Treatment FAQ

how does fraxel laser treatment work

by Ralph Nicolas Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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The Fraxel laser treatments work by manipulating laser rays to produce the growth of healthy skin tissue that replaces the damaged cells of acne-scarred skin. Fraxel laser treatments are a treatment option for anyone experiencing mild to medium-depth acne scars.

Full Answer

What's the difference between profractional laser and Fraxel?

Both Profractional Laser and Fraxel can improve acne scars. Profractional Laser is a deeper laser (although not as aggressive as erbium laser resurfacing) and you will have some downtime for approximately 2-3 days while you heal. Profractional laser provides significant improvement after one treatment.

What makes Fraxel different from other laser treatments?

Fraxel re:store is the most aggressive of the three laser rejuvenation treatment systems. Unlike the other two Fraxel systems, Fraxel re:store is more invasive, relying on both ablative and nonablative techniques to treat the most severely damaged skin, including deep lines and wrinkles. Most men and women require only one treatment with the ...

Who can perform Fraxel Laser?

What to Expect During Fraxel ® Dual Treatment?

  • Length of Time for Procedure? This will depend on the size and number of areas being treated; however, many Fraxel laser procedures can be completed in 30 minutes.
  • Who Will Perform This Procedure? Deborah H. ...
  • What is the Recovery Time? ...
  • Final Results of the Procedure? ...
  • Other Treatments or Skincare Products that May Improve My Result? ...

How many sessions of Fraxel Laser treatments are needed?

The Fraxel laser is particularly effective because it penetrates well below the skin’s surface; the underlying tissues are then broken up in a way that: To achieve these effects, most patients need three to five treatments each spaced four weeks apart. Of course, this timeline depends on the exact concern you want to address.

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How long does it take for Fraxel laser to work?

2 to 3 monthsHow long does it take to see results from Fraxel laser treatment? Results are both immediate and progressive. Optimal improvement is usually visible in 2 to 3 months, but the skin can continue to improve for up to a year. Each laser treatment markedly improves skin quality.

Do Fraxel lasers really work?

Doctors laud its results and the minimal downtime required for healing. It doesn't come cheap; treatment often costs about $1,000 a pop. (Solta Medical, the company that makes Fraxel lasers, says patients will have noticeable improvements immediately but recommends three to five as “an effective treatment regimen.”)

How does Fraxel laser works?

The Fraxel laser creates tiny “microthermal” zones (think pixels) deep into the skin which the skin repairs by pushing out the old sun damaged skin (the tiny pixels) and replacing it with new skin. Each treatment replaces about 15-20% of the sun damaged, scarred or wrinkled skin.

Can Fraxel ruin your skin?

Because the Fraxel laser does damage your skin cells (in order for them to rejuvenate and improve your skin's appearance), you need to be certain to clean all treated areas several times a day – two to five, according to plasticsurgery.org – with saline or diluted vinegar solution, depending on your surgeon's ...

What is better than Fraxel laser?

Fractora and Morpheus8 combine RF waves with microneedling technique for even better results. Unlike Fraxel laser, Fractora and Morpheus8 can be used on all skin types safely – on light and darker tones up to skin type VI with no risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

How painful is Fraxel laser?

The 'new' Fraxel is not painful for most patients; a mild prickling sensation can be felt. We ensure patients are comfortable by applying a topical anaesthetic cream before the treatment and the machine now comes with a Zimmer device, which blows chilled air on the skin as the laser works, distracting nerve endings.

How many times can you get Fraxel?

It depends on what you are targeting. If it's pigment, you will see results in one to two sessions. If you're trying to get rid of wrinkles or acne scarring, it's three to five sessions. For both acne and wrinkles, it's recommended to space out sessions four weeks apart.

How many sessions of Fraxel do you need?

Typically, patients require between 2 and 6 treatments. The most aggressive approach, with the ablative Fraxel re:pair, can offer results after just one treatment.

How long does peeling last after Fraxel?

Typically, after about 4 days, the peeling is done and there still is mild swelling. The skin is intact. Some of my patients go in public throughout their recovery, it depends on your comfort with the recovery process. I would say it would be unusual for the downtime to be 2 weeks though.

