Older CO2 lasers treated entire blocks of skin whereas fractional technology means that channels are made at intervals in the skin. The main advantage is the skin heals a lot faster (5 days as opposed to 2 weeks) and there are less side effects. The skin is first anaesthetised using EMLA which is left on for 1 hour. The process of rejuvenation with the active FX machine then begins, treating blocks of skin, block after block, row after row, until the entire face is treated. The process takes about 1/2 hour. The skin is then covered with vaseline which is left on the skin. Dormicum may be taken to relieve pain during the procedure.