Fraxel

Fraxel is a non-ablative fractional laser. Two words explain what that means.

"Fractional" means the laser treats only a fraction of the skin at a time. It sends thousands of tiny beams into the skin, a bit like aerating a lawn. Each beam makes a microscopic column of heated skin, with healthy skin left untouched around it. That untouched skin helps you heal faster.

"Non-ablative" means the laser heats the deeper skin without removing the surface layer. Older ablative lasers burn off the top of the skin, which works well but needs weeks to heal. Fraxel leaves the surface mostly intact, so healing takes days.

The heat does two things. It clears out damaged, pigmented cells, which fades sun spots. And it triggers the skin to make new collagen, which smooths scars and fine lines over the following weeks.

Fraxel Dual uses two wavelengths. The 1550 nm setting reaches deeper to treat texture, scars, and lines. The 1927 nm setting works nearer the surface to fade sun spots and uneven tone.

Before: Avoid sun and self-tanner for 2–4 weeks. Stop retinoids for about a week if advised. Tell your provider if you get cold sores, since they may give you an antiviral to prevent a flare. Mention any recent isotretinoin.

During: Numbing cream is applied for 30–60 minutes first. The laser passes over the skin in sections. Most people feel heat and prickling. A full face takes about 20–45 minutes.

After: Your skin feels hot, like a sunburn, for a few hours. Expect redness and swelling for a few days, then a rough, sandpaper feel as the skin flakes. Most flaking clears within a week. Use gentle skincare and strict daily sunscreen.

Results: You may see a fresh glow in 1–2 weeks. The bigger change in scars, lines, and tone builds over 2–3 months as new collagen forms. Most people need 1–3 sessions. Sun damage can return over time, so daily sunscreen protects your results.

Common and expected:

• Redness and swelling for 3–7 days
• A rough, sandpaper feel and light flaking
• A sunburn-like feeling for a few hours after
• Temporary dryness or mild breakouts

Uncommon but possible:

• Cold sore flare-ups in people prone to them
• Prolonged redness or swelling
• Infection (rare, usually tied to poor aftercare)
• Scarring (rare)

A note on skin tone: In medium and darker skin, the heat can lead to dark spots after treatment (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation). The risk is real but lower with careful, conservative settings. Choose an experienced provider who treats your skin type and can adjust the laser to lower this risk.

Fraxel may not be right if you:

• Are pregnant or nursing
• Have a deep tan or recent sun exposure
• Have an active infection, cold sore, or inflamed acne in the area
• Have taken isotretinoin recently (many providers advise waiting several months)
• Have a history of keloid scars
• Have melasma — laser heat can make it worse, so it is not a first choice
• Want to remove deep, heavy wrinkles or lift sagging skin (that may need ablative lasers or surgery)

Deeper skin tones can be treated, but need conservative settings and an experienced provider to lower the risk of dark spots.

Q: How much does Fraxel cost?
A: Most sessions run about $1,000–$2,500, depending on the area treated and where you live. Many people need 1–3 sessions, so plan for the total.

Q: How much downtime is there?
A: Plan for about 3–7 days. Your skin will be red and swollen, then feel rough and flake like sandpaper. Most people are presentable within a few days and fully healed within a week.

Q: Does Fraxel hurt?
A: With numbing cream, most people feel heat and prickling that is uncomfortable but tolerable. Your skin feels sunburned for a few hours after.

Q: How many sessions will I need?
A: Usually 1–3, spaced about a month apart. Deeper scars or heavy sun damage may need more. Results build over the months after your last session.

Q: Is Fraxel safe for darker skin?
A: It can be used, but it carries a higher risk of dark spots in medium and darker skin. Conservative settings and an experienced provider lower this risk. Some people choose a gentler option like Clear + Brilliant.

Q: How long do results last?
A: Improvements in scars are long-lasting because they are structural. But your skin keeps aging and new sun damage forms, so daily sunscreen and occasional touch-ups help hold results.