ProFractional
ProFractional is the middle ground of the resurfacing ladder. The laser vaporizes thousands of pinpoint channels of skin while leaving the tissue between them untouched, so you get the deep, dramatic correction of an ablative laser with a recovery measured in days, not the weeks of traditional full-surface resurfacing.
What isProFractional?
ProFractional creates controlled micro-injuries: thousands of tiny treatment zones vaporized into the skin, each surrounded by healthy, untouched tissue. Those intact bridges are the trick. Untouched tissue around every channel promotes faster healing, so collagen and elastin rebuild and recovery stays short even though the laser penetrates well below the surface.
That depth is what separates it from lighter options. Where a superficial peel or microneedling works gradually at the surface, ProFractional reaches the layers where deep wrinkles, surgical scars, severe acne scarring, and stretch marks live, and the depth and intensity are tunable to your skin and your calendar.
A session is simple: numbing cream, then 30 to 60 minutes as the device passes over the area with a warm, prickling sensation. Afterward skin feels like a sunburn for a few days, turns sandpaper-rough, and peels to reveal fresh skin, with most patients presentable within a week.
Who is ProFractional for?
ProFractional is for people who want more than a light treatment can give, without the recovery of full resurfacing.
The comparison is honest: a light chemical peel works at the surface, microneedling improves skin gradually, and full CO2 is one of the most intensive options available, with a longer recovery. ProFractional is chosen when you want clearly noticeable results with a short recovery. Your provider places you on the right rung at your consultation.
Acne scars or texture
Textural irregularities and acne scarring are ProFractional's signature work, treated deeper than many superficial treatments reach.
Fine lines and deeper wrinkles
Collagen rebuilt in the micro-channels smooths lines from below over the weeks after treatment.
Sun damage or pigment
Discoloration and rough, sun-worn texture resurface fresher and more even.
You want a non-surgical route
No incisions and no anesthesia beyond numbing cream, with moderate to advanced concerns still on the table.
You can accept some downtime
A few days to about a week of redness and peeling, in exchange for more significant results than no-downtime treatments deliver.
Where ProFractionalworks
ProFractional treats the face, neck, chest, hands, and back, including stretch marks and scars beyond the face.
Select an area on the figure to see what ProFractional does there.
ProFractional, full face1 / 2
ProFractional,before and after.
Both comparisons are from the treatment gallery on our previous website: a full face resurfaced, and the deep wrinkles around the mouth smoothed. Individual results vary; your own plan is designed at your consultation. Drag the handle to compare.
See all ProFractional Laser resultsIndividual results vary and no outcome can be guaranteed. These photographs are from the treatment gallery on the practice's previous website and are not a guarantee of your own result.
See ProFractional at our office
Real ProFractional treatments and real patients from our Montgomery Road office, from a full virtual consultation to a patient who paired the laser with Botox and filler, plus a look at stretch mark treatment.
If you would rather talk it through, a consultation covers everything you see here, for your skin.
Whatto expect.
Book a consultationCost depends on the area treated and the number of sessions planned, so you receive a personalized quote at your consultation.
Numbing cream goes on first; the laser pass itself takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on the area.
Expect sunburn-like redness, mild swelling, a sandpaper feel, and peeling. Most patients are comfortable in public within a few days to a week.
Initial improvement shows once skin heals, with most of the change arriving over several weeks and full results within a few months. Mild scarring typically takes one to two sessions; moderate to severe scarring usually takes three to five, spaced several weeks apart.
Frequently asked questions
Is ProFractional painful?
It is well tolerated with numbing cream. You feel a warm or prickling sensation during the pass, then something like a mild sunburn afterward that subsides over a few days.
How long is the downtime?
A few days to about a week, with redness, mild swelling, and peeling as the treated channels heal and fresh skin surfaces.
How many treatments will I need?
One treatment may be enough for some concerns, and a short series delivers optimal results for others. Mild scarring typically takes one to two sessions; moderate to severe scarring usually takes three to five, spaced several weeks apart. Your plan is personalized at consultation.
When will I see results?
Initial improvement appears once the skin has healed, most of the change builds over several weeks, and full results settle within a few months as collagen matures.
Is ProFractional safe for all skin types?
It is safe for many skin types when performed by an experienced provider. Some tones and conditions need adjusted settings or a different device, which is exactly what the consultation is for.
How is ProFractional different from CO2?
Both are ablative, but CO2 is one of the most intensive options available and asks for a longer recovery, often as a single aggressive session. ProFractional treats tunable micro-channels for significant results with far less downtime.
How is it different from Fraxel?
Fraxel is non-ablative: nothing is removed, and it favors pigment and fine texture over a series. ProFractional vaporizes true channels, reaching deeper problems like severe acne scars faster.
Can ProFractional treat stretch marks?
Yes. Deep wrinkles, surgical scars, severe acne scars, and stretch marks are the concerns where its ablative depth earns its keep.
What is the skin like right after treatment?
Red and warm like a sunburn, then rough like sandpaper as the micro-channels close, then peeling. Sunscreen and gentle skincare protect the new skin as it comes in.
How long do results last?
Results are long lasting with sunscreen, good skincare, and periodic maintenance, since new collagen continues to support the skin.
Where to next
Related treatment
Clear + Brilliant
Gentle laser glow, minimal downtime.
Explore the treatmentRelated concern
Lines & Wrinkles
Motion lines and creases that stay put
Start from the concernWorth reading
ProFractional Laser for Acne Scars: Patient Experience & Treatment
Acne scars can be one of the most frustrating reminders of past breakouts, often affecting both skin texture and confidence. If you are looking for a
Read the answerAsk about your skin.
Tell us what you would like to change and we will come back with the treatments that fit, honest expectations, and a time to talk it through.
Your details go straight to our Montgomery Road front desk and are never shared. A team member replies during office hours, usually the same day.
Ready when you are.
Book a consultation at our Montgomery Road office, or call and we will help you decide where to start.
Medically reviewed by Shalini Gupta, MD, Harvard-trained dermatologist and founder of The Dermatology, Laser & Vein Center. Last reviewed September 2026. This page is for education and is not a substitute for a personalized medical consultation.