Fraxel Treatment Guide

Fraxel is a skin staple for modern skin goals. Use this guide to see which cities carry it, compare techniques, and connect with clinics you vibe with.

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Overview Benefits What to expect Results Duration Best candidates Alternatives FAQs

What is Fraxel?

Fraxel is a brand name for a family of fractional lasers made by Solta Medical. The most widely used version in Canadian clinics is the Fraxel Dual, which offers two wavelengths in one device: the 1550nm erbium fiber laser, which penetrates deeper into the skin to address texture, scarring, and fine lines, and the 1927nm thulium laser, which works more superficially to target pigmentation and sun damage. Providers often use one or both wavelengths in a single session depending on the concern being treated. Because Fraxel treats only a fraction of the skin in a grid of microscopic columns while leaving surrounding tissue intact, the body heals faster than with fully ablative resurfacing, and the risk profile is more moderate.

What Fraxel can help with

  • ✓ Reducing the appearance of acne scars, surgical scars, and stretch marks
  • ✓ Smoothing uneven skin texture and enlarged pores
  • ✓ Fading sun damage, age spots, melasma, and other forms of hyperpigmentation
  • ✓ Softening fine lines and early to moderate signs of skin aging
  • ✓ Improving overall skin tone, clarity, and radiance
  • ✓ Treating the face, neck, chest, and hands for a more consistent, rejuvenated appearance

What to expect during your Fraxel appointment

A topical numbing cream is applied 60 to 90 minutes before the session. The treatment itself takes 20 to 45 minutes. The laser handpiece is passed across the skin in overlapping passes, delivering heat in a pattern of microscopic columns. The sensation is described as intense heat with a prickling or stinging quality. A cooling device is used simultaneously to manage discomfort. Immediately after, the skin looks red and feels hot, similar to a significant sunburn. Over days two through five, the skin takes on a bronzed, rough texture as the treated columns push through the surface before shedding. This is normal and expected. By days five to seven most of the flaking has resolved, and the new skin underneath looks noticeably smoother and more even. Plan at least five to seven days away from work or social events.

What results can you expect with Fraxel?

Results develop progressively. Most people see an initial improvement in texture and glow within one to two weeks of treatment, with ongoing refinement over three to six months as collagen remodeling continues beneath the surface. A single session produces meaningful results, but a series of two to four treatments spaced four to eight weeks apart delivers the most significant change for concerns like acne scarring or deeper pigmentation. Fraxel produces more dramatic results than superficial treatments but less dramatic results than full ablative CO2, and typically requires more sessions than CO2 to achieve comparable improvement in deeper concerns.

How long Fraxel results last

The collagen remodeling stimulated by Fraxel is long-lasting, and improvements to texture and tone are durable with proper sun protection. Most people maintain results for one to two years before considering a touch-up. Sun damage and pigmentation concerns can recur more quickly without consistent daily SPF, particularly in areas prone to melasma. Many providers recommend annual maintenance sessions for people who have completed a full series and want to stay ahead of ongoing aging and sun exposure.

Who's a good fit for Fraxel?

Fraxel is well-suited to people with mild to moderate skin concerns, including acne scarring, sun damage, uneven texture, and early to moderate signs of aging, who want more meaningful improvement than peels or microneedling can provide but are not prepared for the longer downtime of CO2 laser. It is appropriate for Fitzpatrick skin types I to IV with care, and some experienced providers treat type IV and V skin using lower settings with pre-treatment conditioning. It is not recommended during pregnancy, for people who have taken isotretinoin within the past year, or for those with active skin infections or open lesions in the treatment area. Tanned skin should be avoided at the time of treatment due to increased risk of pigmentation changes.

Alternatives to Fraxel?

