Can Fraxel (non ablative) laser repair broken capillaries or only IPL?

Question

Can non-ablative fraxel laser repair broken capillaries on the face or would IPL be a better treatment? How many treatments would be necessary and what are the intervals?

William Groff, DO · Answer

Fraxel is terrific for resurfacing the skin, removing scars and wrinkles, and stimulating new collagen. However, it doesn’t target the pigment in capillaries. Other lasers, including IPL do that beautifully. Be sure to consult a board-certified dermatologist who an offer a range of laser treatments so you get the improvement and clear skin you’re looking for.

William J. Hall, MD · Answer

Fraxel is not meant to help with broken capillaries it is meant to help with some redness that is not vascular related like Actinic Keratosis, Sun damage, and scaring. IPL or 1064nm Yag lasers are best for broken capillaries you might need only 1 treatment but it can take up to 3 treatments.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

broken vessels and redness do not improve with non ablative lasers (fraxel) they only reply to vascular lasers and these can be combined at the same time.  IPL, yellow laser, excel v, pulsed dye laser/ v beam all work to help vessels.  A series of treatments will be needed. Best, Dr. Emer.

Lucas Bryant, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. Fraxel is a brand of laser. Usually, it is an erbium-YAG laser. In general these types of fractional lasers are NOT designed to target blood vessels. A laser that targets blood vessels (like nd-YAG or IPL) may be a better option if that's your goal. There is no specific treatment number or interval for vascular lesions. It is dependent on the laser you use and the vessel problem you have. Warm regards.

Henry Wells, MD · Answer

If you are wanting to address broken capillaries with a laser treatment we would recommend
a series of IPL...generally 3-5 treatments space 4 weeks apart should address your concerns.

Mark A. McCune, MD · Answer

Fraxel will help with many skin issues including skin tone/texture, pore size, pigmentation etc. However, Fraxel will not improve broken capillaries. There are a variety of different lasers that specifically target blood vessels. In my practice, I use a laser called ExcelV/Gemini which targets any redness in the skin, including broken capillaries. The number of treatments required depends on the severity of the capillaries. Typically it takes a few treatments for the best results.
Best, 
Dr. McCune

Can Fraxel (non ablative) laser repair broken capillaries or only IPL?

Answers (6)

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Answers (6)

More Fraxel Laser Questions

Can I do a microneedling procedure 2 weeks after Fraxel CO2 Laser Resurfacing?

How often can a person have Fraxel dual treatments?

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