Some sources claim that the Fraxel 2 has 12 treatment levels before the restricted settings, R1, R2 and R3; others claim that it has 10. Which one is true?

Mark, I think you are mistaken. The SR 750 has density settings of 125 or 250, not 500 mtz per CM2. Also, I have been told that treating at 40 MJs is dangerous with the SR 750 because of splaying of the mtz causing a wide thermal injury with possible bulk heating complications.

That said, I would be very interested to hear how it went.

lastly, I understand SR 1500 has 10 levels and then the restricted R levels.

Does anyone know if Fraxel is containdicated with Sculptra??????? I am having trouble getting an answer with this. I had Sculptra (which requires a series of txs to stimulate your own collagen production over time) The last tx was 6 weeks ago. Sculpra is injected deeper than other fillers such as Restalyne, hylaform, etc. The thing with Sculptra is there is a potential to develop subcutaneous nodules if not injected deeply enough. I am just wondering if the laser could somehow make that possiblity more likely. Does anyone know???

Help! I am scheduled for my first Fraxel on Thursday and am wondering if I should cancel?

Also, can you have Fraxel with active acne lesions?? Of course, in the past week I have broken out with a cystic lesion on each of my lower jaws, which is wear I tend to get them. One just came out this AM.

And, has anyone thought if it is better to wait until after the summer to have Fraxel?? How much do you need to avoid the sun?? If I wear a high level SPF, can I withstand a few rays??

Thanks for any help!!!!!

Cheers,

Having active acne shouldn't make much of a difference with the fraxel unless it is fairly severe in which an infection could result. You can have fraxel with fillers although the laser may break the filler up.

i have another question. it's been about 5 days since my 1st treatment... my skin gets a little bit itchy sometimes, is this normal?

Magic dust:

How long until you felt comfortable going out in public?? How many days were you red/swollen etc. Did you get a bronzing?

Having active acne shouldn't make much of a difference with the fraxel unless it is fairly severe in which an infection could result. You can have fraxel with fillers although the laser may break the filler up.

Thanks Beckham. I just have 2 big zits right now--one on each side of my face!

Maybe I should pick up an oral antibiotic tomorrow and double dose it for the first week?? Does anyone pretreat with antibiotics?

supposedly fraxel can be used to treat active acne. i saw a doctor on the news the patient was raving about it and they showed pics of how it cleared her. not great clearance but a little. they did say it makes acne worse before it gets better.

I was treated at a fluence of 40MJ/cm2 and a total density of 500 MTZ/cm2 with Fraxel 1 (SR750). Could someone tell me roughly what the equiavelent setting would be with Fraxel 2 (SR1500)?

Hey,

I was just readon seanskiiis comments about filler and fraxel...

do you guys know if there is any issues to have 3 fraxels, then a filler, then in 2 months 3 more fraxels?... then a filler?

im wondering if the filler will affect the natural collogan growth.. my thoughts are it wouldnt in slightest as the fraxel will hit the dermal layer.. and the collogan will hit just below the epi dermal....

filler = cosmoderm or juvederm.

Thoughts troopers?

I didn't ask my doctor if it would affect cologen growth but did ask if it was OK to do the procedure while I had injectables allready. He naturally gave me the "go ahead". I'm not sure if you can say that it will not affect cologen growth. My gut feeling says stay away from the "fillers" if you can until the procedure is over but at the same time I am contemplating that same question right now and because the next earliest appointment is june 20th I think I am going to go with one of the available injectables myself. I think and hope that if the cologen growth IS affected it will be minimal if any...Hope so !!!

Cheers,

 

think about this. if you have a scar that means the dermis has been injured. scarring only happens when the dermis is injured/torn/etc.

if you inject a filler into and onto the dermis then you are essentially covering it with a viscous gel that prevents the laser beam from penetrating it. this prevents the fraxel from doing it job on the injured area of the dermis.

not only will this cause the filler to get zapped and denature, but it wastes the fraxel session too. so you lose twice! once on fillers and once on fraxel. if you already had them done then wait until it re-absorbs in 6 months to a year before fraxel.

