33 replies to this topic

[DudleyDoRight]

Fraxel Re:pair! You are lucky in that you have few scars, you are unlucky that they are concentrated on your cheek area, the most difficult area to treat. You will need multiple Re:pairs at a very high setting to achieve results. DO NOT be sold Fraxel Re:store, it would be like using a 22 on an elephant. I am the guy who has had 5 Re:pairs at maximum setting and only the first one was difficult. You can listen to people who have never done it or you can listen to someone with real experience. You will NOT be satisfied after the first Re:pair, but if you quit there then you have quit on yourself. I am probably older than any other person here, and I have many people ask how come I seem to be getting younger all the time. I only come on here to fight some of the negative people who influence people not to do a treatment that can actually help them. Write off Re:pair if you want to, it is your skin, but Re:Pair is the ONLY thing that has ever helped me, and I have gone through Dermabrasion, Regular CO2, Rolling and Copper Peptides.
http://www.acne.org/...er-link-o-rama/

People are trying to influence him out of lasers because any type of laser is gonna do very little for his scarring. IMO, lasers are for superficial scarring, sun damage, hyperpigmentation, minor wrinkles and minor imperfections. They are not for deep rolling scars because you are gonna see very little result for your money.

Have you had Fractionalized Ablative CO2 or not? You take the exception and make it the rule just because you say so. If you are against lasers then fine don't do it. Just go around putting lemon juice or the worthless treatment rolling. With the exception of those who should not do lasers, the only exception to success is people who are treated at too low a level, and those who expect "MIRACLE" results after one treatment. Listen up folks, the key is treatment at a high level and multiple treatments!!

[SoontobeMD]

Dudley,

While I am happy that you found success with lasers, they are not a treatment that should be taken lightly. There are many, many cases of unpredictable results from lasers which have led to catastrophic results both physically and emotionally. Here is a link to just some of the stores:
http://iplandlaserda...t.prophpbb.com/

While lasers do provide results for many people, it is a procedure that carries a high degree of risk and I do not believe that is what the OP is looking for at this point in time. There are safer treatments that most people should try before taking the laser route.

I do not know if you have pictures of yourself before and after your treatments, but given the high amount of of dissatisfied customers of laser therapy, if you have pictures I believe they would go a long way in quelling some of the fears.

[kidrock29520]

Have you had Fractionalized Ablative CO2 or not? You take the exception and make it the rule just because you say so. If you are against lasers then fine don't do it. Just go around putting lemon juice or the worthless treatment rolling. With the exception of those who should not do lasers, the only exception to success is people who are treated at too low a level, and those who expect "MIRACLE" results after one treatment. Listen up folks, the key is treatment at a high level and multiple treatments!!

No I haven't but someone doesn't need a laser treatment to do research and be smart with their money. I've done a ton of research and talked to enough doctors to know that a laser isn't going to do much of anything for a scar that is bound down. Not to mention the fact that we're talking about an average of $500 for subcision vs $3000 for Fraxel Re:Pair. I'm not against lasers. I'm against them being the first line of treatment for a type of scar that doesn't respond well to lasers.

Edited by kidrock29520, 01 May 2012 - 11:33 PM.

[Nope.avi]

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Edited by Nope.avi, 08 August 2012 - 08:27 PM.

[DudleyDoRight]

I know nothing about subscion aside from the basic procedure so I don't critize the procedure. Understand that I began with Dermabrasion and moved to Regular CO2 shortly after it came out. About 8 years later Fraxel Re:store came out and a PS who did the Re:store advised me that it wouldn't work for me. About 2 years later Fraxel Re:pair was released and I immediately jumped on Re:pair, and it was the best decision I ever made. I saw immediate results, enough so that I had it twice in the first year. I have since had Re:pair on a yearly basis. I would have had it done more often except for the limitations of vacation and sick time available. I tried the Dermaroller and Copper Peptides for about 6 months with no results. I now get Re:pair for $800 a pop so I do it on a yearly basis and the results are cumulative. I have had 5 Re:pairs and I have gone from scars like Danielle Osti's to minimal scars on the cheek area. I first noticed the change on 2 non-acne scars which were greatly improved after the first treatment. Now they are totally gone. I keep saying it, but people who can tolerate Re:pair must find a doctor who will treat at the highest setting, 70mj, and they will require multiple treatments. I used to say 3-5 Re:pairs. I now believe it is 5-7 or even more, but they should be able to get continued treatments at a greatly reduced price. I don't suggest Re:pair for people who have a few minimal scars, but for more extensive or deeper scars I believe they will achieve the results they are looking for. I am now fighting aging so I am looking at a faclift, and I should realize further improvment from the FL, but I will probably continue with the Re:pairs. I am very interested in the new laser released by Lumenis called SCAAR FX. There is not enough information on SCAAR FX to make an informed decision yet, but it is something to watch. Lumenis has a laser similiar to Re:pair called Deep FX, and if you Google The Bern Triplets you will find it interesting.

[DudleyDoRight]

the worthless treatment rolling.

Can you really come here preaching about how you're "Pro science based medicine" (which is good, by the way) all the while ignoring the science behind PCI? Really? So it didn't work for you, shit happens, but calling it 'worthless' puts you on the same level as people who slate lasers because they didn't get results.

