Fraxel laser is a type of laser resurfacing treatment that can dramatically improve fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone and texture, and scars.
It works by triggering the body’s natural healing response, encouraging the production of collagen and new skin cells. Results are noticeable within days of your treatment and continue to improve over time.
Fraxel laser for fine lines and wrinkles
Fraxel laser is an excellent treatment for fine lines and wrinkles, age spots, sun damage, scars and uneven skin tone. In addition to fading discoloration, it also promotes new collagen and elastin to restore youthful-looking skin tone and texture.
The laser delivers two different wavelengths – one that targets the top layer of the skin (the 1927 wavelength) and another that penetrates to the deeper dermis level, triggering a healing reaction in your body and creating new collagen and skin cells. The laser is customized to deliver the right energy levels for your specific skin condition, so you can achieve the best possible results.
Depending on your treatment, you may experience mild redness and swelling following the procedure, which usually subsides within a few days of the laser session. You should avoid direct sunlight and other forms of irritants to reduce the risk of redness.
Patients with darker skin may see some hyperpigmentation after the laser treatment, which will fade over time. The OptiGuide Blue solution used during the treatment can leave some blue residue on the skin, especially on brown spots. However, this will fade with continued use of the OptiGuide Blue moisturizer.
For most patients, the best results will come from a series of treatments at monthly intervals. The number of treatments depends on your specific goals, but a typical course of four to five treatments yields significant improvements in skin tone, texture and fine lines.
Before a Fraxel treatment, a topical numbing cream will be applied to the area to reduce discomfort and ensure the best possible results. The treatment itself takes about 20 minutes to perform, and a “smart scanning” handpiece is used to deliver the laser energy to your skin.
Immediately after your treatment, your skin will look a bit pink and red. It will be sensitive and may peel or become dry. It is important to protect your treated skin from the sun and avoid alcohol, smoking and strenuous exercise for the first two weeks after your Fraxel treatment.
For optimal cosmetic results, it is important to follow the post-treatment care instructions that dermatologist Cameron Rokhsar provides on his website. This includes avoiding all forms of direct sun exposure, using an SPF 30+ sunscreen twice a day and protecting your skin from rubbing and exfoliation.
Fraxel laser for uneven skin tone and texture
Often, an uneven skin tone is a result of too much exposure to the sun. The skin over-produces melatonin to protect itself from the harmful UV rays, causing blotchy and uneven skin. This condition is not only frustrating, but it can also make the person look older than their actual age.
There are treatments to help correct this problem, such as a Fraxel laser treatment. This is a type of laser skin resurfacing treatment that removes damaged and dead cells from the top layer of the skin, which helps rejuvenate and smooth the skin texture.
When you have a Fraxel treatment, your skin will feel slightly stinging and a little red, but this should disappear within a few hours. In the meantime, you’ll be encouraged to apply cool compresses and avoid the sun (and extreme exercise).
Once the sting has gone away, your skin will look brighter and more even in tone. The skin will then start to heal itself and improve in color and texture over the next few weeks.
You can expect to see a dramatic improvement in your complexion after one treatment, but several treatments are typically recommended for optimal results. The number of treatments depends on the severity of your uneven skin and your body’s ability to regenerate new cells.
Aside from resolving pigmented lesions, Fraxel laser is also effective for treating fine lines and wrinkles. The laser can break up small columns in the outer layers of the skin to stimulate new collagen and elastin.
Pigmented lesions can be caused by a variety of factors, including too much sun, hormone fluctuations, or a genetic predisposition to darkening the skin. Fortunately, Fraxel laser can treat these conditions without causing hyperpigmentation, which can happen with other types of lasers.
The treatment can be applied to the face, neck, chest, and hands. It is an excellent treatment for sun damage, rosacea, acne scars, broken blood vessels, age spots and other imperfections.
Before you undergo a Fraxel laser treatment, you should stop using retinol products and exfoliants a week before your appointment. This will allow the treatment to work best.
Fraxel laser for acne scars
Acne scars are often quite difficult to deal with, but with the right treatment they can improve in appearance. The key is to break up the scars at deeper levels, where they are not visible, and promote collagen production to level out your skin and return it to a more normalized appearance.
Fraxel is a fractional laser that heats the skin to stimulate new collagen growth. Over time and multiple sessions, the result is a reduction in redness, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation while subtly tightening fine lines and wrinkles.
The laser beam is broken up into tiny microcolumns, allowing pinpoint beams to cover only a few percent of the surface of your skin (like a grid), so it can be done more quickly and safely than other skin resurfacing procedures. It’s also less invasive than lasers that remove a full sheet of skin or vaporize tissue, which can have long and unpredictable recovery times.
It is a popular laser for fading sun damage, brown pigmentation, and melasma. It can treat both shallow and deep pigmentation issues and works especially well on olive or darker skin types to prevent the exacerbation of the problem after the treatment.
To get the most out of a Fraxel treatment, it is important to take pre-treatment prep seriously. It is recommended to stop all topical treatments that can irritate the skin, such as retinoids and glycolic acid, at least 10 days before your treatment session. It is also important to avoid sun exposure for at least four weeks before and after your treatment.
Once the treatment is complete, your downtime will be about three days. You may experience some swelling and redness, but this will usually go away within a few days.
If you have active acne, it is best to wait until the breakouts are cleared up before getting a Fraxel treatment. This is to ensure the laser doesn’t irritate your sensitive acne skin.
If you want to achieve long-lasting results, we recommend a series of 5-6 treatment sessions spaced 4 weeks apart. A single session is enough to notice a dramatic improvement in the overall tone and texture of your skin, but the most noticeable results occur when the treatment is done in a series.
Fraxel laser for brown spots
Fraxel is a revolutionary laser treatment that can improve the appearance of brown spots and hyperpigmentation. It can also be used to treat fine lines, wrinkles and scars, resulting in healthier-looking skin that’s glowing and rejuvenated.
Unlike other ablative laser treatments that target the whole face, Fraxel uses a “fractional” approach. This means that the laser energy targets only a fraction of the skin at one time, leaving healthy skin intact and stimulating the body’s natural collagen production to restore the skin’s tone and texture.
As with all laser treatments, it’s important to prepare your skin for the procedure properly so that you get the best results. You should stop using all topical products with retinoids, glycolic acid and salicylic acid about 10 days before the treatment so they won’t interfere with your healing process. You should also avoid sun exposure and avoid alcohol for at least 2 to 3 days after your treatment, so your skin will have a chance to heal completely.
Your treatment will start with a numbing cream applied to your skin. Then the laser will be used to zap away old skin cells and promote new cell growth. Afterwards, your skin will feel slightly warm and may have a slight redness to it. It will be similar to a sunburn and you’ll need to apply ice to the area to reduce any pain or discomfort.
The treatment should take about an hour and you’ll have to wear a hat to protect your face from the sun. Your doctor will also prescribe a post-treatment ointment to help heal and soothe your skin.
You’ll be able to go home after your treatment, but you’ll want to avoid sun exposure until your skin has healed and your doctor has prescribed appropriate post-treatment care. You should use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and reapply it every 90 minutes to protect your skin from sun damage.
You will notice a difference in the tone and texture of your skin immediately after your treatment, but it’s also going to take a few months for your skin to fully recover. After that, you’ll need to get regular monthly sessions of Fraxel to continue seeing improvement in the appearance of your skin.
