Before & After
The Fraxel Restore laser, our favorite, is a fractional Erbium-based, non-ablative laser that does not disrupt the skin’s surface. It is ideal for those who are unwilling or unable to have more than a few days of downtime. Makeup may be immediately applied after each treatment.
Fraxel Restore is our treatment of choice for dull, sallow, discolored, and sun-damaged skin. The benefits include improved skin tone, color, and texture. Administered in a series of sessions, Fraxel Restore is excellent for refreshing the face, neck, chest, hands, and arms, and can be used on skin of any color.
Age and liver spots, melasma (the “mask of pregnancy”), wrinkles around the eyes, acne scarring, surgical scarring, and stretch marks all are responsive to Fraxel treatments.
Simply put, Fraxel treatment promotes your skin’s own healing process and results in a natural rejuvenation that improves your appearance.
What is Fraxel Restore?
Fraxel Restore is an Erbium-based non-ablative laser that is safe for all skin types. Fraxel treatments can target between 5–50% of the skin surface, leaving the remaining 50–95% available to quickly heal the treated area. Since the Fraxel treatment is so precise, it is safe and effective on delicate skin areas like the face, neck, chest, and hands. You can expect two levels of results: immediate and progressive. Immediately after initial healing is complete, the surface of your skin will feel softer, look brighter, and the tone will start to become more even. Progressive results occur over the next three to six months as the deeper layers of the skin continue to heal.
How many treatments are necessary?
Depending on your skin, you can decide if you want fewer more aggressive treatments that result in more postoperative side effects (more days of social downtime), or less aggressive treatments that accomplish the same results with a few more treatment sessions and less pronounced side effects. For some skin types and skin conditions, gentle and/or fewer treatments are best. On average, three to five sessions spaced one month apart are necessary to achieve the best results.
What is special about Fraxel?
The technology behind Fraxel treatment is as revolutionary as the results it delivers. Unlike other laser treatments, Fraxel treatment is able to precisely treat thousands of microscopic areas of skin using pinpoint laser beams to penetrate the skin’s surface and eliminate old, damaged skin cells. Fraxel treatment stimulates the body’s own natural healing process, which then replaces damaged skin with fresh, glowing, healthy skin.
Fraxel laser has received FDA clearance for the following treatments:
- Wrinkles around the eyes (periorbital wrinkles)
- Age and sun spots (pigment lesions or liver spots)
- Brown spots of pregnancy (melasma)
- Acne scars and surgical scars
- Skin resurfacing, tone, and texture
- Fraxel can also help improve stretch marks
Does Fraxel hurt?
Topical anesthesia is applied before the procedure and cold air is directed across the skin during treatment to minimize discomfort. After treatment, most patients report a feeling similar to having too much sun. This sensation disappears in one to three hours.
What can I expect after treatment?
You will have some degree of redness and swelling, with the intensity and duration dependent on how aggressive the treatment was and your particular healing characteristics. Other temporary side effects may include minor itching, dry skin, peeling or flaking of skin, and a bronzed appearance. We will give you specific instructions about what to expect from your particular treatment and how to minimize the side effects.
How do I protect my new skin?
Always wear a sunscreen SPF 30 or higher and avoid direct sun exposure when you are healing and for at least three months after the last treatment. Further protect yourself by wearing a wide-brimmed hat if you expect to be in the sun.
How long do the benefits of Fraxel treatment last?
It depends upon your particular condition and how you care for your skin. Once your skin is restored, continue to protect it as described above. For condition such as melasma, it is very important to avoid direct sun exposure. We will give you specific advice based on your individual needs.
What treatments can Fraxel be combine with?
Fraxel can be combined with Botox® Cosmetic and Dysport™ to reduce frown lines, forehead wrinkles, and upper lip lines. It can also be combined with dermal fillers such as Restylane®, Juvederm®, and Radiesse® to plump and refill, add facial fullness, soften deeper lines, and enhance lips; and Sculptra® Aesthetic or fat transfer to restore facial volume and fullness.
Jeffrey H. Binstock, MD is a Fellow of:
