Call today! 813.949.3300
Call today! 813.949.3300
Fraxel® is a fractional laser skin resurfacing treatment that repairs damaged skin a fraction at a time — treating microscopic columns of tissue while leaving the skin around them intact, so it heals fast with far less downtime than CO2 resurfacing. At Nu Image Medspa in Lutz, FL (3939 Cheval Blvd, off N Dale Mabry Hwy near Cheval), Fraxel® is performed by Ava Moore, a Florida-licensed laser specialist who calibrates every treatment to your Fitzpatrick skin type for a safe, effective result.
It treats sun spots, age and brown spots, melasma, wrinkles, fine lines around the eyes, acne scars and rough texture. Most clients need a short series, with 1–3 days of sunburn-like recovery per session and a cost of treatment that starts at $700 per session (package pricing lowers the per-session rate). Serving Lutz, Cheval, Carrollwood, Northdale, Odessa and Land O’ Lakes. Call 813.949.3300.
Almost everything Fraxel® is built to fix — the scattered brown spots, the blotchy uneven tone, the rough texture, the fine lines fanning from the eyes — is photodamage — the accumulated effect of sun on skin over years. And in Lutz, it accumulates faster than almost anywhere. We sit under open Florida sky with no real cloudy season to slow it down: The lake weekends, the rounds at TPC Tampa Bay and Cheval, the school sidelines and the long bright drives down Dale Mabry all deposit a little more UV. The result is skin that carries more of exactly the damage Fraxel® laser treatment is built to clear — which is why it’s one of the most-requested resurfacing treatments in Lutz.
Here’s the catch that makes Lutz different: The same sun that caused the damage also works against the treatment. Sun exposure right before a session raises the risk of complications, and sun exposure afterward can fade the results you paid for. So two things matter more here than almost anywhere — when you treat, and how carefully your provider reads your skin before each session.
Fraxel® asks for disciplined sun avoidance before and after each session, and freshly treated skin is temporarily more vulnerable to UV. In a cloudier climate you can simply heal through a gray week. Florida gives you no such cover, so the plan has to be built around your calendar and a real commitment to broad-spectrum SPF, hats and shade. We’d rather schedule your series around that than chase a result the next sunny weekend erases.
Even a light “I was just on the boat” tan shifts the risk picture. Treating recently sun-exposed skin raises the chance of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation — laser-triggered dark patches that are the opposite of what you came in for. That’s why we screen for recent sun, adjust energy and wavelength to your skin, sometimes pre-treat pigment-prone skin with a calming regimen, and occasionally move your appointment. It isn’t hesitation; it’s the difference between clearing pigment and creating it.
Melasma — the mask-of-pregnancy patches across the cheeks and forehead — is driven by sun and heat, two things Lutz has in abundance. Fraxel® can soften it, but it’s stubborn and prone to return without strict sun control. We treat it honestly and conservatively, and pair it with a maintenance plan, because over-treating melasma in a high-UV climate can backfire. Handled the right way, though, Fraxel® is one of the highest-impact things you can do for a sun-tired face in Lutz.
Older resurfacing lasers treated the entire surface at once, which meant strong results but long, raw recovery. Fraxel® is fractional: It splits its energy into thousands of tiny microscopic treatment zones, treating a fraction of the skin while leaving healthy tissue in between as a healing reservoir. Your body uses that untouched skin to repair the treated columns quickly, replacing damaged cells with fresh collagen and even-toned skin — which is why downtime is measured in days, not weeks.
Fraxel® can address surface pigment and deeper texture in the same treatment plan, so one approach covers two very different problems:
At the surface — the layer where sun stores its damage — Fraxel® is the workhorse for sun spots, age spots, brown spots, dull tone and melasma, lifting and clearing pigment for a brighter, more even complexion.
Deeper down, Fraxel® remodels the dermis to target acne scars, wrinkles, fine lines around the eyes and rough texture, building new collagen from below over the following months.
Because it’s non-ablative — it heats and stimulates rather than vaporizing the surface like a CO2 laser — Fraxel® trades a single dramatic, high-downtime session for a short series with gentler recovery and lower pigment risk. For sun-exposed Florida skin, that trade usually wins.
