Fraxel vs. CO2 Laser Cost: Why Quotes Differ

Fraxel quotes only line up when they're for the same type of laser. The name covers two kinds: ablative lasers (CO2 or Er:YAG) that remove tiny columns of skin, and non-ablative lasers (such as 1,550 nm) that heat the skin while leaving the surface intact. They need different recovery time and different numbers of sessions, so comparing a single-session price across the two doesn't tell you much.

In this article, we'll cover what separates the two laser types, how many days of scabbing and redness each one brings, why session counts change the total cost, which reactions need a doctor, and what a quote should list.

Quick summary

• Match the laser type, ablative or non-ablative, before you compare Fraxel prices.
• Benchmark: in 8 people treated half-face with each laser, crusting lasted 2.3 days on average with non-ablative and 7.4 days with CO2.
• Non-ablative 1,550 nm is usually planned as 4 to 5 sessions a month apart, so look at the full course, not one visit.
• Blisters on the treated skin, or clusters of small blisters around the mouth, need a doctor right away.

Why Do Fraxel Laser Quotes Differ So Much?

The biggest split is whether the laser keeps the top layer of skin (the epidermis) intact. Ablative lasers use 10,600 nm CO2 or 2,940 nm Er:YAG light to make very fine, closely spaced channels. The untouched skin between those channels is what helps the area heal. Non-ablative lasers, like 1,550 nm, leave the surface alone and send thin columns of heat down into the dermis.

*Dermis: the layer under the surface that gives skin its firmness.

There's a split within ablative lasers, too. Er:YAG is used for shallower treatment, and CO2 for deeper resurfacing. The first fractional laser was actually a non-ablative 1,550 nm device. That's why one clinic's "Fraxel" and another clinic's "CO2 fractional" can be prices for two different treatments.

At the consultation, I first check whether your skin tone is on the darker side and whether you've had melasma or brown marks after a past procedure. With that kind of skin, the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (brown marks after irritation) comes first with either laser. Next, I look at whether the main concern is indented scars or pores and uneven texture, and the laser type follows from there.

It's better to postpone treatment, or at least mention it beforehand, if any of these apply:

• Active acne breakouts in the area to be treated
• Vitiligo (laser can leave new patches of lost color)
• A strong chemical peel, dermabrasion or laser in the last 4 weeks
• Tanning or a lot of sun exposure in the 4 weeks before treatment
• Cold sores (oral herpes) that keep coming back

CO2 Laser Downtime vs. Fraxel: How Many Days?

Crusting and redness last longer with ablative CO2. In a small split-face study, 8 people with acne scars had a 1,550 nm non-ablative laser on one side of the face and a CO2 ablative laser on the other, once each. Crusting and scaling lasted 2.3 days on average on the non-ablative side and 7.4 days on the CO2 side. Redness lasted 7.5 days versus 11.5 days.

With only 8 people, treat those numbers as a rough gap, not a promise. At 3 months, scar improvement was graded 2.0 on the non-ablative side and 2.5 on the CO2 side. Everyone's skin is different.

Longer downtime also tends to bring more around it: a healing ointment, soothing care, and follow-up checks while the skin recovers. So for an ablative quote, ask whether those are included in the per-session price. Only then is it a fair match for a non-ablative quote. How many days off you can take is part of the decision, too.

How Many Fraxel Treatments Are Needed, and Why Does It Change the Total?

Non-ablative lasers do less to the skin each time, so the work is split across several sessions. A 1,550 nm non-ablative course is usually 4 to 5 sessions about a month apart, and results build gradually over 3 to 4 months*.

*Based on DermNet patient guidance.

Ablative CO2 isn't a one-and-done treatment either. In records of 107 Asian patients treated for acne scars, the group had 210 CO2 fractional sessions in total. About two in three (66.4%) saw less than 25% improvement in skin texture. How much you see depends on your scars. So a lower price per session doesn't mean a lower total.

Each column comes from a different group of people and different settings, so this isn't a ranking. If you only have a few days to recover, compare the full course of non-ablative sessions. If you can take more than a week off, compare the ablative price with its aftercare included.

CO2 Laser Scabs and Side Effects: What's Normal, What's Not?

After non-ablative treatment, swelling typically lasts 2 to 3 days and pinkness 3 to 5 days. The skin can look bronzed and then flake for 3 to 14 days. After ablative treatment, the skin dries and peels around days 5 to 7, and the pinkness of the new skin fades over 2 to 3 months.

Don't wait it out if you notice any of these. See a doctor right away:

• Clusters of small blisters around the mouth or lips
• Blisters on the treated skin
• A sudden flare of acne-like bumps
• Raw areas that don't heal and start to look like they'll scar

These problems are reported only occasionally. In the 210 CO2 sessions for acne scars, blisters occurred in 4.0%, acne flares in 1.7%, and scarring in 0.6%. Never pick at scabs. Picking can lead to scarring or infection. A message to the clinic doesn't replace an in-person exam.

What Should a Fraxel Quote List Before You Compare?

A useful quote names the laser type and settings, not just the brand name. Even with the same 1,550 nm laser, higher density made swelling, redness and brown marks more likely. Same name, different settings, and both recovery and session count shift with them.

