Fraxel vs. CO2 Laser: Which Resurfacing Fits Your Skin?

October 23, 2026

Fraxel and fractional CO2 both resurface skin, but downtime, depth, cost and risk for darker skin differ. Here is how to choose the right one.

Dermatologist and patient discuss laser resurfacing options

Fraxel and fractional CO2 are both fractional lasers, but they work at different depths. Non-ablative Fraxel heats the skin beneath the surface and suits early sun damage, uneven tone and mild texture, with a few days of recovery. Fractional CO2 vaporizes microscopic columns of skin. It does more for deep wrinkles and significant scarring, and it costs you about a week or two of healing. Which one is right for you depends on what you want to fix, how much downtime you can afford and, just as important, your skin tone.

Below we compare them on the things that decide the choice: what each laser does, recovery, results, safety, cost and skin of color.

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TL;DR

Fraxel (non-ablative) treats early photoaging, mild pigment and mild texture problems. Expect roughly 1 to 3 days of recovery and usually a series of sessions.
Fractional CO2 (ablative) is generally the stronger option for deep wrinkles and significant scarring. Expect roughly 7 to 14 days of recovery, often with fewer sessions.
Skin tone changes the answer. In Fitzpatrick types IV to VI, CO2 carries a higher risk of pigment changes and needs conservative settings from an experienced provider.
Cost per session is not cost per result. Published averages favor Fraxel per visit, but the total depends on how many sessions you need and what is bundled.
The name is confusing. “Fraxel” is a brand family that has included both a non-ablative and a CO2 device, so always ask which wavelength is being used.

First, what do people mean by “Fraxel”?
How the two lasers work
Side-by-side comparison
Recovery: what the first two weeks look like
Which one gets better results for your concern?
Skin tone changes the decision
Safety: is the gentler laser always the safer one?
What does each really cost?
Our perspective
How to choose: a short checklist
Talk to a dermatologist about your skin
FAQ
Sources

First, what do people mean by “Fraxel”?

Most patients use “Fraxel” to mean the gentler, non-ablative treatment. That is the version this comparison is about. But Fraxel has been a brand family, and one of its devices, Fraxel Re:pair, is itself a fractional CO2 laser. The better-known Fraxel Restore is a 1550 nm non-ablative laser. If a clinic quotes you a price for “Fraxel,” ask two questions: which wavelength, and is it ablative or non-ablative?

The same caution applies to the opposite side. “CO2 laser” can mean older fully ablative resurfacing, which removes the whole surface layer, or modern fractional CO2, which treats a pattern of microscopic columns and leaves the skin between them intact. Fractional CO2 is what most patients are actually comparing with Fraxel. Our own plain-language guide to fractional lasers explains the fractional idea in more detail.

How the two lasers work

Non-ablative fractional (Fraxel-style)

A non-ablative laser delivers energy into the dermis while leaving the top layer of skin largely in place. It targets water in the tissue rather than pigment, which prompts the skin to rebuild collagen. Because the surface stays mostly intact, you heal quickly. The tradeoff is that each session produces a modest change, so most plans call for a series.

Ablative fractional CO2

Fractional CO2 uses a 10,600 nm wavelength that also targets water, but at enough energy to vaporize tiny columns of tissue. The body then replaces those columns with new collagen and elastin. Because it removes tissue, it is a controlled wound, and it behaves like one: crusting, swelling and a longer healing curve. That wound is also why it reaches problems that gentler lasers only soften.

$Skin layers compared across two fractional lasers$

Side-by-side comparison

Figures below come from a 2026 evidence-based resurfacing guide, and individual results vary by device, settings and provider.

Factor	Non-ablative Fraxel	Fractional CO2
Type	Non-ablative	Ablative
Best for	Early photoaging, mild pigment, mild texture and mild scarring	Deep wrinkles, significant scarring, advanced sun damage
Typical recovery	1 to 3 days	7 to 14 days
Sessions	Usually a series	Often fewer, sometimes one main treatment
Average cost per session	$800 to $1,500	$1,500 to $4,500
Skin of color	Generally the safer category	Higher pigment risk; needs conservative settings

A note on the session counts: patient-facing guides commonly describe Fraxel as three to five visits spaced about a month apart, and CO2 as one or two. That is a reasonable rule of thumb, not a promise. Your skin and your goals set the real number.

