Fraxel Laser in Hudson Valley, NY

The Fraxel Dual

The Fraxel Dual laser is used for rejuvenation of wrinkles, acne scars, and other imperfections without significant downtime. It can treat fine wrinkles and lines such as the wrinkles around the eyes, acne scars, surgical scars, age spots, sun spots, and actinic keratosis (precancerous lesions). After treatment, the skin will appear smoother, fresher, and more youthful with an overall improvement in the skin tone and texture. Fraxel Dual is a non-ablative treatment and does not remove the top layer of skin, resulting in a less extensive recovery of one to two days.

The Fraxel Dual laser is a safe, controlled treatment when performed by an experienced clinician who has conducted a thorough consultation. At our practice, we analyze factors like skin type, ethnicity, sun exposure, medical history, and ability to heal when considering whether a patient is a suitable candidate. Doing this significantly minimizes the risk of possible unwanted side effects. If you are prone to acne, it is possible to get a breakout following Fraxel Dual laser treatment. Pimples are usually mild, self-limited, and rarely require prescription medication. It is important not to use heavy, occlusive products on the skin in the first few days following treatment; clogged pores can lead to acne or milia (small white bumps).

Similarly, treatment of the face can sometimes cause a cold sore breakout if you have a history of oral herpes. We recommend that patients with a history of cold sores pretreat with valacyclovir (Valtrex) 1 day prior to their laser treatment and continue for 1-day post. One of our clinicians can provide a prescription for antiviral prophylaxis prior to your treatment.

Many patients want to know what to expect following a Fraxel Dual laser treatment. The treatment is non-ablative and entirely noninvasive, which translates to minimal downtime. Let’s break down the day-by-day recovery following treatment. Most patients experience mild redness and swelling that lasts 1-2 days. Around days 3-4 patients will notice a bronze hue to their skin, sometimes accompanied by a rough, sandpaper texture. These brown patches are unwanted sun damage and pigment coming to the surface and flaking away. This process usually lasts 5-7 days before revealing a noticeably brighter, more even skin tone. The collagen stimulation and reduction in the appearance of wrinkles and scars will take place over the next several months, with full effect at 3 months post-final treatment. The Fraxel Dual before and after pictures speak for themselves!

After Fraxel Laser Treatment: What to Expect

Patients may experience some temporary redness and swelling. Other side effects may include minor itching, peeling, flaking, dry skin, and a bronzed appearance. After treatment with Fraxel Dual, the skin may appear sunburned during the first twenty-four hours. Swelling, redness, peeling and flaking may take a week or so to resolve following treatment with Fraxel re:pair and patients may also experience some pinpoint bleeding and oozing for a few days.

Most patients are able to return to their normal routine within one to two days after treatment with Fraxel Dual and within five to seven days following treatment with Fraxel re:pair.

Possible Complications of Fraxel Laser

Fraxel resurfacing is a very safe procedure but there are possible complications and these may include skin discoloration, infection, cold sore flare-up and the very rare possibility of scarring.

What Can Fraxel Do for Sun-Damaged Skin?

Fraxel skin resurfacing can target many of the side effects of sun damage to the skin, leaving behind new and healthy cells to repair them. The deeper Fraxel re:pair treatment offers the ability to sweep the skin’s superficial layers where this damage is most prevalent, removing them as needed to correct the problem. The laser used in Fraxel treatments allows your surgeon to evenly distribute the treatment as needed or concentrate on a specific area.

It’s important to take action against the effects of sun damage for many reasons. First, sun damage can add years to your appearance, thanks to spots, wrinkles, and even redness. Not only will it make you look older, but sun damage can leave your skin more prone to the normal aging process, advancing your perceived age even more. Second, the removal of sun damage could also help to control the potential risk of skin cancer. While it cannot remove cancerous cells that already exist, it might help to prevent their formation.

Some of the typical signs of sun damage include skin discoloration or pigmentation, a yellowish tint to the skin (sallowness), fine lines and wrinkles (more common as elastin breaks down in the cells), and freckling or age spots. Restoring your skin’s appearance can help your skin to stay healthy and youthful looking for longer. That’s a benefit that just about anyone can appreciate.