Does Fractora Actually Work? Before + After Photos & My Personal Experience

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A few years ago, I had a consultation at a medspa in San Francisco, and they suggested Fractora to me.

My main skin concern was evening out acne scars that I had ever since high school. I had never heard of Fractora, and I was intrigued.

I ended up doing two Fractora sessions with Epi Center MedSpa in San Francisco, and I loved the results.

Fractora and Morpheus 8 feel like a bit of a secret in the beauty and skincare world—whenever I tell people about the procedure, I rarely find someone who’s super familiar with it.

If you landed on this post, you’re probably wondering: What is Fractora, and does the treatment actually work?

Fractora is a scientifically proven method of skin rejuvenation that combines microneedling with high-tech laser technology, giving your skin a natural glow and evening out the texture.

This non-invasive procedure targets common concerns and signs of aging, from acne scars to wrinkles and dark spots to stretch marks and sagging skin.

I’m sharing my treatment experience and essential information about Fractora to help you decide whether to try it.

Does the Fractora Skin Treatment Work?

About Fractora

Understanding the science behind Fractora can be daunting, but it’s essential to educate yourself so that you can make an informed decision about trying the skin resurfacing treatment.

Fractora combines microneedling and fractional laser skin procedures to tighten skin and stimulate collagen production combatting the natural aging process, resulting in a more youthful appearance. 

I’m no scientist, so all of this information felt overwhelming when I was initially considering Fractora. Let’s break things down so it’s easier to digest.

You may have heard of microneedling, which uses tiny needles to make small holes in the skin, promoting elastin and collagen production. 

I love to microneedle because it’s a simple yet effective skincare treatment with minimal downtime. You can even do it at home with tools like BeautyBio’s GloPro (read my GloPro review here).

One session of Fractora is equal to three sessions of microneedling, thanks to its deeper penetration and combined use of RF energy. If you aren’t familiar with fractional lasers, I’m here to help! These high-tech lasers boost skin tightening and resurfacing with radio frequency energy waves.

Radiofrequency energy (RF) is ideal for many skin types because it’s gentler than traditional laser resurfacing, you heal much faster and need less downtime, and it guarantees visible results.

When I had my consultation at Epi Center MedSpa, they steered me away from traditional laser treatments, as those can often have adverse side effects like hyperpigmentation on those with pigmented skin (Black, Asian, and Latina women).

Fractora treatment targets acne scarring, deep wrinkles, and rough skin texture with little risk—the most commonly treated areas include the cheeks and forehead.

My Fractora procedure focused on my cheeks and chin because that’s where I had the most acne scars.

Who Should Try Fractora?

Fractora is ideal for anyone who wants to reduce the appearance of acne scarring, uneven skin tone/texture, or fine lines.

Many people between the ages of 30 and 60 undergo the Fractora treatment because fractionated RF energy found in the device improves uneven skin complexion for exceptional results.

However, younger and older candidates can use Fractora’s radiofrequency technology to minimize post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (scarring or discoloration caused by damage).

Anyone considering Fractora should book a consultation with their local medspa to discuss whether this fractional rejuvenation procedure is a good option. 

The Fractora Procedure

So, how exactly does Fractora work? First, a topical numbing cream is applied to your intended treatment area, which, for me, was my whole face.

This cream minimizes pain during the treatment but doesn’t completely numb your senses—you’ll probably still feel some discomfort and pain. I know I did!

Once the numbing cream has had some time to work (about 15 – 20 minutes), your aesthetician will begin the treatment using a handheld laser-microneedling device.

Fractora machines are minimally invasive, using a matrix of micro-pins to deliver concentrated waves of RF energy to the skin tissue.

Your Fractora doctor will move the handheld machine across your target area, and you’ll feel tingles, pinpricks, and stinging.

The lasers penetrate your deep dermis layers to stimulate new collagen production and skin cell growth, encouraging skin renewal from the inside out.

It’s impressive how effective Fractora is at improving your skin health and appearance without injections or invasive surgeries!

The length of time a Fractora procedure takes depends on the size and location of your treatment area. For my face, I believe it took 30 – 45 minutes, and we also took breaks in between because as I mentioned, it is painful.

Here’s a screenshot from a video I took immediately after my Fractora procedure—you’ll see pinpricks, redness, and some blood on my face, so if blood bothers you, keep scrolling!

One treatment can improve your skin, but the most noticeable results appear after multiple sessions—I did two and was happy with the outcome.

Your doctor will give you essential information about what kind of post-procedure care to expect after each treatment. I share more about the recovery period below, but I stayed home for four days after my treatment. After that, I was able to put on makeup to cover the redness/scabs from the treatment and go out. Your skin is pretty healed after one week.

Generally, you will be advised to regularly apply moisturizer and avoid direct sun exposure in the weeks following your procedure.

Doctors also recommend that patients use a good broad-spectrum sunscreen every day to prevent sun-damaged skin.

My Experience at Epi Center MedSpa

If you’re in the Bay Area and looking to do Fractora/Morpheus 8 or any other medspa treatment (laser facials, IPL, microneedling, etc.), I would highly recommend Epi Center MedSpa in SF!

My aesthetic nurse specialist for my Fractora procedures was Minela, and she was wonderful. She is super knowledgeable and experienced and walked me through everything.

She took extra care to make sure I was as comfortable as possible, checking in along the way and asking if I needed a break—because like I said, Fractora was definitely painful. I felt in very good hands with her!

If you book any treatment at Epi Center MedSpa, mention Elise/What The Fab referred you, and you’ll get $50 off!

