259 replies to this topic

[FruitBiscuits]

You look great, and I still wish I had your abs. LOL Progress will sneak up on you after the initial decline. I didn't initially think I made much progress after my 5th Re:pair after the swelling went down, and then 6 months later I noticed the improvement. This really is a process that it pays to stick with. Too many people get treated at too low a mj and are dissatisfied and quit before they realize the real power of the laser.

Believe it or not we all have abs, just most of us have them coverd up by a layer of fat.
Six pack abs is 90% diet and cardio and 10% ab workouts

lol

[DudleyDoRight]

Too many people get treated at too low a mj and are dissatisfied and quit before they realize the real power of the laser.

What would you say is too low a mj? I want to do this but I'm not sure I want to try the highest setting my first time. My scarring is rather shallow so hopefully I'll still only need one treatment. I want to combine it with ReCell too but I don't know if I can find a doctor besides Dr. Khan.

I would say anything lowere than 50mj for Re:pair is just proloning your treatment.

[kinimi]

Okay, thank you!

Edited by kinimi, 05 June 2012 - 11:58 AM.

[kinimi]

Hey I have another re:pair question: is it fine to do this with either a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon?

[*Inspired*]

Hey I have another re:pair question: is it fine to do this with either a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon?

Whether it's a dermatologist or plastic surgeon, experience, skill and confidence in improving your type of scarring will be the key to your success. Do your research before picking a provider. Interview as many as possible. You will know when you find the right doctor.

Edited by TokyoGirl, 06 June 2012 - 06:35 PM.

[DudleyDoRight]

Hey I have another re:pair question: is it fine to do this with either a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon?

Mine have all been with the same PS so I don't know about dermatologists.

[kinimi]

Thank you for the replies TokyoGirl and Dudley!

[collegeboy84]

might be a silly question but HOW DID U GET HOME? lol... did they badage you up ?

I drove home... I was already VERY bloody and very swollen... I was actually still a little high from the drugs they gave me too. LOL.
I actually attempted to look people directly in the eyes as I drove home to see if I could get a reaction or scare anybody but nobody seemed to care or notice.

[collegeboy84]

You look great, and I still wish I had your abs. LOL Progress will sneak up on you after the initial decline. I didn't initially think I made much progress after my 5th Re:pair after the swelling went down, and then 6 months later I noticed the improvement. This really is a process that it pays to stick with. Too many people get treated at too low a mj and are dissatisfied and quit before they realize the real power of the laser.

I can definitely see why you say Fraxel:Repair is not a one and done treatment. Considering how much I was bleeding, I really did not have much skin ablated off at all to be honest. So most of my scar improvement has to come from collagen production over time as you say. This is a bit mind boggling to me because I thought all fractional CO2 lasers remove quite a bit of skin.

My doctor also mentioned she used a 100% ablated NON-fractional Co2 laser under my eyes called the Ultrapulse, which is one of the only "smooth beam" traditional Co2 lasers still on the market. This would explain why my skin literally fell off in a thick huge chunk after a day or 2. She said she may have to use the Ultrapulse again on my scars to get a better result, as my skin healed from that Fully ablated Co2 rather quickly. I would even argue my skin healed faster under the eyes then where they did the Fraxel:Repair. My skin is very streaky reddish where they did the repair but under the eyes the skin is more pinkish and natural looking where they used the Ultrapulse.

I have been back to work for almost 3 days now and my skin is obviously very red, I may even say it is begininng to hyperpigment on the cheeks as it appears to be slightly more brownish then red, but it is hard to say as my skin is about 10 different colors right now. The funny thing is, NOBODY has commented on my skin at all. I have walked into many home owners houses (as I work in construction, as a on-call repair man) , face red and streaky as can be, not 1 comment. My coworkers ( whom by the way are REAL, total assholes, and would not hesitate to laugh at me if they knew I had a laser treatment) haven't made so much as a peak either. It is a bit mind boggling to me. Not so much as a , " HEY DUDE YOU LOOK LIKE YOU REALLY GOT SUNBURNED unevenly" or anything.

