Differences Between Lasers

Hi Mo,

Dr. Fincher has explained the different lasers very well.  Of the fractionated lasers, Fraxel re:pair is the most effective clinically proven laser with more than 27 scientific articles in peer reviewed scientific journals, while the closest competitor had 1 (as of June 2008).

You need to choose your treating physician carefully and establish a trusting relationship.  Ask to speak or meet previous patients.  Look at before and after pictures carefully.  Choose a physician in one of the cosmetic orientated fields of plastic surgery, facial plastic surgery, ENT, dermatology, or opthalmoplastic surgery.  God luck and be well.

Dr. P

There are a lot of laser devices out these days and you do have to do your homework to keep things straight. There are basically 3 categories of lasers: 1) Fully ablative that includes CO2 and Erbium lasers, 2) Fractional Ablative lasers that include Fraxel Repair, Lumenis Total Fx (these are both fractionated CO2), Pixel, DoT and others, 3) Fractionated non-ablative lasers such as Affirm, or Fraxel Restore

The main difference between these categories is the amount of downtime that goes along with them. The Fully ablative lasers require 1 treatment and will require 2-3 weeks to heal and possibly some redness beyond this time frame. The fractionated ablative CO2 lasers usually only take 1 treatment and reduce the healing time to about 1 week. The nonablative fractional lasers require 4-5 treatments but only have 1-2 days of redness for healing.

The other main consideration is results and what the treatment is for. A basic rule is that the more aggressive the laser, the better the results and the more the downtime. All lasers are indicated for wrinkles, acne scars, pigmentation, and sun damage. For wrinkles, more aggressive treatments are better.

This is some basic information to help you along. The other questions you should ask are what are my options. If the practice only offers one laser and one laser for everything then you should be wary. If options are presented to you with variable results and healing times then it is reasonable. Any serious laser practice will offer options or combination treatments. For example, our practice has around 20 lasers for various applications so that we can offer options to patients depending upon their needs and lifestyle (healing time tolerance).

Lastly, if you are not comfortable with a physician, get a second opinion.