Fraxel Restore is a non-ablative laser. By that I mean, it does not remove the top layer of skin(epidermis). It works at a 1550nm wavelength. Because it is non-ablative, recovery time is faster, although multiple treatments are necessary to achieve desired results. Recovery time is minimal.
Fraxel Repair is an ablative fractional CO2 laser, that works at 10,600nm wavelength. It achieves better results for skin rejuvenation, often in a single treatment. It does have a recovery healing time of 3-7 days
When I consult with patients, not only do we look at the patient's skin concerns ,but also their skin type ,and what type of treatment program they are looking for. Many patients want a one-shot treatment ,even though there is downtime, whereas others would rather have multiple treatment sessions with no downtime.
