Fraxel is the most widely known brand of fractional laser treatments used for skin resurfacing and rejuvenationâso popular that many people refer to any fractionated laser treatment as Fraxel.
In the early days of laser skin resurfacing, all facial laser technology ablated (removed the surface layer of) the entire treated area. These treatments often required weeks of downtime and had a high risk of side effects, including infection, hyperpigmentation, and scarring. Fraxel treatments are still able to induce new collagen growth, with far fewer risks and less recovery time.
New York City-based dermatologic surgeon Dr. Ronald Shelton explains that with Fraxel Re:store and Fraxel Dual, âinstead of treating 100% of the skinâs surface area with laser energy, the beam is broken up into fractionsâ that target 25% to 40% of the skinâs surface and leave the rest intactâa process known as fractional photothermolysis.Â
The intact skin supports the healing process of the treated areas. âBecause of this, the downtime and redness are less intense and donât last as long as with ablative laser treatments,â says Dr. Shelton.
By causing micro-injuries to the skin, it accelerates the production of collagen and new skin cells, to replace older, damaged ones. This means that the repair-and-healing stage is crucial to a good result: the laser is the catalyst, while the skin essentially treats itself as it recovers.
RealSelf Tip: Fraxel laser treatment works best on fair skin, Fitzpatrick skin types I-III. People with light brown or more deeply pigmented skin tones are at risk for increased hyperpigmentation, so there are better skin rejuvenation options for those with deep skin tones.
ProsÂ
Cons
The price youâll pay for Fraxel will depend on the intensity of your treatment, size of the treatment area, your providerâs level of experience, and a few other key factors.
You can finance your treatment with CareCredit.
The Fraxel laser photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.
There are three types of Fraxel lasers. Your doctor should recommend the best type of Fraxel laser to get the results you want, but these are the high-level differences.Â
Fraxel Re:storeÂ
Fraxel Dual
Fraxel Re:pairÂ
The settings on each of these lasers can be adjusted according to what your doctor thinks you need and can tolerate.
Fraxel can treat a variety of skin conditions, depending on the type of laser and setting your provider uses.Â
People who are age 40 or older may see the most benefits, although people in their late 30s with extensive sun damage, wrinkles, or uneven tone can see improvement from skin rejuvenation with Fraxel, too.Â
As we mentioned earlier, it isnât safe for all skin tones. Patients with medium to deep skin tones are at risk of developing melasma or other types of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from Fraxel treatments.
âSome people with deep skin tones do get improvement of melasma, but others get worse. I recommend doing a test area first and watching that over six weeks,â recommends Dr. Shelton.Â
Also avoid Fraxel if youâre on medications that cause increased light sensitivity.
Hereâs what to expect during a Fraxel Dual treatment.
You'll see big benefits after a single treatment with Fraxel Dual or Re:pair, though some people do return for a second treatment, depending on their concerns and goals.
With Fraxel Re:store, most people need two to three to see a significant improvement in brown spots caused by sun damage, and three to five treatments for acne scars.
Your recovery time will depend on the intensity of your Fraxel laser resurfacing treatment. You and your doctor can plan the best approach for youâbased, in part, on how much recovery time you can spare.
You can ensure healthy healing by taking good care of your skin post-treatment. Use a gentle cleanser and simple moisturizer. Skin-care products with active ingredients like retinol and alpha hydroxy acids can irritate vulnerable, healing skin, so itâs best to stick to gentle basics. See what doctors recommend.
Your skin will be more sun-sensitive after your treatment, so avoid direct sun exposure and wear a wide-brimmed hat outdoors, as well as broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen, like the ClarityRx Skin Defense Environmental Protection SPF 30.
Youâll see somewhat of a difference once youâve healed (especially if you had Fraxel Re:pair), but the lasers' manufacturer says optimal results usually show up 8â12 weeks after your procedure.Â
âBecause only a fraction of the skin is treated during a single session, a series (typically three to six treatments) of fractional resurfacing at 2- to 4-week intervals is required for the best clinical improvement,â reports a study published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal. Results continue to improve with each additional treatment, with optimal results three months after your last treatment.
Laser resurfacing results last about three years. You may be able to extend that time with an occasional chemical peel, a âmini-Fraxelâ with Clear + Brilliant laser, a healthy skin-care routine, and daily use of sunscreen with an SPF of 30+.
âI often use the Fraxel laser treatment as a time to review the correct skin care with my patients,â says Dr. Green. âThis usually includes adding a vitamin C serum, retinols, or alpha hydroxy acids.â
Fraxel is FDA-cleared and widely considered to be safe. Fraxel laser side effects tend to result from provider inexperience. Burning, scarring, and pigmentation issues can result from treatments that are too aggressive. Some RealSelf reviewers have also reported facial fat loss.
Doctors on RealSelf say side effects like scarring are uncommon with the Fraxel laser, though theyâre more likely if you have a more aggressive treatment or if you don't have fair skin color.
You may want to consider these other popular resurfacing treatments for sun damage, signs of aging, or acne scars.Â
Updated May 19, 2022