How Many Fraxel Repair Treatments Can I Get for Acne Scars?

The Fraxel Repair is an ablative lasers and repeat treatment must be handled very carefully. The Fraxel Restore is a nonablative laser and treatments are usually spaced about 2 weeks apart for a series of 3 - 5. In my practice, I prefer the Fraxel Repair for acne scars. I take photographs before treatment and after each treatment.
I discuss with my patients their goals and expectations using the photographs. If additional Fraxel Repair treatments are wanted then I like to wait until all the redness has resolved from the last treatment: about 3 months. I have never done more than 3 Fraxel Repair treatments on the same area.

Hi,
A single Fraxel repair treatment is more effective than a series of Fraxel restore treatments for acne scars. We inform all acne scar patients at their initial consultation that although they should expect to see improvement after one treatment, they should expect to have 2 to 3 treatments for optimal results.
Fraxel repair is safe to use repeatedly as long as the skin has recovered and there is noticable improvement. I have a patient who has traveled from the east coast to have 5 Fraxel repair treatments at our office here on the west coast. The treatments should be at least 4 to 6 months apart. I believe that Fraxel repair is the best fractionated CO2 laser, although I have heard of excellent results with Deep FX and other fractionated CO2 lasers as well. It is most important to choose your treating laser physician most carefully. Good luck and be well.
Dr. P

Thank you for your question! A series of Fraxel treatments can improve acne scars by 50 to 80%.Fraxel will soften and smooth your skin reducing scarring to a noticeable degree. In order to achieve this, I tend to recommend 3-4 treatments to achieve the optimal results. In addition, there is no down time for healing.   Avoid tanning after any laser procedure. Best of luck!

Laser Resurfacing can help reduce scars and skin irregularities by sending targeted injuries to the epidermis, in congestion with heat to the dermis. This will then prompt the growth of new collagen fibers, allowing the scars to appear smoother. Depending on the patients skin tone (Fitzpatrick Skin Type I- Type IV preferred) the best single treatment device is the Fraxel Repair (Fraxel Co2).
Fraxel Repair uses pixelated, long-wavelength carbon dioxide, rather than light energy to vaporize the s. Due to the intensity of the Co2 patients can expect 5-10 days of downtime. Though rare, patients may be asked to repeat treatment in 6 months to optimize scar reduction.

Always discuss possible side effects with your Board-Certified Dermatologist.

A series of Fraxel treatments can improve acne scars by 50 to 80%.Fraxel will soften and smooth your skin reducing scarring to a noticeable degree. In order to achieve this, I tend to recommend 3-4 treatments to achieve the optimal results. In addition, there is no down time for healing.   Avoid tanning after any laser procedure.

The bigger question is how many laser resurfacing treatments can you have and the answer is that there is no limit. As long as you are seeing results and you wait 4-6 months you can have fractionated carbon dioxide treatments indefinitely.