OKAY, I'M VERY CONFUSED NOW...

HOW MANY TYPES OF FRAXEL LASER ARE THERE?

I KNOW THERE WAS THE ORIGINAL FRAXEL SR.

THEN THE FRAXEL SR1500 - ALSO KNOWN AS FRAXEL 2

NOW I'VE READ ABOUT ANOTHER FRAXEL LASER THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE BLUE DYE AND HAS A MAX SETTING OF 7OMJ!

SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN!

CHEERS

MARKS

Fraxel SR750 = Fraxel 1

Fraxel SR1500 = Fraxel 2 and includes an updated tip that doesn't require a dye and max 70MJ setting

 

But you had blue dye ZONK? So the dye-less tip another update to fraxel SR1500?

I think the 70 MJ update is not out yet either (except a few places that were in trials).

 

Yes, I had the blue dye. And, yes, the dye-less tip is an update. The PA said they have the tip on order and by the time my next treatment rolls around, they should be doing dyeless treatments.

 

Zonk, just want to encourage you to try sleeping sitting up. I had virtually no swelling the day of the treatment, so was a little too confident and just slept normally and didn't ice during the day. Noticeably swollen the next couples days, and I think if I had iced and slept upright I might have been a little better off. Anyone else notice if its better to sleep upright, or does it not make that much difference?

 

Thanks for the advice. I'll try that. My skin is already starting to exfoliate, has that been people's experiences? It's not peeling, more tiny little flakes.

Also, for those who are considering fraxel and have active acne, the fraxel initially turned all my pimples pink. Now they're shrinking as my skin begins to exfoliate.

Well it's been a week since my third treatment and I asked the doc to turn it up a notch on the settings. So far healing is coming along nice. My healing time actually seems to be getting shorter with each treatment, anyone else experience this?

Every so often I read the comments and questions on this site as I treat with the Fraxel at my work. I have been using this laser since 2005 and have some advice from my experience if you like. The first machine (750) is the most accurate at 20mj at a 30% treatment. While it will go deeper above 20 there will be lots of swelling with a heavy treatment so keep that in mind. If you want great results with the second edition Fraxel 1500 tell your doc to use 40mj level 10 for 5 treatments. Yes it might hurt but it is worth it!!! Many of you are getting weak treatments and need to have your physicians step up to the plate and get aggressive, you won't be sorry.

Every so often I read the comments and questions on this site as I treat with the Fraxel at my work. I have been using this laser since 2005 and have some advice from my experience if you like. The first machine (750) is the most accurate at 20mj at a 30% treatment. While it will go deeper above 20 there will be lots of swelling with a heavy treatment so keep that in mind. If you want great results with the second edition Fraxel 1500 tell your doc to use 40mj level 10 for 5 treatments. Yes it might hurt but it is worth it!!! Many of you are getting weak treatments and need to have your physicians step up to the plate and get aggressive, you won't be sorry.

Thanks for coming and sharing your experience using the Fraxel. I agree about doing agressive settings for the best treatment.

What do you think about the latest update with the Fraxel 2 and it going up to 70 KJ's?

are all the people going above 20mjs, caucasian people? did the doctor make you sign a waiver?

and has there been any asian people that have had hyperpigmentation from fraxel? because im asian.

Ive had two fraxel treatments so far, I didnt ask the doctor about the levels and all, I guess I should next time. I really dont think this thing is a wonder-cure as many believe, I was reading the paper yesterday and apparenty Ray Liotta, who has acne scarring and has access to the best plastic surgeons/derms in the world, is having Restylane injections to treat his scars. The non scarred areas of my face look great after two treatments, very smooth, but perhaps the scarring will take more treatments and more money.

I woke up this morning and my visible swelling is gone and my pitted scars have gone back to looking the way they did before. In retrospect, I liked the way they looked when I was swollen.

