FRACO CO2 XL: frequently asked questions about the fractional CO2 laser
The FRACO CO2 XL is SIACSKIN's fractional CO2 laser: ablative, 10,600 nm, with a 100 W RF source. Anyone assessing the device for a practice or clinic wants concrete answers before buying. This page gathers the most frequent questions on technology, applications and operation.
You will find out what pulse width and scan field mean, what the CoolPeel mode, the gynaecological applicator and the Cutting-Head are intended for, which skin types and certifications SIACSKIN specifies, how much the instalment is and how the TULIX complements the device. It also covers training, warranty, service and aftercare.
What is the FRACO CO2 XL and which treatments is it intended for?
The FRACO CO2 XL is an ablative fractional CO2 laser from SIACSKIN for skin rejuvenation, scars, wrinkles and pores. It works at 10,600 nm with a 100 W RF source and ablates the skin in a fine grid of dots. Healthy skin remains between the dots. From there the area heals swiftly while new collagen forms at depth. That is the principle of resurfacing.
Two attachments extend the field of use beyond the face: a gynaecological applicator for the Femininlift and a Cutting-Head for surgical applications. Added to this is the gentle CoolPeel mode with shorter healing. One device thus covers intensive renewal, gentle refreshing and specialist medical applications.
Which wavelength and which laser source does the FRACO CO2 XL use?
The FRACO CO2 XL works at 10,600 nm with an RF source of 100 W. The wavelength lies in the far infrared and is very strongly absorbed by water. Because skin consists predominantly of water, the energy is converted in a wafer-thin layer: the tissue vaporises exactly at the laser spot, and the surrounding area is largely spared. Skin colour and pigment play no part in absorption.
The RF source is the heart of a CO2 laser. Radiofrequency excites the laser gas and can be switched very rapidly. This produces short, cleanly shaped pulses with high peak power that ablate tissue before the heat spreads. The 100 W provides a reserve for this, even with short pulses and large areas.
What does the pulse width of 0.1 to 100 ms mean on the FRACO CO2 XL?
The pulse width indicates how long a single laser pulse acts on the skin; on the FRACO CO2 XL it is between 0.1 and 100 ms. It determines how much heat remains in the tissue next to the ablated dot. Short pulses vaporise the tissue before the heat dissipates: small thermal zone, fine ablation, rapid healing. Longer pulses deliberately leave more heat behind. This seals small vessels, contracts collagen and enhances tightening, but prolongs healing.
The wide range makes the device versatile. With short pulses you treat eyelids, neck and sensitive skin conservatively; with longer ones you tackle scars and deeper wrinkles more vigorously.
How large is the scan field of the FRACO CO2 XL and what is the benefit of a spot of up to 20 × 20 mm?
The FRACO CO2 XL covers a field of up to 20 × 20 mm per shot. Within this field the laser places many individual microdots in a uniform grid. A large field means fewer placements per face, and therefore a shorter treatment time and a uniform appearance without gaps or strips treated twice. On the cheeks, forehead and décolleté this is a clear advantage.
The important words are up to: the field is the upper limit, not the only size. You need smaller fields for the sides of the nose, upper lip, eyelid region and individual scars so that the energy only arrives where it is meant to. In this way you adapt the field to the treatment area and not the treatment area to the device.
What does Weekend CO2 mean on the FRACO CO2 XL and who is the mode intended for?
Weekend CO2 is another name for the CoolPeel mode of the FRACO CO2 XL: a gentle setting after which, according to SIACSKIN, the skin heals in 3 to 4 days instead of 10 to 14. The name says what it is about. Anyone treated on a Thursday can usually be out among people again on Monday. The prerequisite is appropriate care in the days that follow.
The mode is intended for anyone who wants a fresher complexion, finer pores and softer lines but cannot be out of action for two weeks. For deep wrinkles and pronounced scars, the classic setting remains the more effective one. For the practice, CoolPeel is a good introduction: clients get to know the laser and book it as a course of treatment.
What is the gynaecological applicator of the FRACO CO2 XL used for?
The gynaecological applicator turns the FRACO CO2 XL into a device for the Femininlift, fractional laser treatment of the intimate area. The same laser source that treats scars and wrinkles on the face can be used for a second patient group with a change of attachment. For a gynaecological practice or a clinic with several specialities, this improves utilisation because dermatology and gynaecology share one device.
The treatment is used above all for declining firmness and dryness of the mucous membrane, for example after childbirth or during the menopause. It belongs in medical hands and is preceded by a gynaecological examination. Who may carry out which treatment is regulated differently from country to country.
With the Cutting-Head, the FRACO CO2 XL does not work fractionally but as a surgical laser with a focused beam. Instead of a grid of dots, a single focused beam hits the tissue. A CO2 laser thus cuts and ablates very precisely and at the same time seals fine blood vessels, so the operating field remains clear. In dermatology and surgery, this technique is widely used for minor procedures on skin and mucous membrane.
For doctors, the attachment means that one device covers resurfacing and surgical applications. Which procedures are an option in the individual case is decided by the medical indication. The Cutting-Head is intended for medical use, not for cosmetic treatments.
Can I also treat darker skin types with the FRACO CO2 XL?
