Is Fraxel re:pair different from fraxel laser?

The names are similar and laser delivery technology is the same but essentially the lasers are different.

Fraxel laser is a multiple session laser designed to correct sun damage, acne scars and pigmentation. With 4 to 5 sessions your skin is smoother, more color balanced and finer textured.

Fraxel Repair is a carbon dioxide laser (CO2). CO2 has been the gold standard skin rejuvenation laser for the past decade, but it lost favor because there was much pain and long healing since ALL the skin surface was vaporized.

Fraxel uses a microbeam delivery system that "skips" a great portion of the skin surface in both the regular Fraxel laser (now referred to as the Fraxel Restore) and the Fraxel Repair. Fractional laser delivery means that more of the skin is not lasered than is lasered, so the portion that is treated heals much faster and the treatment itself is far more tolerable.

The advantages of the CO2 are that it is designed to be a single treatment (though potentially 2 times for more severe skin issues)plus the tightening that comes with collagen response to the more intense effects that CO2 and the elimination of the demarcation or dividing lines that were visible with standard full skin laser. Because the Fraxel technology almost "feathers" the laser, there is no sharp division between treated and nontreated skin.

If you're old enough to remember the "real deal" CO2 laser faces of the 90's, it was easy to pick out who had it done. These patients had incredibly smooth and wrinkle free skin, but because the older systems could not be used on the neck, there was a very visible change in skin color and texture between the face and the neck.

The Fraxel Repair eliminates that issue along with increasing the viability and tolerability of CO2 resurfacing.

Beyond the Fraxel website, a good place to learn about the Fraxel Repair in lay language is on the site of Dr. Nissan Pilest at www.totaldermatology.com

There is a brand new laser treatment called Fraxel re:pair™. It was debuted at the American Academy of Dermatology last week in San Antonio, Texas. On January 31, 2008 an impressive demonstration was highlighted on NBC’s Today Show. The unique features of this treatment are that patients in their 30’s to 50’s can get face and neck tightening without a surgical facelift, as well as improving skin color and texture. Patients in their late 50’s to 70’s can have deep wrinkles removed without the downtime of surgery or more aggressive lasers. Like the previous Fraxel technologies, Fraxel re: pair is a fractionated laser that treats a predetermined percentage of the skin while leaving normal surrounding skin to help with the healing process. The laser is a carbon dioxide laser which actually removes tissue. The surrounding normal skin shifts to fill the void left by the lasered area. There is noticeable shrinkage and tightening of the skin during the procedure. I am currently doing my due diligence to make sure that this promising technology delivers what it says, that both patient and physician satisfaction is high, and that there are few to no complications with the treatment. The few physicians in the U.S. that have experience with the procedure are saying that Fraxel Repair is very safe, and that patients are very satisfied with the results. There is a longer recovery time (2-3 days of moist and scabbing skin, 7-10 days of redness), but the results are impressive. For some patients there is more discomfort. These patients recieve local anesthesia nerve blocks. I am traveling to the Mountain View, CA headquarter of Reliant Technologies on 2/23/08 to observe the treatment and to speak with the investigators of Fraxel Repair. Most likely I will incorporate this technology into my practice in the next month.

I had fraxel re:pair done 2/15/08. The pre-op info on "some" swelling, and "some" redness that will resolve after 3/5-7 days (respectively), turned out to be 3 full days of not recognizing a square inch of my face and not having the majority of the swelling subside for another week ... as for the redness, i'm still battling that, along w/ itching and skin breakouts !!! Not what I had planned or was told to "expect". Since I still have a way to go, I can't comment on whether the out come to my skin was worth the pain (and the procedure WAS painful !!) and downtime and weekly visits to the dermatologist. Right now it looks worse than before the procedure.

It sounds like you had a very aggressive treatment with the Fraxel re:pair. It is essential that the patient and doctor be on the same page about the aggressiveness of the treatment BEFORE the treatment is done. Discussing these things before treatment is an explanation, discussing them afterwards is an excuse. Anywhere from 5% to 70% of the skin can be treated. The depth of treatment is also variable. When I consult with patients regarding Fraxel re:pair, I explain that the more aggressive the treatment, the longer the recovery. There are some patients who want the best result possible regarding their wrinkles, sagging skin, and sun damage and don't mind if their recovery time is a bit longer. Other patients who don't want much downtime can be treated lighter, and/or have the Fraxel re:store treatment. The skin needs lots of moisturizer after the treatment. Most female patients can use makeup 3-5 days following the treatment to cover up the redness. The procedure is more painful than the Fraxel re:store, local nerve blocks are used in those patients who have pain, it sounds like you did not have a proper nerve block. In patients who do not want to feel a thing, we offer some sedation in the surgicenter. The skin dryness and itching are usually worst at days 3-5 at which time moisturizer needs to be applied often.