Anyways, I obviously will still have microswelling for another 10 days or so, though some of my indented scars are starting to become more visible. In addition, I have tiny little scabs where the laser hit my face, which is contributing to the bronzed look. I look like I forgot to put on sunscreen on my cheeks, but it would be it's barely noticeable to the casual onlooker.

To ljgrn's point, I know that I got a weaker treatment, because I have mostly superficial scars, and my derm and I wanted to ease me into the process w/o causing all-out hyperpigmentation. Next time, I will request that we go higher.

ljgrn, what level of scarring do you think needs 40/10?

Sorry i just open a new dread for that, maybe this place was better to post it ?

I'm having a traitement in France with fraxel 2 ( my docteur say) but i jus read on the forum the fraxel 2 doesn't use anymore the blue product.

So i did ask to my doctor why he is steel ussing this product on me . He tall me the laser he have is the fraxel 2 but he didn't receive the new head so he had to keep this bleu product until they send him this head.

Do you knwo if it is possible ? i feel my doctor have the fraxel 1 only. How can i see on the machine if it is the SR 750 or the SR1500, is the machine differente ?

Thanks a lot.

Sylvain

Sorry i just open a new dread for that, maybe this place was better to post it ?

I'm having a traitement in France with fraxel 2 ( my docteur say) but i jus read on the forum the fraxel 2 doesn't use anymore the blue product.

So i did ask to my doctor why he is steel ussing this product on me . He tall me the laser he have is the fraxel 2 but he didn't receive the new head so he had to keep this bleu product until they send him this head.

Do you knwo if it is possible ? i feel my doctor have the fraxel 1 only. How can i see on the machine if it is the SR 750 or the SR1500, is the machine differente ?

Thanks a lot.

Sylvain

My doc has the new Fraxel 1500 and he still uses the blue dye on me. I guess it's the new tip that doesn't require the dye not the new machine.

Thanks for the quick answer... well i feel better. When you say new tip you mean the head right ? thanks

Sorry i just open a new dread for that, maybe this place was better to post it ?

I'm having a traitement in France with fraxel 2 ( my docteur say) but i jus read on the forum the fraxel 2 doesn't use anymore the blue product.

So i did ask to my doctor why he is steel ussing this product on me . He tall me the laser he have is the fraxel 2 but he didn't receive the new head so he had to keep this bleu product until they send him this head.

Do you knwo if it is possible ? i feel my doctor have the fraxel 1 only. How can i see on the machine if it is the SR 750 or the SR1500, is the machine differente ?

Thanks a lot.

Sylvain

My doc has the new Fraxel 1500 and he still uses the blue dye on me. I guess it's the new tip that doesn't require the dye not the new machine.

 

same i just had my first fraxel1500 and used a blue dye as well.

i had a question my face feels extremely dry/tight and burnt from the fraxel i have avoided using mositurizers as i thought this would be the best way, maybe im wrong can anyone advise is it better to mositurize or not mositurize? this is day 2 since first fraxel.

i had a question my face feels extremely dry/tight and burnt from the fraxel i have avoided using mositurizers as i thought this would be the best way, maybe im wrong can anyone advise is it better to mositurize or not mositurize? this is day 2 since first fraxel.

you should moisturize, just make sure it's something that doesn't clog your pores, otherwise you will breakout really badly. Also, be sure to drink as much water as you can. Next time, you might want to ask about biafine. One of it's indications is recovery from laser resurfacing. It's a great product. I'm using it right now.

Hi, I just had my 4th treatment of the Fraxel 1 laser settings lighter all over face 14 - 17 MJs, and 20 MJs on

scarred cheeks and temples.

I am light/med olive-toned (of Russian/Lithuanian descent) and the doctor is afraid to get any more aggressive with my treatments. I have also been getting subcisions done at the same time to enhance the laser's effectiveness.

