Fraxel Review

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Overview

Fraxel is a relatively new facial procedure that is performed by a doctor who specializes in skin care. The treatment is said to improve tone and texture, erase unwanted brown spots and to smooth wrinkles around the eyes, as well as hide scars, and rejuvenate the skin around the chest, neck, and hands.

Product Details

Fraxel is a laser treatment that claims to eliminate old skin cells. The skin’s natural healing process will allow for healthier and tighter skin to form, which will rid the skin of imperfections. The official website states that the results are “immediate and progressive” so with each treatment the skin will look better and better. Fraxel can be administered to the face, hands, chest, and neck areas. There are different treatment types which depend on what imperfections you want to get rid of. Fraxel re:fine is used to prevent the signs of aging and correct superficial skin conditions. Fraxel re:store is used to rejuvenate the skin, while correcting moderate imperfections such as acne scars, eye area wrinkles, and Melasma. Fraxel re:pair is used to correct aged and damaged skin such as wrinkles and sun/ age spots.

The Good

  • Fraxel is non-invasive with minimal down-time compared to other cosmetic and anti-wrinkle treatments available.
  • The official website for Fraxel contains customer stories and testimonials along with a video library of helpful information.
  • There are treatment physicians nationwide who can perform the procedure.

The Bad

  • Fraxel is an expensive procedure that is not covered by insurance because it is not considered to be medically necessary.
  • The Fraxel treatment takes three to five sessions and can not be completed all in one sitting.
  • The outpatient Fraxel treatment and recovery process can be somewhat painful.
  • For a period of time after the Fraxel treatment is completed, the skin will “vigorously” flake off making it somewhat uncomfortable or embarrassing to return to work and normal activities.
  • This is still a fairly experimental procedure.

The Bottom Line

Fraxel appears to be a promising procedure that can help to correct skin imperfections and wrinkles while rejuvenating the skin. It is great that the Fraxel treatment can be done not only on the face but also to the chest, neck, and hands. These areas are “trouble areas” for many women who start to see the signs of aging in other places besides their faces. Unfortunately, Fraxel is not cheap. Each treatment is expensive and the website recommends three to five sessions for best results. Most people’s insurance does not cover cosmetic surgery procedures such as Fraxel so the cost would be 100% out of pocket. Some treatment physicians do offer payment plans with approved credit. Overall, Fraxel is a good idea if you want guaranteed, dramatic results in a short amount of time, but it can be expensive and a lot of trouble. We'd probably try out a topical wrinkle fighter first and wait and see how the market responds to a new innovation like Fraxel.

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