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.Â
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.