I was thinking about not stopping at five treatments and continuing on with 1 to 3 more before I take a 6 month break to see if I need any more. Do you think that this is a good idea or could I be facing diminishing returns? I just want to get this behind me and wish to keep moving forward while I am on a roll, rather than waiting and hopefully, be satisfied with the results so I can move on with my life. But I don't want to waste my money either. Perhaps I should continue the next 1 to 3 treatments with another doctor who has the newer laser. Does it really make that much of a difference other than less side effects? Any thoughts here are appreciated.

Much thanks!

Anne

The last post was directed to ljgrn. Thanks!

QUESTIONS ABOUT POST FRAXEL HEALING- I had been breaking out terribly after my Fraxel treatments and thankfully, am not now that I am taking Kaflex (spelling?), an antibiotic. For the past two treatments I did not use any creams for fear of breaking out. Now, after my fourth laser, I can now use the creams the doctor recommended (Neo Cutis, Biofen) to enhance healing and am happy to be able to take advantage of them. My concern is that I am not flaking anymore (I never peeled)- and I am worried that if I don't flake I might not be exfoliating properly, and that will inhibit healing.

Any thoughts here are appreciated.

Thanks!

Anne

I have a few questions:

Anyone here dark-skinned and have had success with fraxel or anyone know of dark-skinned individuals who've had success with any acne scar revision?

Does Fraxel help with very very shallow pitted scars or hyperpigmentation?

Finally, has anyone here seen their scars worsen after fraxel? Or is it mostly a positive if neutral outcome?

QUESTIONS ABOUT POST FRAXEL HEALING- I had been breaking out terribly after my Fraxel treatments and thankfully, am not now that I am taking Kaflex (spelling?), an antibiotic. For the past two treatments I did not use any creams for fear of breaking out. Now, after my fourth laser, I can now use the creams the doctor recommended (Neo Cutis, Biofen) to enhance healing and am happy to be able to take advantage of them. My concern is that I am not flaking anymore (I never peeled)- and I am worried that if I don't flake I might not be exfoliating properly, and that will inhibit healing.

Any thoughts here are appreciated.

:confused:

Thanks!

Anne

Anne, Fraxel makes people break out because the heat swells the sebaceous glands in the face. If anyone uses a petroleum product post Fraxel you will get whiteheads. Neocutis is great. Another product called Bionect is good also. At 20mj you will flake if your physician does enough passes over the scarred areas. Ask him to do at least 10 passes over your scars. Deeper treatments will cause more healing to occur below the surface as the dead tissue cannot make it to the "top" so is carted off by cells in the tissue meant for this purpose.

L

Every so often I read the comments and questions on this site as I treat with the Fraxel at my work. I have been using this laser since 2005 and have some advice from my experience if you like. The first machine (750) is the most accurate at 20mj at a 30% treatment. While it will go deeper above 20 there will be lots of swelling with a heavy treatment so keep that in mind. If you want great results with the second edition Fraxel 1500 tell your doc to use 40mj level 10 for 5 treatments. Yes it might hurt but it is worth it!!! Many of you are getting weak treatments and need to have your physicians step up to the plate and get aggressive, you won't be sorry.

Thanks for coming and sharing your experience using the Fraxel. I agree about doing agressive settings for the best treatment.

What do you think about the latest update with the Fraxel 2 and it going up to 70 KJ's?

 

I love using the new Fraxel as it makes my job easier! The 70mj setting is almost twice as deep as 40mj. I have only gone to 50mj on my male patients. As soon as I try the 70 I will let you know. What I am seeing so far with high settings and dense treatments is much better improvement of deeper scars.

I woke up this morning and my visible swelling is gone and my pitted scars have gone back to looking the way they did before. In retrospect, I liked the way they looked when I was swollen.

Anyways, I obviously will still have microswelling for another 10 days or so, though some of my indented scars are starting to become more visible. In addition, I have tiny little scabs where the laser hit my face, which is contributing to the bronzed look. I look like I forgot to put on sunscreen on my cheeks, but it would be it's barely noticeable to the casual onlooker.