I gave rolling a very good extensive trial in addition to using very expensive Copper Peptides at the same time with zero results. Most people who condemn lasers have never tried them or they have used the weak little sisters instead of the fractionalized ablative CO2 lasers and merely call it Fraxel. As soon as somebody says they have had Fraxel and it didn't work, I firgure here we go again explaining the difference in lasers. Re:store does not work, Re:pair does.

[AndySoprano]

Your lack of trust is a good sign Andy. Any scar treatment has its risks, this is something that you MUST be aware of. It sounds like you have the right idea in finding the best dermatological surgeon/plastic surgeon in your area. If you post your location, someone may be able to guide you to an experienced surgeon who has worked for them. It is very rare for subcision to make things worse, but it takes a very skilled surgeon to get the best results.

Dermarolling is effective in building collagen, but with rolling scars, that may not be what you need. While the collagen may help puff out the skin slightly, without breaking the tethers holding down the scar, your results will not be optimal.

Thanks for the reply. From what you explained I guess Subcision should be my main focus in terms of finding information and a very high skilled plastic surgeon who performs this procedure. I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and I am currently trying to find a Plastic Surgeon who has experience doing this procedure. If anyone could help me out that would be great. Another question, my skin scars easily only on my cheeks, infact.. everywhere else on my face there are no scars... I'm wondering if Subcision might possibly damage/scar the skin where the incisions are done. (The incisions are probably so small that it wont but I just want to hear peoples opinions. I'm very cautious when doing a procedure like this so I have to be 100% confident that there won't be further damage.)

Is there anyone on this forum that has before/after subcision pictures? or have had any previous experience with this procedure?
Thanks in advance!

[SoontobeMD]

Here are some before and after pictures of people who have done subcision, I'm sure there are many more out there.

http://www.geocities...i2002/day6.html

http://www.geocities...treatment2.html

http://www.geocities...rs/subday1.html

Check out the thread by Mr. Matt and Greg for some more subcision success stories. You can also google "subcision acne.org" to find comprehensive testimonials of hundreds of people who have done subcision. In a few weeks hopefully I'll be adding my own

[AndySoprano]

Thanks SoontobeMD!
The results look very promising and these people have scars that are a lot deeper than mine.

I can't seem to find any surgeon in Toronto that does stem cell BUT
I think it'd be great for me (and others who have scarring similar to mine) to look into Subcision + Stem Cell.
Currently I'm trying to find a PS who is very experienced in performing Subcision... It's not very easy to find someone trustworthy unless you get referred by someone who ISN'T a doctor or surgeon OR if you find someone yourself.

Any help from the Torontonians out there? =P

[readytosmileagain]

im in the same boat - got a consult for scars and he said they were rolling and that fraxel was my best bet - 950 per treatment and as much as id do anything to not feel this way anymore i just am having a hard time swallowing the idea that fraxel is the best thing for me and at the price if it doesnt work, well i dont know what id do... my scars are very much like yours.... we are in this together... keep posting, maybe we can figure out the best treatment for us both ha!

[10yearswiththis]

im in the same boat - got a consult for scars and he said they were rolling and that fraxel was my best bet - 950 per treatment and as much as id do anything to not feel this way anymore i just am having a hard time swallowing the idea that fraxel is the best thing for me and at the price if it doesnt work, well i dont know what id do... my scars are very much like yours.... we are in this together... keep posting, maybe we can figure out the best treatment for us both ha!

If you have deep rolling like the thread started then lasers will do very little. The scars are bound down and a laser cant lift bond down tissue. PS like to sell lasers b/c they are high margin, plus the cost of the machine is like buying a porsche. I had ablative laser 3 months ago and it did very little if any to the bound down (rolling) scars. 2500 bucks down the drain. Money is not a big issue but when i spend money and down time i expect to see results.

Kidrock is on the money for his advice. Repair I hear is good but at 4 to 5K for a treatment with no gurantee.....no thanks!

Excuse the quality of my phone, but I took these pictures over lights so you could see the scarring better. (Especially with the low quality photos my phone takes).

Anyways, to keep it short, I'm a 22yr old male, I've had acne since I was 15 and i've been clear for a few years after taking Accutane for 6 months.

I still have a few blemishes and scars on my cheeks that I want to get rid of. I went to a plastic surgeon in Toronto and he highly suggested Fraxel Laser but I'm too scared to do something that might worsen my situation. The plastic surgeon examined my face and diagnosed my acne scarring as rolling scars.
My main 2 questions here are, does my acne scarring look like rolling scars? And is there an alternative to lasers for rolling scars that isn't as likely to cause damage?

Thanks in advance!

You don't have many and the ones I see look very rolling. Try 1 subcision treatment and I think you'll be impressed.

[readytosmileagain]

so what would you suggest for me to do? Subcision as well - if my whole check is scarred i just dont know how that will help

[jonesbev]

try using rosehip oil... try to google it

[AndySoprano]

So I've been very busy lately and havn't had much time to do research. I wonder if there's anyone on this board that can suggest a good PS in Toronto for Subcision... Anyone?