Lastly, I would make sure that you actually received a Fraxel re:store treatment. There are many patients who believe that they are receiving Fraxel when in fact they are getting a different laser companies "fractionated" treatment. So be sure that you are getting Reliant Fraxel. I hope that this is helpful to you; I look forward to hearing about your results, and please feel free to contact me with any other questions.

I had the fraxel re:pair done about two weeks ago. Everything went fine except there was a lot of pain!!! But the question I have now is to ask if anyone else has had small little bumps appear that don't seem to want to go away. I have never had acne or problem skin just wrinkles. The treatment helped them but I don't understand what these little tiny bumps are on my right cheek. You can hardly see them but I can feel them for sure. I went to see my doc and he thought it was just dryness and that it would heal but so far, they seem about the same. Bumps and not dryness like I had on other parts of my face. Any ideas?????

Need help,
Diane

Hi Diane,

Fraxel re:pair is a more painful procedure than the Fraxel re:store(SR1500) because the CO2 laser actually vaporizes tissue. It helps to have a strong numbing gel applied for 60-75 minutes. A local anesthetic nerve block is used in about 1/2 patients. The local nerve block makes the procedure much more comfortable. For my patients who "do not want to feel a thing" we offer a trip to the out patient OR for a brief IV sedation (similar to when patients have a colonoscopy, no prep necessary the night before).

I am glad to hear that the treatment has already helped with your wrinkles (that should continue to improve over the next few months). Without actually seeing the tiny bumps that you can hardly see, but do feel, it is hard to comment. I would advise you to continue to keep your skin very well hydrated, use lots of sun block , and stay in touch with your doctor. The tiny bumps should resolve soon. Ask you doctor if a mild steroid cream might be of some benefit for your right cheek.

Please let us know how things go, I'm sure that you will be very pleased with your Fraxel re:pair treatment. Good luck!

Dr. P

I have a consultation scheduled for april 25 to see if I'm a good candidate for the fraxel re:pair. I blog is making think twice. Maybe I should just go with a mini-face lift. All comments welcome.

Hi All, I've done a lot of reading on this - the Fraxel Repair (or "Re:pair as opposed to Fraxel Restore, which uses erbium fractional laser) has only yesterday become available in Australia.
Fraxel Re:pair is CO2 fractional laser requiring only 1 treatment(there's a few different brands), whereas Fractional Restore is the current one using erbium that requires several treatments (needs about 3 - 5).
Yesterday i went to see the first Australian dermotologies that's using it (Dr A). He'd done it on his neck to try it out (looks like a VERY agressive treatment. All red, bleading, weeping after 18hrs post-).
Today I went to see the leading Sydney laser treatment centre today (Dr B) - he's getting the laser in 2 weeks. He has a list as long as your arm of a waiting list.
I want to see the results before i commit to it.
I am waiting for you guys to tell me how it goes, plus the results from Dr A and B.
Dr B told me he's NEVER had any probs with current Fraxel Restore, which makes me a bit sceptical after reading all these nightmare stories. I'm hoping it's just a matter of time and that you have to wait to see good results.
What we do for looks, eh!
LMN

Hi Mike,

It sounds like you are going to have a great result. In a few months if your deeper acne scars are still bothersome, you can have another treatment localized to the areas that bother you. Good luck.

Dr. P

Hey Dr Persky,
This is a great site I have stumbled upon. I am a practitioner in LA and was unclear about the difference between Fraxel re:pair and Fraxel re:store. Now I am very clear about it. Wow, re:pair sounds really intense! We use re:store and we are new to the laser. Pt's seem to have minimal downtime, but we have not yet had a pt finish the recommended series of 4 treatments. I am excited to see what the results will be. I am actually getting ready to have my first treatment in 2 weeks. My question is this, would a series of 4 treatments with re:store be equivalent to one of re:pair?

Hi Dana,

The quick answer is no. Re:pair is ablative and actually removes a volume of skin so that the tightening is greater, especially in the lax skin of the neck. The changes seen in color, tone, and texture may be close on the face. Good luck with your treatments, I'm sure that you will be pleased.

