonged redness were all direct results of the laser modality.

In the last two years, the "state of the art" has become the fractional CO2 laser. This has dramatically changed the treatment of photo-aging. Known as Bridge Therapy, this process addresses the 3 T’s of photo-aging: tone, texture and tightening. Tone refers to age spots and mottled skin. Texture refers to pore size and fine lines. Tightening refers to modulation of the collagen fibers in the skin which addresses laxity. Bridge Therapy is a family of fractionated procedures including ActiveFX, DeepFX and TotalFX. Each of the Bridge Therapy treatments is performed in a single treatment with minimal patient downtime. During a fractional treatment, only a portion of the skin’s surface is treated by the laser, leaving small "bridges" of untouched skin surrounding the treated areas. This technique makes the healing process much quicker and enables patients to return to their ordinary routines sooner.

ActiveFX is a first-of-its-kind ablative laser with fractionated technology for skin rejuvenation. ActiveFX utilizes CO2 laser energy to treat fine lines and skin discoloring in a very fast, single-treatment approach. DeepFX treats scars, dermal lesions and stimulates long-term remodeling of the skin. DeepFX is most commonly used in combination with ActiveFX in a treatment called TotalFX. TotalFX combines the benefits of ActiveFX and DeepFX, toning, tightening, and targeting the texture of the skin, stimulating long-term remodeling of the skin, and treating sun damage, wrinkles, scars, and dermal lesions. TotalFX delivers the most promising results and can be beneficial to anyone concerned with aging.

Bridge Therapy differs from other aesthetic procedures employing the fractional approach because it was the first to utilize CO2 laser energy. It penetrates deep into the dermis, eliminating damaged cells and stimulating the growth of new collagen in a single session. Compare this with non-ablative lasers, such as Fraxel, which usually require about four to five treatments over six months to achieve similar results.

Bridge Therapy is a treatment for superficial damage and mild laxity and does not replace surgical techniques such as brow lifting, eyelid surgery and face lifts, which are used to treat moderate to severe laxity. Remember, we are attempting to correct damage that has occurred over many years and the treatment does not eliminate the need for a proactive program of maintenance and protection. Results will be readily apparent after the first three to five days and will continue to improve over the next six months, lasting approximately two to five years. If you are looking for smoother, younger-looking skin or want to reduce acne scarring or sun damage, then Bridge Therapy may be for you. We recommend that you explore the treatment options further with us during a free consultation. At that time, we will discuss your current situation, your goals and expectations, so we can develop an individualized plan designed to achieve optimal results just for you.

Jacqueline Bryan