How is a Fraxel treatment different from other laser skin rejuvenation procedures? Traditionally, two kinds of laser treatment have been available for cosmetic skin treatment: ablative and non-ablative. Typical ablative treatments, which use a high temperature to vaporize unwanted tissue, can be effective—but with significant side effects and several weeks of recovery time. Non-ablative treatments, meanwhile, have very few side effects and low downtime, but they commonly require numerous treatments to produce more modest results. Fraxel laser treatment delivers the potency of ablative treatments with the gentle safety of non-ablative lasers. So you get the best of both worlds: dramatic results and less downtime. What is a Fraxel laser treatment? Fraxel is the pioneer of "fractional photothermolysis", a technology in which thousands of microscopic laser columns - each just one-tenth the diameter of a hair follicle - treat a fraction of the skin at a time without affecting the surrounding tissue. These laser columns stimulate the production of younger, smoother, healthier skin to replace damaged tissue. Fraxel is a trusted laser treatment that has been around for over a decade. There are 3 types of Fraxel lasers offered and we offer the mid- aggressive Fraxel treatment, not the Fraxel RePair which uses CO2 technology. Why we are Fraxel Experts Dr. Tess was one of the first physicians to offer Fraxel Laser and has over 10 years of experience with Fraxel. We are the pioneers of combining Fraxel Laser with other therapies to improve results and minimize the number of treatments you need! This saves you time and money! What does Fraxel treat • Acne scars • Traumatic scars • General sun damage • Fine lines • Deep wrinkles • Large pores • General aging of the skin • Weathered skin How many treatments will I need How many treatments you need depends on the severity of the issues you are concerned with. Other factors that we consider when deciding the number of treatments you need are how much downtime you prefer, settings that are appropriate for your skin type, are we combining other treatments with Fraxel and how much improvement you want. A series of Fraxel treatments varies from 3-5 treatments. Nowadays Fraxel is rarely used alone. Dr. Tess is a pioneer in combining different therapies to maximize your results and at the same time minimize the number of treatments needed. If Fraxel combination therapy is done results can be achieved in as little as a single treatment. Does Fraxel hurt? A high quality topical numbing cream is left on the skin for 60-90 minutes. For maximum comfort you can request oral medications and local nerve blocks. We also use a special cooling machine that blows cold air to cool your skin while the Fraxel laser is being applied. The treatment is fast and takes only about 10 minutes to complete. Most patients say the Fraxel feels warm to hot and has a sunburn sensation immediately after the treatment is done. Is there downtime Downtime varies greatly depending how aggressive treatment is, if other treatments are done at the same time and how sensitive your skin is. We can customize your treatment to fit your needs. We also offer amazing products to help decrease your downtime and maximize your results. Here are some examples of what you can expect: LIGHT TREATMENT • Little to no downtime • Mild redness • Mild swelling • Mild peeling AGGRESSIVE TREATMENT • Downtime for 3-4 days • Redness and swelling for 2-3 days • Sunburn type of peeling for 7 days • Bronze tone to the skin for 7-10 days • Darkening of sun spots for 7 days • Mild discomfort