Medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · Last reviewed · 3 min read
Published 13 October 2026 · Reviewed by Dr Sin Yong
Fractional laser describes a delivery pattern, not a particular laser: the beam is split into a grid of microscopic columns so that each column is treated while the skin between columns is left intact to speed healing. Fractional lasers may be ablative, such as fractional CO₂ at 10,600 nm, which vaporises each column, or non-ablative, such as 1540 or 1550 nm erbium glass, which heats the dermis beneath an intact surface.
Key facts
Definition
Energy delivered in microscopic columns with untreated skin between them
Ablative
Fractional CO₂ (10,600 nm) and erbium:YAG (2,940 nm) vaporise each column
Non-ablative
1540 or 1550 nm erbium glass and 1927 nm thulium heat the dermis under an intact surface
The useful questions
Does it ablate, how deep does it reach, and how are settings adapted to Fitzpatrick type
Where it fits
Both of Dr Sin Yong's resurfacing protocols are fractional, at opposite ends of the range. The S3 Resurfacing Lift is ablative fractional CO₂ on the DEKA Tetra Pro, run as a multi-depth sequence set by the scar map for deep ice-pick and boxcar scars; the FSX Laser is non-ablative, pairing 1540 nm erbium glass with 1927 nm thulium for texture, pores, superficial scars and lax eyelid skin, with a shorter recovery than S3. Fractional CO₂ produces greater textural change per session at the cost of longer recovery and a higher pigmentation risk in Fitzpatrick III to V skin, which is why depth of scar, not preference, decides between them. The ablative form is defined under fractional CO₂ laser.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Fractional describes how the energy is delivered, in microscopic columns, not which laser it is. Fractional CO₂ is ablative; non-ablative fractional lasers such as 1540 or 1550 nm erbium glass heat the dermis beneath an intact surface.
The non-ablative one. FSX Laser, 1540 nm erbium glass with 1927 nm thulium, has a shorter recovery than the S3 Resurfacing Lift, which is ablative fractional CO₂. The deeper the scar, the more the ablative column is needed.
