What Will Fraxel Do For Me?

…And other important Fraxel laser FAQs answered by a Fraxel clinic

Since we started offering the Fraxel Dual laser to our clients way back in 2013, we’ve answered lots of questions about this skin treatment… Lucky our founder and nurse, Jane, was the trainer for the Fraxel Dual treatment so all of us here at our Hertfordshire skin clinic have learnt an awful lot from the ‘Fraxel guru’ herself.

You may be here because you’re wondering if Fraxel laser is really for you or perhaps you’re ready to get the ball rolling and are searching for a ‘skin clinic near me’; either way I’m sure you have a few questions about this skin treatment, so let’s jump right in with some of the most frequently asked questions to help you better understand this laser treatment…

Are all Fraxel lasers the same?

This is a biggie so I’m going to start with this question. In short, no. 

Fraxel is a brand name for fractional lasers. There are other brands of fractional lasers, but only one Fraxel. Fraxel has been around since the early 2000s and was the first non-ablative fractional skin-resurfacing treatment and has many, many clinical papers published citing its safety and efficacy. 

Because Fraxel treatments have a good reputation and safety profile, I’ve seen some practitioners say they have a ‘Fraxel laser’ when in fact they have another type of fractional laser. Always look for the Fraxel logo on the device they treat you with, and if it isn’t obvious, you are at liberty to ask to see it.

In case you’re wondering how Fraxel works and what it does, we explain it all here.

Can Fraxel laser cause cancer?

No. Fraxel laser treatments actually improve the health of your skin and help to correct sun damage which, as I’m sure you know, can contribute to skin cancer. In fact, Fraxel has been FDA cleared to treat Actinic Keratoses, also known as solar keratoses, which are precancerous patches on your skin which develop after years of sun exposure; ‘solar’ meaning caused by the sun. 

Can Fraxel laser remove scars?

This is a very powerful treatment for scarring and it’s a very popular treatment for both acne scarring and surgical scars, amongst other types of scars. As you can see from the type of results achieved in the below Fraxel before and after photos, scars can be greatly improved. However, scars are not the only thing this skin treatment can help with. Fraxel Dual can also reduce wrinkles, improve hyperpigmentation, brighten dull skin, plump thinning skin, improve the health of sun-damaged skin, and it is also a stretch marks treatment. I’ve added Fraxel before and after photos below to demonstrate this.

Fraxel-what to expect

At our skin clinic in St. Albans, we ensure our client’s comfort by preparing the treatment area with local anaesthetic cream prior to the Fraxel treatment taking place. During the treatment, you’ll feel a sensation likened to gentle scratches that feel warm. After the treatment your skin will feel warm, often likened to the feeling of having too much sun, and some people’s skin will appear pink or red. 

We use different laser wavelengths for different concerns, and sometimes both wavelengths will be used if required. Depending on the wavelength you are treated with, you may notice some differences in how your skin looks and feels afterwards. After treatment with either wavelength, most clients will experience some immediate, mild swelling in the skin which gradually subsides. After a few days, most will notice that their skin feels ‘sandpapery’, which is generally only noticed by themselves. 

The main difference between the two in terms of recovery is that those treated for pigmentation (1927nm) may notice a bronzing of the skin, which quite quickly disappears; this is the pigmentation rising to the surface before naturally shedding. The 1550nm may cause the skin to swell marginally more so than the 1927nm. 

You may like to read our client’s diary after having the Fraxel Dual laser for hyperpigmentation.

Fraxel-what age?

For adults, it is more about suitability and if you are indicated to have the treatment, rather than the ‘right’ age. You could use the Fraxel laser as a very powerful preventative treatment to help prevent some signs of ageing, but the alternative treatment often most appropriate for this is the ‘baby Fraxel’ laser treatment which is by the same people who make the Fraxel device; this is called Clear and Brilliant laser and is a gentler version of the Fraxel.

Usually, a client will come to our skin clinic to have a consultation with one of our skin specialists for their skin concern and they’ll thoroughly discuss all your treatment options so that you can make an informed decision about if you want to have the treatment and, if so, which skin treatment or skin treatments you want to explore. 

