Question
Fraxel repair - how is it different from Fraxel laser?
Is the Fraxel repair laser a new version of the Fraxel laser that is already out? I can't really find any information that explains how Fraxel repair is different from Fraxel laser. Are they made by the same company? Does Fraxel repair do the same stuff that Fraxel laser does?
Asked by: Kim from Ventura, CA
Answers (3)
Sort by: Most recent | Most helpful
1
August 4, 2008
Fraxel Re:pair and Re:store both made by Reliant Technologies
Great question. Yes both are from the same company, Reliant. The Fraxel Restore was the first to be developed. The Fraxel Repair came to market this year. Both produce small holes in the skin leaving behind normal skin between the holes. The skin heals faster than the older carbon dioxide laser which blasted away all the skin in the area. The Restore produces minimal down-time, with redness and flaking for up to several days, but you are expected to be in public right away. The Repair treatments are of a deeper level and you have a solid three days, if not up to one week, of very red, almost oozing skin. The wavelengths of the lasers are different. The Restore may improve texture, coloration, acne scars and fine lines. The Repair may improve deeper lines and even tighten sagging skin of eyelids and jowls.
2
April 27, 2008
Fraxel re:pair - Best Laser Available for skin tightening and wrinkles
The Fraxel re:pair has fractional laser technology that made the CO2 laser much safer than completely ablative CO2 lasers. The company has seen none of the risks that the older CO2 had - hypopigmentation, scarring, and lines of demarcation. The CO2 laser has been long regarded as the gold standard for wrinkles and tightening, but with the previously mentioned risks happening in about 15 percent of patients, it fell out of favor.
Another benefit of the Fraxel re:pair is the depth of penetration, up to 1.6mm, much deeper than the prior CO2 lasers which went 0.3mm as well as the 2 competitive lasers - Mixto - 0.7mm, and the Deep Fx, which is 1mm. Deeper treatments mean better results.
The other Fraxel (re:store) is an erbium laser, and is considered non-ablative (does not remove tissue) whereas the re:pair causes ablation. Removing tissue will result in more wrinkle correction and tightening. The CO2 also causes some peripheral heat damage which also leads to more tightening. The erbium causes very little peripheral heating.
There is more downtime with the re:pair but it's only one treatment. All my patients are extremely pleased with the re:pair, and I can't say that about the re:store.
3
April 11, 2008
Fraxel repair...Pre-emptive strike against facelift
Hi Kim,
The new Fraxel re:pair is made by Reliant Technologies Inc., which is the same company that made the first fractionated lasers including the "Fraxel that is already out" (has been out for the past 3 years).
Re: pair is a completely different laser (CO2) while the "older laser" is a non-ablative fractionated erbium laser. They have renamed the older version Fraxel re: store (aka Fraxel 750 and Fraxel SR1500). The new re: pair is an ablative fractionated CO2 laser that tightens laxity of facial and neck skin with minimal downtime, risks, and complications that have been seen with the older traditional CO2 lasers.
Like the Fraxel re: store, the re: pair also treats brown pigment, age spots, scars, wrinkles, melasma (brown pigment of birth control pills and pregnancy), but the big difference is in tightening and deeper lines. Also red discolorations respond well with re: pair.
Unlike the previous Fraxel re: store, re: pair achieves this in a single treatment. Re: pair is more painful so a local anesthetic nerve block can be used, and the recovery time is greater than with re: store.
Be well.
Dr. P
Comments (1)
Write a comment
Check out more Q+A about Fraxel Laser
Fraxel treatment - when and why is it recommended?
Answered by Ronald Shelton, MD, New York City Dermatologist
Read all 9 answers
Does Fraxel work on acne scars?
Answered by Kris M. Reddy, MD, Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon
Read all 7 answers- Does Fraxel Repair require fewer treatments than Fraxel Restore?
Answered by Ronald Shelton, MD, New York City Dermatologist
Read all 5 answers 
Active FX vs. Fraxel laser treatments - which is better?
Answered by Michael A. Persky, MD, Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon
Read all 5 answers
8/24/08
the fraxel repair has left me with scars and hypopigmentation, and hyperpigmentation, rough skin. the other fraxel did not harm the skin permenetly