Fraxel Laser – Fractional Skin Resurfacing
The Fraxel laser uses safe, fractional laser technology to treat minor to severe sun damage, such as age or sunspots, wrinkles, and other signs of aging. Depending on the patient needs, Fraxel treatment can prevent the signs of aging, resurface damaged skin or correct severe damage.
What can the Fraxel Laser treat?
- Face, neck, chest, hands, and arms
- Mild to moderate photodamage
- Mild to moderate wrinkles and fine lines
- Acne and surgical scars
- Actinic keratosis
- Irregular texture
How long has Fraxel been available?
The first non-ablative Fraxel device is both approved by the FDA in 2003 and by Health Canada in 2003 and has been available in physician offices since that time. The Fraxel Laser is a safe option backed by extensive research.
How long is the treatment?
This is dependent on the area to be treated. The Fraxel laser treatment requires 30 mins for topical anesthesia to become effective. The treatment time for the laser requires up to 1 hour. This means you will be in our office for up to 1.5 hours.
How do I plan for the Fraxel Laser treatment?
It is important to consider the downtime (healing time) involved, it is hard to determine the exact amount needed to recover as everyone’s body heals differently. It is recommended that up to ten days are required following the procedure. The patient should be cautious with their skin and are able to stay away from direct sunlight during this time and wear appropriate sunscreen and sun protection.
Do I require a consultation prior to the Fraxel Laser treatment?
Yes, we recommend that you meet with our certified medical laser technicians to discuss if you are a candidate for the Fraxel Laser treatment.
How many treatments are required?
Treatment with the Fraxel laser depends on the patient and the indication being treated. Everyone’s body heals very differently, therefore we cannot guarantee the number of treatments needed. Typically, patients receive their desired outcomes in three to six treatments. The average for a full face is three to four treatments. These details can be discussed more during the pre-treatment consultation.
How long do the Fraxel Laser results last?
The results of the Fraxel treatment are progressive. Soon after the treatment, the surface of the skin will feel softer, look brighter and show more even tone. Over the next several months improvement will continue as the deeper layers of the skin continue to heal.
Results can last for many years depending on the skin’s condition at the start of the Fraxel treatment. Proper skin maintenance is key in helping results last longer. Such things include good skin care, sunscreen, and sun protection.
At times patients do require other treatments to continue the long-lasting results of the Fraxel Laser. This can be discussed more during the pre-treatment consultation.
How does the Fraxel Laser work?
Fraxel laser treatment uses patented fractional technology to target damaged skin with microscopic laser columns that penetrate deep into the skin, this is done in a non-ablative fashion (non-ablative= non-cutting). The laser only treats a fraction of skin at a time, leaving the surrounding skin intact, which promotes rapid healing. This stimulates the body’s natural healing process, replacing the old and damaged cells with fresh and healthy skin cell and stimulates collagen.
What should you expect after a Fraxel Laser treatment?
The Fraxel laser treatment can be tailored to the desired outcomes. Depending on the aggressiveness of the treatment redness and swelling are expected. This will subside after the next several days. When treating pigmentation several days after the procedure, pigmentation will darken and crumble off, this will take up to a week to occur. This can be further discussed in the pre-treatment consultation.
How much does the Fraxel Laser treatment cost?
The Fraxel Laser treatment depends on the patient and the indication being treated. This can be discussed more in the pre-treatment consultation with our certified medical laser technicians.