Fraxel Re:store resurfacing is usually done a multiple number of times so the final cost can be greater than one dermabrasion or CO2 treatment. The latter two can cause marked thinning and whitening of the treated skin but Fraxel maintains the good skin texture and color. Fraxel Re:pair CO2 is usually done as... more
Comparing acne scar laser treatments
Please compare Fraxel CO2 with Fraxel restore (erbium resurfacing) and laserbrasion (dermabrasion and CO2 resurfacing combo) for acne scars. If cost was not an issue, I'd get Fraxel CO2, but Erbium and laserbrasion are much less expensive, and I'm wondering how the downtime, risks, and benefits compare.
2 answers to “Comparing acne scar laser treatments”
A: Be careful when mixing modalities
Some of the worst complications I have seen is when half measures are combined. In general, erbium:YAG ablative lasers do not go deep enough, nor coagulate the deeper skin levels to improve acne scars long term. They are better for pigment. Dermabrasion with a wire brush is an "oldie but goodie"... more
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4 posts
30 Dec 2008
Thanks for all your answers. Is there a point of diminishing return or limit to how many Fraxel:Restore you can do? Can you do 10 or even 15 without some bad side effects? Or do people max out their improvements at certain number?
95 posts
10 Dec 2008
Fraxel Re:pair is a fractionated ablative CO2 laser which will give you far superior results to the Restore. The Restore is a non ablative fractional laser. There are fractionated ablative erbium lasers which will give you similar results to the Fraxel Re:pair.