I can definitely see why so many people make complaints about CO2 fractionated lasers for a few reasons. Your skin looks so smooth and scar-free after the laser treatment (due to swelling), that once the swelling goes down, you get this idea in your head that your skin not only did not improve, but got worse. Another would be the how streaky, red, pink, brownish, uneven pigment , discolored your skin looks, it makes your skin look really.... bad. It really makes it appear like you have wrinkles and terrible skin all over your face, but it is just the odd coloring. I also see a slightly noticeable line of decarnation where they used the fully CO2 ablated laser under my eyes. Actually, I can only see one line, under the eye, under perfect light. I would imagine because I don't see it anywhere else it will fade as my skin comes back, but I will definitely ask my doc on the next post-op ( in 3 days).

As much as I would like to comment on the results, I will hold off until my skin color returns to normal and as the collagen -hopefully- gets produced as I continue to "heal". I'll post photos later but I don't see a point now. My red face does not really show up too well on the photos and I don't think there will be any noticeable improvements as of yet.

I have a real hard time believing in "collagen production" over time from lasers in regards to how it will improve scars like mine (shallow boxcar and maybe a few icepick scars) but I will continue being optimistic. I have read several studies from Pubmed.gov that show many people have only "marked" improvement after month 1 but by month 3 they showed "significant" improvement in photos, so who knows.

Dudley what time of scars did you have?

Edited by collegeboy84, 06 June 2012 - 09:08 PM.

[DudleyDoRight]

Be glad you work mostly with guys because guys just don't pay attention to other guys. A girl will be able to tell you what another girl was wearing 2 days ago. The collagen thing is sneaky, about 6 months later you realize you have made more improvement. Like I have said before this is a process and it takes time. I had boxcar and rolling.

[FruitBiscuits]

You look great, and I still wish I had your abs. LOL Progress will sneak up on you after the initial decline. I didn't initially think I made much progress after my 5th Re:pair after the swelling went down, and then 6 months later I noticed the improvement. This really is a process that it pays to stick with. Too many people get treated at too low a mj and are dissatisfied and quit before they realize the real power of the laser.

I can definitely see why you say Fraxel:Repair is not a one and done treatment. Considering how much I was bleeding, I really did not have much skin ablated off at all to be honest. So most of my scar improvement has to come from collagen production over time as you say. This is a bit mind boggling to me because I thought all fractional CO2 lasers remove quite a bit of skin.

My doctor also mentioned she used a 100% ablated NON-fractional Co2 laser under my eyes called the Ultrapulse, which is one of the only "smooth beam" traditional Co2 lasers still on the market. This would explain why my skin literally fell off in a thick huge chunk after a day or 2. She said she may have to use the Ultrapulse again on my scars to get a better result, as my skin healed from that Fully ablated Co2 rather quickly. I would even argue my skin healed faster under the eyes then where they did the Fraxel:Repair. My skin is very streaky reddish where they did the repair but under the eyes the skin is more pinkish and natural looking where they used the Ultrapulse.

I have been back to work for almost 3 days now and my skin is obviously very red, I may even say it is begininng to hyperpigment on the cheeks as it appears to be slightly more brownish then red, but it is hard to say as my skin is about 10 different colors right now. The funny thing is, NOBODY has commented on my skin at all. I have walked into many home owners houses (as I work in construction, as a on-call repair man) , face red and streaky as can be, not 1 comment. My coworkers ( whom by the way are REAL, total assholes, and would not hesitate to laugh at me if they knew I had a laser treatment) haven't made so much as a peak either. It is a bit mind boggling to me. Not so much as a , " HEY DUDE YOU LOOK LIKE YOU REALLY GOT SUNBURNED unevenly" or anything.

I can definitely see why so many people make complaints about CO2 fractionated lasers for a few reasons. Your skin looks so smooth and scar-free after the laser treatment (due to swelling), that once the swelling goes down, you get this idea in your head that your skin not only did not improve, but got worse. Another would be the how streaky, red, pink, brownish, uneven pigment , discolored your skin looks, it makes your skin look really.... bad. It really makes it appear like you have wrinkles and terrible skin all over your face, but it is just the odd coloring. I also see a slightly noticeable line of decarnation where they used the fully CO2 ablated laser under my eyes. Actually, I can only see one line, under the eye, under perfect light. I would imagine because I don't see it anywhere else it will fade as my skin comes back, but I will definitely ask my doc on the next post-op ( in 3 days).

