To Dual or to Re:pair. What one of our most Proven Technologies can do for you.
If you have been to our office before you have most likely heard of one of our most proved and preferred technologies: The Fraxel Laser®. The Fraxel is primarily used for skin resurfacing (i.o.w. laser assisted skin rejuvenation) and uses a pixelated laser beam to create microscopic treatment zones in the skin. It’s been out on the market for 10 years, and we have had it at SBA since 2004. We carry two types of Fraxel lasers, the Fraxel Dual ® and the Fraxel Re:pair®, each have slightly different indications and different recovery processes.
Even Skin Tone, Improved Texture and Reduced Fine Wrinkles
The Fraxel Dual® laser has shown great results for evening skin pigmentation and improving texture while reducing fine wrinkles. In order to see the best results, a series of at least four treatments is recommended about 4-6 weeks apart. This treatment takes about 30 minutes for a full face treatment with 1 hour of topical numbing prior to the 
treatment and optional prescription medication for optimal comfort during the treatment. After the procedure you can expect to be red, like a sunburn, and puffy. The downtime after treatment is about 3-4 days. If you had pigment or blotchiness pre-treatment you can expect your skin to slough off the top layers for a few days after that too. Once you have recovered you will have beautiful skin underneath! Your post-treatment skin will have diminished fine lines and wrinkles, pore size, and pigmentation, you should also see improvement in skin texture, scars and redness. You may even see some mild skin tightening effects.
Re:Pair Sun Damage and the Effects of Aging
The Fraxel Re:pair® is what I like to call the “big” one. That is because it is a stronger procedure with bigger results. The ideal patient for the Re:pair is a person who primarily wants improvement in deeper wrinkles or acne scarring. With the Re:pair, we can also treat the entire upper and lower eyelid to help with crepeness and laxity. That’s in addition 
to the other benefits of the Re:store! Most patients are very satisfied with just one Re:pair treatment, but may opt for a second several months later. In order to make the procedure as comfortable as possible, we perform nerve blocks and prescribe oral pain medications. Unfortunately, big results do come with more down time, in total it’s about 7-10 days. During this time you can expect to look red and swollen with some oozing that resolves after a couple days. However, once you have recovered, you will reveal beautiful tighter skin and it will all have been worth it!
Hopefully, I have helped inform you about some of what Fraxel has to offer and some of the differences between the Dual Re:store® and Re:pair®. If you would like to learn more, visit the office for a consultation. If you mention this blog entry, your consultation will be for free! I look forward to seeing you soon!