• Ablative or non-ablative, and the wavelength (10,600, 2,940, 1,550 nm or other)
• Full face or the scarred areas only, and how density and depth are set
• Planned number of sessions and spacing, and whether healing ointment and soothing care are in the per-session price

If you searched for Fraxel cost in Korea, these are the same points to check there. A price only means something once you know which laser it's for and how many sessions it covers.

Fraxel or CO2 Laser Within Your Travel Itinerary in Korea

Unless you had sedation that day, there's no need to postpone your flight home because of a fractional laser treatment. Downtime is the bigger planning point. With CO2, the skin dries and peels around days 5 to 7, while non-ablative crusting tends to be shorter.

It helps to know what one visit can do. Some treatments, like fillers, change your shape the same day. Most others, fractional lasers included, don't transform your skin in one go. They bring it gradually closer to how it used to look. If a course of several sessions is planned, a single visit doesn't replace the rest of it.

Once you're back home, you can send photos through the consultation button on this page with any questions about how your skin is healing. If a reaction looks serious, such as spreading blisters or skin that won't heal, get seen by a local doctor first rather than waiting for a reply.

The Bottom Line on Fraxel vs. CO2 Laser Cost

Before you compare prices, ask one question about every quote: what wavelength is this, and how many sessions does the price cover? With that answer, two quotes can sit side by side. Like any procedure, each laser comes with trade-offs, and the choice depends on your skin, your goals and how much time you can take to heal.

Beautystone is a clinic in Seoul's Hapjeong area. When you reach out, include your main concern (indented scars or pores), how many days you can rest after treatment, and any laser you've had recently with the date.

Sources

• 1,550 nm non-ablative vs. CO2 ablative fractional laser, split-face comparison in 8 people, J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 2010
• Results and complications of CO2 fractional laser for acne scars in 107 Asian patients, Dermatol Surg, 2017
• Side effects across 856 non-ablative fractional laser sessions in Korean patients, J Dermatolog Treat, 2014
• Brown marks after one CO2 fractional session in 9 Asian patients, Lasers Surg Med, 2010
• Er:YAG ablative fractional laser for acne scars in 34 people, Dermatol Surg, 2011
• How density and energy affected brown marks, records of 37 people, Lasers Surg Med, 2007
• Comparing different densities and energies with the same fractional laser in 30 people, Lasers Surg Med, 2007
• Types of fractional laser, sessions and recovery, DermNet
• Types of laser resurfacing and who shouldn't have it, DermNet
• Recovery and precautions after laser skin resurfacing, Cleveland Clinic

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much does Fraxel cost in Korea?

A. Fraxel cost in Korea depends first on whether the laser is ablative (CO2 or Er:YAG) or non-ablative (such as 1,550 nm). After that, the area treated, the density and depth settings, the planned number of sessions, and whether aftercare is included all change the total. Non-ablative 1,550 nm is usually planned as 4 to 5 sessions about a month apart, so compare the price of the full course.

Q. Does Fraxel hurt?

A. Fraxel pain tends to be higher with ablative CO2. In 8 people who had each laser on one half of the face, pain scored 3.9 out of 10 for 1,550 nm non-ablative and 7.0 for CO2. Pain also depends on the energy used. The numbing method, such as numbing cream, is decided at the visit based on the area, the depth and how sensitive you are.

Q. Is a 1,927 nm laser also a type of Fraxel?

A. Yes, the 1,927 nm thulium laser is also a non-ablative fractional laser that leaves the skin surface intact. In records of 856 non-ablative sessions with 1,550 nm and 1,927 nm lasers in 362 Korean patients, side effects occurred in 5.0%, and none were long-lasting. Even within non-ablative lasers, ask which wavelength a quote is for.

Q. I have darker skin. Are there settings that lower the risk of brown marks?

A. With darker skin, brown marks after fractional laser varied with density and energy. In records of 37 Chinese patients treated with a 1,540 nm laser, widespread brown marks appeared in 7.1% with higher energy and lower density, and in 12.4% with the reverse. That difference wasn't statistically confirmed, and brown marks around the mouth showed up where air cooling wasn't used.

Q. Can I get Fraxel if I have melasma?

A. You can, but tell the clinic about your melasma first, because brown marks after fractional laser are more common when you have it. In 856 non-ablative sessions, melasma got darker in 0.9%. Fractional lasers are sometimes used to treat melasma, but the treatment itself can also trigger pigmentation, so the plan is decided at the visit based on how widespread it is.

Q. How long do CO2 laser scabs last, and when can I remove them?

A. CO2 laser scabs shouldn't be removed by hand. Let them fall off on their own. In a small split-face comparison, crusting after CO2 lasted 7.4 days on average. Picking can lead to scarring or infection, and a thin layer of petroleum jelly twice a day while you heal helps keep crusts from building up.

Q. I get cold sores often. Can I still have fractional laser?

A. If cold sores keep coming back, mention it before any fractional laser. They can flare up after laser treatment, especially around the mouth. An antiviral medicine taken before treatment can help prevent this, and whether to prescribe it is decided at the visit.

Q. When can I use tretinoin or glycolic acid again after laser resurfacing?

A. Retinoids like tretinoin and glycolic acid products are best paused for 4 weeks after laser resurfacing. Avoid other products that can sting or irritate for 6 weeks. Sun protection with SPF 50 or higher is part of aftercare while the skin heals and for several months after.