Fractionated photothermolysis: the Fraxel 1550-nm glass fiber laser treatment.

The carbon dioxide laser has been long considered to be the gold standard for cosmetic skin resurfacing. Although Fraxel laser treatment results are in general not as dramatic as with carbon dioxide lasering, they still are remarkable, measurable, and consistent. The lack of downtime and the decreased risk for complications make Fraxel laser treatment a particularly attractive choice for patients. Although a carbon dioxide laser cannot be used on the neck because of the risks of scarring, the Fraxel laser treatment is an excellent modality for reducing neck wrinkling and upper chest hyperpigmentation and sun damage throughout the entire body. Fractional photothermolysis also represents a particularly useful modality for difficult-to-treat conditions, such as melasma and acne scarring.