19 replies to this topic

[mypeeps]

Hey everyone...I have had milia (little white acne spots that won't go away) for years and I was wondering if anybody has had extraction (some call it acne surgery)? All it is is a procedure where the dermotologist sticks a little needle into the milia spot and squeezes it out. If you have had it...how did it work? and did it cause scarring at all. I have olive skin that scars reletively easily. Also, are there any precautions I should take if I do the procedure? Thanks so much. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[mister_l]

There's a tool you can buy called a blackhead extractor (thin metal stick with a loop on one end and needle on the other)...you can definately safety perform extractions at home, but you just need to know to clean it everytime before and after use. Also, keep in mind that it's best to extract when the whiteheads are at the skin's surface, or if you have a pimple that you seriously cannot stand looking at).

I have the blackheads extractor and extract every once in a while right after showering at night. From experience, you can clear your skin a bit, but if you sometimes are too aggressive or excessively extract, you can completely redden your face. it's important to not be too harsh when extracting because you can possibly leave scars or very ugly dents. I have a small dent on the side of my nose due to an extremely brutal extraction I did on a very stubborn whitehead last year, and I have my regrets, but I couldn't stand the whitehead for a minute more.

If you don't want to try it yourself, then yeah, you can try going into a spa to see if they provide facial/extraction services, or go ask a dermatologist (it's best to ask your dermatologist first, though). Hope something helps.

[-Wonderwall-]

I'm not sure if this is the same thing or not...but today I went to the derm for my monthly visit due to the fact that im on Accutane and she performed "extractions" this was my first time having them and i was surprised that she wanted to do them because i thought they were for large pimples and i only have a few rather small pimples that didnt seem like she needed anything done to them. What she did was she took what looked like tweezers and i could feel her pull the skin off the top of the bump and then she used this small metal instrument that had a little circle on the end and she pushed it really hard on top of the bump to try and get stuff to come out. Quite a bit of blood came out of all of them and they continued to bleed for awhile and now they have little scabs on them. It hurt like CRAZY when she was doing it...i started tearing up and one almost made me cry...i dont know if my face is really sensitive or maybe since it was my first time having them done but they really really hurt. I hope that helps some...

[ontherise]

i have had them done and my experience is similar to the poster above

i had them done on my comedones and it was useless and painfull

[mypeeps]

I'm not sure if this is the same thing or not...but today I went to the derm for my monthly visit due to the fact that im on Accutane and she performed "extractions" this was my first time having them and i was surprised that she wanted to do them because i thought they were for large pimples and i only have a few rather small pimples that didnt seem like she needed anything done to them. What she did was she took what looked like tweezers and i could feel her pull the skin off the top of the bump and then she used this small metal instrument that had a little circle on the end and she pushed it really hard on top of the bump to try and get stuff to come out. Quite a bit of blood came out of all of them and they continued to bleed for awhile and now they have little scabs on them. It hurt like CRAZY when she was doing it...i started tearing up and one almost made me cry...i dont know if my face is really sensitive or maybe since it was my first time having them done but they really really hurt. I hope that helps some...

How did it turn out?! Did it heel nicely and did the bumps stay away?Thanks

[adc23]

I just got a facial this past weekend which included extractions, and i was in so much pain. My face was left very red and luckily i didn't run into anyone on the way home. I couldn't go out that night either. Right now my face is recovering from it, so we will see if it helped at all.

[mypeeps]

I just got a facial this past weekend which included extractions, and i was in so much pain. My face was left very red and luckily i didn't run into anyone on the way home. I couldn't go out that night either. Right now my face is recovering from it, so we will see if it helped at all.

Ok..let me know how your face looks after u heal! thanks

[reKluse]

WARNING WARNING...i had never scarred in my life after years of suffering from acne. but once that stupid derm started doing that stuff to pop my pimples i was left with moderate-severe scarring. he said that it was suppose to reduce scarring. maybe i would have gotten the scars anyway and maybe they would have even been worse without this procedure but i dont recommend it. if you let the derm do it, then only let him do small stuff...mine was popping even large nodules which im sure contributed to scarring. i didnt know any better at the time though

[willow569]

I'm surprised to see so many bad experiences with extractions. I have been getting extractions as part of my acne treatment for the last 7 months. I go to an esthetician who specializes in treating acne, and she does extractions with each facial that I get. I used to get it done 2 times a month and now it is once a month. They hardly ever hurt, unless its a really stubborn spot that wont come out. I don't scar from it either - sometimes they will leave red marks that take a little time to fade, but I get those from pimples that aren't extracted too. I rarely leave the appt. with my skin irritated or red, makeup will usually cover up any of the spots that might be noticeable. Its also great that the longer I have been getting these, the less there is to extract each time I go in. Although, I will say that I usually only get small spots, and only get inflamed spots on my chin, so I don't really know the effects of getting larger pimples extracted.