Dr. P

Dr P, what is your affiliation with Reliant Technologies (the makers of the Fraxel)? - LM

Hi Dr. P.
I wrote awhile back about having the fraxel re:pair for my wrinkles and then having a problem with tiny bumps on my cheek. I thought it might be interesting for others to hear what I have since discovered. First of all, the cheek with all the little bumps is on the same cheek that experienced so much more pain than the other one. I don't know if there is a connection, but seems there might be. After the first few days of vinegar water and aquafur gel, the Dr. told me to start using the cetaphil cleanser and the cetaphil moisturizing cream. Everytime I used it, my face would turn a brilliant red which didn't leave and if fact got worse everyday, and the bumps seemed to get more raised. Then I started to notice this burnt look on my eyelids and around my chin. I tried everything I could think of as I began to realize that I might be allergic to the cetaphil. I finally cooked some rolled oats up but not too solid and strained them through a strainer. I took the oatmeal juice and after it cooled, plastered it all over my face. Instantly I felt some relief and suprisingly when I washed it away my face looked tons better. I went to the store and bought some Aveno moisturizer. The tube cost about three bucks and some aveno foam cleanser. I used this every morning and at night tried putting on the aquafur before bed. NOW! my skin is really healing properly. The bumps are getting smaller and fading more everyday and my skin is looking wonderful.
Since then, after digging around on the net, I was suprised to find that there are a number of people who are allergic to cetaphil. Who knew????
Hope this helps.
Diane

Hi, my name is Kim, I'm an RN and manage a medspa in a plastic surgeons office. We will be doing the Fraxel Repair next month and I had a question... do you check the pts. vital signs pre, intra and post op? I'm trying to come up with our protocols for the procedure.
I think your website is wonderful. Your answeres are always clear and concise and empathetic. I'm sure it takes up a lot of your time, but what a valuable service you are providing.

Thank you,
Kim Calerdine, R.N.
UltraDerm MedSpa
Santa Cruz, Ca.

Hi Kim,

We do not usually check patient's vital signs pre-, intra-, or post- treatment with Fraxel. When you are first starting out with Fraxel it would not hurt to check the vitals prior to any treatment, before the numbing gel is applied. We are very aware that topical lidocaine/tetracaine numbing gel can sometimes cause reactions; therefore patients are watched carefully during the period that the numbing gel is on. Don't ever leave a patient in a room alone with the door closed. We also limit the amount of numbing gel, although I have heard of reactions to lidocaine in relatively small doses. The Xanax that is given prior to the procedure helps to partially negate the lidocaine side effects. Much good luck with the new Fraxel re: pair in beautiful Santa Cruz. Thank you for your kind words.

Dr. P

Ok, I need to talk to someone...I was totally unprepared for this and I admit, I should have done more research. I went to the dermatologist to have a very tiny amount of botox in my forehead. I am getting married in ~6 months and I wanted to even out my skin tone and fraxel was suggested. Side effects were a mild sunburned appearance. It was not that painful, but OH MY GOD! I am freaking out. I am swollen, red, and now I have all these little whiteheads around my nose, mouth and cheeks. I was not told about the swelling or to ice so I have just left everything alone. I have washed with cetaphyl and am moisturizing 2x/day. I had this done yesterday and have been so upset ever since. I am really worried that the whiteheads will scar. Is that usually the case?? There are a lot of whiteheads and although they are tiny I have never seen anything like this before. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!

Hi Jubilee,

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage, I am sure that you are going to be a beautiful bride. It sounds like you had Fraxel re:store (non-ablative Erbium fractionated laser),a day or two before your post. Probably by this time your concerns have already passed. It is very common after Fraxel to have a minor "break out", particularly around the mouth area. The best thing to do is not to pick (just like Mom tells us). Keep washing with a mild cleanser. Hopefully you are not allergic to Cetaphil (if so Aveeno works well). Lots of moisturizer and sun block. If this was Fraxel re:store then it is a series of treatments. You can keep the swelling down in your next treatments by avoiding alcohol for a few days around the treatment, take bromolene (or fresh pineapple), sleep with your head elevated on a few pillows, and let your doc know about what happened. Lastly, once your skin is beautiful from the Fraxel treatments, be careful on your honeymoon if you are going to a "sun" resort (more sun screen).

