Smoother and softer skin, less wrinkles and scars, a more even skin tone, and a radiant, glowing complexion. And with less pain and downtime than traditional lasers to boot. This is what the latest laser rejuvenation treatment to arrive in Singapore is supposed to be capable of achieving.

I was recently invited by Dr Vanessa Phua, a physician with an interest in aesthetic medicine at Asia HealthPartners, to try out the new ProFractional-XC laser. While the FDA-approved laser has been available in the US for a few years, it was only introduced to Singapore this month. This laser treatment is unique because it can mimic the effects of carbon dioxide lasers - the creme de la creme of laser treatments - with much less downtime (read more).

According to Dr Phua, ProFractional-XC works well for acne scarring, fine lines, open pores, pigmentation and loose skin around the eyelids. The two aspects of the laser - fractional laser resurfacing and coagulation - are also "tunable", meaning that the doctor can tailor the treatment to suit the patient's expectations and her tolerance of downtime.

During the consultation, Dr Phua briefed me on what to expect from the procedure itself. Because I could not afford to take any time off from work, Dr Phua used a very mild setting to rejuvenate the skin as well as to lighten some acne scars. This would allow me to go back to work the next morning, and any marks from the treatment itself would be easily camouflaged by makeup.

The treatment process was fairly straightforward. First of all, a numbing cream was applied onto my face and washed off after about 20 minutes. Dr Phua then examined my skin for a second time before beginning the treatment. To familiarise me with the sensation of the laser, she gave me a 'test' shot on my arm before proceeding with the actual treatment on my face.

Dr Vanessa Phua performing the ProFractional-XC treatment.

The sensation was a rather strange one, for me at least. It was not exactly painful, although I would not go as far as to say that it was comfortable. On the scale of one to ten, with ten being the most painful, I would rate the ProFractional-XC no more than a two or three. I could feel my face becoming increasingly warm as the treatment progressed, but it did not feel unbearably hot.

The only disconcerting aspects were the buzzing noises generated by the laser, as well as the smell of vaporised tissue. The ProFractional-XC has the ability to heat the deeper layers of the skin in order to stimulate collagen production, and this accounted for the faint smell of burnt skin. Although this sounds frightening, I can assure you it was not as bad as I had feared. For one thing, the actual laser treatment did not take long at all - it was over in less than twenty minutes. Also, I have known Dr Phua for years and I knew I was in capable hands, so that helped to calm my instinctive panic.

Once the laser treatment was completed, a soothing algae mask was applied on my skin to calm it down. At this point, my skin was starting to feel slightly raw and sunburnt. After the mask was washed off, an array of creams were applied - first, an anti-inflammatory cream derived from snails to help heal the skin; second, a sunblock; third, Dr Phua's own BB cream.

I was instructed to wash my face using a soap-and-alcohol free cleanser, and given a small pot of post-laser treatment cream to use twice daily for a week. Dr Phua told me that it was imperative to protect my skin from any sun damage, and that a good sunblock was a necessity.

My face looked a bit sunburnt and puffy immediately after the treatment, but I could still walk to the taxi stand and wait for a cab without feeling overly self-conscious. Back home, my skin felt slightly raw to the touch, especially when I washed it. I could see the fine track marks of the laser, but they were not as obvious as I thought they would be.

The swelling was completely gone by the next morning, and while my skin still felt sunburnt when I washed it, the sensation was bearable. My regular makeup effectively camouflaged the laser marks, which were starting to scab a little, so none of my colleagues realised that I had done anything to my face.

Over the next few days, the raw sensation faded and the track marks completely disappeared. The scars on my skin also appeared to be fading, although Dr Phua had told me that it might take a few more sessions to completely get rid of them. My skin also appeared less tired, and I noticed that some fine lines looked visibly shallower. The improvement was subtle, but apparent enough for my family to notice. Dr Phua told me that the collagen remodeling by the ProFractional-XC treatment would continue for three to five months after the treatment, so I could expect my skin to get even better over the next few months.

Let's wait and see.

ProFractional-XC is FDA-approved and available at Asia HealthPartners (Lucky Plaza #05-06, Tel: 6235 7888). Prices start from $800 for a mild rejuvenation.