Treatment FAQ

how long does it take to recover after fraxel duo laser treatment

by Rebeca Dietrich Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago

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.

Full Answer

How long does it take to recover from Fraxel Laser treatment?

Although it’s important to remember that everyone’s skin is different and responds to treatment differently, your healing process for each treatment session will typically be complete within a week. Here is a general overview of how Fraxel laser treatment can benefit your skin and what the day by day recovery process looks like!

How long does swelling last after Fraxel treatment?

Swelling is a common after-effect of Fraxel treatment. It subsides after a few days, but there are ways to minimize the swelling quicker. During the healing process, it’s important to keep an ice pack near you.

What is the downtime for Fraxel Laser treatment?

The downtime for Fraxel lasers is usually one week. On the first two days, swelling, redness, and throbbing at the treated area can be experienced. In the first week, the skin will start to peel. But during this time, it’s better to leave it alone and let it recover by itself.

How long does it take for Fraxel to work?

As with the Fraxel recovery there is, redness and some swelling for the first few days. The redness usually goes away in 2-4 days and is replaced by a light bronzing which looks like a tan. With the Fraxel Dual there is more darkening of the brown spots initially and more ‘peeling’ starting around days 3-7 as the excess pigment sheds.

How long is recovery after Fraxel laser?

Recovery after treatment with Fraxel Dual can take up to three weeks, with the most involved healing occurring within the first week. During the first week, you can expect redness, tightness, and swelling in the treated area.

When do you see results after Fraxel?

How 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.

What can I expect after Fraxel laser treatment?

Treatment Day Immediately following your Fraxel laser treatment, you will likely experience hotness, redness, and swelling that resembles a sunburn. This is because the lasers have a similar effect on your skin to the sun's rays, but the most significant irritation usually does not last very long.

What helps Fraxel heal faster?

Products that are great for post Fraxel: Gentle Cleanser by Skinceuticals or Stem Cell Cleanser by Image Skincare – both are going to be very gentle and won't cause any irritation while the skin is healing. CE Ferulic Serum by Skinceuticals is proven to speed the recovery process of Fraxel by three days!

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 ...

How painful is Fraxel?

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.

Will one Fraxel treatment do anything?

With the 1927 wavelength (the one used for fading pigment), one treatment can decrease 80 percent of the discoloration. 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.

Is Fraxel laser worth the money?

Since the Fraxel laser promotes rapid cell turnover and collagen production, it works extremely well on dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles along with other skin conditions such as acne scars. The Fraxel laser is also an effective treatment for skin discoloration.

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 is face red after Fraxel?

Answer: Redness from Fraxel Repair resolves in a matter of weeks. It can take 2-8 weeks for redness to disappear, depending on your skin type and the intensity of the treatment.

How do you maintain Fraxel results?

Answer: Maintaining results after Fraxel You can't change your past, and past exposure to the sun will still cause the appearance of brown spots and wrinkles in the future. However, you can minimize these future wrinkles and spots by using retinoid creams every night.

What is the fastest way to heal skin after laser treatment?

The immediate post laser treatment consists of covering the lasered skin with Vaseline (Aquaphor or whatever the specific product you are instructed to use) and using cold packs for discomfort and swelling. The best treatment to be comfortable is to apply cold compresses to the treated areas of the face.

What Is The Difference Between The Fraxel and The Fraxel Dual?

The bottom line for you is that the Fraxel Dual is much more effective for brown spots and excess pigment. And, due to improvements in the tip of t...

Is The Comfort/Discomfort Level The Same as The Fraxel During and After The Treatment?

Most patients describe their discomfort with the Fraxel Dual at about 2-5/10. With the Fraxel Dual the discomfort is just slightly higher usually –...

Is The Healing The same? What Differences Are there?

As for healing, the sensation of heat (like a mild sunburn) lasts about the same time (usually 2-24 hours) and redness, if it occurs, lasts 1-4 day...

Are There Differences Between Treatments on The Face and Body Sites Like The Chest, Arms, Legs, and back?

Yes, laser treatments for the face and neck heal the most quickly. See the paragraph above to help you. The further you go down the body, the longe...

Does This Laser Work For Melasma?

Melasma often gets worse with laser treatments so I don’t recommend Fraxel or Fraxel Dual treatments unless you are being treated at a nationally r...

How Well Does It Treat Acne Scarring?

The original Fraxel is still a better treatment for acne scarring. The only reason to use the Fraxel Dual is if there are pigment problems associat...

Is The Fraxel Dual System Safe For Darker Skin types?

The original Fraxel system is safer for darker skin types. The Fraxel Dual is more a risk for causing post laser hyperpigmentation (usually tempora...

For The More Technically Inclined

The Fraxel is a 1550nm erbium laser and the Fraxel Dual is that PLUS a second laser which is 1927nm thulium fiber laser. This new addition can be u...

Do Avoid Certain Products and Medications

While some dermatologists recommend that you stay away from medications, certain medications for at least two weeks, adverse reactions can still occur if you wait until two weeks prior.

Do Use the Right Products

Because your skin will probably feel itchy, tight, and dry, you’re definitely going to want to apply a moisturizer—we recommend about three times a day. Make sure your moisturizer is non-comedogenic, as you don’t want it clogging your pores.

Do Speak with Your Dermatologist

Always communicate with your doctor on your skin concerns, especially when it comes to laser treatments or any other cosmetic procedure. Things like Accutane, lesions, cold sores, excessive scarring, or being pregnant can be major when it comes to getting Fraxel, so speak with your dermatologist if any of these conditions are a part of your life.

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.

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.

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.

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 before retinol can I use salicylic acid?

According to Dr. Marmur, you'll need to stop using any product that can cause skin sensitivities a full 10 days before your treatment, along with 10 days after (that includes retinol, exfoliants, and acids, like glycolic acid or salicylic acid ).

