Fraxel - Patients ask, Dr. Ringpfeil answers
Please feel free to use the blog below to share information about Fraxel or to ask Dr. Franziska Ringpfeil a question that might be of interest to others.
Philadelphia and Mainline Center of Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery
Fraxel
Overview:
Improved appearance through delivery of heat to layers of the skin where collagen production is stimulated. Not harming the surface of the skin, this laser is indicated for those who cannot afford the downtime of a traditional CO2 laser treatment with multiple treatments, results approximate those of a CO2 treatment.
Expected results:
Treatment of photo damage and sun spots, reduction of fine and intermediate lines, improvement of scars, reduction of melasma. Treatment is not limited to the face.
Preparation:
Vigorous regimen of daily sunscreens (for all areas to be treated) and night time retinoids for several weeks to months (for treatment of face), no alcohol and aspirin for 2 weeks prior to the procedure, vitamin C 1000 mg daily starting 2 weeks prior to the treatment. Local anesthesia is applied prior to treatment.
Post treatment instructions:
Rigorous sun avoidance/protection for 3 months. Refrain from alcohol consumption for 2 weeks after the treatment, avoid aspirin for 10 days, continue vitamin C 1000 mg daily for 3 months. Application of ice once an hour for 2-3 days may provide added comfort. There is no need for dressings. Skin care in the immediate postoperative period includes the use of a very gentle non-soap cleanser, broad spectrum sunscreens and oral medication to prevent herpes reactivation. Topical retinoids can be resumed after 1 week.
Time to desired results:
4-8 treatments about 3-4 weeks apart.
Duration of desired effects:
Several years (exact duration is unknown at this time)
Contraindications:
Isotretinoin in the past 6-12 months. This laser is safe on all skin types.
Downtime:
1- 6 days of redness and swelling.
hi, I was wondering how many treatments with the Fraxel laser will I need to cover at least 90% of the skin on my face if the density is set at 30% coverage each time. Thank you for your time
During each FRAXEL treatment, about 20-30% of the skin is treated. With each additional treatment, the same occurs. Neither FRAXEL nor any other laser know which area of the skin was treated before and therefore it is very difficult to state when 90% of the skin have been treated. The overall improvements are usually seen after several treatments. Most experts in the field nowadays state that it takes 3-5 treatments to get results and that nothing much dramatic happens after 1 or 2 treatments. I do not offer FRAXEL treatments in my office because I have more treatment flexibility with my CO2 laser – however, if your laser surgeon is experienced with FRAXEL and you can commit to several treatments, you should see good results.
i want to know how much does it cost for one treatment.
FRAXEL is the name of a company and their original product, FRAXEL, is synonymous with fractionated laser ablation. These days, there are at least 5 different FRAXEL models that target different imperfections. The original one is not really used anymore. It has been replaced by more efficient lasers. Cost depends on the issue of concern, the area that is treated and the number of treatments needed for the desired results. In general it is best to have a consultation, so that we can examine the area of concern and you can learn which treatments will bring you to your goal.