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Is Fraxel re:pair different from fraxel laser?

By LorEon 04 Feb 2008

I saw the today show about Fraxel re:pair treatment. Is this the same thing I read on realself about fraxel laser experiences?  thnks!

View 9 doctor answers to Fraxel Restore Vs. Fraxel Repair

Comments (315)

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M. Bartosh (unregistered guest) 11 Mar 2008
I had fraxel re:pair done 2/15/08. The pre-op info on "some" swelling, and "some" redness that will resolve after 3/5-7 days (respectively), turned out to be 3 full days of not recognizing a square inch of my face and not having the majority of the swelling subside for another week ... as for the redness, i'm still battling that, along w/ itching and skin breakouts !!! Not what I had planned or was told to "expect". Since I still have a way to go, I can't comment on whether the out come to my skin was worth the pain (and the procedure WAS painful !!) and downtime and weekly visits to the dermatologist. Right now it looks worse than before the procedure.
suzan (unregistered guest) 9 Apr 2008
i went for fraxel-repair today very excited. i had a valium and lortab, numbing cream and a block...lots of needles in my face OUCH...the procedure was very painful and i am pretty tough when it comes to facial procedures. had a co2 resurfacing and full facelift a couple of years ago. The nurse caught me holding my breath and had to remind me to breath a couple times.i almost said stop twice. The Doc went kinda fast and made 4 passes. said it should be good for 10 years. i am just 16 hours out and wore out from stayiny moist between the vinigar soaks, water sprays ice packs and aquaphor...no sleep tonight very uncomfortable now...hope it is worth the$3800.00
Michael A. Persky, MD 11 Mar 2008
It sounds like you had a very aggressive treatment with the Fraxel re:pair. It is essential that the patient and doctor be on the same page about the aggressiveness of the treatment BEFORE the treatment is done. Discussing these things before treatment is an explanation, discussing them afterwards is an excuse. Anywhere from 5% to 70% of the skin can be treated. The depth of treatment is also variable. When I consult with patients regarding Fraxel re:pair, I explain that the more aggressive the treatment, the longer the recovery. There are some patients who want the best result possible regarding their wrinkles, sagging skin, and sun damage and don't mind if their recovery time is a bit longer. Other patients who don't want much downtime can be treated lighter, and/or have the Fraxel re:store treatment. The skin needs lots of moisturizer after the treatment. Most female patients can use makeup 3-5 days following the treatment to cover up the redness. The procedure is more painful than the Fraxel re:store, local nerve blocks are used in those patients who have pain, it sounds like you did not have a proper nerve block. In patients who do not want to feel a thing, we offer some sedation in the surgicenter. The skin dryness and itching are usually worst at days 3-5 at which time moisturizer needs to be applied often. Lastly, I would make sure that you actually received a Fraxel re:store treatment. There are many patients who believe that they are receiving Fraxel when in fact they are getting a different laser companies "fractionated" treatment. So be sure that you are getting Reliant Fraxel. I hope that this is helpful to you; I look forward to hearing about your results, and please feel free to contact me with any other questions.
Cynthia Kave 13 May 2008
I am scheduled to have the Fraxel re:pair next month. My doctor, Hema Sundaram, discussed most of the issues raised by your readers. I am a 50-year old, fair skinned woman and have had significant sun damage through the years even though have not exposed myself to the sun in over 20 years. I have had numerous basel cells removed from my face and neck and where the lesions were removed left pigmented scars. Do you believe I will have a scaring problem with the Fraxel re:pair? Also, I understand there will be/could be substantial discomfort with the procedure. Besides the meds indicated, is there anything else I can do to minimize discomfort? Best, Cynthia
Michael A. Persky, MD 13 May 2008
Hi Cynthia, Fraxel re:pair has as one of its indications the treatment of scars and pigmentation. It is difficult to give advice on the prospect of scarring unless one is the treating physician. In the patients treated thus far, there have not been any reports of scarring. The discomfort of the procedure can be minimized with local nerve blocks, and diffuse injection of local anesthesia after numbing cream has been in place for one hour. Good luck and let us know how it goes. Be well. Dr. P
epa 16 Nov 2011
I'm 56. Which would be better for me, the fraxel repair (the aggressive one I believe) or the SmartXide DOT? I have wrinkles, sun damage, skin needs tightening,and saggy eyes. As far as downtime I have 14 days. What do you recommend?
diane kerr (unregistered guest) 27 Mar 2008
I had the fraxel re:pair done about two weeks ago. Everything went fine except there was a lot of pain!!! But the question I have now is to ask if anyone else has had small little bumps appear that don't seem to want to go away. I have never had acne or problem skin just wrinkles. The treatment helped them but I don't understand what these little tiny bumps are on my right cheek. You can hardly see them but I can feel them for sure. I went to see my doc and he thought it was just dryness and that it would heal but so far, they seem about the same. Bumps and not dryness like I had on other parts of my face. Any ideas????? Need help, Diane
Michael A. Persky, MD 28 Mar 2008
Hi Diane, Fraxel re:pair is a more painful procedure than the Fraxel re:store(SR1500) because the CO2 laser actually vaporizes tissue. It helps to have a strong numbing gel applied for 60-75 minutes. A local anesthetic nerve block is used in about 1/2 patients. The local nerve block makes the procedure much more comfortable. For my patients who "do not want to feel a thing" we offer a trip to the out patient OR for a brief IV sedation (similar to when patients have a colonoscopy, no prep necessary the night before). I am glad to hear that the treatment has already helped with your wrinkles (that should continue to improve over the next few months). Without actually seeing the tiny bumps that you can hardly see, but do feel, it is hard to comment. I would advise you to continue to keep your skin very well hydrated, use lots of sun block , and stay in touch with your doctor. The tiny bumps should resolve soon. Ask you doctor if a mild steroid cream might be of some benefit for your right cheek. Please let us know how things go, I'm sure that you will be very pleased with your Fraxel re:pair treatment. Good luck! Dr. P