As much as I would like to comment on the results, I will hold off until my skin color returns to normal and as the collagen -hopefully- gets produced as I continue to "heal". I'll post photos later but I don't see a point now. My red face does not really show up too well on the photos and I don't think there will be any noticeable improvements as of yet.

I have a real hard time believing in "collagen production" over time from lasers in regards to how it will improve scars like mine (shallow boxcar and maybe a few icepick scars) but I will continue being optimistic. I have read several studies from Pubmed.gov that show many people have only "marked" improvement after month 1 but by month 3 they showed "significant" improvement in photos, so who knows.

Dudley what time of scars did you have?

Thank you for the update, collegeboy84. Hopefully your redness and hyperpigmentation will go away soon, and you'll be able to see more improvements from this treatment =)

[Syn1122]

how are the result 84? did your scars improve or gone?

[DudleyDoRight]

how are the result 84? did your scars improve or gone?

The final results will not be evident until about 6 months. Lasers are a funny thing. First you see great results, then the microswelling goes down and your improvement diminishes and then the collagen formation takes place and you get a rebound improvement. Multiple treatments are almost always indicated for acne scars. I always allow at least 6 months between lasers. It was after the 2nd laser that I saw the greatest improvement. The combination of subcision and laser looks very interesting.

Edited by DudleyDoRight, 09 June 2012 - 09:03 AM.

[collegeboy84]

how are the result 84? did your scars improve or gone?

Just got back from my 3rd post-op appointment with the doc (day 15 since the procedure). I think there is an improvement, but very subtle so far. It seemed to help a lot with the little wrinkles that I had and my face feels very "tight" if that makes any sense. Honestly, it is very hard to tell as my face is still very uneven pigmented, reddish pink all over. I can see horizontal and vertical red lines where they criss-crossed with the laser which makes it extremely difficult to see if my skin looks any better. As Dudley mentioned and as my doctor reminded me several times, it takes about 6 months to see results as the scars continue to fill in from the collagen. I will say that my scars have not improved as much as I would have expected, but maybe I just misunderstood how the laser works. I would be more surprised if there was NO improvement considering how bloody and swollen my face was after the laser (see photos).

As far as the healing goes, my doctor does not think I will hyperpigment. Which to me is pretty surprising seeing as how I had worked out in the sun for the last 5 days. Yes I have been applying sunblock and wearing a large hat but I still get rays of light hitting the lower portion of my cheek from time to time. I started reapplying Differin which is a different/more subtle form of RetinA to keep my acne in check, but more so to help my skin shed the discoloration. The doctor mentioned that RetinA users usually have the fastest healing time and she sometimes puts her patients on the gel for a few weeks prior to treatment. Fortunately, I have been on Differin for the last year or 2 to prevent any acne breakouts so it really worked well in my case.

Will post photos once the redness dies down.

[AlexWong]

how are the result 84? did your scars improve or gone?

Just got back from my 3rd post-op appointment with the doc (day 15 since the procedure). I think there is an improvement, but very subtle so far. It seemed to help a lot with the little wrinkles that I had and my face feels very "tight" if that makes any sense. Honestly, it is very hard to tell as my face is still very uneven pigmented, reddish pink all over. I can see horizontal and vertical red lines where they criss-crossed with the laser which makes it extremely difficult to see if my skin looks any better. As Dudley mentioned and as my doctor reminded me several times, it takes about 6 months to see results as the scars continue to fill in from the collagen. I will say that my scars have not improved as much as I would have expected, but maybe I just misunderstood how the laser works. I would be more surprised if there was NO improvement considering how bloody and swollen my face was after the laser (see photos).

As far as the healing goes, my doctor does not think I will hyperpigment. Which to me is pretty surprising seeing as how I had worked out in the sun for the last 5 days. Yes I have been applying sunblock and wearing a large hat but I still get rays of light hitting the lower portion of my cheek from time to time. I started reapplying Differin which is a different/more subtle form of RetinA to keep my acne in check, but more so to help my skin shed the discoloration. The doctor mentioned that RetinA users usually have the fastest healing time and she sometimes puts her patients on the gel for a few weeks prior to treatment. Fortunately, I have been on Differin for the last year or 2 to prevent any acne breakouts so it really worked well in my case.

Will post photos once the redness dies down.

