Final answer:
Fraxel laser skin resurfacing is a treatment to improve skin appearance, different from LASIK which corrects vision. Fraxel uses a laser to stimulate collagen remodeling, treating scars, wrinkles, and sun damage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fraxel laser skin resurfacing is a cosmetic treatment that uses a laser to improve skin appearance. Unlike LASIK, which is a procedure used for laser vision correction, Fraxel treatment focuses on the skin. It does so by producing microscopic laser columns that penetrate deep into the skin to expedite the body's remodeling of collagen. The technology effectively treats a variety of skin issues, including scars, wrinkles, and sun damage.
Just like the excimer laser used in LASIK, the Fraxel laser is also precise, emitting a very pure wavelength of light that allows for accurate treatment. However, the light from the Fraxel laser is absorbed by water in the skin rather than by corneal tissue, and it encourages the skin to regenerate itself by stimulating the production of new, healthy skin cells to replace old, damaged cells.