To ljgrn's point, I know that I got a weaker treatment, because I have mostly superficial scars, and my derm and I wanted to ease me into the process w/o causing all-out hyperpigmentation. Next time, I will request that we go higher.

ljgrn, what level of scarring do you think needs 40/10?

I use 40mj or higher on all scars. If I am concerned with hyperpigmentation on my darker skinned females(I do not see pigmentation in my male patients), I do less passes. I have my own technique and apologize that I cannot really explain it well. Just know that any acne scar will not diminish or fill without enough passes.

ljgrn

I woke up this morning and my visible swelling is gone and my pitted scars have gone back to looking the way they did before. In retrospect, I liked the way they looked when I was swollen.

Anyways, I obviously will still have microswelling for another 10 days or so, though some of my indented scars are starting to become more visible. In addition, I have tiny little scabs where the laser hit my face, which is contributing to the bronzed look. I look like I forgot to put on sunscreen on my cheeks, but it would be it's barely noticeable to the casual onlooker.

To ljgrn's point, I know that I got a weaker treatment, because I have mostly superficial scars, and my derm and I wanted to ease me into the process w/o causing all-out hyperpigmentation. Next time, I will request that we go higher.

ljgrn, what level of scarring do you think needs 40/10?

I use 40mj or higher on all scars. If I am concerned with hyperpigmentation on my darker skinned females(I do not see pigmentation in my male patients), I do less passes. I have my own technique and apologize that I cannot really explain it well. Just know that any acne scar will not diminish or fill without enough passes.

ljgrn

 

Is it the passes or the density setting that matters? I guess I'm wondering if it's the treatment level or the number of passes -- presumably both contribute to the number of MTZs laid down in a particularl area, but which one is more important?

Annde, I too notice that the amount of flaking diminshes each time. According to the fraxel rep, this is common. This last time I had the SR 1500 and had some flaking (none in the previous two, so I think going deeper can alter this trend of decreasing flaking). I have had breakout problems more recently. For the most part, it is superficial and heals quickly, but now I have 2 nodules which I am using tretinoin to get to surface. I did not breakout when I was using vaseline, but have had more problems once I moved to aquafor after last 3 sessions. Not confident of this cause and effect, but I notice it.

Lastly, my uniformed opinion is that your settings are too low for scarring efficacy. If your doc won't budge on settings, than I would find a doc who has the SR 1500.

Also, I have seen no scars get worse, for the person who asked.

Well, I'm now over 48 hours post-treatment. The microswelling is starting to go down a little, and I can feel the indentations with my finger. My active acne is still there but completely fried (and brown), but I can tell it will be gone once I peel.

ljgrn.

To improve skin texture and scars how many passes would you recommend with SR1500 at 40mz and level 10?

Thanks

Annde, I too notice that the amount of flaking diminshes each time. According to the fraxel rep, this is common. This last time I had the SR 1500 and had some flaking (none in the previous two, so I think going deeper can alter this trend of decreasing flaking). I have had breakout problems more recently. For the most part, it is superficial and heals quickly, but now I have 2 nodules which I am using tretinoin to get to surface. I did not breakout when I was using vaseline, but have had more problems once I moved to aquafor after last 3 sessions. Not confident of this cause and effect, but I notice it.

Lastly, my uniformed opinion is that your settings are too low for scarring efficacy. If your doc won't budge on settings, than I would find a doc who has the SR 1500.

Also, I have seen no scars get worse, for the person who asked.

Billyboy,

Given the limited information you have on my case and ethnicity, what is your suggestion for the best settings using Fraxel 1, including number of passes, density and etc...for optimum efficacy?

Also, if I do choose to go somewhere else that has the Fraxel 2, I am interested in learning your thoughts on the settings and etc.. as well.

You're very knowledgeable. Sometimes I think we may know more than the doctors, as we have to be our own advocates.

Take care,

Anne