The following is a transcript of a report by anchor Kelly Frey that first aired May 14, 2007, on WTAE Channel 4 Action News at 5 p.m.

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The hottest procedure in Hollywood is something European and South American women have known for years.

Now, the secret is out and is being performed right here in Pittsburgh.

That secret is said to rid your face of wrinkles, soften acne scars and get rid of stretch marks without surgery or expensive creams.

Ever since she was a teenager, Sharon Crow has battled acne and the scars it left behind.

"I pretty much have had a different treatment for every decade," said Crow. "In the '70s, I had the Dermabrasion. In the '80s, it was the TCA pill. In the '90s, I had a full-face laser treatment."

But all those treatments were extremely painful, she said, and kept her out of work for weeks and left her still longing for better results.

"I would like to have a real improvement to where I could actually go without makeup," said Crow. "That would be so nice."

So she decided to give something new a try -- Fraxel.

Fraxel is the first Federal Drug Administration approved procedure for acne scarring.

The procedure is quick but not totally painless. There is some discomfort, but who wouldn't be willing to go through it if you see results?

WTAE Channel 4 Action News anchor Kelly Frey said the procedure begins with numbing cream being applied to the face and letting it sit for about 30 minutes.

Fraxel is different from older methods, because instead of stripping away the top layer of skin like laser resurfacing, a painful treatment, Fraxel makes microscopic holes where new collagen fills in.

"It is so popular," said Dr. Terrance Krysinski. "It is very efficacious. It is safe, and it works very well."

You can have Fraxel performed on your face, neck, chest, upper arms, stomach, legs, acne scaring and stretch marks.

It promises to tighten, smooth and eliminate wrinkles.

Once the cooling gel has numbed the face, it is time to get to work.

First, a blue dye is applied to your face. It's necessary though, because the laser won't fire unless it sees the dye, which protects patients from burns.

Once the laser is fired, refrigerated air comes next, which helps to tolerate the heat.

There are four passes of the laser treatment over each area.

After a half-hour of treatment, the blue dye comes off, but it does leave a tint for a day or two.

Some patients need a prescription-strength pain reliever for the procedure, which is recommended once every three to six weeks for a total of five visits.

After the third treatment for Crow, she is already seeing her acne scars melt away.

"This is the way to go," said Crow. "The Fraxel procedure."

Plan on paying about $3,600 for four treatments. For your face or neck, the price is about $5,000.

Go to fraxel.com for more information and to search for local doctors and treatment centers.

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