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Active FX vs. Fraxel, which works best?

Posted 09 Aug 2007

For tightening up my loose neck skin i heard about ActiveFX but dont know if  it's better or worse than Fraxel.  Can someone offer advice on the diff betw Active FX and Fraxel.

Comments (13)

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Lynn- (unregistered guest) 9 Aug 2007
I would really like to know how effective this (or any other) treatment is on reducing pore size. I have had 2 laser peels and while they have helped some with my redness, my pores are still as big as ever. I want to find something to specifically reduce pore size. Thank you so much.
Tom at RealSelf (Community Manager) 9 Aug 2007
Lisa99: Thx for the question. There's a good discussion in comments to a ActiveFX blog post that describes Fraxel vs ActiveFX. Good luck. - Tom, RealSelf.com
Guest (unregistered guest) 10 Aug 2007
Had not heard of portrait. will investigate
Deborah Buckhaults (unregistered guest) 21 Feb 2008
I have had 3 fraxel treatments and the last 3 months. This last treatment was 2 weeks ago and my skin is extremely broken out with deep pimples and cyst. Should I be concerned.???? thanks Debbie
Amy Nyc 10 Mar 2008
Debbie, How are you doing now? I am about to do either fraxel or active fx but hesitant in light of all the horror stories. I hope you feel better. Best, Amy
Jo Mathieu 25 Oct 2008
I had 2 Fraxel sessions and before I could have my third, I too started breaking out with deep, cystic acne. This continued for several months and the doctor decided to discontinue Fraxel treatments on me. I continued to break out like I had never before and saw several different doctors. It was felt that the Fraxel had stimulated the oil glands in my face to overproduce. Also the post-treatment care (include heavy moisturizers) had aggravated it. Since then, my skin looks worse than ever. I started using Obagi with Retin-A, and spironolactone which has all helped somewhat. Overall the Fraxel experience was much more painful,with much longer downtime than predicted, and for me severe side effects.
Theresa (unregistered guest) 13 Apr 2008
I have had 5 Fraxels with no serious adverse effects. The day after I am very red and my face is swollen, but it resolves fairly quickly. The wrinkles around my chin and lower face are basically gone; over my lip nothing remains. The forehead is looking very good. They are very faint....good for character! I have been told by those I work with: I look beautiful. I have one more to go and then I am told by my doctor the results of the skin remodeling will continue for the next six months. After that it will be up to me with sun screen and a skin regimen to keep me looking my best. The aging process continues.
byunioncity 18 Apr 2008
I've been considering Fraxal, and I've been looking at the reviews here to try and make a decision, and I have to say I'm disappointed in many of the reviews. It seems many people are posting reviews and checking the "was worth it" box even though they haven't completed all their treatments and waited long enough to know their results. Sure, they explain their experience with the procedure, and sure, many are hoping that their outcome will be good, but please don't post until you are completely done with all treatments, and you know for sure that you are satisfied or unsatisfied with the results. It's not enough that you say you're going to come back and post, because it seems not many do so, and I personally don't want to keep looking to see if you reposted or not. I think because many check the "Was worth it" box and don't really indicate the final outcome, that in reality, the percentage of "Was worth it"s is probably much lower than what people see on this website. I think posting a review when you are completely done with all treatments will help others much more. Either that or this website should have another check box for "outcome unknown at this time" Thank you for reading.
Theresa (unregistered guest) 19 Apr 2008
Speaking for myself I can say I have good results. What I am seeing now began over 6 months ago. My dermatologist does a treatment every six weeks. As I said I have had 5 with my last one scheduled for 5/16. Then by Dec'08. the process will be completed so to speak. I had originally considered the CO2 laser, the Gold standard, but would rather invest the money than the time in Fraxel. I returned to the Cosmetic Surgeon who originally suggested the CO2 and he was amazed at my progress. The key to Fraxel is the high energy which is used after about the third treatment. You must continue for at least 5 or 6 to obtain results comparable to CO2. At the completion of my last treatment, the nurse said she had never seen such a high energy output before and it will be even higher the next go around. I am truly pleased and consider it worth it. But you must select what you are comfortable with. I am not having the process to look 18, I am good looking half my age!
Michael A. Persky, MD 20 Apr 2008
I have used both technologies and I believe that both work very well. You shouldn't go wrong with either. Like other cosmetic treatments (i.e. Botox, Restylane, Juviderm, Fat Transfer), it's not the "product or technology" as much as it is the physician's sense of aesthetics and their ability to use the product or technology properly. You should look better, and younger, with either treatment. Good luck and be well. Dr. P
View answers from Michael A. Persky, MD
Vic 22 May 2008
I'm hoping Dr. Persky can answer this... I'm looking into Sciton SkinTyte laser which sounds like Fraxel and some of the other laser treatments for wrinkles. I want to know if it is really worth it? I've had Botox and Restalyne and am looking for an alternate so I don't have to keep going back every few months. I was told that this would eliminate the need for the injectables and should last several years. Is this really true? Can you or someone out there please advise? Thanks. Victoria
terry (unregistered guest) 22 Apr 2008
i am thinking about active fx any comments
BarbT 22 May 2008
Would like resurfacing for wrinkling. Have done peels (tca, and a phenol around lips - darn that hurt). Have done botox and restylane. Cannot keep those going. Would like MORE bang for my buck, so to speak. Have some superficial lines, spots, etc. NO acne, no scars. My skin is "crepeing" up on me. I have done dermabrasion along with Obagi. And will continue with Obaji if necessary. My question is WHICH Laser? I don't want to keep returning ev three months, which is why I say NO TO BOTOX. I can't afford it. I have also had lip augmentation to watch it slowly disappear and didn't have another $2000 to redo every year. It's too sad to watch all that one has spent to just disappear within months ! I have had laser resurf on peri-oral a few years back and was happy. But there were not as many choices for a particular laser. I would like face/neck resurfaced. Also I am wondering are the claims for the lasers rebuilding collegen substantiated? Or is it hype? Downtime is not an issue. I am in good health. I heal well. Follow instructions. Light skinned. Extremely sun cautious *had superf melanoma removed from arm in 1988. THANKS.

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