My Personal Experience with the Fraxel Laser-First Treatment

In the first part of my report on the Fraxel Laser, I described what a laser is, and more specifically, what the Fraxel laser is, and how it can re-surface skin to literally, turn back the hands of time. In this post, I'm going to describe my actual first experience with the Fraxel laser, at the office of board certified dermatologist Dr. Gervaise Gerstener (East 69th Street, NYC).

When Is the Best Time to Have A Fraxel Laser Treatment?

I'd like to say that any time is a good time, but before Dr. Gerstner was ready to begin the process of removing things from my face that have been damaged, along my life's path, I had to actually consider the timing of treatment. Unlike more agressive laser peels, most people undergoing Fraxel treatments will do it in a series of less intensive sessions that offer great results, but with less side effects. This is very appealing to busy men and women who just don't have time for "down time." But, even though the side effects are mild, the best time to schedule Fraxel is when you're planning to be out of the sun, and not sunbathing or at the beach. You also need to schedule treatment in advance of your "closeups" because it takes time for your skin to heal and look it's best, after the treatments.

The Fraxel 1550 laser used on my skin to remove sun damage, utilizes a scanning device to apply highly concentrated, tiny laser pulses that create microscopic "wounds" all over your face through which new skin will form. While you won't see any actual cuts on your face, it is going to irritate your complexion, so you're not going to want to have Fraxel treatments close to the timing of a special event. You'll probably need 3-4 weeks between treatments to allow your skin to heal. The Fraxel laser is a marvel, but it's not an instant miracle worker. All good things take time.

Side Effects of the Fraxel laser:

Once you have a Fraxel treatment, depending upon your skin, it will look pink to red, as if you've had a sunburn, and your skin will feel hot to the touch. There may also be swelling, and your skin may feel and look dry. You can't see the tiny, microscopic wounds in your skin that the laser creates, but you can feel them a little bit. When I rubbed my hands over my face a few hours after treatment, it actually felt a bit rough. This, of course, will go away as my skin heals.

The Fraxel Laser in Dr. Gervais Gerstner's treatment room

READY OR NOT-FRAXEL LASER TREATMENT TIME!

Prior to the treatment I was given a prescription for a three-day course of Valtrex, an antiviral medication used to treat shingles, cold sores, genital herpes, and other conditions. Although I have never had a cold sore or herpes, or any similar condition, the heat of the laser apparently can trigger the virus, so everyone gets Valtrex as a precaution. I took the Valtrex a day before the treatment, the day of, and today, the day after.

I was asked to fill out forms (this should only be done by a reputable doctor, after all) and then I was ushered into a private room with a very comfortable recliner table. Soft music was playing, and it was actually very restful. Joanna, who assists Dr. Gerstner, applied a mild cleaser to my face to remove makeup and dirt (but I'd braved the world without any foundation that morning, so it was mostly subway grime and oil that was removed). To make the treatment easier to deal with, a numbing gel is then applied to your face. It takes about an hour for it to take effect, but in about 45 minutes, my nose felt like it does on a very cold day--spongy and numb. With subsequent, more invasive laser treatments, Percoset (a narcotic pain reliever), may be offered in the office prior to treatment. Small eye pads were applied to my eyes to protect them. Joanna was very knowledgeable about the Fraxel laser, and answered all of my questions.

My skin right before the Fraxel Laser

MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE FRAXEL LASER: If you have ever had a laser treatment with a hot laser before, you'll be somewhat prepared for what is going to happen. For those who haven't, here's my personal experience:

I met with Dr. Gervais so she could check out my skin, and listen to what I felt would be a good goal for treatment. Then, I waited for the numbing gel to take effect. I was told that the initial treatment with the Fraxel laser would be about five minutes, but I think mine was longer than that (it seemed longer, anyway! During the actual treatment, cool air is blown on your face while the doctor is applying the laser, and an assistant (in this case, Joanna), applied cold packs as Dr. Gerstner moved the laser around my face.