I was talking to the nurse who does my fraxel. She misunderstood a question I had and thought it was about taking antibiotics. She was adamant that you should not take them during the fraxel treatment and it could impede the results. I don't have much of a breakout after treatments so I don't take them. I cleared up the confusion and was going to ask her why you shouldn't take them for the folks on here-since I know a few of you do-but we got side tracked and I forgot. I will try to remember the next time but it will be a while. I thought it was odd since the docs who do fraxel are prescribing them freely. I just wanted to mention it and was wondering if folks who took antibiotics were seeing less results. Don't want to scare anyone but she was really against it, so sorry I'm not more help on it but I wanted to pass it along.

illinoisgirl,

i was swollen for about 3-4 days(on the 4th day my face wasn't noticeably swollen). i was comfortable going out in public after 4 days(after the whole procedure)by comfortable i mean that my face was presentable enough to go work/out lets say. yes, i did get bronzing, later on the same day and for about 2 days after.

Hey,

I was just readon seanskiiis comments about filler and fraxel...

do you guys know if there is any issues to have 3 fraxels, then a filler, then in 2 months 3 more fraxels?... then a filler?

im wondering if the filler will affect the natural collogan growth.. my thoughts are it wouldnt in slightest as the fraxel will hit the dermal layer.. and the collogan will hit just below the epi dermal....

filler = cosmoderm or juvederm.

Thoughts troopers?

I didn't ask my doctor if it would affect cologen growth but did ask if it was OK to do the procedure while I had injectables allready. He naturally gave me the "go ahead". I'm not sure if you can say that it will not affect cologen growth. My gut feeling says stay away from the "fillers" if you can until the procedure is over but at the same time I am contemplating that same question right now and because the next earliest appointment is june 20th I think I am going to go with one of the available injectables myself. I think and hope that if the cologen growth IS affected it will be minimal if any...Hope so !!!

Cheers,

 

think about this. if you have a scar that means the dermis has been injured. scarring only happens when the dermis is injured/torn/etc.

if you inject a filler into and onto the dermis then you are essentially covering it with a viscous gel that prevents the laser beam from penetrating it. this prevents the fraxel from doing it job on the injured area of the dermis.

not only will this cause the filler to get zapped and denature, but it wastes the fraxel session too. so you lose twice! once on fillers and once on fraxel. if you already had them done then wait until it re-absorbs in 6 months to a year before fraxel.

 

Yes TCBC, that sure does make sence. I'm not sure but I think most injectables are probably shallow enough that they would absorb the laser and as you mentioned eliminate any benifit for that area to reproduce new cologen and yes, probably degrade whichever injectable that was used. What about the rolling scars, does anyone know if the Restylane or any other type of product is injected deep enough into that type of scar not to be affected by the laser? It sure sounds like avoiding injectables before fraxel is the wise choice.

I've emailed Reliant out of curiosity. I'll pass the info on if/when I recieve it.

Cheers,

You're right, TheyCanBeCured. I had 4 passes at 125 MTZ/cm2 to give a TOTAL density of 500MTZ/cm2.

I have just learnt from the Fraxel website that 40MJ/cm2 at treatment level 6 with Fraxel 2 gives a total of 300 MTZ/cm2. Therefore 40MJ, 500MTZ/cm2 with Fraxel 1 is roughly equivalent to 40MJ, level 5 with Fraxel 2.

supposedly fraxel can be used to treat active acne. i saw a doctor on the news the patient was raving about it and they showed pics of how it cleared her. not great clearance but a little. they did say it makes acne worse before it gets better.

 

I was treated at a fluence of 40MJ/cm2 and a total density of 500 MTZ/cm2 with Fraxel 1 (SR750). Could someone tell me roughly what the equiavelent setting would be with Fraxel 2 (SR1500)?

billyboy

the density setting 125 or 250 is different that total density as i understand it. so it would be possible to have 500 total density which makes sense at such a high fluence. for example at lower settings the usual total density of mtz per cm squared is 2000-2500.

Theycanbecured and Mark, I understand now. So, is it safe then to have SR 750 at 40 mjs, 125, with say 4 or 5 passes given that I had SR 1500 at 40 mjs at level 8?

Hi everyone,

I am now three weeks out since my fifth and final Fraxel.

My skin is looking a lot better, it's much smoother.

I am praying that it stays where it is, or even improves as the time goes by.

