Reveal Smoother, Brighter, Even-Toned Skin

Reveal Smoother, Brighter, Healthier-Looking Skin At Allure Medical, Fraxel® and Clear + Brilliant® are two of our most frequently performed laser skin treatments for improving sun damage, uneven pigmentation, acne scars, wrinkles, skin texture, and the visible signs of aging. Our experience with fractional laser resurfacing dates back to 2004, when this category of technology was first emerging. As fractional laser technology has evolved, we have continued to upgrade our devices and treatment protocols to incorporate newer generations of technology. Today, we use both Fraxel and Clear + Brilliant, choosing the treatment intensity according to the patient’s skin, concerns, lifestyle, and desired amount of correction. The concept behind both treatments is remarkably powerful: treat a fraction of the skin while leaving surrounding skin intact to support rapid healing.

Fraxel is one of our primary treatments for patients who want meaningful improvement in: Sun damage and age spots Acne scars Fine lines and wrinkles Uneven skin tone and texture Pigmentation irregularities Overall facial resurfacing and rejuvenation

Traditional ablative resurfacing lasers remove or vaporize the surface of the skin across the treated area. Fraxel is a fractional, non-ablative laser. Instead of removing the entire skin surface, it creates microscopic treatment zones while leaving intervening areas of skin intact. Those untreated areas are important: they provide reservoirs of healthy tissue that support a much faster healing response.

This is one of the most important differences between fractional and traditional ablative laser resurfacing. In our more intensive Fraxel treatments, we may use approximately 53–60% fractional coverage, depending on the patient’s treatment plan and clinical needs. That means we can treat a substantial portion of the skin while still maintaining microscopic areas of untreated tissue throughout the treatment field. The controlled fractional injury activates the skin’s natural repair and renewal processes, stimulating remodeling and the formation of new collagen as the treated tissue is replaced. Think of it as resurfacing from within rather than removing the entire surface from above. The objective is significant skin renewal with substantially less recovery than would typically be associated with fully ablative resurfacing.

Years of ultraviolet exposure can leave behind brown spots, uneven pigmentation, rough texture, fine lines, and other visible signs of photodamage. Fraxel targets microscopic columns within the skin, initiating a repair process that gradually replaces damaged tissue with healthier-looking skin. For patients with significant sun damage, age spots, fine lines, wrinkles, or uneven skin tone, Fraxel allows us to address several components of skin aging during the same treatment. Rather than simply treating an individual brown spot or wrinkle, our goal is overall skin resurfacing and rejuvenation.

Fraxel can also be an important treatment for acne scarring and irregular skin texture. Acne scars are not simply surface discoloration. Many scars involve structural changes within the skin itself. Fractional laser energy creates controlled microscopic treatment zones that initiate remodeling within the treated skin. Over time, this repair process can improve the appearance and texture of certain acne scars while simultaneously improving overall skin quality. Because acne scars vary considerably in type and depth, treatment recommendations are customized to the individual patient.

Clear + Brilliant® is a gentler fractional laser treatment designed for patients who want to improve or maintain skin quality with minimal disruption to everyday life.

Where Fraxel is our more intensive resurfacing option, Clear + Brilliant is particularly useful for: Preventing and treating early pigment irregularities Maintaining even skin tone Improving mild sun damage Improving skin texture and radiance Supporting a long-term skin-maintenance program Enhancing the effectiveness of a customized medical-grade skincare regimen

Clear + Brilliant is an excellent option for patients who are not yet ready for more aggressive resurfacing or who want ongoing treatments designed to maintain healthier-looking skin.

One of our favorite ways to incorporate Clear + Brilliant is as part of a comprehensive medical skincare program. The fractional treatment creates microscopic channels in the skin. We can use the treatment strategically alongside medical-grade skincare selected according to the patient’s individual concerns. In this sense, we think of Clear + Brilliant not simply as a laser treatment, but as part of a targeted skincare delivery strategy. Instead of approaching every patient with the same facial or skincare protocol, the clinician can identify the patient’s primary concerns - such as pigmentation, photoaging, texture, or overall skin quality - and build a customized treatment and skincare program around those needs. The laser and skincare work as parts of the same treatment philosophy: identify what the skin needs and focus treatment where it matters.

Both treatments use fractional technology, but they serve different purposes. Clear + Brilliant is our lighter approach. It is ideal for prevention, maintenance, early pigmentation changes, skin radiance, and patients who want a very manageable treatment with minimal downtime. Fraxel is the more intensive resurfacing treatment. We typically recommend it when the objective is more significant correction of sun damage, acne scars, wrinkles, pigmentation, and overall skin texture. Clear + Brilliant is about maintaining and optimizing the skin. Fraxel is about repairing and resurfacing more significantly damaged skin. Many patients ultimately use both at different stages of their long-term skin health program.

Despite the intensity of the treatment, Fraxel is designed to preserve untreated skin between its microscopic treatment zones. Patients undergoing our more aggressive Fraxel resurfacing treatments should generally plan for approximately one week of visible recovery, although individual healing varies. During this period, the skin may appear red, swollen, bronzed, rough, or flaky as the treated tissue goes through its renewal process. Clear + Brilliant is substantially gentler and typically involves much less downtime, making it easier to incorporate into a regular skincare and maintenance program. Both treatments are designed to harness the body’s natural healing response while avoiding the prolonged recovery associated with fully ablative resurfacing.

Technology matters, but experience with the technology matters just as much. Our experience with fractional laser resurfacing began in 2004, and we have continued to evolve our treatments as newer generations of Fraxel and fractional laser technology have become available. That experience has shaped an important part of our philosophy: The goal is not simply to own a laser. The goal is to understand how much energy, coverage, downtime, and skin renewal are appropriate for the individual patient. Whether we recommend Clear + Brilliant for early pigmentation and ongoing skin maintenance or a higher-coverage Fraxel treatment for significant resurfacing, the treatment is selected around the patient’s skin and desired outcome.

If you are concerned about sun damage, acne scars, wrinkles, brown spots, uneven pigmentation, rough skin texture, or the overall appearance of aging skin, Fraxel or Clear + Brilliant may be appropriate options. Our clinicians can evaluate your skin and determine which technology - and which level of treatment - best fits your goals. The objective is not simply younger-looking skin. It is healthier-looking, smoother, more even, naturally rejuvenated skin.