Dr. P

I had Fraxel Re:Store performed 4 days ago. This is my second treatment. I was expecting pain, redness and swelling, as that was part of my first experience. Last time, by day 4 I was beginning to look and feel like myself again. However, this time, my face has patches of oozing/bleeding that I didn't experience with the first treatment. My entire face seems to crust over each morning. I feel like a burn patient that needs a debriding. My dr. did say that she was doing a stronger treatment this time (50mj/10depth/8 passes). But I am surprised at the reaction. Is this normal? And is there anything I can put on my face to help it heal? I am currently using a topical OTC antibiotic ointment that provides some relief.

Hi Cynthie,

Certainly speak with your treating physician first regarding post treatment care. The levels that you were treated with are very high, and that is why you are having the patches of oozing and bleeding. While you are oozing, a wet ointment/gel like Aquaphor is usually soothing. Once your skin is dry, the use of copious mild moisturizer will be essential along with sun block, but again speak with you treating doc before doing anything. The good news is that you will hopefully have a more impressive result on your deep lines and wrinkles. Depending upon how you heal and your result, you and your doc should determine the settings for your next treatment. Much good luck, and please let us know how you are coming along.

Dr. P

After reading the comments about the discomfort of the procedure, I think I will look around for a doctor that offers sedation to not feel pain. I want a good deep treatment to get the most for my time and money. I had dermabrasion back in the 1980's and it did wonders for my skin. I looked like a burn victim, it took about 7-10 days to heal, and I was red for months, and easily sunburned for the next couple of years. It was SO WORTH IT! I will trade more down time for better results. Now I am aging and need to do something again. I will give fraxel repair a try. I have a comment about breakouts and white bumps afterward. The oozing and ointments on the skin for days can cause that. If you can find products that let the skin breath more, and possibly water soluble it would help.

Hi Bets,

I agree with you. Skin Medica's TNS Ultimate Daily Moisture is a product that many of our patients like after Fraxel treatments. After a re: pair treatment while the skin is oozing for the first 48 hours, Aquaphor is the product that we recommend.

Your point of wanting "the most" for your time and money is an important point that patients and physicians should discuss during their consultation to properly be prepared for the treatment and the recovery.

We do offer sedation by a board certified anesthesiologist in our state certified outpatient center for those patients who do not want to feel a thing. Good luck.

Dr. P

Dr. P,

Thanks for your post. I am on day 4 now and the swelling is gone. Redness has decreased by 70%. I will definitely talk with my doctor about being more upfront with the downtime and what to expect after the procedure. Thanks also for the words on keeping out of the sun...I will definitley wear hats and load up on the sunblock. THanks again.

Well after reading all the comments I am unsure of how much pain I am willing to endure, although the advice of numbing cream and pain blockers are certainly an option. I am in my early 50's and have minimal wrinkles (good genes), but starting to experience loose skin on the neck area and wondered if anyone has had Fraxel on the neck area and their results? Thanks for a great site!

Hi Lee,

Sounds like you are aging well, much better than the rest of us baby boomers. Fraxel re: pair is a fractionated carbon dioxide (CO2) that actually vaporizes skin. Although Fraxel repair is new, we have had experience with the existing CO2 lasers for the past 20 years, and know that they were the gold standard for tightening lax skin. The problems with those older CO2 lasers are that they can only be used safely on the face, cause hypopigmentation of the skin (whiter skin in the treated areas), and in many patients have prolonged erythema (redness) and in some permanent scarring.

Physicians using the Fraxel re: pair who also had experience with the traditional older CO2 lasers are seeing even greater tightening with the re: pair laser because it can go 5-6 times deeper than previous CO2 lasers. You will definitely need numbing cream, an oral analgesic, Xanax, a nerve block, and in the neck a small amount of lidocaine. Early paitnet and physician response has been very promising. Good luck.

Dr. P

I wish Fraxel re:pair had been available 3 years ago when I had what is now called Fraxel re:store. I had 4 treatments and while my skin definitely improved, it did not help my age/sun spots very much.

Now I am looking to improve the skin tone on the lower 1/3 of my face, as well as address wrinkles, and it sounds like Fraxel re:pair may help. Since it is a relatively new procedure and due to the pain and recovery factor, I may wait a while until it is more widely used and reviewed.

I had a lot of pain for about 24 hours after my first Fraxel re:store treatment. It felt like my face was on fire. I also had a lot of swelling and spent days with bags of frozen peas on my face in between applying Aquaphor.

