Dear Dr. Seckel, What is the difference between a MicroLaserPeel® and a Fraxel®. I have wrinkles, brown spots and pigment and other early facial aging changes. I want the best facial rejuvenation procedure and I want a non-surgical facial rejuvenation program that works. I don’t want a face-lift. Thanks, Betty, Boston, MA.
Dear Betty,
Both the MicroLaserPeel®, done with the Sciton® Profile Erbium laser, and the Fraxel®, done with the Fraxel® laser by Reliant Technologies® are non-surgical facial rejuvenation laser skin treatments used to remove wrinkles, pigment and other facial aging changes on the surface of the facial skin. With repeated applications wrinkle removal and pigment removal are possible.
These laser skin rejuvenation techniques work by injuring the damaged skin cells so that they are removed and new healthy skin cells form. In addition the injury stimulates the deeper skin layer, the dermis, to form new collagen to replace the old age damaged and sun damaged collagen that is causing wrinkles.
The difference between the two technologies, both Erbium lasers, is that the MicroLaserPeel® is a uniform treatment-the entire skin surface is treated. The Fraxel® only treats small areas and leaves small adjacent areas untreated with the theory that there is less injury and quicker healing.
In fact the healing time for both procedures when used at effective settings is about the same. After the MicroLaserPeel® at 40 microns depth you will be pink for 4-6 days. After the Fraxel® laser most users report a bronze color for 10-14 days.
Fraxel® promotes their technique as non-ablative-meaning no skin removal, but many patients peel after Fraxel® so I would not agree with this statement as peeling to me indicates ablation.
Fraxel® also calls the Fraxel® treatment a no down time procedure but having your face peel and then have a bronze color is not no down time for many people.
They are both good effective laser skin rejuvenation treatments for superficial facial aging skin changes. Fraxel is proven to be effective for pigment removal, microlaserpeel may be better for wrinkle removal. The most important thing is finding an excellent board certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist who is experienced in laser skin treatments and trusting him/her to recommend the treatment they are comfortable with.
Don’t believe the marketing hype. For laser skin rejuvenation treatments to be effective they must be done at a deep enough level that you will have some down time afterward. However, the down time is minimal-less than a week which is a great improvement over the older CO2 laser resurfacing which required a 3 week down time and left you pink for 4-6 weeks. These new laser skin rejuvenation technologies are a definite improvement.
Just don’t plan to go to a cocktail party the night after you have one of these procedures done.
The MicroLaserPeel® may need to be repeated 1 or 2 times for best effect. The Fraxel® requires 4-5 treatments according to published guidelines (I have not used the machine).
I use the MicroLaserPeel® and have had excellent results. There is another new laser skin peel technique called the activeFX laser skin peel which is also excellent with minimal down time.
For more information on laser skin rejuvenation and non-surgical facial rejuvenation read Save Your Face or contact me.
Thank you,
Boston, Massachusetts