How long does it take for a fraxel to heal?

The shorter healing times are for younger, healthy people. The healing time can be 1-4 days longer depending on the exact settings. As with the Fraxel recovery there is, redness and some swelling for the first few days. The redness usually goes away in 2-4 days and is replaced by a light bronzing which looks like a tan.

What is a fraxel laser?

The Fraxel is a 1550nm erbium laser and the Fraxel Dual is that PLUS a second laser which is 1927nm thulium fiber laser. This new addition can be used in combination with the erbium laser or by itself. One of the advantages to the design of the new system is the ability to get maximum customization for you!

What is the difference between a fraxel and a fraxel dual?

What is the difference between the Fraxel and the Fraxel Dual? The bottom line for you is that the Fraxel Dual is much more effective for brown spots and excess pigment . And, due to improvements in the tip of the laser, the Fraxel Dual is better for treating large areas like the back, chest, arms and legs.

How long does heat last after a laser?

What differences are there? As for healing, the sensation of heat (like a mild sunburn) lasts about the same time (usually 2-24 hours) and redness, if it occurs, lasts 1-4 days generally, which is similar to the Fraxel laser.

How long does it take for a burn to go away?

Remember this ‘healing’ time is the bronzing and sandpapery feel. The redness and swelling go away in 1-4 days. There are no open areas like a burn usually. Also, consider your age and your health.

Can you get melasma with a laser?

Melasma often gets worse with laser treatments so I don’t recommend Fraxel or Fraxel Dual treatments unless you are being treated at a nationally recognized laser center and, even then, there is no guarantee that you won’t have problems.

Does laser treatment help neck and face?

Yes, laser treatments for the face and neck heal the most quickly. See the paragraph above to help you. The further you go down the body, the longer it takes to heal and you must adjust for your age and health.

How long does a fraxel treatment last?

For tighter skin and reduced lines and wrinkles, Fraxel treatments typically need three to five sessions that are scheduled four weeks apart. On average, the results of a successful surgery, paired with excellent aftercare practices, can last up to a year.

How long does it take for swelling to subside after faxel?

Soothe the Swelling. Swelling is a common after-effect of Fraxel treatment. It subsides after a few days, but there are ways to minimize the swelling quicker. During the healing process, it’s important to keep an ice pack near you.

How long does it take for a laser to peel?

The downtime for Fraxel lasers is usually one week. On the first two days, swelling, redness, and throbbing at the treated area can be experienced. In the first week, the skin will start to peel. But during this time, it’s better to leave it alone and let it recover by itself.

How to reduce swelling from fraxel?

Another method to try is keeping the head up. By doing this, the head drains more unnecessary fluids, reducing the swelling of the skin.

What to wear after laser treatment?

Wearing Tight Tops. Within the first few days after the laser treatment, it might be a challenge to pull the shirt over the head while avoiding contact with the face. This is why turtlenecks and other tight clothing are not recommended during the early stages of the recovery phase.

How to help skin recover from a swollen face?

It’s important to help the skin recover fast by soothing the swelling, moisturizing the face, and taking extra steps to protect it. There are also activities to avoid such as putting on makeup, applying exfoliants, wearing tight tops, staying under the sun for too long.

How long should I stay away from tanning beds after a tan?

After the procedure, it’s crucial to stay away from the sun and avoid tanning beds for a month or two. Sun exposure can damage the skin as it recovers from the treatment. It can result in textural changes and undue pigmentation. Always cover the face and other treated areas whenever stepping outside.

How long after a syringe treatment can you go back to your skin?

After Treatment: Two Weeks. You should be able to go back to your original skin care regimen a week after treatment. However, your skin will speak to you, and if your regular products cause irritation after a weeks’ time, you should abstain from using for another day or two.

How long does it take for ice packs to warm up your face?

Your face will feel very warm. Soothe your skin by placing ice-packs (or bags of frozen vegetables) on the treated area for 20-minute increments throughout the rest of the day.

How long after a fraxel procedure can you exercise?

Also, Fraxel treatments cause puffiness, and exercising can promote even further swelling. Some experts say you can return to regular workouts 24-48 hours after your procedure while others suggest taking a week to 10 days off. Ask your doctor for instructions specific to you. See more patients ».

How to heal skin after a syringe?

Drinking lots of water to stay hydrated will help your skin heal properly after your procedure. But avoid drinking beverages with a diuretic effect, like coffee, alcohol, and caffeinated tea, since they will cause your body to eliminate that much-needed hydration.

How to reduce swelling after a syringe?

Sleep with your head elevated to reduce puffiness. Take vitamin C after your procedure – it helps increase the production of collagen. Use cold compresses to reduce redness and swelling. Contact your doctor if you have pain that cannot be controlled, excessive itchiness, or any signs of possible infection.

How many laser beams are there on the face?

According to Baylor College of Medicine, 125 to 250 laser beams are directed to the face, penetrating the skin, heating its layers to allow both surface and deep treatment simultaneously. A numbing cream is used to alleviate the amount of pain felt during the treatment, and a cooling device also helps with the discomfort.

Is laser skin treatment safe?

Laser skin treatments are an excellent way to improve the appearance of your skin. But having these treatments, though safe and widely effective, means you need to be aware of the aftereffects of treatment, how to care for your newly treated skin, and maybe most importantly , what not to do once you have had your treatment.

How long after a fraxel can you wear make up?

Generally speaking after a Fraxel treatment, depending on how aggressive you are treating the area, you will be able to wear make-up and conceal that area to the public after 5-7 days.

Why is it important to clean after laser treatment?

This should be a gentle process with no scrubbing or abrading. Frequent cleaning is important in order to prevent bacterial, viral or fungal infection.

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