Does Fraxel Dual look worse before it looks better?

Question

I'm on day 7 post Fraxel Dual for my eyes. I don't know what settings were used but it was my first session and I had it done for fine lines. Recovery has been fine; I swelled but I didn't really peel. I didn't get any of the weird texture changes that people seem to talk about on this site. So all in all I am back to normal. However, my under eye lines almost look worse and I seem to have a slight purplish tint under my eyes that wasn't so strong before. Is this normal? Is it likely to go away?

Monica Boen, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. While Fraxel Dual is an effective treatment to use on the delicate skin underneath the eyes, it does take some time for the treatment area to heal completely and for full results to become apparent. Some patients have a coffee-ground peel from the Fraxel Dual if they have a lot of sun spots on the face.  I encourage you to wait a few more weeks before deciding whether you are completely satisfied with your Fraxel treatment. Keep in mind that many patients also require more than one treatment session to achieve an optimal outcome. Other options that are good for tightening the skin under the eyes include fractional CO2 and Erbium:YAG lasers.  Make sure you are working with an experienced, board-certified cosmetic dermatologist who can produce the best possible results for you.

Monica Bonakdar, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Congratulations on your recent Fraxel treatment and investing in your skin health. Results are gradual and do not become visible for several weeks.  Also you may need more than one treatment to reach your aesthetic goals.  Here are some instructions straight from my post treatment instruction sheet which is given to all my patients to ensure the best healing experience and minimize downtime.
Downtime:
  
The intensity and duration of your downtime depends on      the treatment aggressiveness, on your skin’s health and daily use of      cosmeceuticals and on your skin’s healing characteristics. 
  Generally, the more aggressive the treatment and the      more damaged the skin health, the more intense and longer the downtime. 
  However, some patients who receive a less aggressive      treatment may experience side effects of greater-than-expected magnitude,      while others receiving more aggressive treatments may experience side      effects of less-than-expected magnitude. 
 Face Treatments- Downtime is usually      5-7 days. 
  Heat Sensation- Starts after the      treatment and may continue until the first night.
  Redness to Browning- Redness starts after      the treatment and is gradually replaced with bronzed skin on the      second or third day. 
  If you were treated with      1927 nm wavelength for hyperpigmentation, the bronzed skin then gets      darker and becomes brown dots.  Brown dots are the      micro-treatment zones coming to surface and being replaced with new skin      cells. Once at the surface, brown spots start to slough off with regular      cleansing starting on the fourth day. 
  If you were treated with      1550 wavelength for texture and wrinkle improvement, you will not      experience browning phase as much but will experience more swelling.
  Swelling- May start after the      treatment. It is at its worse on the first day after treatment,      particularly under the eyes. It usually lasts two to five days. 
 Dryness- Starts the first day      after treatment and progresses to a feeling of sand paper which may      or may not be visible. These grainy particles are the micro-treatment      zones working their way up to the surface of the skin before sloughing      off.
 Pinpoint      Bleeding-      May occur at the time of the treatment and heals completely.
  Itching- May occur during the      healing phase and is completely normal.
  Pink Skin- May occur after the      initial sloughing is complete. This is part of the healing process and      resolves.
  Abnormal Healing- If you notice any      blisters, cuts, bruises, crusting/scabs, areas of raw skin, ulcerations,      active bleeding, increased discomfort or pain, pigment changes (lighter or      darker than usual complexion), or any other problems that do not follow      the normal healing process discussed above, please contact us as soon as      possible.

Does Fraxel Dual look worse before it looks better?

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Does Fraxel Dual look worse before it looks better?

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Everything you need to know about Fraxel Laser

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