Recommended Fraxel Laser for Pores, Acne Scars and Wrinkles?

Question

If I have acne pit scarring and enlarged pores and small wrinkles. If I have acne pit scarring and enlarged pores and small wrinkles under the eyes. Which of the three Fraxel Laser treatments and machine is best recommended for me?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Fractional CO2 laser is an excellent tool for skin rejuvenation in our center in Santa Monica. We use the fractional multi-depth ablative approach to help resurface the skin, recontour acne scars, improve incisional plastic surgery scars, and reduce surface irregularities from skin tone to dark pigmentation. Our approach utilizes a multi-depth approach that targets melanocytes in the epidermis and collagen fibroblasts in the dermis. This approach can be combined with a TCA Peel in a process known as a sapphire peel. Fractional laser is excellent for acne scars and contour scars in the skin. Patients are advised to undergo skin protocols with Melarase creams before and after treatment to help reduce pigmentation. Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads can seriously improve surface sun damage and UV related pigmentation. After the laser, we expect redness for a few weeks as the skin improves. PRP and Hydrafacial enzyme facials can further improve skin quality after fractional co2.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

Although depressed acne scars with shallow sloping borders respond well to Fraxel laser, some narrow deep ice-pick scars respond better to punch grafts. The scar is cored out surgically with a tiny instrument called a punch and then a tiny piece of skin, usually removed from behind your ear so it's not visible to others, is used to plug the hole.  The new skin acts like a graft and then it can be resurfaced by dermabrasion or Fractional laser such as Fraxel.  Some ice-pick scars can be treated by multiple sessions of strong acid such as TCA (trichloroacetic acid) applied carefully by the physician to the base of the scar which helps it heal more elevated and repeated until the surface comes close to the surface. Then the scar can be resurfaced. Punch grafts are usually not done on the eyelids, lower or upper. Fraxel may quite effective, though, for some patients without the punch grafts. Please realize that no treatment can remove all the wrinkles or scars.

Monika Soni, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. If you do not mind a downtime of 1 week the best laser is Fractional CO2. This is because you get much improvement with just one treatment. Fraxel Re:Store is another option, but you will have to wait months and undergo several sessions before seeing great results. I recommend having a consultation with an expert to determine the best treatment plan for you. Best of Luck!

Hardik Soni, MD · Answer

Thank you
for your question. If you do not mind a downtime of 1 week the best laser is
Fractional CO2. This is because you get much improvement with just one
treatment. Fraxel Re:Store is another option, but you will have to wait months
and undergo several sessions before seeing great results. I recommend having a
consultation with an expert to determine the best treatment plan for you. Best
of Luck!

Mary P. Lupo, MD · Answer

I like the fractional CO2 results best (if you can do downtime of 1 week) because you get so much improvement with just one treatment, often more that 5 Restore sessions will provide. restore is for those patient enough to wait the months it takes to get several sessions, but they can only do minor downtime.

Recommended Fraxel Laser for Pores, Acne Scars and Wrinkles?

Answers (5)

Answer: Recommended Fraxel Laser for Pores, Acne Scars and Wrinkles

Answer: Recommended Fraxel Laser for Pores, Acne Scars and Wrinkles

Answer: Repair

Answer: Repair

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Recommended Fraxel Laser for Pores, Acne Scars and Wrinkles?

Answers (5)

Answer: Recommended Fraxel Laser for Pores, Acne Scars and Wrinkles

Answer: Recommended Fraxel Laser for Pores, Acne Scars and Wrinkles

Answer: Repair

Answer: Repair

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Fraxel Laser

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.