PRP or Frax 1550 for under eye wrinkles? (Photos)

Question

I'm 34 and have lines under my eyes which bother me. I find them fairly deep and it's hard to wear makeup without it creasing. I've tried microbotox under the eyes, which had no effect on the lines. I've had a few consultations and everyone recommends something different. I'm leaning towards either PRP or non ablative laser - Frax 1550. I do worry about the laser since i burn pretty easy in the sun and don't want to stay indoor all summer. Which would be my best bet? I'm getting married in October so ideally I'd want the results by then.

Nick Slenkovich, MD · Answer

Hello! I’m Lauren, the aesthetic provider here at Colorado Plastic Surgery Center.  PRP under the eyes can be a great option for fine lines, especially if you're looking for something more natural and with minimal downtime. It helps boost collagen and improve skin texture gradually. Microneedling with PRP can also help, but results tend to be more subtle under the eyes due to how delicate the area is. Injections tend to be more targeted for that concern.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

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

Anna Petropoulos, MD, FRCS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question! For the under-eye lines you're describing—especially since microbotox didn’t help—Plasmage could be a great option to consider. It’s a non-surgical, non-invasive treatment that uses fractional plasma energy to gently resurface and tighten the delicate skin around the eyes.

Plasmage creates controlled micro-injuries on the skin’s surface using plasma (ionized gas), which stimulates collagen remodeling and skin tightening over time. It’s especially popular for the eye area because it can precisely target crepey skin and fine to moderate lines without cutting or injecting anything.

The treatment takes about 20–30 minutes.
A topical numbing cream is used beforehand to keep things comfortable.
After treatment, you’ll have tiny brown “dots” or scabs that form and flake off in about 5–7 days.
Mild swelling is common for a few days after.

Downtime & results:
You’ll want about 1 week of social downtime due to the scabbing.
Results build gradually over 6–8 weeks as collagen regenerates, and most people only need 1–2 sessions. In our experience, many patients see results even more quickly than this!

Unlike laser, there's less risk of pigmentation issues, especially if you’re prone to burning in the sun- but the risk is not zero. You will want to be diligent about your sun protection particularly for the month after a treatment as the skin remodels.

PRP is great for skin quality and collagen but tends to give subtle, slow results and usually requires multiple sessions.
Frax 1550 is effective, but being a laser, it does carry some risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation, especially if you're fair and sun-sensitive.

If you're aiming to see results by October, Plasmage could be a solid middle ground—offering visible improvement with minimal treatments and without needing to avoid the sun long-term. Ideally, you’d want your final session no later than early August to give your skin time to fully heal and glow for your big day.

Best of luck! 
Genie Alexander, RN BSN for Anna Petropoulos, MD FRCS 
Center for Classic Beauty
Danvers & Boston, MA

PRP or Frax 1550 for under eye wrinkles? (Photos)

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PRP or Frax 1550 for under eye wrinkles? (Photos)

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about PRP Injections

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.