Fraxel FAQ’s

Fraxel® Laser Treatment (FLT) from Reliant Technologies is a new aesthetic solution that repairs aging and sun-damaged skin — pixel by pixel, spot by spot. We describe it as new-generation laser skin resurfacing, similar to digital photo-editing software for your skin. Think of your skin as a family portrait or digital photo in need of high-quality restoration or touch-up. Imagine how the portrait would be delicately restored, one small area at a time; or a photograph might be digitally altered, pixel by pixel. That’s the principle behind the Fraxel® Laser Treatment.

Depending on the level of treatment, you will experience redness and swelling after the procedure which diminishes as quickly as the next several days. Your skin may also appear bronzed, and this as with redness can last over the next week or two. As you continue with treatment sessions, the sunburned-to-bronzed appearance will repeat after each treatment. As with a sunburn, your skin will flake and exfoliate normally, revealing fresher, glowing and smoother looking and feeling skin..

Similar to the technique of editing a digital photograph comprised of pixels, Fraxel® Laser Treatment precisely produces thousands of tiny columns of treatment zones invisible to the naked eye that target flawed skin and leave surrounding healthy skin untouched. It is the only laser device specially designed to resurface a fraction of skin at a time without breaking the skin’s protective outer barrier. FLT reaches deep into the dermis to stimulate collagen remodeling in the skin layers below. In this way, the body’s natural healing process creates new, healthy tissue to replace skin imperfections.

Our typical patient is someone who has photodamaged skin — lines and wrinkles, skin discoloration, dull or rough texture, age spots, etc. Fraxel® Laser Treatment especially appeals to those patients who want the positive results of traditional resurfacing methods with minimal downtime or risks. It also appeals to those who are looking for a more dramatic result than might be achieved with non-ablative techniques.

The procedure (including the application of topical anesthetic) typically takes between 1 and 2 hours.

Treatment is well-tolerated with a topical anesthetic ointment to alleviate discomfort. We also use contact cooling (if applicable) to increase patient comfort during the procedure. Patients can apply make-up or shave after treatment.

Fraxel® Laser Treatment is currently FDA cleared for skin resurfacing procedures; to treat fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes; and for treatment of pigmented lesions, including melasma, age spots, sun spots, dyschromia and actinic keratosis, and to improve the appearance of acne and surgical scars. Based on clinical experience to date, doctors are reporting noticeable improvement in patients after 3 to 5 treatments. In our practice, we have observed noticeable improvements in uneven skin color and wrinkles around the eye area. Our Fraxel® laser resurfacing results are comparable to other traditional modalities that are associated with far more significant side effects and downtime.

There has been huge patient satisfaction. What makes FLT such a success is that virtually every patient who gets treated experiences a cosmetic enhancement. Treatment offers immediate results — softer, smoother and toned skin — plus an ongoing, cumulative improvement that creates a healthy, vibrant and youthful appearance.

Depending on the level of treatment, you will experience redness and swelling after the procedure which diminishes as quickly as the next several days. Your skin may also appear bronzed, and this as with redness can last over the next week or two. As you continue with treatment sessions, the sunburned-to-bronzed appearance will repeat after each treatment. As with a sunburn, your skin will flake and exfoliate normally, revealing fresher, glowing and smoother looking and feeling skin.