I am interested in using retin A for a few months to help improve my skin even more before I go back for an analysis to see if I should do another series of Fraxels.

My question to all of you is when is it alright to start up with Retin A? The last thing I want to do is to stop the healing process and I know that retinols do this initially after a Fraxel, so I am wondering if I need to wait until 6 monhts after my last Fraxel. Any thoughts here?

Thanks and I hope all is well with everyone.

Annde

For those of you who have done a couple of fraxels, did the laser help with red discoloration on your face (whether or not the redness was in your scars or was just a blemish on your face)?

Also is the laser effective for very shallow scars (boxscars)?

yeah, i was curious about this too....anyone?? i've done smoothbeam, but now wanted to try fraxel. i'm just fed up with my skin. i mean, honestly. :wall: :wall:

Where do you originally come from? Just curious :confused: By the way have you herd of accutane?

Hi everyone,

I am now three weeks out since my fifth and final Fraxel.

My skin is looking a lot better, it's much smoother.

I am praying that it stays where it is, or even improves as the time goes by.

I am interested in using retin A for a few months to help improve my skin even more before I go back for an analysis to see if I should do another series of Fraxels.

My question to all of you is when is it alright to start up with Retin A? The last thing I want to do is to stop the healing process and I know that retinols do this initially after a Fraxel, so I am wondering if I need to wait until 6 monhts after my last Fraxel. Any thoughts here?

Thanks and I hope all is well with everyone.

Annde

i think its best to forgo the debate on whether or not retin A can be used post/pre fraxel or not. and remember that its something that will irritate normal skin unless it is started slowly.

my derm has me on it. but i started out putting it on for 5 minutes at at time AFTER moisturizing then washing it off. everyday i did another 5-10 minutes with it on and washed it off. when i could tolerate it for an hour i was to leave it on overnight.

i never got to that point. and i only use it as needed on my nose. less than once a week.

andy. i recommend you slowly try it on a fraxeled area like your neck or under your chin area, then proceed to sensitive areas like cheeks and chin only if it does not irritate. 5 minutes a day after moisturizing then wash it off gently. slowly increase over one month to leaving it on overnight.

i think if you just try putting it on all at once overnight you're going to get irritated. and moisturize FIRST--that is the big mistake most everyone makes.

Thanks for your thoughts, but I don't know if my question was clear. I am not talking about using Retin A right after a Fraxel, as I am about 3 weeks post my entire Fraxel series and probably won't be doing another series for 3 to 6 months, if at all. What I want to know is if Retin A can inhibit the collagen building/healing process that takes place in the months post Fraxel and can last for 3 to 6 months.

Annde

i think its best to forgo the debate on whether or not retin A can be used post/pre fraxel or not. and remember that its something that will irritate normal skin unless it is started slowly.

my derm has me on it. but i started out putting it on for 5 minutes at at time AFTER moisturizing then washing it off. everyday i did another 5-10 minutes with it on and washed it off. when i could tolerate it for an hour i was to leave it on overnight.

i never got to that point. and i only use it as needed on my nose. less than once a week.

andy. i recommend you slowly try it on a fraxeled area like your neck or under your chin area, then proceed to sensitive areas like cheeks and chin only if it does not irritate. 5 minutes a day after moisturizing then wash it off gently. slowly increase over one month to leaving it on overnight.

i think if you just try putting it on all at once overnight you're going to get irritated. and moisturize FIRST--that is the big mistake most everyone makes.

Thanks for your thoughts, but I don't know if my question was clear. I am not talking about using Retin A right after a Fraxel, as I am about 3 weeks post my entire Fraxel series and probably won't be doing another series for 3 to 6 months, if at all. What I want to know is if Retin A can inhibit the collagen building/healing process that takes place in the months post Fraxel and can last for 3 to 6 months.

Annde

Don't take my word on this, obviously, but here are my thoughts:

The reason you're not supposed to use retinoids after fraxel is because they inhibit heat shock protein 70, which is upregulated by the (surprise, surprise) heating/ablation of your skin as part of the inflammatory/healing process. Heat shock protein upregulation is only one of the mechanisms by which collagen production is stimulated.

My best guess is that 3 weeks post-fraxel series, collagen production is not a result of the inflammatory process/hsp70 anymore, but rather some other mechanism that promotes collagen production. It is safe, therefore, to use retin-a. It may even be helpful, since retin-a promotes collagen production as well.

