Atlanta Fraxel Laser doctors

There are three types of Fraxel treatment—re:pair, re:store, and re:fine. The re:pair treatment is the most gentle and works to eliminate fine lines and wrinkles and to even out skin tone imbalances caused by sun exposure or age spots. The re:store and re:fine laser treatments are slightly more intense and both help to resurface the skin to get rid of fine lines around the eyes, sun spots, uneven pigmentation, and melasma as well as acne and surgical scars. All three treatments help create younger-looking, healthier skin. However the first laser treatment, re:pair, is focused on signs of aging while the other two, re:store and re:fine, can better help with acne scars and other non-age related concerns. Every patient’s acne scars will vary and there are times when another treatment or surgery may be more suitable for acne scar repair based on the severity of the individual scar. Make certain to ask your dermatologist if the Fraxel treatment they offer will help with their type of acne scar(s).

Fraxel Laser Treatments produce results similar to those of harsher lasers with the benefits of non-ablative treatments. Downtime associates with laser skin resurfacing is decreased with Fraxel because healing time is accelerated. Fraxel technology penetrates the non-living outer layer of the skin, leaving it intact. Many patients are able to return to their daily activities immediately following treatment or within 3-5 days depending on the intensity of the laser used.

Fraxel works by targeting portions of damaged tissue and creating microscopic “wounds” beneath the top layers of skin. This method triggers the body’s natural healing process which speeds up collagen production and helps create new, healthy skin cells. This treatment is a great anti-aging facial rejuvenation procedure for eliminating wrinkles, sun damage, acne scars, and other signs of aging.

Fraxel and a facelift are two completely different procedures that treat completely separate parts of your anatomy.  Fraxel will help the SURFACE of the skin: diminishing fine lines and fine wrinkles, reducing sun spots.  It may stimulate collagen and give you some tiny element of "skin tightening", but don't count on that to come even close to any facelift.

A facelift, of course, gets rid of loose skin and lifts and tightens the contours of the lower face and neck. 

To answer your question about what to do first, I would say to first treat what bothers you the most. If it's the surface of your skin (color, fine lines) that bothers you most, then do Fraxel first.  If it's loose skin along the jawline and in the neck, then have the facelift done first.