All About the Fotona Laser
Hi everyone, my name is Dr. Olga Degtyareva, here at Always Beautiful Smile. We get a lot of questions about the Fotona, the Fotona laser. What is it? What does it do? Oh my gosh, I've heard about this Fotona. What does it do? I'm here to answer all the most common questions.
What is the Fotona laser treatment? What does it do?
It is a laser that focuses on collagen. It's a way to plump up collagen and tighten collagen anywhere. It can work on the face, the lips, the cheeks, the neck, and the chest. It can even work in the back of the throat, helping with snoring. The possibilities here are endless. There's a lot that you can do with the Futona laser.
What conditions can the Fotona laser treat?
It can treat fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth, the lips, on the forehead, and the cheeks. It's a way to resurface and tighten up the collagen of the skin. Is it a one-and-done type of situation? No. You need multiple sessions. How many? It depends on your skin, the severity of the wrinkles, and what you're looking for. Sometimes you can achieve results in three sessions, other times you may need six or seven. It all depends on you. You can do skin resurfacing, clear up dark spots and age spots, and address fine wrinkles and lines. We can also help with snoring, as this laser targets collagen. By aiming the laser at the tissues in the back of the throat, it tightens everything up, resulting in less snoring and better sleep. It can also help with the lips. If you have very fine lips and want to add a little volume without fillers, this is an alternative. It can even do hair removal. The possibilities are endless, depending on your needs.
Is the Fotona laser treatment painful?
If it was totally painless, it wouldn't be working. You feel a little something. Is it horrific? No. But you're aware that something is happening. It feels like heat, definitely warm. You might feel little stings, but nothing major. We can do this without any anesthesia. However, if you're very sensitive or if we're tackling sensitive areas like the lips, and you feel better getting numbed, we can accommodate that. I've done it myself and prefer getting numb. So, is it painful? It's a little tender, but the burn means it's working, right?
How many sessions do you need for optimal results?
It's hard to give a straight answer because it depends on the person, their age, what they're looking to correct, and the end goal. If the issue is snoring, you need a minimum of three sessions. We tell you upfront to start with three sessions, spaced three weeks apart. Each session takes about an hour. For adding volume to lips, a minimum of three sessions, sometimes four, is needed. For fine lines and wrinkles, the average is four to six sessions. It all depends on you, your skin, and your goals. Multiple sessions are in your future if you're looking to get this done.
Are there any side effects associated with the laser?
It depends on the treatment. If you're doing a light peel, your skin will peel in the next few days. If you're plumping the lips, it might feel like a mild sunburn for a couple of days. It's not terrible and is manageable, but you're aware something's been done. You've had a hot laser on your face, lips, or throat for an hour. You'll feel something the next day, but it's like a light sunburn, nothing too bad.
How long do the results of the treatment last when using Fotona laser?
It depends on the number of sessions, the initial condition, and the desired results. If you're correcting fine wrinkles with three sessions and are in your late 70s, results may not last a year. However, if you have 5, 6, 7, or 8 sessions, the results will likely last longer. On average, results last about a year. For snore treatment, you need at least three sessions to start, with yearly maintenance. You need maintenance based on your needs. Results generally last around a year.
If you live in or near Brooklyn, NY, and are looking for dental care, contact us at (440) 659-1455 to set an appointment. Our staff would love to talk with you!