A Fraxel® result lives in the dials: how deep we treat, how much energy, how dense the coverage, how many passes — all read against your skin type, your pigment and how much sun you’ve had lately. The same machine in two different hands can clear damage or flare it. That calibration is exactly where experience earns its keep. See how laser resurfacing fits alongside our other options on the laser & light treatments hub, or compare it with IPL photofacials for pigment and redness.
| Best for | Sun spots, age & brown spots, melasma, acne scars, wrinkles, fine lines around the eyes, rough texture and dull tone |
|---|---|
| How it works | Fractional, non-ablative laser resurfacing |
| Sessions | Short series — commonly 3–5, spaced ~2–4 weeks apart |
| Typical cost (Lutz) | Starts at $700 per session · package pricing lowers per-session cost · see monthly specials |
| Treatment time | ~20–45 minutes after ~45–60 min of numbing cream |
| Downtime | ~1–3 days of sunburn-like redness, then bronzing & light flaking |
| Results last | Long-lasting with sun protection; collagen keeps improving for months |
| Performed by | Ava Moore · Florida-licensed laser specialist (Facial Specialist & Laser/Electrology) |
Pricing is approximate and confirmed at your complimentary consultation. Plans vary by skin type, area and goals. Ask about current specials and flexible payment plans.
Every plan is custom-mapped to your skin type, sun history and goals. The most-requested Fraxel® concerns here include:
The classic Florida giveaway. Fraxel® lifts and clears age spots, sun spots and uneven tone for a brighter complexion.
Surface pigment
Sun- and heat-driven patches treated conservatively and paired with strict sun protection to lower the chance of return.
Treated cautiously in FL
Fraxel®’s deeper resurfacing remodels scar tissue and smooths indented texture over a series of sessions.
Depth & resurfacing
Softens fine lines and crepey texture — especially the delicate skin around the eyes — by rebuilding collagen.
Around-eye safe
Refines rough, weathered texture and enlarged-looking pores for the smoother, fresher skin Fraxel® is known for.
Resurfacing & glow
The sun-exposed zones people forget — décolletage, neck and the backs of the hands — can be resurfaced too.
Beyond the face
Not sure if Fraxel®, a photofacial or microneedling is the right fit for your skin? A quick consultation maps it out — with pricing confirmed up front.
Good candidates for Fraxel® in Lutz, FL are healthy adults bothered by sun damage, brown spots, melasma, acne scars, fine lines or rough, uneven texture — who want real resurfacing with only a few days of downtime and are ready to protect their skin from the Florida sun afterward. The surest way to know is a quick skin assessment, where Ava matches the plan to your Fitzpatrick skin type.
Not sure which group you’re in? A quick consultation gives you a straight answer — and a plan matched to your skin.
Fraxel® is non-ablative, so recovery is short — but knowing what each day looks like helps you plan around the calendar and the Florida sun.
Skin feels and looks like a sunburn — warm, pink, slightly swollen. Mineral SPF and gentle care from here on.
Puffiness settles. Skin turns rough and dry, like fine sandpaper, often with a faint bronze tint. Makeup is usually fine.
The treated layer micro-flakes and sheds as damaged cells slough away. Keep it moisturized; let it shed on its own.
Fresh, smoother, brighter skin emerges. Tone looks more even and pigment lighter — the signature post-Fraxel® glow.
Beneath the surface, new collagen keeps remodeling for months, refining texture and scars between sessions.
Most clients are back to work within 1–3 days. The one non-negotiable in Lutz: strict broad-spectrum sun protection while you heal.
CO2 is ablative — dramatic, one-time resurfacing with serious downtime and higher pigment risk on sun-exposed skin. Microneedling is gentle and great for texture but doesn’t break up pigment. Fraxel® sits in the sweet spot for Florida skin: It clears pigment and remodels texture with manageable downtime over a short series.
| Fraxel® | CO2 | Microneedling | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtime | 1–3 days | 1–2 wks | 0–1 day |
| Pigment | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Depth | Surface + deep | Ablative | Superficial |
| Sun-skin risk | Lower | Higher | Lower |
Your Fraxel® at Nu Image is run by Ava Moore, a Florida-licensed laser specialist. With a laser, who’s holding it is everything: A few wrong settings on recently sun-exposed or deeper-toned skin can trigger post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation instead of clearing it. Ava reads each face individually — skin type, pigment, recent sun — and matches the wavelength, energy and density to your Fitzpatrick skin type, so your plan is both safe and effective for your tone.
