Fraxel® DUAL Laser in San Francisco

Fraxel is trusted by millions of people who want to improve skin tone, texture and radiance for a younger looking appearance. Get results that you can see and feel!

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What Is Fraxel DUAL?

It’s the first non-ablative fractional skin resurfacing treatment featuring technology that delivers the dramatic results of more invasive treatments with less downtime and fewer side effects. (Read about ablative VS non-ablative therapies.) Through the handpiece, microscopic (each thinner than a human hair) laser columns penetrate into deeper skin tissue without damaging the surface of the skin. These columns fractionally treat alternating tiny sections of the tissue, leaving surrounding tissue intact. The untouched portions begin the healing process quickly, while the targeted areas expedite collagen remodeling, stimulating healthy, young cells leading to more youthful looking and feeling skin.

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How Does this Device Differ from Fraxel re:store?

Fraxel re:store used only a 1550nm wavelength laser. Fraxel DUAL adds 1927 nm (the only resurfacing device with this wavelength) which allows treatment of any skin type over any part of the body.

Other benefits over re:store:
• Fewer treatments needed to reach goals
• Faster treatment times
• The Zimmer Cooling Device chills the skin as it is treated, providing increased comfort
• Increased effectiveness on reducing pigmentation
• Larger surface areas may be covered in a single appointment
• Practitioner can select either wavelength, or use them both during treatment

Fraxel DUAL Laser Before & After

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Which Conditions Can Be Treated?

Rough skin texture
Actinic keratoses
Melasma (a skin condition characterized by brown or blue-gray patches or freckle-like spots)
Age spots
Fine lines around the eye
Wrinkles
Acne and surgical scars
Enlarged pores

Is Fraxel DUAL Laser Right for Me?

Because the intensity of the treatment can be adjusted to meet the patient’s needs and goals, their acceptable amount of downtime, and targeted skin conditions, Fraxel is appropriate for just about anyone. Any skin type and body area may be treated.

Key Benefits and Typical Results

Minimized scars
Improved texture and tone
Diminished or removed brown spots
Reduced wrinkles/lines around the eyes
More radiant, younger-looking skin

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How Do I Prepare for Treatment?

No exposure to sun or tanning beds for five weeks prior to treatment. This is essential as permanent discoloration of skin may occur.
For four weeks, do not receive chemical peels, microdermabrasion, scrubs, or exfoliation.
Do not use retinoids in the five days prior to appointment.

What Happens During Treatment?

Before the laser treatment, we’ll clean your skin and apply a topical anesthetic. A full-face procedure takes about twenty minutes. During treatment a warming or prickly feeling may be experienced, but very few describe any pain. The integrated cooling system immediately distracts nerve endings with cold air blown over the treatment area.

Post-Treatment Care or Downtime?

Sun avoidance and application of high SPF sunscreen will be essential in the weeks after your appointment. Your recovery time will vary depending upon the plan determined during your initial consultation. A lighter treatment generally causes you to be slightly pink, but able to return to normal activities the following day. Some people may have swelling, itching, peeling, dry, red, or bronzed skin for several days after a more intense treatment.

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How Long Until I See Results?

A few days after treatment, your skin may turn bronzy. This superficial layer will flake off, revealing smoother and more even skin tone. Results are immediate as well as progressive, with optimal improvement usually visible in two to three months. New collagen will continue to regenerate your skin’s surface from beneath, gradually improving your appearance.

How Long Will My Results Last?

Consistent sunscreen use will help prevent the signs of aging from returning. Following a good skin care regimen will help your skin keep its renewed appearance. You may want “touch up” treatments over a few years’ time to address problem areas.

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

Clinical studies show that generally a Fraxel treatment regimen is three to five sessions, about three weeks apart. However this will vary depending upon your goals, our assessment of your skin, and how intensive a treatment you wish to receive during each visit. We discuss this with our patients prior as it relates to the associated downtime. You will experience results after one session, but because Fraxel DUAL is a fractional device, intentionally treating only a portion of the epidermis with each time, you may want more treatments for more advanced signs of aging.

What Is the Science?

The key to fraxel’s success is that laser treats only a fraction of the skin at one time, leaving the majority of the skin unaffected. Typically around 20-35% of the skin is treated in what are called “micro-thermal zones” (MTZs). These MTZs are columns of tissue heated by the laser which are much less than the diameter of a hair. By only treating a portion of the skin, the downtime and risks are minimized while the treatment depths can be significantly higher – leading to more effective treatments. One of the lasers in the Fraxel Dual is the 1550nm deep penetrating Erbium fiber laser. It causes very little peripheral damage when creating MTZs.

In contrast, a CO2 laser vaporizes tissue (ablative resurfacing), and results in a significant recuperative period. The second laser in the Fraxel Dual is the 1927nm Thulium fiber laser. The Thulium wavelength more effectively targets superficial skin layers for clearance of pigment. Together these lasers address both deep and superficial resurfacing. The Fraxel DUAL is scientifically proven, with more than 50 peer-reviewed publications, supported by over 35,000 histologies and over 25 FDA-cleared indications. Well over a million procedures have been performed worldwide.