Fraxel for Pigmentation Removal

Is Fraxel Worth it?

Pigmentation; stretch marks; acne scarring; wrinkles; surgical scars; sun damage… Fraxel is a very versatile laser which treats several skin concerns and problems, however today we’re going to focus on Fraxel for pigmentation removal- what to expect and if it is worth it.

As a Fraxel skin clinic, we have treated many, many clients for pigmentation with Fraxel laser, be it individual sunspots or uneven pigmentation across the entire face, neck, and chest, so it’s fair to say we know what to expect during and after your Fraxel laser treatment; especially as our founder and nurse, Jane, was the Fraxel trainer for other skin clinics in the UK, Europe and the Middle East.

One of our Fraxel clients decided to document her Fraxel recovery and tell us about her Fraxel results whilst she was at it. Below she details her experience of her first Fraxel for pigmentation removal.

Experience with Fraxel Pigmentation Removal

“An outdoor child followed by too much sunbathing on foreign holidays had taken its toll. I tried to look after myself and have a good skin routine, but my face was more than showing my age (54). Following a recommendation from a friend, I started having some gentle peels with Su at Rejuvenate-4 mandelic and 4 pyruvic in an attempt to lessen the sun/age spots. I’m not overly bothered about the wrinkles but hated the brown marks which seemed to be more noticeable. My skin was looking brighter and fresher following the peels, but Su suggested that I might like to think about Fraxel which could give me the results I was looking for.

I contacted Jane at The Skin to Love Clinic and set up a consultation appointment. Jane explained how the treatment worked (I would have the 1927*) and showed me what I could expect in the days following. I was all buoyed up and booked my appointment.

Then the doubt set in. What if it went wrong? Who should I confide in about the treatment? Was I being stupid to mess with something that didn’t have to be fixed? Was it just too vain? I phoned in a panic and talked through my concerns with her. She also put me in touch with one of her clients who talked me through her whole treatment and the weeks afterwards. She’d had the 1550** and raved about it. It was really helpful to talk to them both and I felt so much better. My husband, who was making me even more nervous, was also reassured when he knew I had spoken to two people who had gone through the process and come out the other end unscathed!

The Process

Thursday

The day arrived and I was yet again terrified. Jane asked me where I was on a scale of one to ten very definite ten!

The anaesthetic cream was applied and then about 45 minutes later (around 6 pm) the treatment started. The slight crackling reminded me of the sound of the rollers in an electrical facial. It was a bit prickly in places on the hairline and on my forehead but was more than bearable. It took about 20-25 minutes. I aimed to have a single treatment, so Jane set the machine to 40% *** for most of my face and down to 35% for the forehead area which can be more sensitive to pain.

My face was a bit red and a little hot afterwards but only for about an hour and a half. There was minimal swelling at the corners of my mouth. It was suggested that I not use a night cream for a few days as it may be a little heavy and could block pores, so I just used a light serum and my normal eye cream. The only other change I made morning and evenings was to leave off my toner.

Friday

The day after the skin was a bit tight (but in a good way) and I had a little more colour than usual. I applied a tinted moisturiser and went to work. No one even noticed if they did, they didn’t comment!

Saturday

My skin was pretty dry so I tried using a moisturising mask but it seemed to sit on top rather than being absorbed as usual. It still felt tight and “sandpapery” and looking in the magnifying mirror (which should never have been invented!) it looked like I’d dipped my face in the dirty sand. It was obvious this was the pigment rising to the surface and would be coming off. I was both horrified and elated when I saw how much of it there was. I looked better that day with no makeup. My skin looked a little tanned but with much less ‘bronzing’ than I was expecting. I looked as though I’d had a sunny holiday!

Sunday

My skin a little cracked and dry on my chin bit like crazy paving, but no one else seemed to notice. The Colour was pretty much normal. Reintroduced toner and night cream.

Monday

This was the day I thought I might need to take off work. However, although some of my skin was a bit dry and still a little sandpapery, my colour was normal. I even used a blusher.

No real need to continue; Tuesday/Wednesday there really isn’t anything else to tell. Bit drier in some areas than normal and a few “grains of sand” still to come off but otherwise I think I’m there.

Fraxel has made a real difference. The pigmented areas are much improved and I am pleased with the results. The bonus of absolutely no downtime was huge. I may consider having a second treatment but will discuss it when I have my review. It will be interesting to get the results from the follow-up scan.

I hope you found this useful. I was a complete novice and unsure about the whole idea of a cosmetic procedure just hope I don’t get hooked after this experience!

Michele, February

P.S. March, I’ve just had my second Fraxel 1927 treatment!”

Here is an example of how recovery can look after having Fraxel for pigmentation removal (not Michelle):

Previous Fraxel trainer and our founder, Jane commented: “This is a good example of recovery when it comes to Fraxel for pigmentation removal. You can see the skin taking on a bronzed appearance as the pigmentation comes to the surface before flaking away and revealing a much brighter, more evenly toned skin after this skin treatment. Our clients have always found their recovery very manageable; we prepare them before so they know what will happen and often we advise you to consider having treatment on the lead-up to a weekend, or when you have a few days off if you’re anxious about the recovery time.

Fraxel Dual is one of my favourite treatments for sun damage and hyperpigmentation because to quote an American dermatologist, ‘it’s like a big, fat eraser’. Nevertheless, treatment is always your choice which is why before any skin treatment, we have a consultation with you so that you understand the benefits of the treatment, as well as any recovery time you need to consider and so forth.”
If you would like the have a consultation to better understand the Fraxel laser and any other suitable treatment options, contact us today.

*1927 is the wavelength we use to treat pigmentation.
**1550 is the wavelength we use to treat lines, wrinkles, scars, and stretch marks. Both wavelengths can be used in conjunction with each other and on the same day.
***40% is the percentage of the skin being treated overall in one treatment; you could therefore expect 40% of the pigmentation to be treated in that one sitting. Remember that this is not total resurfacing, you are treating only a percentage of the skin at one time so that you have less recovery time and the risk of side effects is greatly reduced as a result.

Please note: these are the treatment experiences and results of unique individuals, we do not suggest that you will have the same experience and results. As always, this blog does not constitute medical advice and no guarantees are being made about what you will experience and achieve from treatment.

Disclaimer: This blog is not to be used for diagnostic purposes. We are all unique which means that our results, recovery and suitability for any type of treatment will vary. Always seek the advice of a professional should you have any health or cosmetic concerns or to discuss treatments specifically for you.