If you’re noticing signs of ageing — perhaps some pigmentation or a few more fine lines and wrinkles — winter is an excellent time to take action with laser. And for many (including individuals of all skin tones), Fraxel may be a skin-rejuve treatment worth putting on your radar.
Fraxel laser is one of the most widely used non-invasive skin resurfacing treatments. It’s designed to address fine lines and wrinkles, texture, tone, pigmentation and even scarring.
It uses fractional laser technology to create microscopic columns of controlled injury in the skin. This stimulates collagen production while leaving the surrounding tissue intact. And as only a fraction of the skin cells are targeted, it speeds up healing and minimises downtime.
So, if you’re interested in the treatment, this article covers everything you’ll need to do beforehand (including how to be assessed to determine your suitability), what to expect during treatment, and what to do afterwards with after-care.
Before Fraxel: Prep and planning
Your Fraxel journey will start two weeks before your appointment with a complimentary consultation with one of our registered cosmetic nurses. They’ll assess your skin to confirm your suitability for treatment.
Providing you’re given the green light, your nurse will draw up a customised treatment plan. Often, 1-3 treatments are initially recommended, followed by yearly maintenance treatments. However, everyone is different, and these details will be discussed with you during your consultation.
You’ll also be given instructions on how to prepare your skin before treatment. This typically involves avoiding all retinols and active products for two weeks before treatment. You’ll also need to avoid exfoliating, waxing, chemical peels, and excessive sun exposure and tanning.
Your Fraxel treatment day
On the day of your treatment, arrive an hour before your treatment time with a clean face, free of make-up. You’ll have a quick chat with one of our team members, who will also numb your face with anaesthetic cream, giving plenty of time for it to take effect.
Next, it’s time for your treatment! You’ll be invited into the treatment room and given a pair of protective goggles to shield your eyes from the laser.
THE TREATMENT: Using a handheld device, your registered cosmetic nurse will carefully deliver fractional laser energy into your skin. This creates thousands of microscopic treatment zones, triggering the body’s natural healing response.
Treatment for one area (e.g., your face) usually takes around 20 minutes. They will typically perform multiple ‘passes’ over each area for optimal results.
There may be some discomfort, but most individuals tolerate the treatment well, given the topical numbing cream applied before treatment, and the cooling fan used throughout.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER TREATMENT: You’ll feel like you have a moderate dose of sunburn. There may be redness and warmth, mild swelling and a feeling of tightness to the skin. These sensations usually subside within a few hours to a day, though redness may persist for a little longer.
Your nurse will apply a soothing barrier cream to calm your skin and support healing.
BEFORE YOU GO HOME: We’ll give you verbal and written after-care instructions.
We also suggest that you purchase a tube of TR Pro (aka Tissue Repair Pro+). This is a TGA-approved post-treatment topical ointment, available for purchase at the clinic. TR Pro is a protective, hydrating and soothing barrier that supports wound healing and recovery, minimising downtime, redness and irritation.
Recovery & after-care
Recovery is when your skin gets down to action, and the real ‘work’ begins. As your skin repairs the micro-injuries and heals, it produces new collagen, helping to create smoother, clearer skin over time.
During this sensitive time, avoid the following activities:
- vigorous exercise for 24 hours
- saunas and pools for 48 hours
- active skincare products (scrubs, AHA, BHA, vitamin A, and vitamin C)
- sun exposure and self-tan products for two weeks
- skin treatments and injectables for two weeks
- make up for 24 hours
THE FIRST FEW DAYS
- In the initial healing phase, your skin may feel tight, sensitive and slightly swollen, and you can expect it to feel surprisingly rough, like sandpaper. It’s also normal for your skin to feel extremely dry and become a little flaky. Let it do its thing, and avoid the temptation to exfoliate away the roughness.
- Keep your skin hydrated 24/7 and make every effort to prevent it from ever drying out.
- Use the gentlest cleansers and moisturisers.
- If your skin feels uncomfortably hot, use cool compresses.
Two days after treatment, we’ll invite you to return to the clinic for a complimentary LED light session. This (highly enjoyable treatment) will soothe the skin, reduce inflammation and redness and support healing.
THE FIRST WEEK
As your skin begins to renew, the redness will gradually fade, and your skin will continue to flake and peel. You’ll also see the first signs of fresh, smooth skin emerging.
During this time, you must wear SPF 50 + daily.
AFTER TWO WEEKS
By this stage, all redness and flaking will usually have subsided. If your skin does not feel sensitive, you can gently resume more active skincare and retinols, but test the waters carefully; there’s no need to rush.
Results
Fraxel is a powerful treatment that works at deep levels of the skin. It’s not a quick fix, and you’ll need to be patient to see your results. Gradual collagen production leads to long-term improvements in fine lines, scars, and overall skin quality.
Everyone heals at their own pace, but as a guide, you can anticipate the following:
- early results: improved tone and texture
- 4 – 6 weeks: visible collagen stimulation
- 3 – 6 weeks: continued skin remodelling and refinement.
Risks and complications
Every cosmetic procedure carries risks. While the likelihood of complications is low (particularly if you follow all pre- and post-treatment instructions), they may include:
- prolonged redness
- temporary pigmentation changes
- breakouts or irritation
Disclaimer: This information is general in nature and provided for educational purposes only. Results can vary between individuals. This treatment may not be suitable for everyone. A consultation with a qualified practitioner is essential before any treatment, and potential risks and side effects should be discussed during this consultation.
Samara Aesthetics is conveniently located at 918 Beaufort Street, Inglewood, near Morley, Maylands, Mt Lawley, Dianella, Bayswater, Bedford and North Perth.
If you’re interested in Fraxel laser, please call the clinic today. We’re more than happy to answer any questions or book your initial consult with one of our registered cosmetic nurses.