[CB07]

Has anyone had extractions done by Q tips?

[trafalgar]

What she did was she took what looked like tweezers and i could feel her pull the skin off the top of the bump and then she used this small metal instrument that had a little circle on the end and she pushed it really hard on top of the bump to try and get stuff to come out.

How are extractions done by a dermatologist different from the ones you do yourself? Because this method is very similar to the one I use.

[mister_l]

Has anyone had extractions done by Q tips?

I've never heard of that before; tell me about it.

And yeah, guys - extractions are usually painful. The most painful (extremely, unbearably painful) extractions are on the nose, mainly along the sides of your nostrils, where most blackheads spruge. If you go through with it, you'll be shocked once you look at the circle loop of the extractor - there are usually TONS of extracted blackheads (which now look white/yellowish). Other painful extractions I've experienced are when you have a forming pimple or a papule and you press very hard on it - the lodged whitehead will burst out and you will usually bleed a lot, but the forming pimple or papules will be greatly eliminated. I also recall seeing some pores which looked clogged and I pressed on them with the extractor and - ugh, the whitehead literally squiggled out and it was a bit long, too.

Most facials consist of an extraction session, too.

I'm not trying to discourage anyone from getting extarctions done - I was just describing some of my experiences. Extractions can actually help your skin a LOT, but only if done by a professional (or by yourself, if you kno what you're doing). it's best to extract when you can actually see the whitehead at the surface of the pore. Do take caution though - extractions on the nose are PAINFUL AS FUCK and will usually leave you looking like Rudolph, but usually if you follow with cold water or a light, non-irritating toner, the redness will diminish completely or a lot.

[willow569]

Wow - I don't know where some of you are getting your extractions done - I've had mine done by 3 different estheticians and they never hurt - even with the little sharp extraction tool. Maybe it depends also on how deeply lodged your spots are. My esthetician says my extractions always come out easily, so maybe I'm just lucky and have cooperative skin?

[ScoobyDoo]

Wow - I don't know where some of you are getting your extractions done - I've had mine done by 3 different estheticians and they never hurt - even with the little sharp extraction tool. Maybe it depends also on how deeply lodged your spots are. My esthetician says my extractions always come out easily, so maybe I'm just lucky and have cooperative skin?

Wow...me too...can't believe the stories!

I've been getting monthly acne facials since I started my accutane course (early Aug). Even with my skin being extra sensitive, I really look forward to the treatments. My esthetician works in my derms office and is fabulous. Generally, my facials don't hurt. I had a ton of milia at the beginning too.

I think it really depends who you go to...kind of like getting blood drawn...sometimes the person hurts you and then there are the ones that do it so you barely even feel it.

[ZoeBee]

I've gone twice to get extracions done by my aesthetician and yes it HURTS! She removed all the whiteheads and blackheads and there was absolutely ZERO bleeding. I was red and yucky for a day or two and had dents all over my face but nothing left a mark or a scar. I would definitely recommend getting them done as long as you find someone good!

[CB07]

I've gone twice to get extracions done by my aesthetician and yes it HURTS! She removed all the whiteheads and blackheads and there was absolutely ZERO bleeding. I was red and yucky for a day or two and had dents all over my face but nothing left a mark or a scar. I would definitely recommend getting them done as long as you find someone good!

What tools does your aesthetician use for the extractions?

[ZoeBee]

I've gone twice to get extracions done by my aesthetician and yes it HURTS! She removed all the whiteheads and blackheads and there was absolutely ZERO bleeding. I was red and yucky for a day or two and had dents all over my face but nothing left a mark or a scar. I would definitely recommend getting them done as long as you find someone good!

What tools does your aesthetician use for the extractions?

NONE surprisingly. She uses her fingers. I don't know how.....

[LionQueen]

DO NOT use a blackhead extractor on milia. It won't work; they don't form in pores the way comedones do, and there isn't an easy way for them to escape from the skin.

If you want milia extracted, go to a dermatologist. And it shouldn't cause scarring.

[Acnesckz]

Extraction does hurt alot. I Play football so im pain tolerant. Plus the blood streaming down your face is not a good experiance. Im not sure it works well because I had two pimples extracted and they are really enflamed now.

[AlliE_CaT]

I've done my own for years. I use a sterilized needle and gently poke near the milia, then lift the skin and pluck out the milia with tweezers. Put neo on it and leave it alone. No pain or scars here.