Smoothbeam Vs Fraxel Restore for Collagen Production?

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

These are two different laser technologies: Smooth Beam is a pulse dye laser (often causes bruising) and the Fraxel:Repair is a fractionated CO2 laser. Both are helpful as is an Erbium laser for acne scarring. A lot depends on the treatment aggressiveness (e.g power and energy settings, etc).  I prefer the Erbium or Fraxel.

We have both lasers and while Smoothbeam laser is fantastic in treating acne and fair to good in treating acne scars, Fraxel lasers are great for treating acne scars, bar none.

Actually, it would very reasonable to use both lasers together during each treatment session. Since they both have different modes of action in the stimulation of collagen and altering scar tissue, the combo of the two lasers may be the best. It is important to seek out dermatology practices that have many different lasers, because combining technologies often times yields the best results. If a practice only has a couple of lasers, they will only offer a limited selection with limited results, and often will be biased. Take care. Dr. Groff

Both the 1450nm Smoothbeam and the 1550nm Fraxel Restore lasers can be used successfully to improve the appearance of acne scars.  Multiple treatments are required and the lasers work the best on mild to moderate acne scars.  The Smoothbeam has more risk of blistering and causing problems than the Fraxel Restore 1550nm laser and is much slower to treat large areas.  If the scars are severe, I prefer using a combination of Subcision, and Fraxel Repair laser.  We are consistently getting 75% + improvment in a single treatment.   This is a much more agressive approach, but also much more successful.