Fraxel 1550 recovery: my skin is still red and has hatching marks 2 weeks post-op -- is this normal?

Yes, this is normal. Typical healing is 28-40 days due to skin cell turnover after having a procedure like this. Cell turnover is the skin's natural exfoliation process. The skin naturally sheds deadskin cells through a process called desquamation. Every 28-40 days, on average, a new skin cell is "born" in the stratum germinativum, the deepest layer of the epidermis.

Persistent redness for several weeks after Fraxel restore can be normal, however, sun exposure after the treatment can contribute to prolonged redness and later, hyperpigmentation.  Daily use of sunscreen is important for several weeks after Fraxel, especially if you live in a sunny environment.  If you have very light skin (Type I) , redness after even mild non ablative treatments such as Fraxel restore is more likely and considered normal.  However, if you have lines or a pattern to the redness, your physician will consider whether to reduce the Fraxel energy, or more likely, reduce the pixel density of the laser such that less heat is transfered to the surface.  An experienced, board certified, dermatologist or plastic surgeon is able to sort out these variables and adjust the treatment parameters, if necessary.