Fraxel is the most widely known brand of fractional laser treatments used for skin resurfacing and rejuvenation—so popular that many people refer to any fractionated laser treatment as Fraxel.
In the early days of laser skin resurfacing, all facial laser technology ablated (removed the surface layer of) the entire treated area. These treatments often required weeks of downtime and had a high risk of side effects, including infection, hyperpigmentation, and scarring. Fraxel treatments are still able to induce new collagen growth, with far fewer risks and less recovery time.
New York City-based dermatologic surgeon Dr. Ronald Shelton explains that with Fraxel Re:store and Fraxel Dual, “instead of treating 100% of the skin’s surface area with laser energy, the beam is broken up into fractions” that target 25% to 40% of the skin’s surface and leave the rest intact—a process known as fractional photothermolysis.
The intact skin supports the healing process of the treated areas. “Because of this, the downtime and redness are less intense and don’t last as long as with ablative laser treatments,” says Dr. Shelton.
By causing micro-injuries to the skin, it accelerates the production of collagen and new skin cells, to replace older, damaged ones. This means that the repair-and-healing stage is crucial to a good result: the laser is the catalyst, while the skin essentially treats itself as it recovers.
RealSelf Tip: Fraxel laser treatment works best on fair skin, Fitzpatrick skin types I-III. People with light brown or more deeply pigmented skin tones are at risk for increased hyperpigmentation, so there are better skin rejuvenation options for those with deep skin tones.
Pros
Cons
The price you’ll pay for Fraxel will depend on the intensity of your treatment, size of the treatment area, your provider’s level of experience, and a few other key factors.
You can finance your treatment with CareCredit.
The Fraxel laser photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.
There are three types of Fraxel lasers. Your doctor should recommend the best type of Fraxel laser to get the results you want, but these are the high-level differences.
Fraxel Re:store
Fraxel Dual
Fraxel Re:pair
The settings on each of these lasers can be adjusted according to what your doctor thinks you need and can tolerate.
Fraxel can treat a variety of skin conditions, depending on the type of laser and setting your provider uses.
People who are age 40 or older may see the most benefits, although people in their late 30s with extensive sun damage, wrinkles, or uneven tone can see improvement from skin rejuvenation with Fraxel, too.
As we mentioned earlier, it isn’t safe for all skin tones. Patients with medium to deep skin tones are at risk of developing melasma or other types of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from Fraxel treatments.
“Some people with deep skin tones do get improvement of melasma, but others get worse. I recommend doing a test area first and watching that over six weeks,” recommends Dr. Shelton.
Also avoid Fraxel if you’re on medications that cause increased light sensitivity.
Here’s what to expect during a Fraxel Dual treatment.
You'll see big benefits after a single treatment with Fraxel Dual or Re:pair, though some people do return for a second treatment, depending on their concerns and goals.
With Fraxel Re:store, most people need two to three to see a significant improvement in brown spots caused by sun damage, and three to five treatments for acne scars.
Your recovery time will depend on the intensity of your Fraxel laser resurfacing treatment. You and your doctor can plan the best approach for you—based, in part, on how much recovery time you can spare.
You can ensure healthy healing by taking good care of your skin post-treatment. Use a gentle cleanser and simple moisturizer. Skin-care products with active ingredients like retinol and alpha hydroxy acids can irritate vulnerable, healing skin, so it’s best to stick to gentle basics. See what doctors recommend.
Your skin will be more sun-sensitive after your treatment, so avoid direct sun exposure and wear a wide-brimmed hat outdoors, as well as broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen, like the ClarityRx Skin Defense Environmental Protection SPF 30.
You’ll see somewhat of a difference once you’ve healed (especially if you had Fraxel Re:pair), but the lasers' manufacturer says optimal results usually show up 8–12 weeks after your procedure.
“Because only a fraction of the skin is treated during a single session, a series (typically three to six treatments) of fractional resurfacing at 2- to 4-week intervals is required for the best clinical improvement,” reports a study published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal. Results continue to improve with each additional treatment, with optimal results three months after your last treatment.
Laser resurfacing results last about three years. You may be able to extend that time with an occasional chemical peel, a “mini-Fraxel” with Clear + Brilliant laser, a healthy skin-care routine, and daily use of sunscreen with an SPF of 30+.
“I often use the Fraxel laser treatment as a time to review the correct skin care with my patients,” says Dr. Green. “This usually includes adding a vitamin C serum, retinols, or alpha hydroxy acids.”
Fraxel is FDA-cleared and widely considered to be safe. Fraxel laser side effects tend to result from provider inexperience. Burning, scarring, and pigmentation issues can result from treatments that are too aggressive. Some RealSelf reviewers have also reported facial fat loss.
Doctors on RealSelf say side effects like scarring are uncommon with the Fraxel laser, though they’re more likely if you have a more aggressive treatment or if you don't have fair skin color.
You may want to consider these other popular resurfacing treatments for sun damage, signs of aging, or acne scars.
Updated May 19, 2022