Leah Wyar/Design by Cristina Cianci
In This Article
Lasersare no longer the future; they are the present reality.
Of course, every solution comes with a price.
Meet the Experts
What Is Fraxel Laser Treatment?
Leah Wyar/Design by Cristina Cianci
Fraxel is a brand of laser that performs fractional skin resurfacing, says dermatologist Rebecca Marcus, MD.
Fraxel is popular for skin resurfacing as well as treatment of wrinkles, unwanted pigmentation, and scars.
Most patients are back to their normal routines a week.
Leah Wyar/Design by Cristina Cianci
We always pre-treat our patients with antivirals to prevent this.
Its important to take prep seriously.
If a patient has active acne, its also best to postpone the procedure until the breakouts have cleared.
Leah Wyar/Design by Cristina Cianci
Your provider may also have you stop (or start) certain skincare ingredients in preparation for your treatment.
What to Expect During a Fraxel Treatment
Fraxel is usually done in a doctors office.
The procedure itself takes about 20 minutes.
Leah Wyar/Design by Cristina Cianci
Numbing is essential for a good treatment, Dr. Evans says.
The procedure really cannot be performed effectively without it.
If you are numbed appropriately with a topical cream, then it is very well-tolerated.
Leah Wyar/Design by Cristina Cianci
Then, it was off to the races.
I was gripping a stress ball most of the time to take a stab at shift my focus.
It’s important to keep in mind that the pain threshold also varies significantly from one person to another.
Leah Wyar/Design by Cristina Cianci
I was immediately given ice packs to calm the swelling and bring some relief.
Already, the pigment was starting to come to the surface.
Day Two
The next day, I saw more pigment, particularly on my cheeks.
Leah Wyar/Design by Cristina Cianci
The texture was a lot scratchier, tooit was rough and almost scab-like.
I woke up to a very rough texture and much darker pigment.
I took a shower right before dinner and noticed a big difference in the scabbed layer.
Leah Wyar/Design by Cristina Cianci
Emerging from the shower revealed an incredibly fresh layer of skin on much of my cheeks.
It was definitely red, but it was the first real glimpse of how effective this treatment can be.
The big brown spot was now very red.
Day Five
The five-day rule I had heard about for so long was almost true.
The overall glow was more intense than I had ever imagined.
It was as though the light was reflecting perfectly off my face without any diffraction from pigment.
Fraxel is the gold standard of skin resurfacing without prolonged downtime and minimal risks, Dr. Evans says.
Though the results are long-lasting, Dr. Evans recommends a series of three to five treatments.
Whenever a laser touches your skin, it can burn the skin.Hyperpigmentation in darker skin types can be seen.
If someone has acne at the time of treatment, it can temporarily be worse after treatment.
Scarring is another potential risk with Fraxelor really any laser.
To minimize potential side effects, follow pre- and post-treatment guidelines as directed by your physician.
Who Can Perform Fraxel Laser?
I personally went with Dr. Sobel for a few reasons.
First, as a board-certified dermatologist who I have worked with many times, I trust him.
He also recently documented his own experience with Fraxel, and his before and after was pretty remarkable.
A dermatologist who trusts the treatment on theirownskin is good enough for me.
Aftercare
Gentle skincare is a must!
Since intense moisturizing is key to combat dryness post-treatment and help with healing, Dr. Evans says thatsluggingcan help.
That said, I could use another round.
I’ll absolutely be penciling this into my calendar each fall, as Dr. Sobel does.
It’s also important to understand how they work.
Fraxel Repair, an ablative laser, on the other hand, removes the top layer of skin.
Fraxel vs. Clear + Brilliant
Fraxel is just one bang out of fractional laser.
And while it may have the widest name recognition, there is a second fractional laser gaining traction.
If fractional lasers sat on a spectrum from gentlest to most aggressive,Clear + Brilliantsits just before Fraxel.
The Final Takeaway
Fraxel is a fantastic treatment for the right candidate, Dr. Marcus says.
Results from Fraxel Dual should last for about a year, and longer for Fraxel Repair.