I did some research on the Internet and discovered SinEcch (Arnica Montana). SinEcch prepackages a 4 day regimen of arnica to be started the day prior to surgery or treatment. Even though each Fraxel treatment was progressively stronger, the swelling and recovery period for each was greatly reduced. Many plastic surgeons prescribe this to their patients prior to surgery to reduce bruising and swelling. I recommend doing your own research and discussing this option with your doctor before any laser and/or surgical procedure.

Thank you for taking all the time to reply to these posts. We all know how valuable you time is. Will Re:pair treatment reduce my pore size? Fortunate me, I grew up around the beach in Hawaii, however now my skin is paying the price. I am hoping to remove wrinkles under my eyes as well as on my forehead and reduce the redness on my face. At 46 are these reasonable expectations?

Aloha

Hi Todd,

Re: pair should help to decrease the size of your pores. Re: store has worked well in the past 3 years, and now with fractionated carbon dioxide re: pair there is much more shrinkage of skin especially in thicker sun damaged male skin where the energy levels can be turned up. Re: pair should be ideal for repairing sun damaged skin. It also helps diminish red areas that are due to small superficial blood vessels under the skin. At 46 your skin is still young enough to respond very well to the treatment and should heal very well. Once you are treated, you should maintain your investment by avoiding excessive sun, and by using sun block daily. Please take a swim for me. Aloha.

Dr. P

Hi Sandra H,

Good news for you. The early reports on patients who have already had a series of Fraxel re: store who then have Fraxel re: pair is very encouraging. The results on these patients have been excellent. You should expect more pain during the re; pair treatment, but after the first few hours patients are reporting minimal to no pain. The same things that you mention that made your last few recoveries easier will also help you with the re: pair recovery. Much good luck.

Dr. P

Hi there,
I had fraxel re:pair in Mid March. I unfortunately had a very severe allergic reaction to aquaphor (I assume to lanolin). I didn't know that I was having that reaction because sadly the "swelling and redness" that are to be expected in the week after the procedure is not emphasized as to degree. I assumed I was healing and didn't realize until almost a week later that my swelling and redness was completely abnormal. The swelling resolved rapidly after I went on a steroid medication but the redness.... I still have it. I have been in good spirits up until now --- my doctor prescribed hydroquinone 4% this past Friday which really has made me that much more nervous. I walked out without asking the right questions and now I wonder: Is my redness a major complication? Will it EVER resolve? I'm fair skinned and I'm in a total panic because this is only under my eyes and not my whole face. Although my wrinkles are dramatically improved, I look awful. I'm really scared and my doctor just gave me the prescription and told me to use it and I never qualified what went wrong here. I didn't ask how long it would take to resolve the redness with the hydroquinone or whether this was a normal reaction to Fraxel Co2, or whether the allergic reaction has permanently given me red stripes an inch think under my eyes. I'm so scared and I just want the real deal. I was told originally the redness would resolve within a month and it's a month now and I'm not nearly resolved - and have been prescribed a bleaching cream. Does that mean without the bleaching cream my skin wouldn't have resolved on its own? Please help. THANK YOU!

Hi SRG,

There definitely have been some allergic reactions to post treatment ointments. Bottom line is that your redness will likely resolve over time. You need to call your doctor, and ask the "right" questions that were not addressed at your last visit. Your physician has diagnosed you to have post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) and is treating it with hydroquinone. Patients treated with the old CO2 lasers had redness for weeks to many months after treatment, but in all of the cases that I have seen, the redness ALWAYS resolved eventually. Unfortunately, we cannot give an exact time as it differs from individual to individual. Most likely the redness would resolve on its own, the bleaching cream may help resolve it a bit faster. Most importantly, please call your doctor and have all of your questions answered. Keep your spirits up and be patient. Please keep us informed of your progress. Be well.

Dr. P

Hi,
Today I booked an appointment to have my face, neck and chest done with the Fraxel re:pair laser,in two weeks.
But after reading all the correspondence above, I am wondering if it is wise do do all three areas at the same time.
It sounds very painful to say the least,and I am worried about the healing period.Is it too much??
Would you suggest doing just the face, or face and neck first, and the chest at another time?I am very fair-skinned and 71 years old.
I did do a full face CO2 laser-surgery 15 years ago, and had a wonderful result.Would love to hear your opinion about this...
Thank you.