Thanks for the update. It's great to hear some much anticipated news. If the pinkish redness bothers you, and you want to see if there has been any textural improvement without being distracted from the uneven colour, you could try dusting on some mineral makeup (I know a bit too much) to even everything out for a better examination. This way you are able to see if your shallow scars have improved even just a bit.

I'm interested about the 'horizontal and vertical red lines' you mention 'where [the lasers] criss-crossed'. Are these line merely apparent because of the red colour (like being red from a sunburn), or are these line textural in nature (i.e. are they lines that are noticeable when light shines on your face and casts shadows from the lines, like valleys/hills - indents, for want of a better word) ?

All in all, have your side effects been limited to merely hyperpigmentation (colour change, which is temporary and easily corrected by Hydroquinone)? Or have you also experienced additional side effects like textural changes?
The following links show some adverse side effects of fractional laser: http://www.realself....-laser-horrible
http://www.realself....aser-dont-faxel.

Have you experienced any of the above links?

Also, one last question. Were you prescribed anything to correct the hyperpigmentation? Did they put you on Hydroquinone before and after the procedure?

Thanks again for the update. It's really helpful and also uplifting to know that someone's brave enough to undergo laser treatment. I salute you.

[collegeboy84]

how are the result 84? did your scars improve or gone?

Just got back from my 3rd post-op appointment with the doc (day 15 since the procedure). I think there is an improvement, but very subtle so far. It seemed to help a lot with the little wrinkles that I had and my face feels very "tight" if that makes any sense. Honestly, it is very hard to tell as my face is still very uneven pigmented, reddish pink all over. I can see horizontal and vertical red lines where they criss-crossed with the laser which makes it extremely difficult to see if my skin looks any better. As Dudley mentioned and as my doctor reminded me several times, it takes about 6 months to see results as the scars continue to fill in from the collagen. I will say that my scars have not improved as much as I would have expected, but maybe I just misunderstood how the laser works. I would be more surprised if there was NO improvement considering how bloody and swollen my face was after the laser (see photos).

As far as the healing goes, my doctor does not think I will hyperpigment. Which to me is pretty surprising seeing as how I had worked out in the sun for the last 5 days. Yes I have been applying sunblock and wearing a large hat but I still get rays of light hitting the lower portion of my cheek from time to time. I started reapplying Differin which is a different/more subtle form of RetinA to keep my acne in check, but more so to help my skin shed the discoloration. The doctor mentioned that RetinA users usually have the fastest healing time and she sometimes puts her patients on the gel for a few weeks prior to treatment. Fortunately, I have been on Differin for the last year or 2 to prevent any acne breakouts so it really worked well in my case.

Will post photos once the redness dies down.

Thanks for the update. It's great to hear some much anticipated news. If the pinkish redness bothers you, and you want to see if there has been any textural improvement without being distracted from the uneven colour, you could try dusting on some mineral makeup (I know a bit too much) to even everything out for a better examination. This way you are able to see if your shallow scars have improved even just a bit.

I'm interested about the 'horizontal and vertical red lines' you mention 'where [the lasers] criss-crossed'. Are these line merely apparent because of the red colour (like being red from a sunburn), or are these line textural in nature (i.e. are they lines that are noticeable when light shines on your face and casts shadows from the lines, like valleys/hills - indents, for want of a better word) ?

All in all, have your side effects been limited to merely hyperpigmentation (colour change, which is temporary and easily corrected by Hydroquinone)? Or have you also experienced additional side effects like textural changes?
The following links show some adverse side effects of fractional laser: http://www.realself....-laser-horrible
http://www.realself....aser-dont-faxel.

Have you experienced any of the above links?

Also, one last question. Were you prescribed anything to correct the hyperpigmentation? Did they put you on Hydroquinone before and after the procedure?

Thanks again for the update. It's really helpful and also uplifting to know that someone's brave enough to undergo laser treatment. I salute you.

I am 99% sure the horizontal/vertical lines I see are merely color differences, as the Fraxel:repair does not really remove a layer of skin in the way most people think. However, where they did the fully ablative NON-fractional Co2 (smooth beam) under my eyes, with the Ultrapulse laser... I can see a very very slight line of decarnation where the new skin was peeled down a few layers (my skin peeled off in huge layers under the eyes). My doctor says this line will fade as the new skin "plumps" up and I tend to agree with her for 1 reason. I only see this line under one of my two eyes, and even more so, I only see the line ( under the perfect lighting conditions) on a fraction of where they did the Ultrapulse, towards my ear. The line seemed to have faded in fine where it blends with my cheek and nose area. And honestly? Doesn't really bother me as I can barely notice it.

