Ask the Expert: Skin Care 101

November 2010

by: Jan Dupuy, RN Nurse Specialist in Cosmetic Skin Care.
Owner of the Biltmore Skin Care Center

Q. I have a very deep crease between my eyes and Botox doesn’t quite fix it all. Is there anything else you suggest?
A. Yes a product like Juvederm can often times be added to that area to decrease the appearance of those deep lines. Please be advised, there is a lot of skill and technique involved in the treatment of this delicate area so choose wisely. If done correctly you can expect your results to last up to a year.

Q. What is the difference between Fraxel and Photo Facial treatments?
A. First let me tell you what is similar. Both are based on a special light source that heats up the skin. Both remove brown spots, stimulate collagen, shrink pore size and get rid of some redness in the skin.

Now the differences.

Price is very different. Research and physican input suggest that 3 to 5 Photofacial treatments (also known as IPL treatments) is equivalent to 1 Fraxel session. The cost of each Fraxel treatment in our research shows between 2000.00 to 3500.00 a treatment. Photofacial is $350.00 per treatment for the face, $450.00 if you want to include the face, neck and chest per treatment.

Pain: NO pain management for Photofacial not so for the Fraxel. Numbing creams and sedation are often required along with a bullet to bite on for Fraxel treatments.

Photofacial treatments have no downtime. You can go to a party that evening or right back to work. Not so with the Fraxel. Downtime can be between 4 to 10 days.

Very similar results just completely different ways to get there. You choose!