Yes, SIACSKIN specifies the FRACO CO2 XL for all skin types. Technically this makes sense, because 10,600 nm is absorbed by water and not by melanin. The limit is set by healing: darker skin is more prone to respond to wound healing with pigment spots. For skin types IV to VI you therefore work with a lower density, short pulses, a test patch and consistent sun protection before and after the session.
The pulse width from 0.1 ms and the CoolPeel mode give you the fine gradation needed for this. If the main concern with dark skin is pigment or mild scars, the non-ablative TULIX, likewise specified for all skin types, is often the gentler route.
Which certifications does the FRACO CO2 XL have and where is it built?
For the FRACO CO2 XL, SIACSKIN lists the certifications FDA and MDR-compliant CE and designates the device as Made in Germany. CE marking under the European Medical Device Regulation (MDR) shows that a device meets the safety and performance requirements laid down there. For practices and clinics it is among the first items on the checklist.
Have the certificates sent to you together with the quotation and file them with your device documentation. SIACSKIN is the manufacturer, so such questions go straight to the right place, and enquiries are answered within 24 hours. Which documents an operator must additionally keep available is regulated differently from country to country.
How much does the FRACO CO2 XL cost per month and how can it be financed?
The FRACO CO2 XL is available from approx. €800/month. As a guide, leasing costs around 1% of the net price per month, calculated over a term of 60 months, plus VAT and subject to creditworthiness. You will find the current net price on the product page.
Purchase, financing, leasing or hire purchase through SIACSKIN's principal bank are possible, without a deposit on request and also for newly founded businesses without a long company history. You make a non-binding enquiry, SIACSKIN reviews the financing and gets in touch within 24 hours. How many treatments per month cover the instalment is best calculated using your own treatment prices.
Which practices or clinics is the FRACO CO2 XL worthwhile for?
The FRACO CO2 XL is worthwhile for practices and clinics that want to treat scars, wrinkles and skin ageing intensively: dermatology, plastic and aesthetic surgery and, with the gynaecological applicator, gynaecology. Ablative resurfacing is a service that patients specifically look for. With the CoolPeel mode there is also a variant for all those who want little downtime, so that one device serves two target groups.
It is less suitable as a first device with no laser experience at all: ablative treatments require practice and close aftercare. Who may carry out which treatment is regulated differently from country to country. In the free consultation, SIACSKIN clarifies with you whether the device fits your range of treatments.
How do the FRACO CO2 XL and the TULIX differ and do I need both?
The FRACO CO2 XL ablates skin, the TULIX only heats it, and that is precisely why the two complement each other. The FRACO CO2 XL is the device for intensive renewal in scars and deeper wrinkles, with the corresponding healing time. The TULIX works non-ablatively with thulium (1927 nm) in the epidermis and erbium glass (1550 nm) in the dermis. Its indications are pigment, sun damage, melasma, fine lines and pores with little downtime.
You need both if you want to offer the full range: the TULIX for the course of treatment in between and for everyone who cannot afford downtime, the FRACO CO2 XL for major correction. SIACSKIN expressly lists the TULIX as a complement to the FRACO CO2 XL; it manages without consumables and without a shot limit.
Which aftercare products does SIACSKIN offer to go with the FRACO CO2 XL?
SIACSKIN has its own aftercare collection for the period following laser treatments, including the Sensitive Cream, the Serum Lifting Repair, the Biocellulose Mask and the Suncream Sensitiv SPF50. After an ablative treatment the skin needs three things above all: moisture, a low-irritant protective layer and then consistent sun protection. The collection covers these phases.
This is more than an add-on sale. According to SIACSKIN, the short healing time of 3 to 4 days in the CoolPeel mode of the FRACO CO2 XL presupposes appropriate care. If you hand over the products straight after the session, all clients follow the same care plan and you have to make corrections less often. The sequence and timings are set out in the Aftercare Guide.
Is training included when buying the FRACO CO2 XL and who installs the device?
Yes, comprehensive training is included free of charge with purchase, and installation is likewise carried out free of charge by SIACSKIN technicians. Training is given individually at device handover or on site at your premises. You also receive access to an online training platform with video tutorials and a training certificate. The SIAC Akademie offers advanced courses.
With the FRACO CO2 XL in particular, it pays to make thorough use of the induction training. Pulse width, density and field size determine effect and healing, and the settings for eyelids, neck or darker skin differ markedly from those for the cheek. Plan test patches for the first treatments and call clients back for a check-up.
What warranty and what service come with the FRACO CO2 XL?
SIACSKIN gives a 2-year manufacturer's warranty on the FRACO CO2 XL, plus lifetime support. Regular maintenance is offered. Spare parts and consumables are generally available within a few days, by express delivery if required. In the event of a defect, the device is repaired or replaced under the statutory liability for defects and the warranty; devices cannot be returned.
For day-to-day operation, what matters most is being able to reach someone, because a CO2 laser that is out of action costs appointments. SIACSKIN is the manufacturer and not an intermediary. With technical questions you therefore end up directly where the device is built, and enquiries are answered within 24 hours. Details can be found on the Service, Maintenance and Warranty page.
