Downtime from Fraxel Repair - What to Expect

Thank you for the question.  
Your doctor should have provided you with detailed verbal and written instructions on Fraxel aftercare.
It is really important to help you skin heal quickly and protect your skin investment.  On the night following treatment, I recommend patients wash the treated area gently with lukewarm water and avoid hot water in these areas.  I ask my patients to use a 4x4 gauze pad soaked with tepid water diluted with white vinegar (1 teaspoon per cup) to gently go over the resurfaced area 3-5 times a day until the skin has stopped exfoliating. The goal is to lightly remove the exfoliating skin and crusting that develops after the laser.  This should be a gentle process with no scrubbing or abrading.  Frequent cleaning is important in order to prevent bacterial, viral or fungal infection.  After each cleaning I ask my patients to apply a thick coat fo a prescribed topical moisturizer with Q tips.  My patients continue this for 7-10 days at which point the skin is completely resurfaced.  My patients are then advised to continue to moisturize and photoprotect from the sun.  Once the skin has re-epithelialized patients can wear makeup.  All of your skin care products should be non-irritating and non-clogging for a few weeks after laser treatment.  I schedule close follow up to check on my Fraxel patients and ensure we achieve the best possible results.
For patients who are prone to cold sores / herpes, Valtrex is used before and after the procedure.
If you would like to learn more about the procedure I recommend an in person consultation with a board certified dermatologist with cosmetic training.

Plan on at least 3-5 days downtime, sometimes 7 days with Fraxel repair with another 1-2 weeks or redness and some swelling. You can get less downtime with some other fractionated lasers or with a lower power setting on the Fraxel repair but you won't get the same results.

Generally speaking after a Fraxel treatment, depending on how aggressive you are treating the area, you will be able to wear make-up and conceal that area to the public after 5-7 days.

The microscopic precise wounds created by the Fraxel repair laser heals within 3-5 days depending on the settings.  Even though the skin is healed after those first couple of days, the skin is still actively creating new collagen to fill in the fine lines and wrinkles or replace old scar tissue.  Clinically, the skin will appear red/pink during this healing phase for 4-8 weeks (depending on the settings).  This can be covered up with tinted moisturizers or makeup.  Good Luck! - Dr. Keaney 

The Fraxel
re:pair, is typically a one-time treatment with a 5-7 day recovery
period. The ablative laser is used in correcting moderate to severe skin
damage, acne scarring and rejuvenating aging skin.

We tell our
patients that they will appear “socially unacceptable” for approximately 1 week
after the treatment. Expect redness, swelling and peeling for the first 5-7
days. Make-up can typically be applied around day 6 or 7. You may
notice some changes in the Ph of your skin for the first two weeks and you may
be sun sensitive for 4-6 weeks after. An emollient moisturizer and broad
spectrum SPF will be essential during that time.

Good Luck!