Fraxel® Laser Treatment

Contact Us
FACIAL PLASTIC SURGEON VIRGINIA
The Virginia Institute
Home / Non-Surgical / Fraxel
Fraxel laser treatment being performed

What Is Fraxel® Laser Treatment?

Fraxel® laser treatment represents the gold standard in fractional laser resurfacing, offering precise, controlled treatment that stimulates your skin's natural healing process.

Dr. Trang Thuy Vo-Nguyen (Dr. V) utilizes advanced Fraxel® technology to address a wide range of skin concerns, from fine lines and sun damage to acne scars and uneven texture. This innovative treatment works by creating thousands of microscopic treatment zones in your skin, triggering a natural healing response that produces fresh, healthy tissue for a dramatically improved complexion.

Understanding The Different Fraxel® Laser Treatments

Dr. V understands that your genetic makeup and personal history contribute to how your skin looks and feels and she will develop a treatment plan with Fraxel® that fits your specific needs and fits into your busy schedule.

Fraxel laser treatments comparison

Fraxel Re:pair® Treatment

The Fraxel Re:pair® treatment is designed for patients in their late 30's-70's seeking treatment for deeper wrinkles and firmer skin without surgery. The Fraxel Re:pair® system is the industry's first and only Fractional Deep Dermal Ablation (FDDA) treatment that leads to tissue contraction, tightening, and collagen remodeling. During your treatment, the skin is ablated and coagulated in deep columns called Microscopic Treatment Zones (MTZ) and the laser's advanced high speed optics can deliver thousands of MTZs making it faster than other ablative fractional devices. Fraxel Re:pair® is a more aggressive procedure used to treat the most severe signs of skin damage. It is also the only system clinically demonstrated to create zones of treatment beyond 1.5 mm that are spaced evenly across the skin's surface providing tissue tightening. Fraxel Re:pair® utilizes carbon dioxide laser beams to not only diminish wrinkles, smooth rough skin, and improve discoloration, but aslo increase new collagen found in the dermis.

Fraxel Re:fine®

Fraxel Re:fine® combines a superficially absorbed laser wavelength with unique fractional technology. The Fraxel Re:fine® is non-ablative so the stratum corneum remains intact and the fractionated heat of the laser causes thousands of wounded areas of tissue that is surrounded by untreated skin causing damaged tissue and pigment to be forced up to the surface. The damaged collagen is then replaced by healthier collagen and the untreated skin stimulates your body's ability to rapidly heal itself. Fraxel Re:fine® provides safe, gentle resurfacing for patients in their 20's-30's who want to prevent or address the first signs of aging with minimal downtime and discomfort. By stimulating the growth of new collagen from the inside out, Fraxel Re:fine® treatment can actually help prevent the signs of aging before they begin.

The Fraxel DUAL® Laser

The Fraxel DUAL® treatment uses patented fractional technology to target damaged skin with microscopic laser columns that penetrate deep into your skin. The Fraxel DUAL® uses two wavelengths so it can treat skin both superficially and in its deeper layers, thus its name. Because it is like two lasers in one, this technology allows Dr. V to treat a plethora of skin conditions and problems. Patients (30's-40's) with fine lines and mild sun damage as well as patients (50's-60's) who have deeper wrinkles and more severe sun damage will benefit from Fraxel DUAL® laser treatments. The Fraxel DUAL® laser treats only a fraction of tissue at a time (leaving the surrounding tissue intact) and this promotes rapid healing because it stimulates your body's own natural healing process to replace old cells with healthy skin.

Fraxel® Laser Before and After

Curious about Fraxel laser treatments? View our Northern VA patients skin transformations.

Before Fraxel treatment before and after results
Before
After Fraxel treatment before and after results
After
View Gallery

What Conditions Does Fraxel® Address?

Fraxel® Re:pair®

Fraxel® re:pair is the procedure of choice for severe skin issues because the technology allows for deep laser penetration and the FDA clearances for this treatment include:

Age-related deep lines

Hard-to-erase lip lines

Pronounced photo damage

Sagging face and neck skin

Moderate to severe wrinkles

Irregular texture and tone

Age and brown spots

Fine lines around the eyes

Rhytides

Pigmented lesions

Textural irregularities

Furrows

Fraxel® Re:fine™

Fraxel® re:fine® focuses on the treatment of skin issues that exist on the epidermal layer of your skin and it is FDA approved for the treatment of:

Pigmented lesions

Periorbital fine lines

Melasma

Skin texture

Skin discolorations

Skin tone

Overall skin rejuvenation

Minor skin damage

Brown spots

Pigmented birthmarks

Acne scars

Surgical scars

Age spots

Fraxel® DUAL

The FDA has approved the Fraxel® dual-laser DUAL treatment to improve:

Periorbital wrinkles (wrinkles around the eyes)

Age spots

Acne scars

Surgical scars

Pigmented lesions

Melasma (irregular patches of brown skin on the forehead, cheeks, upper lip, and nose)

Actinic Keratoses (precancerous lesions)

Skin resurfacing

Tone and texture

Unwanted brown spots

Fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes

Fraxel Laser Science

Fraxel® Laser Science

Networks of collagen and elastin proteins exist under your epidermis and they are responsible for keeping your skin firm and supple. As you age, the proteins break down and Fraxel® laser treatments penetrate deep into your dermis creating tiny wounds that prompt your body's response system to heal itself.