  • CO2 laser: more aggressive ablative resurfacing for deeper wrinkles, significant scarring, and advanced sun damage; more downtime but more dramatic results per session
  • RF microneedling (Morpheus8, Sylfirm): combines radiofrequency with microneedling for skin tightening and texture; safer for darker skin tones and less downtime than Fraxel
  • IPL photofacial: targets pigmentation and vascular concerns with minimal downtime; less effective for texture or scarring
  • Microneedling: stimulates collagen with less heat-based risk; more sessions needed than Fraxel for comparable texture improvement, safer for all skin tones
  • Chemical peel (medium to deep): TCA peels can address similar concerns to Fraxel with comparable downtime; less precise than laser but more widely available

Common Fraxel questions

How does Fraxel work? +
Fraxel delivers laser energy in a pattern of thousands of microscopic columns called microthermal treatment zones, which penetrate into the skin and create controlled thermal damage. The body responds by activating its wound-healing response, producing new collagen and elastin and replacing damaged tissue with healthier skin. Because only a fraction of the skin surface is treated at once, the surrounding untreated tissue accelerates healing and reduces recovery time compared to fully ablative approaches. The depth and density of the treatment columns can be adjusted to match the concern being treated.
Does Fraxel hurt? +
Fraxel is one of the more uncomfortable fractional treatments. Topical numbing is applied well in advance and helps significantly, but most people still feel notable heat and a prickling or stinging sensation during treatment, particularly at higher settings. A cold air cooling device used alongside the laser helps manage the heat. The skin feels hot and tight for several hours after the session, similar to a bad sunburn. Most people manage post-treatment discomfort with over-the-counter pain relief and cool compresses as directed by their provider.
How long does a Fraxel session take? +
Including numbing preparation, a full-face Fraxel appointment typically takes two to two and a half hours. The laser treatment itself runs 20 to 45 minutes depending on the areas treated and the number of passes used. Treating additional areas like the neck or chest adds time. Some providers offer shorter single-pass sessions at lower settings for a lighter treatment with less downtime, though results are more modest.
How soon will I see results from Fraxel? +
The healing phase comes first. Once the bronzing and flaking phase resolves at around days five to seven, the skin underneath looks noticeably smoother and clearer. This initial improvement continues to develop over the following weeks and months as new collagen forms and matures. Most people see the most significant improvement at the three-month mark. If doing a series of treatments, results compound with each session and continue to improve between appointments.
How much downtime does Fraxel require? +
Plan for five to seven days of visible recovery. Days one and two the skin is red, swollen, and hot. Days two through five a bronzed, rough, sandpaper-like texture develops as the treated micro-columns push to the surface. Flaking and peeling follows as this bronzed layer sheds. By day seven most people look presentable, though some residual pinkness can persist for one to two weeks. Wearing makeup to cover redness is generally fine once the active peeling phase has resolved, typically around day five or six.
How many Fraxel sessions are needed? +
For mild pigmentation, general tone improvement, or maintenance, a single session can produce satisfying results. For moderate acne scarring, deeper texture concerns, or significant sun damage, a series of two to four sessions spaced four to eight weeks apart is typically recommended. Your provider will assess your skin at consultation and after your first treatment to determine whether additional sessions are warranted. More sessions at moderate settings is generally safer and produces more predictable results than a single very aggressive treatment.
Is Fraxel suitable for all skin tones? +
Fraxel is most commonly used on Fitzpatrick skin types I to III and can be used on type IV with appropriate settings and an experienced provider. Darker skin tones carry a higher risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation because the laser heat can stimulate melanin production in melanin-rich skin. Some providers pre-treat darker skin tones with a melanin-suppressing agent for several weeks before Fraxel and use conservative settings to reduce this risk. People with skin types V and VI are generally better served by alternatives such as RF microneedling or non-ablative treatments. Always confirm your provider has specific experience treating your skin tone.
What should I avoid after Fraxel? +
During the recovery period, avoid all direct sun exposure on the treated area and apply broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day without exception. Do not pick, scratch, or forcibly remove bronzed or flaking skin. Avoid retinoids, exfoliating acids, and all active skincare until your provider confirms the skin has healed. Keep the skin well-moisturized with a gentle, fragrance-free product. Avoid heat including saunas, steam, and intense exercise for at least five days. Strict sun protection for several months after treatment is critical to protect results and prevent post-inflammatory pigmentation.

Featured clinics

Top-rated providers offering Fraxel.

SKN Yorkville

Toronto, ON

5.0 PrettyLyst

SKN Yorkville offers medical aesthetics, skincare, and surgical enhancement services in Toronto.

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New You

Toronto, ON

4.6 PrettyLyst

Yorkville Medspa services including laser hair removal, dermal fillers, lip enhancement, HydraFacial, hair restoration, body contouring, vaginal rejuvenation, non-surgical butt lift, and microdermabrasion.

Dermaplaning Fraxel Jawline filler
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