Q: What are the pros and cons of Fraxel Repair?

Pros The treatment smooths skin, improving its overall texture and tone. It also helps tighten, though not to a surgical degree. Fraxel Repair can be used to resurface skin on the face, neck, chest, and hands as well as to spot treat small areas, such as around the lips, without leaving a telltale line of demarcation. Unlike with some lasers, which require a series of sessions to produce maximum effects, most people will require just a single Fraxel Repair treatment. Results are permanent, but since skin continues to age, you may need treatments every few years to maintain them. Cons The treatment carries significant side effects and several weeks of recovery. You’ll need to avoid sun exposure for at least a week after a Fraxel treatment and be diligent about applying sunscreen every day, to maintain your results People with brown or olive skin tones are at risk for increased hyperpigmentation Performed by an inexperienced provider, Fraxel can result in burns or scarring. Infection is also a risk.

Question 1

What is Fraxel Repair?

Accepted Answer

Fraxel Repair is a fractionated CO2 laser used to treat significantly aged or damaged skin. It addresses deep wrinkles (especially resistant crow’s feet and lip lines), acne scars, hyperpigmentation, and laxity for improved skin tone and texture on the face, neck, chest, and hands. The most intense of Fraxel lasers, the Repair works by vaporizing (removing) tiny columns of damaged tissue on the skin’s surface and deeper layers to stimulate the production of new, healthy skin cells and collagen.

Because the Repair ablates in a pixelated pattern, treating only a fraction of the skin while sparing surrounding areas, the skin heals faster and with fewer complications than it would if resurfaced with a traditional CO2 laser. Still, because the device causes what amounts to a second-degree burn, the treatment carries at least five to seven days of downtime, during which skin will be raw, swollen, oozing, crusting, and itchy. The skin should be fully healed in about 10 to 12 days—though, depending on the intensity of the treatment and your skin type, redness can take weeks (even months) to fade to pink and then disappear entirely (makeup can cover it in the meantime). The lighter your skin, the more prolonged the redness tends to be. Those with deeper skin tones are more prone to laser-related complications—especially with aggressive CO2 treatments—so be sure to have a thorough consultation with a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon prior to treatment. Discuss potential side effects and recovery time with your provider so you can have realistic expectations about the procedure.

Question 2

What are the pros and cons of Fraxel Repair?

Accepted Answer

Pros

The treatment smooths skin, improving its overall texture and tone. It also helps tighten, though not to a surgical degree.
Fraxel Repair can be used to resurface skin on the face, neck, chest, and hands as well as to spot treat small areas, such as around the lips, without leaving a telltale line of demarcation.
Unlike with some lasers, which require a series of sessions to produce maximum effects, most people will require just a single Fraxel Repair treatment.
Results are permanent, but since skin continues to age, you may need treatments every few years to maintain them.

Cons

The treatment carries significant side effects and several weeks of recovery.
You’ll need to avoid sun exposure for at least a week after a Fraxel treatment and be diligent about applying sunscreen every day, to maintain your results
People with brown or olive skin tones are at risk for increased hyperpigmentation
Performed by an inexperienced provider, Fraxel can result in burns or scarring. Infection is also a risk.

Question 3

What happens during a Fraxel Repair treatment?

Accepted Answer

The treatment is painful, so your skin will be numbed with a topical cream beforehand. You’ll also be given oral pain control and mild sedation. During the treatment, a laser beam is directed over the treated area in a series of passes, and you may feel some heat and discomfort. Afterward, there’s a burning sensation for about an hour that can be alleviated with ice packs and cold air. Beyond that, there’s minimal pain. A full-face treatment takes around 30 minutes.

Question 4

How much does Fraxel Repair cost?

Accepted Answer

The price you pay will depend on your provider's level of experience and their practice location.

Question 5

Fraxel Repair before and after pictures

Accepted Answer

The Fraxel Repair photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

FRAXEL REPAIR

Karyn Repinski

Karyn Repinski

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS

Karyn Repinski

Karyn Repinski

FRAXEL REPAIR QUESTIONS

Which laser do I need to repair previous deep fraxel laser scars from 7 years ago? (Photos)

Will Fraxel Restore help the lines on arms? (Photo)

Would Fraxel Repair help problem with skin texture? (Photos)

WE SEND PRETTY EMAILS

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS