I can by a dermaroller clone on Ebay for 50 bucks. I want depth I can get one with 1.5 mm pins. I want more coverage I can roll over the same area 5 times. No hyperpigmentation. No complications. I've been doing it for a year and its dramatically improved my complexion. Since fractional erbiums generate no heat and cause no thermal damage, what advantages would it have over rolling?

Well, I had needling done four times with an expensive DermaRoller (you risk ruining your face if you use a knock-off) and let me tell you that it was complete waste of time and money for getting rid of scars. I used a 1.5mm needle depth and it was extremely painful despite having numbing cream and shots! It may have improved my complexion somewhat, but ANY moderately invasive procedure would do just about the same - microdermabrasions, chemical peels, etc.

As for Fraxel, there are so much varieties out there, it really depends on what model you use and the expertise of the MD. When I did my Fraxel, I can actually smell my skin burning. It smells exactly like if you were burning strands of your hair. And also can hurt quite a bit even with numbing cream on - depending on what level you set the Fraxel.

While I haven't had enough time to judge for effectiveness of Fraxel, I can assure you that professional needling did nothing to improve my acne scars.

Less of a wound is being inflicted with needling, which is why the healing process is more rapid, which is why the improvements are less. Furthermore, there are many more mtz's per square inch with fractional lasers than there are needles per square inch on a roller, and with the laser they microwounds are accurately sequenced for greater benefit.