Which is better Fraxel or microneedling?

Both procedures inflict micro-injuries on the patients, forcing the body to produce collagen, a skin-repairing protein. Fraxel fractional lasers penetrate the skin more deeply than microneedling, making the Fraxel treatment better suited for patients with major skin issues and microneedling better for mild skin issues.

How long will my face be red after Fraxel?

Most patients complete this process 5 – 7 days after a treatment on the face. (On off-face areas, such as hands/arms, where healing is slower, the process may take up to 2 weeks.) redness resolves during the first week after treatment, but a rosy “glow” can remain for several weeks.

Does Fraxel get rid of age spots?

Fraxel® treats your skin with two lasers at once: the first laser is to diminish age spots on the surface, and the second laser penetrates deep into the skin to increase collagen production and gradually reveal more youthful skin.

How is fraxel different from microneedling?

Fraxel and microneedling are similar in that both treatments use the idea of creating micro-injuries on your skin to help rebuild collagen, but the main difference is that Fraxel penetrates the skin more deeply than microneedling.

How long does it take for a laser to work?

Listen, lasers don't exactly feel great, but the treatment itself is relatively quick—about 15 to 25 minutes, plus another 45 minutes for the topical anesthesia (numbing cream) to kick in before getting started. And since you'll be numbed up beforehand, Dr. Nussbaum says you'll likely only feel a little stinging.

What is a dual laser?

Fraxel Dual is a non-ablative laser that can be combined or used separately to address different skin concerns on the face, neck, chest, hands, legs—just about anywhere. The 1927 wavelength of Fraxel will lift away discoloration ( hyperpigmentation, dark spots, sun damage, and pre-cancer spots), while the 1550 wavelength of Fraxel is designed to target and smooth your skin's texture (fine lines, wrinkles, and acne scarring ). Don't worry about writing this down—your derm will decide the correct wavelengths for your skin.

What is the best laser for acne scars?

Fraxel is one of the more aggressive lasers offered at most dermatologist offices (more on these other lasers below), which is how it's able to get rid of things like pockmarks (aka those pitted, indented acne scars known as ice pick, boxcar, and rolling scars).

Why do you need ablative lasers?

Ablative lasers are considered "wounding" lasers because they remove the outer layer of your skin and heat up the tissue underneath to stimulate new collagen production and fresh skin growth. As your skin peels off and heals (yup, the week of downtime afterward is no joke), your face will look significantly smoother, tighter, and fresher—basically, it's a takes-years-off-your-face laser. Examples of ablative lasers include CO2 (carbon dioxide) lasering and Erbium (aka YAG) lasering.

How long does a laser touch up last?

Dr. Nussbaum says you might need a touch-up with a Clear + Brilliant laser four to six months later, but usually one Fraxel session is enough to last you the year. With the 1550 wavelength (the one for smoothing texture), you usually need three to five treatments spaced four weeks apart. Dr.

What to put on face to help with heat?

If you desperately need to put something on your face to alleviate some of the heat, Dr. Nussbaum recommends making a 50/50 mixture of whole milk (because the lactic acid and fat help heal the skin) and ice water (because it's naturally soothing).

The Reputation of Laser Systems

These days, there are a wide variety of non surgical options available to patients who would rather not go under the knife. This non surgical revolution started with procedures such as Botox injections and non surgical rhinoplasty procedures. But these days, non surgical procedures also encompass laser systems, such as the ever-popular Fraxel.

So How Does Fraxel Work?

To understand how laser systems such as Fraxel work, you have to understand the skin. Most people think of the skin as one big unit.

What Can Fraxel Do?

However, Fraxel is not designed to give you a full facelift. That’s something that only surgery can accomplish. So why would anyone choose Fraxel? Well, there are a couple of distinct advantages. First and foremost, Fraxel does not require a significant recovery period that’s measured in months (as is the case with some surgical procedures).

How does a fraxel laser work?

Nussbaum explains the energy from the lasers creates tiny "columns of thermal destruction" in the skin that stimulate the growth of new, healthy skin cells to replace old, damaged cells.

Why do people use lasers on their face?