Do most doctors give valium or some kind of oral pain killer for this procedure?

Hi,

Is it posssible to treat a silicone injected skin (crowfeet)
whit this laser ?

Greetings.

Hi Marion,

The limiting factor in treating multiple areas with Fraxel is the "numbing" cream. In my practice the limit is face, neck, and chest. Too much Lidocaine absorbed through the skin can cause adverse reactions. If Xanax or Valium is given during the pre-treatment period, there is less chance for a reaction to the Lidocaine. Pain is subjective so it is difficult to predict if treating all three areas will be too much, but if the face and neck are too painful, you can always postpone the chest treatment at that time. A few hours after the procedure you should have minimal to no pain, so your healing period is not "too much". You can expect a great result as we are finding the tightening of skin laxity of the face and neck with the Fraxel re: pair to be even greater than the older traditional CO2 laser that you were treated with many years ago. Be well and good luck.

Dr. P

I can see you are very parcial to Fraxel Re-pair can you tell me the differance between Fraxel Re-pair and Active FX. I am getting a consultation for Active FX I was told this was the latest ad greatest but it sounds like maybe the Fraxel Re-pair is newer and possibly better in the long run??? I have some wrinkles around my eyes and would like my skin tightened. I live close to the beach so love the sun.

HBGirl

Hi again!
Just want to give you an update... I was the "mid-March" Fraxel CO2 with excessive redness for a month. I used hydroquinone for a few days which only made things worse. I went to my Dr. today who prescribed Desonide - and SERIOUSLY within 2 hours - all the redness that I've had for a month vanished. Poof. Just like that. I'm not sure whether it was the Desonide or whether it was the lack of anything else on my face today that did it. I've been using moisturizer and sunscreen and makeup everyday... I wonder if any or all of these products have lanolin in them! I was never allergic to lanolin (that I knew of) before - and I wonder if its that or if its the Desonide. Either way - I'm thrilled. Also, for all of those people talking about the pain --- I really didn't experience pain during or after the procedure (all that medication definitely helped!) Just a note to people out there - aquaphor has lanolin in it. I wonder how many other people develop a lanolin allergy after Fraxel Re:Pair. If I do my chest which I might, I'm only going to use Vasoline... THANKS! SGR

Hello Dr. P,

From all that I have read here, it sounds like Re:pair has made the CO2 laser obsolete. It sounds like the results are better and the healing is faster. Is that the case? From your experience what are the differences.

Also, growing up on the beach I suffered numerous sunburns starting at an early age. While I have not suffered from any incidence of skin cancer, it is a real concern for me. Will having re:pair help to reduce the possibility of skin cancer occurring.

thanks so much

Hello Dr. P,

Sorry if I ventilate myself incorrect.
I do not have silicone injections in my crow's feet around the eyes, but more in my cheekbones. Am i able to to treat this area with the Ultra pulse fx laser or do you recomment the fraxel laser?

Thanks,

Hi Dr
Just had first fraxel treatment done and I asked for the highest setting and deepest they could go. I feel like I did not get a very good treatment .The person doing it said she set it to 40% depth on face, but changed it to 20% around eyes. I have 2 more treatments that I am paying for and I wanted to Know what the highest treatment level and depth is so I can get the most out of this expensive investment???
I am not afraid of more down time, I just need to Know how long if we do crank it up, and what settings I should do??

Thanks!!!
Diana

HI,
I am 5 days post Fraxel Re:pair primarily for acne scars (not an official approved use as I understand it). I chose Re:Pair because I preferred fewer treatments (as opposed to older Fraxel technology that often needs 4-6 monthly treatments) and could afford a bit longer down time (2 weeks off work). I am not a particularly tolerant person for pain, but the combination of numbing cream, meds (Valium/Percocet), and nerve blocks made the procedure quite tolerable (maybe like 4-5 out of 10 on a pain scale). I have had no pain afterwards, only mild occasional itching. There was as expected considerable swelling esp. days 2-3, but that is getting progressively better with regular icing and time. I am of course still quite red and it's too soon to judge the results for my acne scarring. I am having what many people describe as some post-procedure breakouts, mostly small white-heads that are not typical of my previous acne. I am still being instructed to use vinegar soaks and aquaphor, but it seems all the "dead skin" has sloughed off and I am wondering if another moisturizer less likely to clog my pores might work as well at this stage and help prevent the breakouts I am seeing. My skin is naturally oily and it goes against my grain to put anything so oily as aquaphor on it. Thanks

Hi Thomas,

Certainly speak with you treating physician first about all of your stated concerns. Fraxel's Clinic guidelines recommend using Aquaphor for the first 2-3 days while the skin to oozing serum. Once the skin is dry, they recommend a good moisturizer. We use Skin Medica's TNS Recovery in our patients. Cetaphil works well too. Please contact your treating doctor for further advice. Rapid healing and much good luck with improvement in your acne scars.