The Recovery After Fractora

I’d recommend scheduling your Fractora treatment during a time when you can stay home for a few days afterward (and be off your Zoom camera, lol). Your face will be red and swollen, and you’ll have some scabs and marks from the needles.

For the first few days, you can’t wear makeup, and you just need to let your skin breathe and heal. You’ll be given a gentle moisturizing cream and face wash to use, along with SPF.

After about four days, you can apply makeup and go out into the wild. I had an event four days after my treatment so I was glad to be able to put on makeup and attend. I will say that at that point, my skin texture did look a bit uneven even with the makeup because I still had small scabs from the procedure. I don’t know if my friends were just being nice, but they did say they couldn’t tell.

In these photos, you’ll see the redness and swelling start to go down each day.

Is Fractora Dangerous?

Before getting Fractora, I was concerned about how it would affect the health of my skin and any potential adverse side effects.

Most cosmetic treatments pose dangers you must consider in your decision-making process, but Fractora is generally safe for all skin types, especially if you follow your medspa doctor’s orders for prepping the skin before treatment.

My prep included using a combination of prescription-strength retinol and hydroquinone cream and staying out of the sun for a few weeks before my treatment. The hydroquinone cream is especially important for Black, Asian, and Latina patients as it helps to ensure we don’t get any hyperpigmentation issues from the treatment.

The procedure is FDA-approved and non-invasive, so people of all ages undergo Fractora to treat various skin concerns.

After speaking with the medical spa doctor who performed my procedure, my worries about skin damage were put to rest.

They informed me I may experience discomfort and skin irritation during and after the procedure, but Fractor doesn’t cause lasting damage or scarring.

I recommend consulting your doctor about any concerns before adding the treatments to your schedule. 

How Much Does Fractora Cost?

The Fractora procedure cost varies significantly depending on the skin spa you visit and the body areas you’re getting treated.

Expect a single session to cost anywhere from $700 to $1,100—it isn’t cheap!

Fractora is expensive because it uses high-end laser technology and must be administered by a licensed aesthetician.

However, it’s more affordable than similar laser treatments and will save you thousands of dollars compared to traditional plastic surgery.

Since the results are also permanent, I consider each session a lifelong investment. Plus, the price of feeling confident in your skin is priceless.

My Experience and Before/After Fractora Photos

I’ve dealt with acne scarring since high school, so I decided to try Fractora and see what the hype is all about.

After researching and reading countless customer reviews, I settled on Epi Center MedSpa San Francisco.

I booked two treatments through Epi Center and had a fantastic experience from start to finish.

Let me warn you: the Fractora sessions hurt. I have a pretty high pain tolerance, and this was about the max I could handle. However, the pain was worth it because my skin looked amazing afterward.

None of the beauty products, facials, or treatments I’ve previously tried have been so effective at smoothing my acne scars and rough skin texture.

My face felt entirely resurfaced in the best way possible, and I’m still blown away by the results months after receiving the skin therapy.

And now, my Fractora before and after photos! I circled a few areas in the before side to pay attention to and compare, where I had discoloration and deep pits from acne scars. In the after photo, you’ll see that they are either totally gone or noticeably evened and smoothed out.

Overall, I’m very happy with the results from my two Fractora treatments and would 100% recommend it to someone looking to fix skin issues like uneven tone and scarring.

I could probably benefit from a third treatment. Given how much my skin has improved (and the fact that Fractora is pretty painful, expensive, and requires some downtime), I think I might try just a few regular microneedling treatments and see how that goes.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Visible results: From my personal experience, I know the treatment is effective. Fractora evened out my skin complexion by reducing the appearance of dark spots and acne scars. My skin is healthier and clearer than ever!

Non-invasive: Fractora is a non-invasive alternative to other beauty procedures involving injections and surgeries, making it a good option for candidates in their 20s to 60s and beyond.

Appropriate for all skin types: Fractora is generally considered safe for all skin types and is effective on many skin tones and colors. Of course, you should speak with your doctor before undergoing treatments to ensure it’s a good option for your skin. 

Permanent effects: Since Fractora treatments are permanent, you won’t need touchups or redos later in life. It’s a fantastic one-and-done treatment (though you may need multiple sessions to see your desired results).

Cons

Price: Cosmetic procedures can cost a pretty penny, and Fractora treatments are expensive. Given the noticeable, permanent results, the cost is justified, but you must budget accordingly. Confirm with your doctor how many sessions you’ll need to accomplish your skin goals. Remember, the more areas of your body you plan to treat (or the larger the area), the more expensive it will be.

Painful procedure: I won’t lie—Fractora is unpleasant and can be pretty painful. In the first few days after laser therapy, the treatment area will be red, inflamed, and slightly tender. Even if you have a high pain tolerance, expect some discomfort during and after your sessions. My skin was slightly swollen, and I looked a bit sunburnt immediately after my procedures with needle marks on my face, though this didn’t last long and your skin starts looking back to normal in a week.

Final Thoughts

I can’t recommend Fractora enough to those struggling with scarring, hyperpigmentation, skin damage, sagging, wrinkles, and more! 

While the Fractora skin resurfacing procedure can be costly and physically uncomfortable, the results are absolutely worth it. I feel so much more comfortable going makeup-free these days, whereas before I felt self-conscious about my acne scars.

My acne scars smoothed out so much after Fractora, and my skin feels smooth and healthy. The results are permanent, so I never have to worry about feeling insecure in my natural skin again.

If you want a minimally invasive treatment to combat aging and improve skin complexion, I highly suggest booking a Fractora consultation through a reputable medical spa. 

Thanks for checking out my Fractora review!

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