Fraxel Laser Treatment - Everything You Need to Know

Fraxel Laser Treatments offer an effective means of rejuvenating skin by clearing away damaged tissues and stimulating new collagen formation - leading to smoother, more uniform tone and texture across the surface of your body.
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Before having their Fraxel session, patients must refrain from using any products which may cause irritation for 10 days prior to treatment (including exfoliants and acne fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid). An hour prior to their procedure they will apply topical numbing cream as a preventive measure

​What is Fraxel?

Fraxel laser treatments for skin resurfacing provide effective wrinkle relief, sun damage removal, and acne scar smoothing. Fraxel penetrates deep into your skin to remove sun damaged cells while stimulating its natural healing processes to form new skin tissue.

Procedure is relatively quick, taking between 20 to 30 minutes for full facial coverage. A topical numbing cream will be applied about an hour prior to treatment and you may experience mild stinging or heat sensation during this treatment session.
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Patients will experience redness and swelling post-treatment for 2-3 days post-treatment similar to what would occur following sunburn, before it eventually scabs over, leaving a sandy feeling on the skin lasting 5-7 days before new skin forms underneath it

​How Does Fraxel Work?

Fraxel uses laser technology to target damaged areas of skin. It can target fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone, brown spots, enlarged pores, actinic keratosis (precancerous lesions) and acne scarring.
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Fraxel Repair's ablative laser technology works by vaporizing skin tissue to stimulate collagen production and resurface your face, helping treat acne scarring, uneven skin texture and sun damage. However, their risk of hyperpigmentation means they should not be used on darker skin tones.

Fraxel Dual Restore laser treatment is generally safer for darker skin tones, though it may still produce redness and a "bronzed" appearance. It can treat mild to moderate lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone, sun damage pigmentation and melanomas; rough texture as well as reduce the visibility of pores.

​What is the Downtime of Fraxel?

Fraxel laser treatment can help reduce wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, sun damage, and improve textured acne scars such as icepick and boxcar scars. To prepare for Fraxel treatment it is essential that direct sunlight is avoided daily with sunscreen application - in addition to retinoids, glycolic acid, salicylic acid chemical peels, or benzoyl peroxide treatments should also be discontinued at least 10 days before beginning treatment.
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Fraxel does have some downtime, though much less than other laser resurfacing treatments such as those which remove an entire layer of skin or use high temperatures to vaporize it. Most patients typically experience redness, swelling and an "sandpaper-like" texture for approximately 7-14 days before new skin emerges - thus it is advised that multiple sessions be scheduled in order to achieve maximum results.

What is the Cost of Fraxel?

Fraxel is often recommended by surgeons to reduce scarring after surgery, as it also effectively reduces large pores and evens out skin tone.
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Fraxel Dual Restore can effectively smooth moderate lines and wrinkles, fade hyperpigmentation and brown spots, reduce redness from broken blood vessels, as well as diminish redness due to broken blood vessel damage. While it can treat photodamage on all skin tones, its 1927 wavelength treatment for pigmentation tends to work best on lighter complexions.

Prior to treatment, a topical numbing cream is applied, and each area takes 20 to 30 minutes of laser time per area. After, your skin may feel sunburnt and be sensitive; use broad spectrum sunscreen or wear a hat when going outdoors to protect it and maintain results for at least a year after just one session of Fraxel treatment.

​Can I Have Fraxel if I Have Melasma?

Melasma is a pigmentary disorder caused by birth control use, pregnancy or exposure to UV radiation that manifests itself as dark spots on the face. Fraxel Dual laser can lighten and smooth this discoloration to help treat most skin tones including darker ones.

If you are considering this treatment, it is essential that you prepare appropriately. Avoid sun exposure and apply sunscreen frequently if planning multiple sessions; additionally, stop using retinoids, exfoliants, benzoyl peroxide and any other skin-irritating products at least 10 days before your scheduled appointment.

Redness, swelling and minor discomfort may occur during treatment; however, due to numbing cream and cooling system in the handpiece this should be minimally painful for most patients