Why are there so many bad reviews of Fraxel?

Question

I have had 2 consultations and both PS recommended Fraxel for skin resurfacing, but the reviews are terrifying. Are you guys seeing all of these issues in your practice with Fraxel? Burns, orange peel skin, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, persistent erythema, scars?

Trefor Nodwell, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. Fraxel in it's different forms is a powerful tool to manage facial lines and pigmentation. The results can be very impressive when used for the right reasons.Sometimes it's difficult to tease out from different reviews exactly what a patient was looking for and which sub type of Fraxel they underwent.Poor reviews can be the result of many different things -Improper settings - leading to prolonged redness or swelling or alternatively, minimal resultsSub optimal patient selection - you need to select the right tool for the jobStopping treatments mid program - treatment plans with shorter down time require more sessions. Some patients drop out before full results have been obtained.Over promising/ poor management of expectations - these technologies improve skin colour and texture, they do not take 20 years off the clock!Share your concerns with your Plastic Surgeons, they should be able to articulate how they avoid the complications you've listedBest of luck.

Edward Szachowicz, MD, PhD · Answer

My patients also tell me that the Fraxel reviews are confusing. I
believe that some of the confusion is a result of the fact that Fraxel is FDA-approved
to treat a variety of skin conditions and that there are two Fraxel systems:

The DUAL, and sometimes referred to as RESTORE,
which has two frequencies of laser, andThe REPAIR system, which is a CO2 laser.

Therefore, the reviews are a mixture of evaluations of treatments
with the two systems, and, at the same time, spanning three frequencies in the
treatment of a variety of skin conditions.

I have been using both systems for years. Patient
satisfaction is high. Please note that medical skin care regimens used pre/post-treatment are
integral to achieve consistent results.

Why are there so many bad reviews of Fraxel?

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Why are there so many bad reviews of Fraxel?

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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.