Will Fraxel RePair Help Tighten Loose Neck Skin?

Hi Mal,

From your description and expectations it sounds like you should go with a surgical neck tightening procedure.

Fraxel re:pair is good at improving skin laxity in the neck and jaw line, but it will not give a "surgical" result, especially if you have muscular platysmal bands in your anterior neck. Fraxel repair will spare you the 3-4 hour operation under anesthesia and surgical scars, improve your overall skin appearance, and take a few years off your face, but your neck bands will still be present.

Unfortunately we have heard of a majority of patients who share your Thermage experience. Good luck and be well.

Dr. P

Thank you for your question.  While the Fraxel Re:Pair will improve skin laxity, it is a laser treatment that is better suited for the face, and could potentially be too aggressive for the delicate skin of the neck.  It sounds like you may be a better candidate for an Ultherapy (skin tightening) treatment series, or the ThermiTight procedure. In addition, there are a variety of Thermage machines with the newest models being best. It is also important that the procedure is performed properly I recommend scheduling a consultation with a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist, who will help you select the treatments that are best for you.

Fraxel Repair can be used on other areas than the one you described. The key is that it is in the right hands (see below link). Secondly, in my opinion there are many newer technology lasers such as the Sciton Skintyte and others that are better for skin tightening. For significant skin tightening a mini lift give the best results. 

Yes, but probably not as much as you might want.  Loose neck skin can mean simply loose skin or it could indicate loose skin, extra fat, and weakening muscle (platysma banding).  The Fraxel Re:Pair is an ablative laser meaning that it will remove skin versus nonablative lasers which leave the skin intact.  The neck skin is delicate and cannot be resurfaced as aggressively as the face due to a paucity of pilosebaceous units which allow the skin to heal.  

I generally use much less power (fluence) and less density when treating the neck because of the limited ability of the neck to heal as well as the face.  This necessary precaution will not allow as much skin tightening as you can get on the face.  Additionally, the Fraxel Re:Pair won't treat fat deposits in the neck or help with muscle laxity.  In those cases, a facelift and necklift are the best options.

Fraxel Restore in conjunction with prescription based skin care will tighten your neck. You may need about 5 treatments using proper skin care products prior and in between your procedures to stimulate collagen production. The best think about Fraxel Restore is that they are safe and recovery is quick.