Nussbaum says most patients come into her office seeking Fraxel laser treatments for three reasons: hyperpigmentation or sun damage, wrinkles, and acne scarring. People most commonly have lasers applied to their whole faces, but the neck, décolletage, hands, and arms are also popular areas to treat. For textured acne scars, in particular (think: ...

How long does it take to get a retinol treatment?

On the actual day-of, you'll be topically numbed for 45 minutes, and the procedure itself takes 20 to 30 minutes depending on where you're getting treated.

Does milk exfoliate skin?

No exfoliation ," Nussbaum warns. She swears by a DIY compress made with half whole milk and half ice water because the lactic acid and fat content in the milk helps calm the skin. "It sinks right into the channels that we've made in the skin," she says.

Is laser treatment better for acne scars?

For textured acne scars, in particular (think: icepick, boxcar, and rolling scars), lasers are more effective than any topical treatment. "Being able to go that deep allows you to really break up that scar tissue that’s clouding the textural difference, whereas a cream wouldn’t be able to," Nussbaum explains.

What is fractional laser?

Fraxel is the most widely known brand of fractional laser treatments used for skin resurfacing and rejuvenation— so popular that many people refer to any fractionated laser treatment as Fraxel. In the early days of laser skin resurfacing, all facial laser technology ablated (or removed the surface layer of) the entire treated area.

What is the role of laser in skin repair?

This means that the repair-and-healing stage is crucial: the laser is the catalyst, while the skin essentially treats itself as it recovers .

Is fraxel good for scarring?

These treatments often required weeks of downtime, with a high risk of side effects, including infection, hyperpigmentation, and scarring. One of the key benefits of a Fraxel treatment is that it’s still able to induce new collagen with far fewer risks and less recovery time.

What is fraxel treatment?

Fraxel ® is for people who want to look younger without dramatic changes or extended downtime.

How long does it take to get a Fraxel 1550?

The Fraxel ® DUAL 1550/1927 procedure takes 20 to 25 minutes for a full face.

What are the complications of frazel?

Possible Complications from of Fraxel treatment include: Blistering and Burns: May develop over the treated areas. Discoloration: The possibility of temporary and permanent skin color change is known to exist with any laser treatment and may occur.

How long does it take for a sunburn to go away after a syringe?

After the treatment, most patients feel like they have a sunburn, which usually diminishes in 1 to 3 hours.

Does laser treatment resurface skin?

And since the laser treats only a fraction of tissue at a time, it leaves the surrounding tissue intact, which promotes very rapid healing. Fraxel ® DUAL 1550/1927 treatment resurfaces your skin by stimulating the growth of new, healthy skin cells from the inside out.

What is a fraxel laser?

Fraxel laser can be used to treat multiple skin concerns: Laser pigmentation removal in the treatment of hyperpigmentation. Laser for reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

How much does a fraxel treatment cost?

The starting price of a Fraxel treatment is approximately $750, but it depends on what area you're looking to treat (e.g. just forehead, whole face, face, neck and hands) and what kind of results you're after.

How long does it take for your skin to get better after frazel?

PSA: Your skin will look worse after Fraxel before it looks better, trust the process. Dr Jeremy recommends taking at least a week of down time (or working from home) as your skin may appear red and tender, similar to a skin burn.

What is the first wave of laser?

The first wave treats all the superficial stuff like skin pigmentation or ‘dark spots’ , and the second wave goes deeper to treat fine lines, wrinkles and scars.". Dr Jeremy adds Fraxel laser is a completely customisable skin treatment.

How long does it take to get laser treatment?

The actual laser treatment takes no longer than 45 minutes, though numbing using medical-grade numbing cream is required an hour prior to treatment.

Can a laser cause skin cancer?

This is because sun exposure post-laser can cause dangerous sun damage that may increase your risk of developing skin cancer. This damage will also legitimately look far more prominent than your existing hyperpigmentation. You've been warned! My Fraxel recovery day-by-day was almost exactly as I was told it would be.

Can you get rid of hyperpigmentation with a laser?

Because the cold, hard truth about any form of hyperpigmentation treatment, including Fraxel laser, is it's an ongoing process of maintenance. You can't actually ever 'get rid of' hyperpigmentation for good because we live in the sun, so some level of sun damage is unavoidable - even if you are very sun safe.

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