Recovery: what the first two weeks look like

Fraxel. Expect redness and some swelling for a day or two, then a rough, sandpaper-like texture as the skin sheds. Many people go back to work quickly, though pinkness can linger depending on your sensitivity and how aggressively you were treated.

Fractional CO2. Expect swelling, oozing and crusting early, followed by peeling and prolonged pinkness. Plan on roughly 7 to 14 days of recovery before you feel comfortable in public without makeup, and longer for redness to fully fade.

One point that prevents a lot of panic: swelling and redness after CO2 are expected, not complications. An expert consensus on fractional ablative CO2 notes that swelling is expected in the large majority of patients, and it becomes a reason to call your dermatologist when it persists beyond one to two weeks, or when you develop worsening pain, pus, fever or blistering. Do not wait it out in those situations.

Aftercare matters as much as the laser on either path. Our guides on cosmetic procedure aftercare and post-treatment skin care cover cleansing, moisturizing and sun protection, and our laser care instructions are what we hand to patients.

Recovery: what the first two weeks look like — overview diagram

Which one gets better results for your concern?

Fine lines, tone and early sun damage

If your concerns are uneven tone, fine lines, enlarged-looking pores or early photoaging, non-ablative fractional laser is usually the sensible starting point. You get a visible improvement with little time off, and you can build on it.

Deep wrinkles

For lines that stay etched in when your face is at rest, fractional CO2 is generally the more effective tool. A gentler laser can soften them, but it rarely does what an ablative treatment does.

Acne scarring

Mild to moderate scarring often responds to a series of non-ablative sessions. Deep, boxcar or ice-pick type scars are where CO2 tends to earn its downtime. Even then, expect improvement rather than erasure. Scars are rarely fully removed by any laser.

Lax skin and jowls

Patients often ask whether Fraxel can tighten jowls. Fractional lasers stimulate collagen and can improve skin quality and mild laxity, but they do not lift sagging tissue. Significant jowling is a structural issue, and a dermatologist can tell you what is realistic for your face.

Longevity

Collagen remodeling continues for months. One evidence guide reports that after ablative CO2, remodeling is confirmed at three months and still building at six. Neither treatment stops aging, and sun exposure will undo your results faster than time will.

Skin tone changes the decision

This is the section most comparison pages skip, and it is where the choice is often really made.

Lasers that target water, like Fraxel and CO2, do not rely on melanin, but the heat they create can still trigger pigment cells. In people with Fitzpatrick skin types IV to VI, ablative CO2 carries a significantly higher risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark patches) and sometimes hypopigmentation (lighter patches). A review of nonablative fractional lasers in skin of color found that fractional lasers are a favorable option across many conditions in these skin types, and that non-ablative devices are the safer category. The same source describes fractional CO2 in darker skin as requiring ultra-conservative settings, often under 20% coverage, with careful management.

In practice that means:

Higher settings do not mean better results. In darker skin, aggressive CO2 settings can cause pigment problems that last longer and are harder to treat than the original concern, as one guide on resurfacing in Black skin explains.
Provider experience matters more than the device. Ask how often the person treating you works on your skin type.
A patch test is reasonable. We explain what to ask for in our article on lasers for dark skin.

If you are weighing CO2 against another ablative wavelength, our comparison of CO2 and erbium lasers walks through how skin tone and downtime shift that choice.

Safety: is the gentler laser always the safer one?

Not always, and the data is more interesting than most people expect. A 2021 systematic review of 1,093 patients found adverse events in 9.7% of laser resurfacing cases overall. When transient, self-resolving effects like expected redness and swelling were excluded, ablative lasers had a complication rate of 2.56%, compared with 7.48% for non-ablative therapies. That contradicts the common belief that ablative treatment is automatically riskier.

We would not read that as “CO2 is safer.” The review pooled many devices and studies, and patients, settings and operators differ. What it does tell you is that risk depends on who treats you, how they select the settings and how well you are prepared and followed up, not just on how aggressive the laser sounds.

The risks worth knowing before either treatment:

Pigment changes, discussed above.
Infection, including herpes simplex flare-ups. If you get cold sores, tell your provider before CO2, because antiviral prevention is commonly part of the plan.
Scarring, uncommon but more likely with aggressive settings or poor aftercare.
Sun sensitivity. Strict sun protection is non-negotiable for weeks afterward.

