What's the difference between Fraxel laser and the IPL treatment?

Hello,

Thank you for your question. Fraxel is a laser that uses steam to create a minor injury that stimulates collagen growth. This treatment will improve the texture of your skin, it will help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and tighten. The IPL is a treatment that will improve the color of your skin. It will help get rid of brown spots and eliminate redness. Each treatment may need to be done more than once.

Fractional laser is an amazing and highly effective treatment in our office. We use the laser treatment to help with acne scars, large pores, fine wrinkles, tissue collagen loss, scars, sebaceous hyperplasia, active acne, and for brightening dark pigmentation. Although there are very strong fractional lasers such as CO2 laser, we use lighter treatments for corrective skincare and maintenance of results. Our Thulium fractional laser, clear and brilliant laser, and Ultra Thulium laser are excellent options in our clinic. We also perform CO2 fractional and erbium depending on skin tone and tolerance for downtime. Patients do have to use a Melarase cream before and after treatment to help further reduce pigmentation after laser. Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads can seriously improve surface sun damage and UV related pigmentation. Dark spots can improve with these treatments. I recommend fractional laser for incisional scars as well, especially after plastic surgery.
Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Fraxel is a nonablative laser used to resurface the skin and IPL is a light therapy that is used for brow and red discoloration.  Fraxel is great for antiaging, wrinkles, pores and IPL only works for color but doesnt give an antiaging benefit.  Please combine fraxel with thermage and sculptra for the best outcome. Best, Dr. Emer.

There is a big difference between IPL also know ask intense pulse light treatments vs. Fraxel laser.  1.  Different technology:  IPL is a light energy based device while Fraxel is a brand name for a type of fractionated laser. 2.  Different results:  IPL does a great job for generalized rejuvenation with minimal downtime for people with lighter skin types (and no tans).  I helps even out skin tone (pigment, broken capillaries) while Fraxel Dual is more of a resurfacing laser that helps with wrinkles, scars, and sun damage.  It can be used even on darker skin with caution.  There is no effect on red discoloration such as broken capillaries or rosacea.In my practice I use both, often combining IPL with Fraxel Dual treatments to address the total skin needs of the individual patient. 

Thank you for your question!  Fraxel is a type of fractional laser. It treats indents on the skin such as scars, wrinkles and lines. It resurfaces skin. On the other hand, IPL treats discolorations such as broken capillary and sun spots. Combination of both is usually used to treat acne scars and many other conditions. Both treatments are great and they deliver promised. Best of luck!

Fraxel is a type of fractional laser. It treats indents on the skin such as scars, wrinkles and lines. It resurfaces skin. On the other hand, IPL treats discolorations such as broken capillary and sun spots. Combination of both is usually used to treat acne scars and many other conditions. Both treatments are great and they deliver promised. 

The Fraxel laser is a resurfacing laser. It is rolled along the skin and causes heating of the skin in columns. It is fractional, meaning it treats a percentage of the tissue and not all. The Fraxel Dual is 2 lasers, the 1550 and 1927 wavelengths. It is used to treat wrinkles, fine lines, pigmentation, scars, and precancerous lesions. An IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light, is not a laser. It is a broad spectrum of light (white) used for various applications, depending on the filter used. It is considered a "jack of all trades, expert of none". It can be used for hair removal, reds, pigmentation, but not for tattoos.

Fraxel is a fractionated laser which can work on both pigmentation, scars, and wrinkles.  IPL is intensed pulsed light and is not a laser. IPL has different settings which works on dark spots and redness to superficially treat the top layer of the skin.  Best, Dr. Green