Good or Excellent Response
44%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Moderate Response
82%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Side Effects
Medium-High
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist or plastic surgeon? Make an appointment to get this procedure done. Don't have a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find a dermatologist or the American Society of Plastic Surgeons to find a plastic surgeon.
Used Ablative Fractional Lasers? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
January 28, 2009
please dont do this . i used to be handsome man but had few scars . i have decied to try laser . after one month i really want to kill my self and the doctor did this to me i wish i could rewind the time .
November 26, 2008
Cons:
Face swollen and sore
Skin feels irritated and rough
HORRIBLE acne breakout
It is nine days after my first treatment and I am distraught so far at the results. I had it done for minor acne scarring and chicken pox scars. The rest of my skin had been clear since coming off Roaccutane 11 months ago. Anyway, I expected the swelling, redness and dryness but not for this long and I certainy didn't expect the major acne breakout i am going through and for my cheeks to feel rough to touch still. I called my derm at day 7 and she gave me Bactrim to try and calm the breakout. I have a big social weekenc this weekend so I hope things improve by then as I can't even put makeup on at the moment as no matter how much Cetaphil I put on it still feels dry and makeup looks cakey. i have about 11 whiteheads on my chin and lots of red bumps and I can't go out as I don't want to pcick them so that they don't scar but I can't face people looking like this!!
HOpefully when this horrible stage passes I still might be happy with the results but I don't see it yet!!
September 11, 2008
Pros:
The swelling was only 2 or 3 days.
Cons:
It hurts very bad, I now have spots that were not there before, no changes in scars except they look worse
The doctor (reputable) did not say there were any cons and the nurse said individuals need 4 treatments and should see results the 3rd or 4th treatment. When I finsihed the 3rd I saw nothing and she said probably not till 6 weeks after the 4th. Still nothing. I went for the final visit after finishing the laser and the doctor said he saw some improvement on the computer image and that I would most likely need 4 more treatments. I felt my money was stolen the first time and they wanted more to weigh down their pocketbooks. I am single, work very hard for my money and this was a waste!!!!
September 2, 2008
Pros:
Can't think of any at the moment
Cons:
Pain, expensive, itching, discoloration, sensitive skin, and swelling.
I have had moderate acne throughout my late teens which has left me with scaring now in my 30's. I have always wanted to improve my scars. When I heard about fraxel I was excited there was room for improvement. I have had my first treatment about 3 weeks ago. The first 3 days I had swollen up severely and had the appearance of extremely bad sunburn. It has now been 3 weeks later; I haven't noticed any improvements to my skin. I feel my skin is now more sensitive than ever. I seem to have a pinkish tone rather than an olive tone, which is my natural color. I was out in the sun yesterday for only about 4 hours and now have moderate sunburn. I had never been this sensitive in the sun before. I'm also feeling very dry and itchy all the time. I hope this one treatment has not damage my skin long-term. With all the discomfort and expenses I would not recommend this treatment. Please consider this posting before going through with the treatment; I would hate to see someone share the regret.
August 26, 2008
Pros:
none
Cons:
Fraxel has left me with scars, hypo pigmentation and very rough skin. BE CAREFUL. If you would like to see the pictures email me at christine.hoene@[link removed]. It has been four months.
Fraxel has left me with scars, hypo pigmentation and very rough skin. BE CAREFUL. If you would like to see the pictures email me at christine.hoene@[link removed]. It has been four months.
July 25, 2008
Pros:
none
Cons:
extremely painful even with numbing cream, red face for 2 weeks, caused acne breakout, blistered, it has been a year and it never changed a thing
Expensive....4 treatments (by a dermatologist) times $400 = $1,600, painful and didn't work a bit.
July 17, 2008
Pros:
looks good one week after only, then when you heal, you look much worse
Cons:
several days downtime, damaged skin, new pores where they never used to be, indented flesh, valleys in your face
I wish i had never had Fraxel! i paid $900. the doctor said that it would remove dark spots on my cheeks and it would make the pores on my cheeks look just like the pristine skin on the sides of my face. i thought what he means was that the pores on my cheeks would go away and look like pristine skin, but just the opposite happened!!
the dark spots are still there, but it looks like a section of flesh has been removed over the dark spots and healed indented like that. i think she overdid it. Now where the dark spots were is now an obvious indentation of flesh.
and worse yet, my pores are still there, but my prevoiusly beautiful, clear, pristine skin i used to have on the rest of my face looks like there are small pores all over the place! it is like my face is now riddled with tiny little holes all over!
This has been four months since my treatment, and I am so depressed over what i allowed this doctor to do to me. I just ask people to please not rush into this.
July 14, 2008
Pros:
my skin looked good 7 days after treatment till about 30 days after treatment.
Cons:
5 days of downtime. My face was swollen like a balloon and looked severely burned. red face turned brown color the next few days. A month after treatment, scars were visible again. Worse, my natural smooth skin now has tiny pits all over.
I had some pores on my cheeks with a few acne scars and scar from mole removal. The rest of my face was beautiful and porcelein smooth. The Dr. told me the cheek pores would look smooth after Fraxel, and the acne scars would go away. After Fraxel, the scars are still visible, the pores are unchanged, but my previously smooth skin is damaged! i look like i have little pock marks all over where my beautiful pristine skin used to be. I am damaged and depressed over this!
July 8, 2008
Pros:
helped reduce hyperpigmentation... had a very aggressive treatment.
Cons:
am experiencing the "breakout from hell" right now. :( started 4 days after treatment... a week later, my entire chin, below my mouth, around my mouth & underneath my nose area are completely filled with acne. :( mainly cystic...
had i know this was one of the potential side effects... i would NOT have had fraxel done. chances are i may end up w/ more scarring from this horrible breakout. everyone responds differently, i guess. hope you all have far better results & luck than i have. :)
June 21, 2008
Pros:
Can't think of any at the moment
Cons:
Hurts, does not work, is expensive, can leave your skin red (for a year and more!). Pigmentation problems, sensitive skin, appearance of new spots that leave new scars.
I had 4 treatments before I had to stop. My skin got so sensitive that I had to stop using my regular acne treatment lotions etc. Still can't use anything too strong and it's been a year since the treatments!
I now have pigmentation problems and an extremely sensitive skin. After the treatments my face was as bad as it was when I was a teenager, with lots of new spots that left new scars (AND I did not get rid of the old ones with fraxel either!). The color of my face is still darker than my neck (which wasn't treated). I hoped that fraxel would help my scar issues, but I just wasted my money and now my face looks even worse. With many people praising this treatment, I just want to warn everyone, that side-effects like this can happen to you too. The doctor who treated me was reputable and knew what he was doing... it's just that the treatment doesn't work as well as we all would want it to. Good for anyone who finds fraxel to be ok. For me it was waste of money and worse.
Pros:
Can't find any yet