As for the negative replies on realself, I have just about read them all over the years. And it my opinion? I find it very difficult to take these people seriously. First off, that lady only shows pictures of herself after the laser. I'd like to see her before pictures to prove her scarring was caused by the laser. Most of her complaining is in regards to how painful the laser is, how red her face is, marks caused by the laser, blah blah blah. My response to her is... " No shit lady." Of course the laser hurts, of course your face will be red for weeks if not months. Every doctor warns you of post-laser effects when you go in for the consultation. Hell, you are required to sign paperwork that says you understand and you could possibly have NO improvement.

Actually a lot of these complaints remind me of my own field of work. I often get sent into homes to repair floors,walls, leaks, roofs, painting etc. Before we begin doing ANY work, we often notice a scuff in the homeowners leather sofa, a scratch in the hardwood floor, a stain in the carpet (we are trained to be very observant over the years). And often times when we are all done working on the house, repairing what we were sent to fix, the homeowners will look over our work very carefully before signing the work order. You guys would be so surprised how often they try to blame us for those blemishes, those scratches or anomalies in the area we are working at. Us knowing all along, that those issues were there BEFORE we started, knowing they were not from us. I don't know if these people honestly believe it was us, or if they are just trying to get free carpet/furniture but issues like these happen on a weekly basis. I guess my point is, people don't often see flaws until they take an even closer, harder, second look. Especially when your face is swollen for a week and your scars look like they have vanished, when they come back.... people start thinking it is the cause of the laser.

And yes, 2 weeks before the treatment she put me on Hydroquinone pads with Koljic Acid. Today she gave me another prescription for Hydroquinone but says I do not need. Hydroquinone is not covered by insurance and can be quite pricey. With that being said, I will probably hold off unless my skin starts turning brownish, as for now, it is more red then anything else.

By the way, she treated me at 60 MJ on the scars, 50 MJ on the area she was trying to blend in. I did not even think to ask a what coverage %.

[Syn1122]

how are the result 84? did your scars improve or gone?

Just got back from my 3rd post-op appointment with the doc (day 15 since the procedure). I think there is an improvement, but very subtle so far. It seemed to help a lot with the little wrinkles that I had and my face feels very "tight" if that makes any sense. Honestly, it is very hard to tell as my face is still very uneven pigmented, reddish pink all over. I can see horizontal and vertical red lines where they criss-crossed with the laser which makes it extremely difficult to see if my skin looks any better. As Dudley mentioned and as my doctor reminded me several times, it takes about 6 months to see results as the scars continue to fill in from the collagen. I will say that my scars have not improved as much as I would have expected, but maybe I just misunderstood how the laser works. I would be more surprised if there was NO improvement considering how bloody and swollen my face was after the laser (see photos).

As far as the healing goes, my doctor does not think I will hyperpigment. Which to me is pretty surprising seeing as how I had worked out in the sun for the last 5 days. Yes I have been applying sunblock and wearing a large hat but I still get rays of light hitting the lower portion of my cheek from time to time. I started reapplying Differin which is a different/more subtle form of RetinA to keep my acne in check, but more so to help my skin shed the discoloration. The doctor mentioned that RetinA users usually have the fastest healing time and she sometimes puts her patients on the gel for a few weeks prior to treatment. Fortunately, I have been on Differin for the last year or 2 to prevent any acne breakouts so it really worked well in my case.

Will post photos once the redness dies down.

mm i had those vertical and cross lines that ended up into serious scars. from my fraxel treatments

Edited by Syn1122, 09 June 2012 - 07:53 PM.

[FruitBiscuits]

i believe it depends on people's skin type and their body's healing mechanism...some ppl benefit from fraxel repair, but some ppl don't...everyone's skin is different...i am sure some skin type can get scars by aggressive treatment like this...sorry to hear you got scars from the fraxel, Syn1122...=(

but i am glad to hear collegeboy84 is doing well =)

Edited by myskin2012, 09 June 2012 - 11:18 PM.

