What is the Fraxel laser treatment?
Fraxel is a non-ablative fractional laser treatment that is often used in the treatment of acne scarring. It is named the “Fraxel” since it only treats a small fraction of the skin each visit, leaving healthy skin between the treatment areas in order to decrease healing time.
How does the Fraxel work for acne scarring?
The Fraxel laser uses microscopic columns of laser energy to penetrate into the skin’s deeper layers in order to stimulate your body’s own healing process. This stimulates the body to produce healthy collagen in order to repair the damaged skin. The Fraxel treatment can smooth out acne scars, in addition to treating the red and brown marks often left behind after acne lesions.
What type of scarring can the Fraxel treat?
The Fraxel laser is used for many types of scars, though it is particularly effective in the treatment of acne scarring. Atrophic (“pitted”) scars, red scars and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (“brown”) scars all respond very well to the Fraxel laser treatment. The Fraxel treatment is safe for all skin types, even darker skin types such as African American, Asian and Indian skin, as it does not target melanin (the pigmented cell found in the skin.) Patients of all skin types with many different types of acne scarring can benefit from the Fraxel non-ablative resurfacing treatment.
What can I expect during the Fraxel treatment?
Upon arriving in the office, we will clean your skin thoroughly and then apply a numbing cream to the surface of your skin. The numbing cream will remain on your skin for approximately one hour. The cream will be removed immediately prior to the treatment. The Fraxel laser treatment of the face takes approximately 30 minutes. You may feel a warm sensation, but you should feel more than very minimal discomfort. We will review post-treatment skin care instructions before you leave the office.
Is there any downtime after the Fraxel laser treatment?
After the treatment, you may experience mild swelling and redness for 2-3 days. This is similar to very severe sunburn. Most patients feel comfortable leaving the house, but may not want to have the treatment performed immediately prior to any social engagements. After 2-3 days, your skin will look okay and you may resume normal work and social engagements.
How many Fraxel treatments are required for acne scars?
Most patients require 3-4 treatments of the Fraxel laser in order to treat acne scars.