leigh444 (unregistered guest) 1 Apr 2008
I have a consultation scheduled for april 25 to see if I'm a good candidate for the fraxel re:pair. I blog is making think twice. Maybe I should just go with a mini-face lift. All comments welcome.
suzan (unregistered guest) 9 Apr 2008
mini face lift for sure.i had a fraxel repair today and it was awful. i had a traditional full face lift 3 years ago and it was no vacation but much more managable
michael persky, md, facs (unregistered guest) 9 Apr 2008
Hi Suzan, What kind of anesthesia did you receive for your treatment? We recommend numbing cream for 60-75 minutes, Xanax and Vicodin, and then in most patients a properly placed lidocaine nerve block. It sounds like you had a bad experience, let us know how your recovery goes and the results that you see. Good luck with a quick recovery. Dr. P
MrsG 23 Nov 2011
I had Fraxel Re:pair on Monday afternoon(two days now) , on my chin area only. My dr used the numbing cream and then numbing injections. It was virtually painless and I have not suffered one minute of pain since. It is somewhat swollen and definitely discolored, but continues to get better on an almost hourly basis. I am now beginning to peel and will not go back for follow up until 10 days has passed. I chose Re:pair to deal with acne scars and mild wrinkling. I am very encouraged by my progress so far. I am somewhat surprised by the comments of prior patients in that I have not suffered any of their difficulties.
lisamaree 3 Apr 2008
Hi All, I've done a lot of reading on this - the Fraxel Repair (or "Re:pair as opposed to Fraxel Restore, which uses erbium fractional laser) has only yesterday become available in Australia. Fraxel Re:pair is CO2 fractional laser requiring only 1 treatment(there's a few different brands), whereas Fractional Restore is the current one using erbium that requires several treatments (needs about 3 - 5). Yesterday i went to see the first Australian dermotologies that's using it (Dr A). He'd done it on his neck to try it out (looks like a VERY agressive treatment. All red, bleading, weeping after 18hrs post-). Today I went to see the leading Sydney laser treatment centre today (Dr B) - he's getting the laser in 2 weeks. He has a list as long as your arm of a waiting list. I want to see the results before i commit to it. I am waiting for you guys to tell me how it goes, plus the results from Dr A and B. Dr B told me he's NEVER had any probs with current Fraxel Restore, which makes me a bit sceptical after reading all these nightmare stories. I'm hoping it's just a matter of time and that you have to wait to see good results. What we do for looks, eh! LMN
michael persky (unregistered guest) 9 Apr 2008
Hi Lisamaree, If you are skeptical then wait and see the results, you have nothing to lose. The treatment has been investigated over the past 2 1/2 years on over 500 patients in the States without the problems of hypopigmentation or scarring that were seen with the old ablative CO2 lasers. Depending on the aggressiveness of the treatment as well as the individual’s skin, as well as the skill of the treating physician, there will be some "nightmare" stories, but when done properly I believe Fraxel to be a very safe, effective, and reliable method to take years off of our appearance. Enjoy beautiful Sydney for me. Dr. P
Ro 10 May 2008
Hi LMN, I am just moving to Australia, (Bulli, south of SYD) from the USA and was wondering if cosmetic procedures are readily avaialable and better in Autralia or in the USA, do you know? Thanks! Ro
Michael A. Persky, MD 10 May 2008
Hi Ro, Good on you, moving down under. Beautiful land, sea, and people. Is your name Ro short for Kangaroo? Take your sun block along and use it! It's not the "procedures", I am sure that the procedures are available in both countries (but the water will circle the drain in the opposite direction). You need to find the cosmetic PHYSCIAN that performs the procedure BETTER. There are wonderfully talented physicians in both countries, unfortunately in your case I can only recommend USA physicians, but if I meet an exceptional Aussie in the upcoming meetings that I will be attending, you will be the first to get the news. Remember to take your time in choosing the best physician. Enjoy your exciting move to the land of the Roo. Be well, and good day mate! Dr. P
smy 25 Jun 2008
Hi all, Is anyone know which doctor is the best in doing fraxel repair in sydney australia? I have some ice pick / box car acne scarring on face, which treatment could give me the BEST result? fraxel repair or restore? TQ
Michael A. Persky, MD 25 Jun 2008
Hi smy, Pass the Vegemite please and throw the shrimp on the barbee. I do not know the users of Fraxel repair in Sydney, Australia. There appear to be two physicians in Sydney who offer Fraxel, but I believe that they offer Fraxel restore. I do not believe that Repair has reached the old penal colony yet. When repair does get "down under" I would advise you to look for the following in making you decision: Does the physician do the treatment, or is it the cleaning crew? How much experience has the physician had with CO2 lasers and Fraxel in the past? Is it a "medispa" or physicians office? Make sure that the laser is Fraxel repair by Reliant as there will be many new fractionated CO2 lasers in the coming years stirring up a great deal of confusion and mis-information. Both restore and repair should give you good results with acne scarring. It really depends on what appeals to you in terms of the different downtimes and treatments. For very deep scarring I would lean toward Fraxel repair. In the meantime, keep using your sun block, give beautiful Sydney Harbor a look for me, and be well. Good day, mate. Dr. P
IWCA 18 Mar 2010
I just had Fraxel Re:Pair done this morning. I don't know why people say it's painful as that was not my experience at all. The Dr. applied a numbing gel for about 1.5 hrs before the procedure and then a few wee pokes of lidocane (sp?) on the most sensitive areas of the face just before the began with the laser. He gave me a rubber ball to squeeze if it became painful and I didn't need to squeeze it once. The whole thing is far easier than a trip to the dentist for a filling. It just feels a little bit hot or tingly as the laser goes near the edge of the numbed area. I am home now and have washed off the small spots of blood/weeping and applied more of the "vaseline-type goop" and my skin just feels hot and tight like a medium sunburn. My appearance is not too bad - I certainly wouldn't scare anyone who came to the door! A wee bit of swelling (a stranger wouldn't know it) and some red/brownish discoloration on face and chest but that's it. I will write more tomorrow as I go through more of the process.
4timeFUser 10 Feb 2012