[AlexWong]

how are the result 84? did your scars improve or gone?

Just got back from my 3rd post-op appointment with the doc (day 15 since the procedure). I think there is an improvement, but very subtle so far. It seemed to help a lot with the little wrinkles that I had and my face feels very "tight" if that makes any sense. Honestly, it is very hard to tell as my face is still very uneven pigmented, reddish pink all over. I can see horizontal and vertical red lines where they criss-crossed with the laser which makes it extremely difficult to see if my skin looks any better. As Dudley mentioned and as my doctor reminded me several times, it takes about 6 months to see results as the scars continue to fill in from the collagen. I will say that my scars have not improved as much as I would have expected, but maybe I just misunderstood how the laser works. I would be more surprised if there was NO improvement considering how bloody and swollen my face was after the laser (see photos).

As far as the healing goes, my doctor does not think I will hyperpigment. Which to me is pretty surprising seeing as how I had worked out in the sun for the last 5 days. Yes I have been applying sunblock and wearing a large hat but I still get rays of light hitting the lower portion of my cheek from time to time. I started reapplying Differin which is a different/more subtle form of RetinA to keep my acne in check, but more so to help my skin shed the discoloration. The doctor mentioned that RetinA users usually have the fastest healing time and she sometimes puts her patients on the gel for a few weeks prior to treatment. Fortunately, I have been on Differin for the last year or 2 to prevent any acne breakouts so it really worked well in my case.

Will post photos once the redness dies down.

Thanks for the update. It's great to hear some much anticipated news. If the pinkish redness bothers you, and you want to see if there has been any textural improvement without being distracted from the uneven colour, you could try dusting on some mineral makeup (I know a bit too much) to even everything out for a better examination. This way you are able to see if your shallow scars have improved even just a bit.

I'm interested about the 'horizontal and vertical red lines' you mention 'where [the lasers] criss-crossed'. Are these line merely apparent because of the red colour (like being red from a sunburn), or are these line textural in nature (i.e. are they lines that are noticeable when light shines on your face and casts shadows from the lines, like valleys/hills - indents, for want of a better word) ?

All in all, have your side effects been limited to merely hyperpigmentation (colour change, which is temporary and easily corrected by Hydroquinone)? Or have you also experienced additional side effects like textural changes?
The following links show some adverse side effects of fractional laser: http://www.realself....-laser-horrible
http://www.realself....aser-dont-faxel.

Have you experienced any of the above links?

Also, one last question. Were you prescribed anything to correct the hyperpigmentation? Did they put you on Hydroquinone before and after the procedure?

Thanks again for the update. It's really helpful and also uplifting to know that someone's brave enough to undergo laser treatment. I salute you.

I am 99% sure the horizontal/vertical lines I see are merely color differences, as the Fraxel:repair does not really remove a layer of skin in the way most people think. However, where they did the fully ablative NON-fractional Co2 (smooth beam) under my eyes, with the Ultrapulse laser... I can see a very very slight line of decarnation where the new skin was peeled down a few layers (my skin peeled off in huge layers under the eyes). My doctor says this line will fade as the new skin "plumps" up and I tend to agree with her for 1 reason. I only see this line under one of my two eyes, and even more so, I only see the line ( under the perfect lighting conditions) on a fraction of where they did the Ultrapulse, towards my ear. The line seemed to have faded in fine where it blends with my cheek and nose area. And honestly? Doesn't really bother me as I can barely notice it.

As for the negative replies on realself, I have just about read them all over the years. And it my opinion? I find it very difficult to take these people seriously. First off, that lady only shows pictures of herself after the laser. I'd like to see her before pictures to prove her scarring was caused by the laser. Most of her complaining is in regards to how painful the laser is, how red her face is, marks caused by the laser, blah blah blah. My response to her is... " No shit lady." Of course the laser hurts, of course your face will be red for weeks if not months. Every doctor warns you of post-laser effects when you go in for the consultation. Hell, you are required to sign paperwork that says you understand and you could possibly have NO improvement.