What does each really cost?

Published 2026 averages put non-ablative Fraxel at $800 to $1,500 per session and fractional CO2 at $1,500 to $4,500. Another cost guide lists the same fractional CO2 range for a full face. These are national averages, not our prices, and we do not publish a fixed fee because the plan depends on the area treated and the device used.

Do the math on the whole plan, not the single visit. Four Fraxel sessions at the low end of the range can match or exceed one CO2 treatment, while one CO2 treatment at the high end can cost more than a short Fraxel series. Add recovery time off work to that comparison.

Also ask what is included. One cost guide estimates that add-ons like antiviral medication, post-care products and follow-ups can raise the total by 15 to 20% over the advertised session price. Our article on laser resurfacing cost compares med spa pricing with physician-led care in more depth.

Our perspective

After 25+ years in dermatology, we think the Fraxel versus CO2 debate is usually framed backwards. Patients arrive asking for a device. We start with the skin: its type, its history, what is bothering you and what your calendar allows.

A few things guide how we think about it:

Diagnosis comes first. A brown patch might be sun damage, melasma or something that needs a biopsy. Treating a lesion before it is evaluated is a mistake no laser choice can fix. This is the reason lasers sit inside a dermatology practice, not apart from one.
Conservative beats heroic. A moderate treatment you recover from well is better than an aggressive one that leaves pigment problems. Staging treatment is often the smarter plan, especially for darker skin.
Your goal sets the tool. Early photoaging rarely needs ablative treatment. Deep lines or scars sometimes do, and it is better to say so plainly than to sell a series of gentle sessions that cannot get there.
Aftercare is part of the treatment. The best settings can be undone by sun exposure or picking at crusts.

Our board-certified providers tailor each plan to the individual, and we would rather tell you a laser is not the right answer than book one.

— Rao Dermatology

How to choose: a short checklist

Name your main concern. Tone and fine texture point toward non-ablative. Deep lines and significant scars point toward a consult about CO2.
Count your downtime honestly. One to three days is easy to hide. A week or two is not.
Know your skin type. If you are Fitzpatrick IV to VI, ask any provider how they adjust density and energy and how they prevent pigment problems.
Tell the provider your history. Cold sores, keloid or unusual scarring, recent isotretinoin use, a tan, pregnancy and any skin cancer history all affect timing and safety.
Ask what the full plan costs. Sessions, medications, products and follow-ups.
Get a skin check first. Anything new, changing or non-healing should be examined before it is lasered.

If neither fits, there are other options, from chemical peels to energy devices with no wound at all. Our overview of top laser therapy options covers several.

Talk to a dermatologist about your skin

We offer laser treatments and skin rejuvenation at our locations in California, New Jersey and New York. A consultation is where we look at your skin, discuss your goals and tell you which approach we would recommend, including when waiting or choosing something gentler is better. You can also see the rest of our cosmetic services or reach us through raodermatology.com to book.

FAQ

Is Fraxel laser worth the money?

It can be if your concerns are mild to moderate, such as early sun damage, uneven tone or mild texture, and you want little downtime. Because it usually takes several sessions, judge the total plan cost against the improvement you want, not the single-visit price. If your main concern is deep wrinkles or deep scars, a gentler laser may disappoint you.

Is the CO2 laser outdated?

No. Fractional CO2 has been used for skin rejuvenation for about three decades, and expert consensus recommendations continue to be updated as the technology develops. Newer, gentler devices have taken over some uses, but CO2 remains a standard for deeper concerns.

Is there anything better than a CO2 laser?

“Better” depends on the goal and your skin. For milder concerns or darker skin, non-ablative lasers or other ablative wavelengths may be a better fit, and our CO2 versus erbium comparison explains one such tradeoff. For deep wrinkles and significant scars, CO2 is still often the benchmark.

Can Fraxel tighten jowls?

It can improve skin texture and stimulate collagen, which may give a slight firming effect. It cannot lift sagging tissue. If jowls are your main concern, ask a dermatologist to assess whether a skin-quality treatment or a different approach makes sense.

Can I have either laser if I have dark skin?

Often yes, but the choice and settings matter. Non-ablative lasers are generally the safer category for Fitzpatrick IV to VI, and CO2 requires conservative settings and an experienced provider. Ask about a patch test and how pigment problems are prevented and treated.