Fraxel Repair before & after photos
59%
121 reviews
Worth It Rating Our index shows the percentage of community members saying this was "Worth it". See cosmetic treatment rankings
Fraxel Repair Cost $3,800 average cost

Meladerm Before Fraxel Repair and Restore?

Would it be safe and advisable to use Meladerm instead of hydroquinone 4% as pre-treatment for Fraxel repair and Fraxel restore to help prevent PIH? How about for Post-op? Or is Meladerm either not as good as hydroquinone or there's no experience with Meladerm for this purpose? For how many days should either cream be used and stopped prior to treatments for best results?

Asked 29 months ago by Violeta in Texas & Canada
Sort 3 expert answers by:
+2

Meladerm pre-treatment for prevention of hyperpigmentation with Fraxel Laser

Meladerm, which contains kojic acid is not as potent an agent as prescription strength hydroquinone. Most doctors have more experience with the latter. If you are allergic to hydroquinone, kojic acid may be an option. If not, I suggest you follow your doctor's recommendation. If hydroquinone is recommended, go with that.
Susan Goodlerner, MD
Torrance Dermatologist
+1

Is Meladerm as good as hydroquinone before Fraxel?

I routinely use hydroquinone on all Fraxel patients who have darker skin tones and are more likely to tan than burn (Fitzpatrick scale IV-VI). The reason for this is to minimize the risk of hyperpigmentation (or darkening of the skin) after the treatment. As a result, I've been able to keep my rate of hyperpigmentation after Fraxel very low. I do use Kojic acid derivatives for other reasons in my practice, but not as a replacement for hydroquinone. I don't believe there is any good... more
Sirish Maddali, MD
Portland Plastic Surgeon
Use of this website and the posting of any reviews or other content on this website constitutes acceptance of the RealSelf® Terms of Service. The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider. © 2011 RealSelf, Inc. All rights reserved.