There are many options available to rejuvenate your skin but unlike other remedies that scrape, peel, and cut, Fraxel® laser treatments gently and effectively resurface your skin from the inside out. The range of Fraxel® treatments vary in aggressiveness, recovery time, results, and the number of procedures needed.

What to Expect?

Your Fraxel® Consultation

During your consultation with Dr. V, she will thoroughly evaluate your skin and design a treatment plan that may include Fraxel® and other non-surgical procedures.

Preparing for Fraxel®

For your Fraxel® treatment, your skin will be cleansed and 60-90 minutes before your procedure a topical numbing agent will be applied to the targeted area(s). You may be given a relaxing medication if necessary.

Fraxel® Results

There are two levels of results in a Fraxel® treatment: progressive and immediate. After the first healing process is completed, the surface of your skin will feel softer and the tone will even out for immediate effects while progressive results will continue to take place over the next 3-6 months as the deeper layers of your skin heal. The Fraxel® laser treatment will stimulate your body's own natural healing process to efficiently replace damaged skin, dramatically changing your appearance.

Fraxel® Re:pair® Treatment

Most patients describe an increased sensation of heat during their procedure. Unlike traditional CO2 treatments, you will feel quite comfortable immediately following your Fraxel re:pair and the actual procedure takes 20-30 minutes for a full face.

Fraxel® Re:fine™ Treatment

During your Fraxel® re:fine procedure a topical anesthesia will be applied and patients describe a "prickling" sensation that is minimized with the use of cold air. Fraxel® re:fine takes approximately 20-30 minutes for a full face treatment and depending on your individual skin conditions, 4-6 sessions spaced 2-4 weeks are typically required to achieve the best outcome.

Fraxel® DUAL Treatment

For your The Fraxel® DUAL laser procedure, your skin will be cleansed and numbed with a topical anesthetic ointment. Most patients describe a heating sensation during the treatment and the topical anesthesia as well as cold air will minimize discomfort. For a full face, the entire process takes 20-30 minutes. During the first 24 hours your skin will appear red (like a sunburn) but this will subside and you will be able to wear makeup to reduce the redness if desired.

Fraxel® Side Affects and Risks

Under the expert care of Dr. V, the vast majority of common Fraxel® laser treatment risks are significantly minimized. Fraxel® treatments can cause temporary side effects, such as redness resembling a sunburn, minor swelling, itching, dry skin, flaking, peeling, and a bronzed appearance as the skin heals. In rare cases, there may be pinpoint bleeding, infection, pigment changes, or scarring, with the intensity depending on the treatment's aggressiveness. Dr. V's skills and pedigree ensures precise, safe treatments, and any potential side effects or concerns will be thoroughly discussed during your consultation, providing confidence and peace of mind.

Benefits of Fraxel® Laser Treatments

Fraxel is a versatile, effective skin resurfacing treatment able to target skin imperfections at the deeper epidermal level. Given its cross-functionality for skin healing, this treatment option carries many benefits for a range of patients.
  • Reduces fine lines and wrinkles for markedly smoother skin.
  • Improves skin texture and tone.
  • Minimizes acne scars and surgical scars.
  • Treats sun damage and age spots where other lasers might be too harsh.
  • Stimulates collagen production for long-term tighter, bouncier skin.
  • Safe for nearly all skin types and tones, including darker skins.
  • A quick recovery with minimal post-Fraxel® laser downtime, with most patients returning to normal activities the same day of treatment.
  • Non-invasive way to enhance total skin radiance and health.
  • Natural-looking results lasting 1+ year or more.

Related Procedures

Explore other procedures that complement Fraxel® for a complete transformation.
<a href="/technologies/morpheus8">Microneedling With PRP</a> procedure

Microneedling With PRP

Microneedling stimulates collagen, while the added applied formula of PRP (platelet-rich plasma) accelerates skin's healing and final dewey glow. Combined with Fraxel®, microneedling can dramatically improve skin's texture and also reduce the appearance and color of raised scars.
<a href="/non-surgical/neurotoxins/botox">Botox® Injections</a> procedure

Botox® Injections

Botox's neurotoxin formula relaxes facial muscles, reducing dynamic wrinkles. Combined with Fraxel's® resurfacing, it offers a comprehensive anti-aging solution targeting both surface and deeper dermal wrinkle formation.
<a href="/non-surgical/dermal-fillers">Dermal Fillers</a> procedure

Dermal Fillers

Fillers offer potent volume restoration to key facial areas like the cheeks and lips. When used alongside Fraxel®, fillers can create a balanced, youthful appearance by addressing both texture and volume loss, all while amplifying the natural contours of your face.