I just had my third fraxel 10 days ago. I am still peeling! I really couldnt be seen outside for the first 8 days! I am amazed at how some are presentable so quickly.

Oh, and I swelled so much that the doctor says he couldn't go any higher and more passes.

I just had my third fraxel 10 days ago. I am still peeling! I really couldnt be seen outside for the first 8 days! I am amazed at how some are presentable so quickly.

Oh, and I swelled so much that the doctor says he couldn't go any higher and more passes.

What were your treatment levels?? Was is the 1500 machine?

I was told Retin A helps encourage collegen production.....?!? hmm, will check with my doc again next time i go....

I just finished my third fraxel and it's been a week.......I can say now I can clearly see good changes starting to occur....yay....

I've got one more to go on 18 May and will see results after that.....then depending i may get another two....will see.

I was told Retin A helps encourage collegen production.....?!? hmm, will check with my doc again next time i go....

I just finished my third fraxel and it's been a week.......I can say now I can clearly see good changes starting to occur....yay....

I've got one more to go on 18 May and will see results after that.....then depending i may get another two....will see.

it does encourage collagen production, but in a different way. remember, at the molecular biology level, your body has many different ways to patch things up. this is why sometimes a single drug that blocks a single mechanism of action will not work very well.

in addition, the tools with that your body uses to function are multi-faceted. That is, if you block a single protein from doing it's thing, it's going to have several affects on the body, not just one. This is one of the main roots of toxicity for drugs.

all this is to say, retinoids do promote collagen growth on one hand. but they inhibit the collagen production induced by fraxel on the other hand. presumably you would rather have the fraxel-induced collagen, which is why you're doing fraxel in the first place...

Hi everyone,

I am now three weeks out since my fifth and final Fraxel.

My skin is looking a lot better, it's much smoother.

I am praying that it stays where it is, or even improves as the time goes by.

I am interested in using retin A for a few months to help improve my skin even more before I go back for an analysis to see if I should do another series of Fraxels.

My question to all of you is when is it alright to start up with Retin A? The last thing I want to do is to stop the healing process and I know that retinols do this initially after a Fraxel, so I am wondering if I need to wait until 6 monhts after my last Fraxel. Any thoughts here?

Thanks and I hope all is well with everyone.

Annde

i think its best to forgo the debate on whether or not retin A can be used post/pre fraxel or not. and remember that its something that will irritate normal skin unless it is started slowly.

my derm has me on it. but i started out putting it on for 5 minutes at at time AFTER moisturizing then washing it off. everyday i did another 5-10 minutes with it on and washed it off. when i could tolerate it for an hour i was to leave it on overnight.

i never got to that point. and i only use it as needed on my nose. less than once a week.

andy. i recommend you slowly try it on a fraxeled area like your neck or under your chin area, then proceed to sensitive areas like cheeks and chin only if it does not irritate. 5 minutes a day after moisturizing then wash it off gently. slowly increase over one month to leaving it on overnight.

i think if you just try putting it on all at once overnight you're going to get irritated. and moisturize FIRST--that is the big mistake most everyone makes.

 

err i guess you missed my main point. no one is going to give you a definitive answer except maybe a derm who really has no idea either even after 8 years of school.

you have to try something like that slowly in an inconspicuous place and see it if works for you. if your not sure, i'd just forgo it altogether. if you want to boost collagen production make sure you are eating extra protein and taking vitamin C capsules. you can't produce collagen without either of those.

I had my 2nd Fraxel done yesterday. The dermatologist really ramped up the intensity on my cheeks (my only scarred areas) and I have a lot of pinpoint bleeding, which I didn't expect.

I think there is something about my skin that just soaks up the blue dye... It isn't quite as bad this time, but around any edge or crease I am still smurfy.

They have me coming every 2 weeks. Is anyone else doing them this close together?

Also, she told me they have the new Fraxel AND the new tip that doesn't require the blue dye on order. She said it is hard to predict when it will get here. I am feeling fairly bummed about that--had I known the new one was on it's way, I would have waited to start, probably until the Fall. The consensus on this board (and also what she said) was that it is more effective. Now that I have started, I kind of just want to get it all over with.