Acne.org Products
Good or Excellent Response
46%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Moderate Response
81%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Side Effects
Low-Medium
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 Non-ablative Fractional Lasers? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
February 17, 2008
Cons:
expensive
I am so happy I did not listen to the bad reviews and took the plunge! It is amazing. After one treatment at level 60, which I was told was the lowest she would go, I can't believe how much better I look. I would say, exept for my deeper acne scars, that I am 40 to 50% better. I don't look like scarface in grey light! Make sure that whoever does this is aggressive and not just taking your money. Also, just to let people know, I got rid of my acne simply by eliminating dairy...If you have cystic acne, look it up!
September 16, 2010
Pros:
I got one treatment done so far - I only got the cheeks instead of the whole face done and after the hour and half of numbing, the actual procedure was done within less than 5 minutes. I thought that was odd as the whole face takes abt 35-40 minutes but decided to wait a few days before questioning the doctor on it. Now about 10 days later, I don't see any improvement in my face and I wonder if it had anything to do with the time spent on the procedure.
Cons:
costly - needs to be repeated at least 3 times to see any improvement at all, as I am being told now.
While I want to go for the next 2 treatments, I am wondering if it'd be worth spending the add'l $1200+. The clinic, for some odd reason, won't let me talk to the doctor over the phone to get my questions answered. They wouldn't explain why the first procedure was barely 5 minutes long and insist on me making another appointment, so that makes me wonder.
October 30, 2012
Pros:
some improvement
Cons:
downtime
redness
I am a 27 year old female and I had my first fraxel restore laser treatment in July 2012 for moderate/severe acne scarring. As for the treatment itself: It hurt. Nothing terrible, but it was certainly very uncomfortable. Healing was rough. I spent two days very red and very swollen. By the time work came around on Monday, I was able to put on make up but I certainly didn't look great. I was still red, a little swollen, and by then, peeling had begun. It was a rough work week. I then spent a long time being unhappy with my fraxel results. I am sure no one else noticed my face looking bad, but the skin just didn't seem as healthy as it once had, my scars did not seem improved, and my skin was red. For awhile I even had obvious lines near my eyes where you could see the path the doctor moved the laser. Lately though, nearly four months later, my skin is no longer red, seems healthy, and I do notice some improvement with scars! Not a lot, but some. I believe doing the 3 remaining treatments will leave me noticeable improvement in my skin. This has not been an easy or enjoyable process for me (and it's nowhere near over!), but I think by the end it will be worth it. I just hope the improvements will be worth $3,000.
March 12, 2009
Pros:
Fraxel lasers have a low down time compared to some proceedures.
Cons:
Expensive if you have severe scarring. You will most likely need more than 1 treatment.
I've had 3 treatments so far. I've seen mostly improvements with the skin tone. I wasnt as concerned with that as much as the deep pitted scarring. I've seen a 20% improvement so far. I'm going to keep trying since I'm still hopeful. The proceedure itself can be a bit painful, but will be worth it if it works.
January 28, 2012
Pros:
20 to 25 percent improvement
Cons:
can't go out for at least 4 days
doesn't work after the first time
very expensive
The first time i did fraxel restore i was so excited because after a week it seemed like i had a 60 percent improvement but in reality it was mainly swelling. Two weeks later it was only about a 25% improvement. I went back a month later for my second fraxel restore, it did nothing. I was told i should spreed the treatments futher apart. I waited 3 months again nothing. 6 months again nothing. another 3 months NOTHING! I only saw improvement my first time and I have to admit I'm at least happy for the 25% improvement...so I geuss the bottom line is do it once and then stop. BTW I also went to a highend place. I also tried Juvederm which did nothing at all.
July 29, 2008
Pros:
Not long recovery. See way smaller pore size, face feels smoother and looks smoother and so far about a 50% improvement in my acne scars on my cheeks, plus stopped breaking out.