Dr. P

Hello again Dr. P
I did have the fraxel restore done 2 weeks ago and the setting the tech said was set to 40% on face and 20% on eye area. I spoke with a laser company yesterday and the man I spoke to said that a fraxel restore laser goes fom 382 to 1359 maximum depth and the percetage covered can go from 5 to 43%.
What I am looking for is the deepest treatment I can get , I have wrinkles around the eye area and forhead and am
40 years old.I also have some sun damage and wonderful dark circles around the eyes I will tell you being Italian stinks!!!! The tech made 8 passes and said she went as deep as possible . I had some swelling and am still pinkish but no big deal. It did not hurt at all. What would you recomend me to ask the tech to set the next treatment on??? My skin has some large pores also , the wrinkles are what really bother me! Oh and the laser company I spoke to said that there are 13 different setting to choose from what should I ask for? This is the only laser this dr. has besides the refine. One more question how long after a fraxel should I wait to do a level 3 glcolic acid peel? Next treatment is on may 9.

Thank you so much for your help!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fondly,
Diana VASS

Hi,

Does the new Fraxel Re:Pair work for moderately sagging skin on elbows and knees? Also, will it reduce the effect of Restylane (I have Restylane in tear troughs and smile lines).

Thanks!

a few quick questions.

I have fine wrinkles around my eyes lines on my forehead and an uneven complexion (redness) as a result of sun damage.

If I opt for Re:pair instead of Re:store can I expect better results in eliminating the wrinkles around eyes and a better complexion. Also can I expect the size of my pores to be noticeably reduced?

Can I expect the same results if I have multiple procedures with re:store.

I use retin-A on a regular bases, if I have the procedure would you suggest I continue to use the retin-A at some point?

Last question (for now), are there additional benefits from getting multiple sessions, spaced a year apart, with Re:Pair

Thank You

Has anyone had the Fraxel re:pair for melasma or uneven pigmentation. I've had multiple treatments of the regular Fraxel (the new one that doesn't require blue dye) but it's only served as a temporary solution. After about 6 months the pigmentation starts to come back. Although it didn't clear my face completely, what's left is much better than before starting treatment. I would just like to see further improvement. I heard that C02 was the only permanent solution for melasma but most doctors opt against it due to high risks - post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, scarring, etc. Sounds like the new Fraxel C02 minimizes all those risks.. maybe this is my answer?

Thanks!
Midori

Has anyone had the Fraxel re:pair for melasma or uneven pigmentation. I've had multiple treatments of the regular Fraxel (the new one that doesn't require blue dye) but it's only served as a temporary solution. After about 6 months the pigmentation starts to come back. Although it didn't clear my face completely, what's left is much better than before starting treatment. I would just like to see further improvement. I heard that C02 was the only permanent solution for melasma but most doctors opt against it due to high risks - post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, scarring, etc. Sounds like the new Fraxel C02 minimizes all those risks.. maybe this is my answer?

Thanks!
Midori

Has anyone had the Fraxel re:pair for melasma or uneven pigmentation. I've had multiple treatments of the regular Fraxel (the new one that doesn't require blue dye) but it's only served as a temporary solution. After about 6 months the pigmentation starts to come back. Although it didn't clear my face completely, what's left is much better than before starting treatment. I would just like to see further improvement. I heard that C02 was the only permanent solution for melasma but most doctors opt against it due to high risks - post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, scarring, etc. Sounds like the new Fraxel C02 minimizes all those risks.. maybe this is my answer?

Thanks!
Midori

Hi Midori,

The Fraxel re:pair is so new that I would wait a few months until better guidelines appear for treating melasma. I would stick with conservative Fraxel re:store treatments until these parameters are established for melasma with the CO2 laser.
Good luck.

Dr. P

Hi Dr. P.,
I have a bad case of solar elastosis and very little collagen left on my arms from years of being in the sun without any protection. I’ve had six Fraxel restore procedure preformed with little success. Would you recommend Fraxel repair to help my arms look better? I am so self conscience of my arms that I keep them cover year round.

