Holding back the years: Zillah Bugeja reports on the success of her three fractional laser treatment for wrinkles at the Estetika clinic

In my dreams I would have the kind of airbrushed complexion that you see in make-up adverts: a return to my teenage years, but of course that is nothing more than fantasy. In the real world, time and an expressive face create expression lines, and eradicating them completely was never my goal or promised by the clinic. A marked improvement, however, was what I hoped for, and indeed what I got.

Unlike lotions and creams that claim to improve skin and wrinkles over time, laser treatments are known to be effective because they promote new skin growth by zapping a layer of the old. The results are seen almost immediately.

Estetika is offering CO2 fractional laser, a relatively new technology that offers an option to conventional laser treatments. In the conventional procedure, a whole layer of skin is treated at a time, while in the fractional procedure, only minute dots of skin are treated. The areas of skin that are untouched allow for a less painful experience with quicker healing times.

My three treatments were carried out by two doctors at approximately one month intervals. There were both pre- and post-procedure consultations. Each time, for three days after the procedure I had to stay indoors and avoid any kind of sunlight, and for another two days I kept a low profile because the skin was still red in a kind of sunburned way. After one week, the skin reached a normal, healthy rosy colour.

What aftercare was necessary? Immediately after laser treatment, cold packs are applied to the skin as needed, thermal water spray and a soothing cream applied every hour. Sun protection factor 50 has to be worn at all times, (which I have kept up), and found that a tinted cream was sufficient to both cover-up and even out the skin tone. This SPF 50 is necessary to protect from a risk of pigmentation on the new skin growth, a risk that happens after many facial treatments, not just laser procedures. After 24 hours, while the skin is peeling, a medicated soap is gently applied to allow for gentle exfoliation, followed by a soothing cream.

I opted for this treatment in order to improve the appearance of the lines around my mouth and the vertical lines that are caused by smiling. I did not have problems with the texture of my skin as such, it was the lines that were my main concern. However, the improvement in skin texture was a pleasant surprise.

During the first treatment, the skin from cheekbones almost down to the jaw line and around the mouth was treated. On the second treatment, this area was slightly increased to ensure that the new skin colour would reach to the jaw line, and my forehead was also treated so that the skin would be homogeneous in colour all over. (This is necessary because the older skin is more yellow, due to years of sun exposure, while the new skin tends to be more pink.) The third procedure was carried out on a smaller area, concentrating mostly and specifically on the areas with wrinkles.

Four is the maximum number of treatments that is recommended, and I chose to stop at three because I was pleased with the results. The lines had all been softened to the extent that I no longer focused on them when looking in the mirror and friends commented on how good my skin looked too. The improvement was definitely worth the low level of discomfort and the very bearable downtime after each session.

As explained by Dr Adrian Micallef at Estetika, this CO2 fractional laser treatment would be an excellent option for anyone bothered by their acne scars. It has to be carried out at the right time of year, because high UV levels in summer increases the risk of pigmentation marks.

Before and after CO2 fractional laser treatment for wrinkles and lines around the mouth. Three treatments were carried out in a period of approximately three months, resulting in a visible improvement in both the lines and the size of the pores.