IWCA glad you had a good experience. The depth of the pain depends on how aggressive the procedure. Mine have been very aggressive and I would and many nurses describe it as having your face tatooed. It can be VERY PAINFUL and you were lucky to have been given lidocane. Only the numbing cream was offered to me. Pain pill taken ahead of time do not work at all.

Hi Mike, It sounds like you are going to have a great result. In a few months if your deeper acne scars are still bothersome, you can have another treatment localized to the areas that bother you. Good luck. Dr. P
Dana S. (unregistered guest) 4 Apr 2008
Hey Dr Persky, This is a great site I have stumbled upon. I am a practitioner in LA and was unclear about the difference between Fraxel re:pair and Fraxel re:store. Now I am very clear about it. Wow, re:pair sounds really intense! We use re:store and we are new to the laser. Pt's seem to have minimal downtime, but we have not yet had a pt finish the recommended series of 4 treatments. I am excited to see what the results will be. I am actually getting ready to have my first treatment in 2 weeks. My question is this, would a series of 4 treatments with re:store be equivalent to one of re:pair?
Michael Persky (unregistered guest) 5 Apr 2008
Hi Dana, The quick answer is no. Re:pair is ablative and actually removes a volume of skin so that the tightening is greater, especially in the lax skin of the neck. The changes seen in color, tone, and texture may be close on the face. Good luck with your treatments, I'm sure that you will be pleased. Dr. P
lisamaree57 (unregistered guest) 6 Apr 2008
Dr P, what is your affiliation with Reliant Technologies (the makers of the Fraxel)? - LM
michael persky, md, facs (unregistered guest) 9 Apr 2008
Hi Lisa, I have no affliation with Reliant Technologies, I have used Fraxel re:store for the past 3 years, have been very pleased with the technology, and look forward to many more years or using the technology including the new fractionated carbon dioxide Fraxel re:pair. Thanks. Dr. P

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