Cons:
feels like bee stings while getting it done. Burns like your face is on fire for an hour or so after done, and face red and swollen for 24-48 hours, then feels tight and dry for about a week
So far so good. I paid for 5 fraxel treatments and 1 pulse light treatment. I see dramatic improvement in my skin and acne scars. The redness of them 80% lighter and the depth is about 50% lessened. I stll have to treatments to go and it supposed to take 6 months after your final treatment to see the whole results. I go next monday for the pulse light to help sun damage and skin discoloration, etc. then back for the other fraxel treatments. Bottom line so far so good, worth every penny. Will keep posted of final results
September 15, 2011
Pros:
20% improvement
Cons:
costly don't believe the hype
I've done 3 fraxel treatements at the highest setting for my skin tone at a very good cosmetic derm office. I saw an immediate improvement on my skin after the first one, but that's because your face becomes swollen the week after so it appears that the scars are gone, but within a few weeks most of the scars came back. After the first time I saw a 20% improvement. I was excited and made an appoinment 6 weeks later. the second treatment did nothing. I made a third appointment, the third treatment also did nothing. Then I was told i should spreed 3 months between appointments. I was pissed about spending sooo much money and only seeing 20% improvement when i was told it would be more like 40-70 at the end so I tried juvedrem filler injections which did nothing, it was like throwing money away. i was very sad and expressed my feelings od dissatisfaction, it had been 6 months from the last time i did my third fraxel and 1 month since the juvederm. The spa offered me a fourth fraxel restore for free and i thought why not? If I see at least a another 20% improvement from this last one I'll spreed the fraxel restore treatments 6 months to year apart...I'll write back in 3 months letting you guys know what happens. If i see almost no improvement I will never do fraxel restore again cause its expensive as heck and it crushes your hopes. All that being said I'm still very happy that I got about a 20% to 25% improvement.
August 4, 2011
The first time I got this, it didn't hurt as bad and it definately cleared up my skin. However, I was left with enlarged pores and tiny pock marks in my skin. But again, it looked better than when I had the acne scars. Fast forward a year later and my scars have returned with a vengeance. I have it done again, only this time it's more painful and I am left with tiny brown scratches on my face. I also have some hyperpigmentation and bruising near my chin. It's only been 3 days though, so I can't say if again my results are satisfactory, but they were the last time I got it done.
March 20, 2009
Pros:
skin looks great for at least two weeks, but that's because its still swollen. I have had at least six fraxels done for acne scarring over the last year, but scars are still present. There is little improvement, but very minimal. I expected MORE.
Cons:
Skin looks great the first two weeks and after that, it goes back to the way it was before you completed........
I have read so many reviews on the website and seems that I have not been one of those fortunate ones to see immediate results after the third or fourth. Or, may be that my scars (which are on my cheeks) are too deep?? But, I do have one more fraxel treatment next month.....which will probably be my last one......
January 19, 2008
Pros:
CO2: improved skin texture, some reduction of scars
Fraxel: no downtime, smoother skin, small pores
Cons:
CO2:recovery time, persistent redness lasting six months CO2 cost 2,350
Fraxel:need to repeat many times, 3 to four days downtime per treatment fraxel cost 800 ea.
I had CO2 resurfacing in 1998. I have dark hair and eyes with olive complextion. I noticed some lightening around the mouth.I have tighter smoother skin then before. The acne scarring was improved approximately 35%.
Skip ahead to 2007 I have had 4 fraxel treatments so far and I am seeing improved skin texture and reduction in pore size, scar improvement probably 15% to date. I will have 2 more fraxel treatments then decide whether to do CO2 again or the erbium yag laser.
I would recommend researching and finding a board certified plastic surgeon with hospital privledges who specializes in laser procedures. For me the CO2 laser has shown the most improvement. The downtime of 17 days and months of redness was worth it for the best results of the two procedures. I was told I would probably need to repeat the procedure 1 or 2 more times to eliminate most of the scarring.
Pros:
Little down time!