Ava holds Florida licenses as both a Facial Specialist and an Electrologist / Laser professional, pairing a real command of current laser technology with an honest, no-pressure approach — no fluff, just working together to find what makes your skin happy. Alongside Fraxel®, she specializes in acne care, chemical peels, microneedling, laser hair removal and customized facials. Backed by the practice’s 4.7-star reputation across Tampa Bay, you can expect to feel welcomed, heard and cared for from start to finish.
We assess your skin type, pigment, recent sun and goals, then map a custom plan, wavelength and session count.
Skin is cleansed and a topical numbing cream goes on for about 45–60 minutes for a comfortable treatment.
The Fraxel® passes over the area in about 20–45 minutes, with cooling air for comfort. Feels warm and prickly.
Sunburn-like recovery for a few days, diligent SPF, then back for the next session to build full results.
We’re centrally located on Cheval Blvd, an easy drive from across the area. Tap your neighborhood for directions and local details.
Directions from Cheval →
Directions from Northdale →
Directions from Odessa →
Directions from Carrollwood →
Directions from Land O’ Lakes →
Drive times are approximate — check live directions for your exact route. Free on-site parking at 3939 Cheval Blvd, Lutz, FL 33558.
Fraxel® at Nu Image Medspa is priced by the size of the area and how deep we treat. A single session starts at $700, and because full results usually take a short series, package pricing lowers the per-session cost. Your exact plan and price are confirmed at your complimentary consultation, and we run new specials every month — ask about flexible payment plans.
Fraxel® is non-ablative, so downtime is far shorter than CO2. Day of, the skin feels like a sunburn. Days 1–2 the swelling settles and the skin turns rough, like sandpaper, often with a bronze tint. Days 3–5 it micro-flakes and sheds. By days 5–7 fresh, smoother skin emerges — the Fraxel® glow. Most clients are back to work within 1–3 days with mineral sunscreen and makeup.
Most people need a short series — commonly 3–5 sessions spaced about 2–4 weeks apart — though sun spots and brown spots often look noticeably better after the first. Tone and texture keep improving for several months as new collagen forms, which is when most before-and-after photos are taken. We map the right number for your skin at the consultation.
It’s well tolerated. A topical numbing cream goes on about 45–60 minutes beforehand, and most clients describe a prickly, warm sensation with cooling air for comfort. Afterward the skin feels like a sunburn for several hours. The treatment itself usually takes about 20–45 minutes depending on the area.
Yes — it’s one of the most versatile resurfacing lasers. Its deeper resurfacing improves acne scars, surgical scars, wrinkles and texture, while its surface treatment targets sun spots, age spots, brown spots and melasma. Because melasma is sun- and heat-driven, in Florida we treat it conservatively and pair it with strict sun protection to lower the chance it returns.
CO2 is ablative — it vaporizes the surface for dramatic, one-time resurfacing, but with significant downtime and higher pigment risk on darker or sun-exposed skin. Fraxel® is non-ablative and fractional: a short series with far less downtime and lower pigment risk, which suits sun-exposed Florida skin and busy schedules. The best choice depends on your skin and goals — we’ll advise at your consultation.
Fraxel® can be performed on many skin tones, but recently tanned or sun-exposed skin raises the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. So we screen for recent sun, may adjust settings or wavelength, and will sometimes reschedule if you’re tan. The safest time to treat here is when you can commit to avoiding sun and tanning before and after the series — a big reason provider judgment matters so much in Lutz.
Both resurface and build collagen, but Fraxel® uses fractional laser energy that also targets pigment — sun spots, brown spots and melasma — on top of texture and fine lines. Microneedling uses fine needles for texture, pores and some acne scars with very little downtime, but doesn’t break up pigment the way Fraxel® can. Many clients combine the two over time; we’ll recommend the right path for your skin.
We’re at 3939 Cheval Blvd, Lutz, FL 33558, just off N Dale Mabry Hwy near Cheval, Steinbrenner High School and Gaither High School — serving Lutz, Carrollwood, Northdale, Cheval, Odessa and Land O’ Lakes. Free on-site parking. Call 813.949.3300 to book.