MiXto Laser: What You Need to Know

Written byKayla MatthewsUpdated on July 20, 2023
You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.
Written byKayla MatthewsUpdated on July 20, 2023
You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.

Fast facts

79% Worth It rating based on 48 reviews

$2,300 average cost

Varies by treatment

Topical numbing cream and/or local anesthesia

Suitable for all skin tones


MiXto Laser (Page Image)
MiXto Laser (Page Image)

The MiXto SX is a fractional CO2 resurfacing laser that can produce dramatic results on wrinkles, brown spots, pores, scars, stretch marks, and sagging skin, without the risk of significant side effects. 

Like a traditional CO2 laser, the MiXto works by ablating (vaporizing) the top layer of skin. However, because it’s a fractional laser, it delivers thousands of tiny beams to just a fraction of the skin at a time. The upshot: whereas traditional CO2 treatments could require weeks of healing or months of social downtime, depending on the depth and intensity of the treatment—mild, moderate, or aggressive, depending on the desired outcome—healing and social downtime can be reduced with a MiXto laser treatment.

Dr. Babak Farzaneh, a physician in Chino Hills, California, says “The settings can be adjusted for a mild ‘buff and shine’ treatment or deeper, for significant wrinkle reduction, so downtime and healing can range [anywhere] from three to five days to three to four weeks.” To avoid surprises, discuss your desired level of treatment and acceptable length of downtime with your provider prior to your treatment. 

Be aware too, that while you may notice some immediate improvement in skin tightening from the heat of the laser, “the real action—the stimulation of fibroblasts to produce new collagen [to improve skin elasticity]—takes 6–12 weeks,” says Nashville ophthalmologist Dr. Melissa Toyos.

Interested in a MiXto laser treatment?

Find a Doctor Near You

Pros 

  • The MiXto precisely targets certain areas while leaving the surrounding healthy tissue untouched, giving you a quicker, more comfortable recovery than with a traditional CO2 laser.
  • The treatment can be customized.
  • Doctors on RealSelf say that even a single MiXto treatment usually results in significant improvement, though more than one treatment may be necessary for concerns like deep acne scars.
  • Treatment on olive or brown skin is possible, but you’ll need a pretreatment to avoid pigmentary changes.
  • It’s more affordable than comparable treatments, such as Fraxel, which can cost less per session but typically requires more than one session.

Cons 

  • Your skin may take as long as a month to heal. 
  • You won’t see the full results until six months or more after treatment.
  • The aging process continues, so the results aren’t permanent. After six months, you can talk to your doctor about additional treatment options to any address recurring or continuing issues you may have.

  • Average Cost:
  • $2,300
  • Range:
  • $1,500 - $5,000

Your price will depend on the size of the treatment area, the type of anesthesia used, your doctor’s level of experience, and their practice location. Be sure to choose a qualified provider for your MiXto treatment, advises Dr. Toyos. “Because this is such a powerful tool, with significant transformative potential—as well as side effects, if not used properly—we believe that it’s important that a board-certified doctor perform the treatment.”

Interested in a MiXto laser treatment?

Find a Doctor Near You

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

MiXto laser treatment can take less than an hour, but if you’re having your full face treated, expect the procedure to run up to two hours.

Your doctor will start by numbing the treatment area using an anesthetic cream, anesthetic injections, or both. During the procedure, the doctor will guide the laser across the target areas. You’ll hear the laser buzzing, and you may feel a mild stinging, burning, or pinching sensation. After your doctor has treated all the target areas, your skin will be cleaned and bandaged. You’ll be able to go home right away.

MiXto laser treatment isn’t a quick fix, and your skin will look worse before it looks better. You’ll notice an improvement in fine lines and skin texture right away, but the results will be masked by redness, swelling, and peeling. Your skin may feel tight, like you have a bad sunburn, and your doctor will likely instruct you to keep your skin lubricated with an ointment, to keep it from drying out and scabbing.

It’s not unusual to experience significant swelling after MiXto laser treatment, especially under the eyes. Your doctor may prescribe a steroid to minimize swelling, and applying an ice pack can help as well. 

The treated areas can take four or more weeks to heal, so plan accordingly if you have an important event coming up. Some doctors say that a bit of redness can continue to last for months.

Interested in MiXto?

Find a Doctor Near You

Updated July 20, 2023

0

0

Featured stories from RealSelf News