Fraxel an option instead of Facelift?

A comprehensive face/neck lift is performed to address subplatysmal and submental fat in the neck, tightening of the anterior platysmal bands, lifting the jowls and excess facial and neck skin. In addition, the face/neck lift also tightens facial and neck muscles to improve the jaw and neckline. Fraxel cannot... more

A person "can" benefit from a fraxel type of skin ablation or even a standard skin resurfacing. This technology can tighten the skin. A facelift usually provides more skin tightening--you actually remove skin. Here are the real questions: How much extra skin do you have? What are your expectations?... more

You can do either procedure or both. However, the procedures treat two separate problems. Lasers improve the quality of the skin including texture, pigmentation,etc. A facelift will remove, reposition, or lift sagging skin, fat, or underlying muscle.  This is a contouring procedure.

These two procedures are not a replacement for each other; they are complementary. Fraxel will not tighten enough, whether it be the Re:pair or Re:store, but they can smoothen the skin and improve the texture remarkably. You will need to be evaluated for the best answer appropriate for your face.

The one word answer:  yes, it is an option. But skin resurfacing with Fraxel or other CO2 lasers works differently and only affects the skin.  Facelifting affects sagging tissue including the skin, fatty tissue, muscle, and other connective tissue.  Gravity affects all these tissues, not just... more

Hi Carol, You have asked a great question and obviously one that strikes controversy in the facial plastic surgery world with close to 20 responses here on RS. To answer your question precisely as you asked it, yes Fraxel re:pair or Deep FX are excellent options for patients who do not wish to undergo... more

Fraxel will do some minor skin resurfacing which will reduce mainly sun damage (fine lines and wrinkles, some blotchness perhaps, reduce thickened skin, smooth the surface).  A face lift will tighten the skin, smooth the wrinkles due to sagging (not sun damage), and will also remove excess skin while... more

Carol: Fraxel and other brand name fractional ablative laser treatments are skin surface treatments.  They work on skin pigment and texture.  The most aggressive treatments, with the longest downtimes, crusting, swelling, etc. have the most benefits in these regards.  They have a small effect on... more

Nothing will achieve the same result as a face lift. Fraxel is good at removing pigment and improving skin texture but will not lift the skin. Skin tightening machines such as LuxIR Deep, Thermage, Titan and others will tighten skin about 20% of that achieved with a face lift.

Dear Carol The fraxel is designed to improve skin quality without the down time and discomfort of standard CO2 laser. However, there is no question, that the results of fraxel are put simply, modest. You will see on the internet claims of dramatic facial tightening with Fraxel but this type of result seems to... more