Is the new Sciton Tribred as good as Fraxel C02 for treating wrinkles?

Question

I had Fraxel C02 in December of 2020 . I only had one of the recommended 3, but my face looked amazing, it vaporized my wrinkles, and literally everyone I met, commented on my glowing, un-wrinkled face! My doctor has retired and it's time to do this again. How does the Sciton TriBrid compare with the Fraxel C02 for wrinkle removal and tightening. Which is the best for these purposes. Also, due to a cheek lift I have scarring on the outside edges of my eyes. That happened two years ago after my Fraxel Thank you in advance for your comments on these two lasers.

Erik Peterson, MD · Answer

Hi, I’m Dr. Erik Peterson, a cosmetic dermatologist.
Fractional CO₂ (like Fraxel CO₂) is still the most effective single treatment we have for true wrinkle “erasure” and skin tightening. It works by creating controlled injury in the deeper dermis, which drives a strong collagen remodeling response. That’s why you saw such a dramatic improvement the first time. The tradeoff is higher downtime and a higher risk of side effects, especially in thinner skin around the eyes.
The Sciton platform (typically HALO, Er:YAG resurfacing, and BBL combinations) is more of a layered, modern approach. It’s not one single aggressive treatment, but a combination of treatments that can improve texture, fine lines, pigment, and overall quality in a more controlled way. The results are usually more gradual per session, but the safety profile is better and it’s easier to fine-tune&mdash;especially in delicate areas like the periocular skin.
Given your history of prior cheek lift and scarring at the outer eye area after CO₂, I would be cautious about repeating aggressive CO₂ in that region. That doesn’t mean CO₂ is off the table entirely, but it should be used very selectively, if at all, around the eyes.
In someone like you, I often lean toward a Sciton-based plan for most of the face, sometimes combined with RF microneedling or conservative resurfacing, to build tightening over time while minimizing risk. If there is a very specific deep wrinkle area, CO₂ can still be used in a targeted way rather than as a full-face approach.
The key decision is really: do you want one big, high-impact resurfacing session again, or a more controlled, staged improvement with lower risk around previously scar-prone areas.

Is the new Sciton Tribred as good as Fraxel C02 for treating wrinkles?

Answers (1)

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