Where to get Fraxel?

You may have treatment at a dermatology or aesthetic clinic that is a provider of an official Fraxel laser. You can have Fraxel Dual treatments at our skin clinic which is based in St. Albans, Hertfordshire. We have been treating clients with the Fraxel Dual (1550/1927) since 2013 and our founder was the trainer to other skin clinics that offer this treatment. 

To ensure your safety and satisfaction, we always have a consultation prior to any treatment; at this time, we will discuss all the appropriate treatments for your concern, along with the benefits and possible side effects for you to consider. You can contact us here if you’d like to discuss a consultation with one of our skin specialists. 

Which is better Fraxel or chemical peel?

This depends on your skin and what you would like to improve. If you have young skin, with no problems then a chemical peel may be ideal; most chemical peels have a shorter (if any) recovery time in comparison to the Fraxel. Theoretically, Fraxel may be overkill in a case like this. 

If you are looking for a corrective treatment, which can be precisely replicated at every treatment then Fraxel is in a different league to chemical peels. We do use chemical peels at our skin clinic, the strongest being a TCA peel which we use for the treatment of some signs of ageing and some forms of hyperpigmentation however, this treatment isn’t as precise as Fraxel in terms of knowing exactly how deep the treatment is going, replicating the treatment at each session, and TCA also has downtime associated with the treatment. 

In short, if you are looking for a great exfoliation or to treat a concern such as rosacea or acne then chemical peels can be a fantastic treatment option, but, in our experience, Fraxel is generally the superior choice for ageing skin, sun damage, hyperpigmentation, scars, stretch marks, and overall results. Look here to see what different types of chemical peels can treat. 

Who does Fraxel Dual laser near me?

We do! Our Fraxel laser clinic has been performing treatments since 2013 and our founder was the trainer for this treatment for other providers in the UK, Europe and the Middle East.

You can find us in the centre of St. Albans, Hertfordshire, UK. 

Will Fraxel remove brown spots?

Yes, Fraxel laser treats hyperpigmentation such as age spots, sunspots, freckles, and other forms of hyperpigmentation. We do not use Fraxel to treat melasma, we use other treatments for this type of hyperpigmentation.  

What will Fraxel do for me?

Fraxel treatments improve the appearance of scars and stretch marks; reduce uneven pigmentation and pigmentation marks; improve the texture and tone of your skin; reduce fine lines and wrinkles, even around the eyes; and give you a smoother, younger-looking, fresher skin.

See above for Fraxel before and after images to see what has been achieved.

This is what one of our clients, Katherine, had to say about her Fraxel results and experience:

“I decided to have a Fraxel treatment at the clinic and have to admit to being somewhat nervous, as I have never had any skin treatments previously. But, I have just reached 60 yrs old and was very aware that my skin was sun damaged; I had lots of very visible age spots and pigmentation, open pores, and wrinkles and my skin complexion was generally dull.

The treatment was uncomfortable but not painful, and very bearable. It was very hot for a few hours afterwards but cool lotion helped. I looked like my husband does after a day in the sun! Over the next few days, it peeled leaving pink, smooth skin underneath.

It’s now been 9 days post-treatment and I couldn’t be more thrilled. Age spots are gone, skin looking healthy and significantly more youthful. Friends are saying they’ve not seen me look so well for years.

The clinic environment, staff, care and consideration were fabulous and I would recommend this clinic, Jane and the treatment to anyone considering this. I feel so grateful to have had such an improvement in my appearance and I want to use this opportunity to thank Jane again. She genuinely went above and beyond what I expected and the results of the treatment significantly exceeded my expectations.”

So, if you are looking for a ‘skin clinic near me’ to discuss stretch mark removal; scar removal; anti-ageing treatments; skin treatments to improve skin texture; ageing hands treatments; skin treatments to reduce fine lines and wrinkles; and/or hyperpigmentation treatment with Fraxel laser, contact us here to ask about a consultation. 

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.