I am going to schedule some sort of resurfacing procedure in the next couple of weeks. Fraxel Re:pair looks like a great option. How does it compare to a TCA chemical peel? Also, I am 31 years old with pale but very oily skin and large pores. I have sun damage, some acne scars, fine lines and the beginning of jowl lines. I also have rosacea and a few broken capillaries. Will the Re:pair laser cover these issues better than other options?
Hi Jules,
Fraxel re:pair will address all of your concerns more thoroughly than a TCA peel. The only question of concern is your rosacea, which if is still bothersome after your recovery may require a treatment with a V-beam laser or IPL. I have not had any problems with rosacea following Fraxel re:pair. Good luck and be well.
Dr. P
Thank you for your question.
To get the overall improvement in all those categories you mentioned, the resurfacing procedure with the Fraxel Re:Pair would be a better choice. You are quite young to do this procedure, but based on the needs alone, this seems to be the better choice. The Re:Pair will improve the sun damage, textural changes, and acne scarring. Also, you might get some tightening that might improve the jowl lines as well.
Some people believe that it helps with Rosacea, but I think there are much better lasers for this. Make sure you review the side effect profile in full with your physician before choosing this treatment.
The TCA 25-35% peel is excellent for sundamage, namely lentigos and textural changes. It does not work so well for deeper lines, or at all for acne scars (in my opinion).
The downtime for each is about 1 week. For the TCA peel, the crusting and scaling can be dramatic and must be noted. Carefully evaluate your options, your immediate needs, the side effects, and your physician before making this choice. Best of luck!
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