Hi, I'm Dr. Amy here at Boulder Canyon Dental. We get a lot of questions about the Fraxel laser, so today I want to take some time and answer a lot of those questions for you to give you a clear understanding of what Fraxel really is.
What is Fraxel?
There are a lot of dermal lasers out there, so it's important to know your final goals before deciding which one to go with. Here at Boulder Canyon Dental, we utilize the Fraxel Dual laser. It's a non-ablative laser and it can do a lot of things, whether that's preventing unwanted skin discoloration, removing the appearance of scars, or fine lines and wrinkles.
Can Fraxel prevent cancer?
Here in Colorado, we get 364 days of sunshine, so it's important to be mindful of prolonged sun exposure. The Fraxel Dual laser can actually help prevent the formation of cancer by targeting sun-damaged cells and stimulating the body's natural healing process.
What is the downtime for Fraxel?
The downtime for Fraxel is completely dependent on the goals of the patient. I've heard everything from "This is my skincare budget for the year, let's get max benefits," all the way to "I have a wedding next week and I need to look normal." That's something that we decide the day of your appointment, and you really tell me what your final goal is. The average downtime is about seven days, starting with a really bad sunburn look with redness and then ending with that new skin-brighter look.
Is there a downside to Fraxel?
The Fraxel Dual is a non-ablative laser, so there's really not a downside to completing this treatment. You're not going to have open wounds, there's no skin oozing, and it's not going to increase your risk of things like scarring and skin infection like a deep peel would. So it's a very safe alternative to some of these other more aggressive treatments on the market.
How much does it cost?
The cost of the Fraxel treatment is dependent on the areas we're working on. If you're thinking that you're going to do a full face and neck treatment, then you can mentally prepare to pay about $1,200.
How many treatments do I need?
How many treatments a patient needs is again dependent on the goals of the patient. Mentally prepare for anywhere between three and seven. I always let patients know what I believe they will need to get that final goal at the end of the day, so mentally prepare for one to three treatments if we're working on skin discoloration, all the way to three to five if you're wanting to remove the signs of a specific wrinkle.
What are the post-op care instructions?
The post-op care after a Fraxel treatment involves really avoiding prolonged sun exposure, utilizing SPF, and using gentle cleansers and moisturizers. You do get a full packet with these instructions anytime you get this treatment at our office, as well as some goodies that I like to send you home with to make the first day kind of mindless.
Can I do skin pigmentation and wrinkles in the same visit?
If you're looking to target multiple areas of concern, such as sunspots and certain deeper wrinkles, we can absolutely combine that into one treatment. Depending on where we're working on the skin, I would just change my laser settings. The great thing about the Fraxel Dual is it's a dual laser. It can do multiple things, so we can maximize your time and your money by treating sunspots and wrinkles in one visit.
If you'd like to learn more about the Fraxel Dual laser or what it could potentially do for you, please give us a call at (970) 514-0662. We're here to help.
If you'd like to know more about what the Fraxel can accomplish, check out the before and after photos of our patient Christie, who was mentally preparing for three treatments and actually accomplished her goal after only one session.
Fraxel 1550
Before:
1 Month Post 2 Treatments:
Fraxel 1927
Before:
2 Weeks Post 1 Treatment:
Photographs courtesy of Solta Medical Aesthetic Center
