Are you wondering if Fraxel works and if Fraxel Treatments might be for you?  I hope that you’ve been following my tweets and blog posts on the subject, as I’m trying to provide a no-holds-barred view of what Fraxel laser treatment is, how it works, what it does, and of course, my personal experience with it.

My Progress on Fraxel Laser Treatments

For those of you who missed it, Fraxel sounds like it could be a board game. However, it’s something a lot more serious than that.  Fraxel Laser Treatments can literally resurface the skin and make it look smoother and more toned. The treatment is called “fractional.” That’s because only a small part of the skin is treated, leaving the remainder of the skin to speed the healing process. The laser is cleared for skin resurfacing by the FDA for a number of dermatological procedures. These include the removal or reduction of acne scars, sun/age spots, wrinkles around the eyes and mouth, melasma, and off-face skin resurfacing such as hands and chest.

Good Information and Reasonable Information

I strongly believe that good information, and reasonable expectations, are the key to success. This is especially true when you are thinking of undergoing any laser treatment.  Some claim that Fraxel lasers literally turn back the hands of time. I’ve heard that Fraxel treatments can reduce the probability of skin cancer. If it’s true, it is because damaged skin and skin cells are removed.  Just know that if you have badly damaged skin or mature skin, you aren’t going to look 16, no matter what is done to your skin. 

Patience is Also Needed

What Fraxel can do, and fairly quickly, is re-surface your skin so that fine lines, scars, blotches, and so forth are minimized or removed., so that your skin looks fresh and new.  It has been a few weeks since I met with Dr. Gervais Gerstner and received my first, Fraxel Treatment, and blogged personally about my first Fraxel experience. I was informed about the risks and the potential side effects, and also about what I might expect in terms of improvement.

Therefore, I wasn’t surprised when my skin looked really bad for about a week.  But as it began to heal, I noticed that my crow’s feet were reduced on one side, and almost gone on the other.

As the weeks have gone on, my skin has become smoother and looks significantly better.  I may not be completely “ready for my closeup” but even my husband noticed the difference . Other people keep saying I look great, but I haven’t done anything at all to warrant it.  In fact, I haven’t worn anything more than SPF moisturizer and lip gloss, since the Fraxel laser treatments.

Are There Downsides?

On the downside, although I consider these to be minor issues. My skin is still very sensitive and seems to get irritated easily.  The one day I went out for about an hour in the sun (with SPF 30 sunblock) my skin got quite red and itchy.  I am assuming this is because it is new skin.  If I don’t moisturize at least once a day, my skin gets much drier than it used to.

If you’re going to do the Fraxel Laser treatments, you must take maintenance seriously, to protect your investment and your skin. 

Overall I am really pleased with the results. Seriously excited, actually.  I can’t wait to see what the next treatment brings in terms of improvement. As I said previously, Fraxel treatments build gradually, one upon the other. I am hoping to schedule another Fraxel laser treatment in the next few weeks. I will be reporting on my progress!