Before Dr. Gerstner began the treatment I had a moment of nerves. I was told that the experience is a little like a rubber band being snapped on your face. I know that feeling, since I've had laser treatments on my face (for broken blood vessels) in the past. Your experience the Fraxel laser treatment (or series of them) will be different than mine, since the intensity of your treatment will vary depending upon your skin condition, goals, and the intensity of the laser your doctor feels is best for you. Everyone's threshold for pain is different, too. That being said, my personal experience started out without any discomfort at all, as Dr. Gerstner applied the laser to on my cheeks and other places where I had plenty of fat on my face. But it felt less like a rubber band and more like being poked with a very hot stick in non-fatty areas such as on my forehead and near my eyes. Luckily, the laser isn't focused on any one area for more than a few seconds, so any real discomfort was a fleeting memory.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT AFTER A FRAXEL LASER TREATMENT:

Once the treatment was completed, a full face ice pack was immediately applied to my face for about 20 minutes. Under the mask, my face felt hot and it throbbed for a while. I was advised that the Fraxel-treated areas of my skin would be red, irrated, and swollen right after the treatment, and that these symptoms could last for several days, with the remainder of the swelling gradually disappearing over the next 1-2 weeks. Some people may also experience tenderness and itching and well as dry patches of skin. In rare cases, there may be some blitering and crusting (this is rare). A bronzed skin appearance may occur, and occasionally, small brown dots will be visible on the skin surface. These occur because brown pigment in the skin is being eliminated, This also ceases to be an issue within 1-2 weeks.

The side effects were, and have been, relatively mild. In fact, I had an event to go to in a few hours after the Fraxel treatment, and I was a bit worried about how I'd look. When Joanna handed me a mirror, my skin was pink as if I'd been out in the sun too long, but it didn't even look bad enough for me to apply makeup over it. I left Dr. Gerstner's office with an application of Cetaphil moisturizer and Eucerin SPF 30 on my face, and Joanna gave me a nice bag of sample tubes of the same products (you can get them in your favorite drugstore). A little gel ice pack was included (I didn't need it). She admonished me to stay out of the sun, to avoid salt/salt foods (for the first day or so, anyway), and not to use any super-emollient or thick creams that could clog my pores, harsh abrasive cleansers, or retinoids.

By the evening, apart from some tenderness and pink skin, I didn't have other symptoms. This morning, however, I can see a few red dots and a bit of that "bronzing" effect, plus some swelling and flaking. It's really not a big deal. You can apply makeup as long as it doesn't clog your pores (I would suggest loose mineral makeup) but the loose powder I used stuck to the moisturizer and sun block, so I opted for a tinted moisturizer with SPF 30. This offers moisture, and skin protection, with just a little bit of light coverage.

If the Fraxel laser sounds like a commitment, it is, and it can be pricey (discuss the cost with your doctor). But there is no cream or potion, not even a face lift, that can make a truly measurable and lasting difference in how your skin looks, like the Fraxel laser can. And, even a face lift won't resurface your skin. As Dr. Gerstner explained it, a face lift will pull up your skin, but it will be the skin you started with. So if yours is blotchy, sun damaged, acne scarred, and with large pores, that will be the same skin you had before the facelift. The Fraxel Laser, on the other hand, resurfaces your skin as nothing else can. And, remember that the results are permanent. If you wear sun screen, don't smoke, and generally take care of your "new & improved" skin, the efects can last a very long time, maybe a lifetime.

Is the Fraxel laser for you?

Check out the Fraxel Web Site and you'll see dramatic before & after photos and learn more about the process. And, follow this blog as I report on what is happening with my skin! You can learn more about Dr. Gerstner and what treatments she can offer you. FYI: Dr. Gerstner earned her M.D. degree from Mount Sinai Medical Center. She helps people of all ages not just with cosmetic dermatology but those with a variety of skin issues, and even skin cancer. She has done research on a wide range of topics from chemical peels to melanoma. Her work has been published in several dermatologic journals and she has served as book editor for Clinics in Dermatology. Dr.Gerstner utilizes a range of lasers as well as serves as preceptor and lecturer for Fraxel. Currently, she serves as Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai where she volunteers in clinical and academic settings and interviews for the medical school admission. Dr. Gerstner is also an associate member of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Academy of Dermatologic Surgeons. She is a member of the Dermatology Foundation and the Skin Cancer Foundation. Dr. Gerstner has been featured and quoted in numerous fashion and high end publications,

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