Fraxel Laser before & after photos
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470 reviews
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Fraxel Laser Cost $2,200 average cost

Not Really Worth It

5 posts
Comments (2)
Updated 16 Feb 2009
Posted 16 Feb 2009
Not Worth It
Spent: $3,200 in N.C.

I had four Fraxel treatments at $800 a piece. I did it hoping to correct (or even fade) small acnes scars and years of laying in the sun trying to get a tan. I'm fair-haired and I burn easily.

My treatments were spaced a month and a half to two months apart. I read a post where someone had four (?) treatments spaced over a year. In my dermatologist's opinion, that's too long in between treatments. For best results, treatments need to be on a timely basis and scheduled about 2 months apart.

For me, each time, the laser was adjusted to make a deeper pass into the skin. I quit after the fourth treatment because I honestly wasn't seeing what had been promised to me. My skin looked fresher, but it did nothing to smooth out the texture or minimize wrinkles. I was extremely disappointed and felt like I'd just thrown $3200 down the garbage disposal.

I also read that someone had no "down time". Good for you! I, however, did have 3 days of down time. My skin was red and swollen with lots of flakiness. I couldn't even use a concealer to hide the redness because the skin was flaky. So basically, I stayed in the house for 3 days after each treatment.

I will say, and this may be a given, that it is so important that you use a total sunblock when going through these treatments, as your skin in very vulnerable to the sun's rays.

For anyone considering it, I would think twice about it. It's expensive and you're probably better off starting with a chemical peel to see if you get the results you want. So no matter how much your dermatologist/plastic surgeon raves about Fraxel, think twice. It's a lot of money for, in my opinion, a lot of nothing.

This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.

My Doctor: Name not provided

My dermatologist is a good man and well-qualified and certified for using the Fraxel laser. I'm not posting his name for privacy reasons.
Vote: 12 members found this review helpful

Comments (2)

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Seattlebeautylover (2 posts) 19 Feb 2009
Do not do waste your money on Fraxel Repair as the Holy Grail of smooth skin. It does improve slight wrinkling and discoloration but the acne scarring and texture issues can be tricky. Not especially helpful for icepick scarring or rolling scars. The cost was $4500.00 and it is supposed to be a one time procedure so if the intensity is not enough to get the results you want the first time then you have to pay for another procedure. Look into all other options before settling on this one.
Krystal (203 posts) 23 Mar 2009
I think the doctors rave over it because it brings in a LOT of money for their business at the tune of about $1,000 per treatment (which lasts about 30 min each). What a wonderful racket -- for them! I have had infinitely better results with glycolic acid peels and salicyclic acid peels, and they are much much much less expensive!

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