Thanks,
ST

Hi SharRon,

Fraxel re:pair should be more effective than the re:store at skin tightening, but I would advise you to have a small section of one arm test treated before committing to full treatment of both arms. If you respond well to the test area, then have at the treatment. Good luck and be well.

Dr. P

Dr.Persky, What a wonderful person you are to be so nice,kind to answer all these questions..Hooray for Dr. Pesky. kd.

Hi Karole,

And they said that it would be a thankless job. Thank you for your kindness.

Dr. P

Hi,
I posted awhile back because I became aware of being allergic to cetaphil so we do have sensitivities and it is so up to us to figure it out most of the time as no one understands us like ourselves. Good doctors help.
I had the fraxel re:pair about a month and a half ago. One of the things I notice is that as my skin returns to normal some of my lines are deepening too. (It looked so cool about a week after when I was still slightly swollen!) So now I am worried about how long the results will last. I had a thread lift a few years ago and it only lasted about a year and I looked worse after. I hope that doesn't happen with the Fraxel. The other question I have is that no matter how much moisturizers I use or different kinds. I still am very very dry with flaky skin. Do you have a suggestion? I am wondering if I should be exfoliating too?
Love this site!!!!!
Diane

I had Fraxel:Repair done 9 days ago. After the 3rd day, I was using Aquaphor on my cheeks, but the rest of the face and neck was healed nicely and I was given SkinMedica Ceramide Cream to moisture with on those healed areas. By day 5, I was off Aquaphor totally and only using the Ceramide Cream. I was healing nicely and a week after the procedure was told I didn't have to come back to see the doctor for a month. I complained of some itching and was told to use Benadryl at night. Well, the next morning I woke up to a beet red face and the swelling was like it was the day after the procedure. Back at the doctor's I was told I had either an allergic reaction to the Ceramide Cream OR a yeast infection due to the antibiotic and antiviral meds I was given for the procedure. I was then put on Desonide cream and Diflucan. The itching is horrible. It is now approximately 36 hours later and the swelling and redness is abating but the itching is horrendous. I see the doctor tomorrow who has told me to take the Benadryl, but I am wondering if the Benadryl could have been a part of the problem and why the desonide cream has not helped the itching at all. Help! I can't sleep and am going crazy!

Hi Dr. P,

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer all of these questions. That is wonderful and generous of you!

I am reading this thread with great interest, and some (of course!) confusion. I am a potential client who has been doing web research on facial resurfacing, Until now I thought Fraxel and "fractional laser" and "fractional co2 laser" were all the SAME THING! So glad I did my research!! From what I have been reading, I THINK that fractional co2 laser is the way for me to go.

In many sites, "fractional co2 laser" is toted as being one of the best new technologies in resurfacing, more effective with less down time..but then I have seen many references to "co2 laser" as having a lot of down time. So they are different? I would so apprecite it if you could answer these questions:

-What is the difference between "fractional co2 laser", "Fraxel" and "co2 laser", "re:pair" and "re:store"?

-I had thought that Fraxel was the brand name for fractional co2 lasers. If not, is there a specific brand name I should ask for when looking for fractional co2 laser treatment?

-Many clinics seem not to have heard of fractional co2 lasers. What is the best way to find a practice near me (either in Oregon, Colorado or New Mexico :)

-I am most interested in smoothing under eye lines. Is fractional co2 laser the most recommended process for this?

-Is there a general price range for sessions? Would any of the doctors be able to give me comparison prices of the 3(?) different types I have mentioned?

-Finally, Is it true that fractional co2 laser usually only takes one session, whereas other treatments take several?

MANY MANY MANY thanks for taking the time to answer these questions!!!

Thanks so much for this informative website!

Hi tj,

Hope that you made it through the night without too much discomfort. Hopefully you are feeling better today and your doctor is able to help. It is difficult to figure out what occurred to you. It would help to know the setting that you were treated at. I have never heard of a Benadryl allergic reaction so I don't think it was the cause. Ceramide is occlusive so perhaps there was a delayed allergic reaction. The likelihood of a yeast infection is rare, but possible. It sounds like your doctor is knowledgably and treating you properly. Much good luck with the itching (hopefully gone by now, let us know), and be well.

Dr. P

Hello Dr. Persky, I've been reading some of the posts on a web site and I have one question for you -that came