Actually a lot of these complaints remind me of my own field of work. I often get sent into homes to repair floors,walls, leaks, roofs, painting etc. Before we begin doing ANY work, we often notice a scuff in the homeowners leather sofa, a scratch in the hardwood floor, a stain in the carpet (we are trained to be very observant over the years). And often times when we are all done working on the house, repairing what we were sent to fix, the homeowners will look over our work very carefully before signing the work order. You guys would be so surprised how often they try to blame us for those blemishes, those scratches or anomalies in the area we are working at. Us knowing all along, that those issues were there BEFORE we started, knowing they were not from us. I don't know if these people honestly believe it was us, or if they are just trying to get free carpet/furniture but issues like these happen on a weekly basis. I guess my point is, people don't often see flaws until they take an even closer, harder, second look. Especially when your face is swollen for a week and your scars look like they have vanished, when they come back.... people start thinking it is the cause of the laser.

And yes, 2 weeks before the treatment she put me on Hydroquinone pads with Koljic Acid. Today she gave me another prescription for Hydroquinone but says I do not need. Hydroquinone is not covered by insurance and can be quite pricey. With that being said, I will probably hold off unless my skin starts turning brownish, as for now, it is more red then anything else.

By the way, she treated me at 60 MJ on the scars, 50 MJ on the area she was trying to blend in. I did not even think to ask a what coverage %.

Thanks for the really helpful information. My consultation has been booked with Dr. Nicholas Parkhouse at the Cadogan Clinic in Sloane Sqaure, London. Apparently he's a specialist in scar revision. And the BBC news reporter Kate Silverton went to see him for her acne scarring. (You probably won't know either of them as you live in America) But I just hope he would have something to recommend to me or be able to help me.

It's good to have feedback like this, as it makes you aware of the real experience of having a laser treatment, so that you won't be swayed by the cosmetic industry when they nonchalantly disregard anything dangerous about laser treatments, or tell you everything will be 100% perfect.

Looking forward to seeing more picture once the redness has gone. Just a thought, I wonder whether an extra dose of vitamin c supplement would help in your recovery, as vitamin c aids in the formation of collagen production...Just a thought.

how are the result 84? did your scars improve or gone?

Just got back from my 3rd post-op appointment with the doc (day 15 since the procedure). I think there is an improvement, but very subtle so far. It seemed to help a lot with the little wrinkles that I had and my face feels very "tight" if that makes any sense. Honestly, it is very hard to tell as my face is still very uneven pigmented, reddish pink all over. I can see horizontal and vertical red lines where they criss-crossed with the laser which makes it extremely difficult to see if my skin looks any better. As Dudley mentioned and as my doctor reminded me several times, it takes about 6 months to see results as the scars continue to fill in from the collagen. I will say that my scars have not improved as much as I would have expected, but maybe I just misunderstood how the laser works. I would be more surprised if there was NO improvement considering how bloody and swollen my face was after the laser (see photos).

As far as the healing goes, my doctor does not think I will hyperpigment. Which to me is pretty surprising seeing as how I had worked out in the sun for the last 5 days. Yes I have been applying sunblock and wearing a large hat but I still get rays of light hitting the lower portion of my cheek from time to time. I started reapplying Differin which is a different/more subtle form of RetinA to keep my acne in check, but more so to help my skin shed the discoloration. The doctor mentioned that RetinA users usually have the fastest healing time and she sometimes puts her patients on the gel for a few weeks prior to treatment. Fortunately, I have been on Differin for the last year or 2 to prevent any acne breakouts so it really worked well in my case.

Will post photos once the redness dies down.

mm i had those vertical and cross lines that ended up into serious scars. from my fraxel treatments

Hello Syn1122, would you be able to post some pictures of your scars? I'm interested to see the before and after effects of your fraxel treatment. Thanks.

Edited by AlexWong, 10 June 2012 - 07:54 AM.

[DudleyDoRight]

AlexWong, the Christine thread as I call it, is a huge thread, make sure you read all the way through it. http://www.realself....-laser-horrible My handle is Dazed on RealSelf. I had my first Re:pair about the same time as when Christine posted that, and it was 2008, not 2009 like it says at the top. At that time there were only 35 Re:pair lasers in the whole country. I don't think anybody has ever figured out what went wrong with her, but personally I think the doctor botched the job. Re:pair is powerful, and few had any real experience with it. I was only my doctors 13th Re:pair at the time. Gosh that doesn't sound very lucky does it? I posted that link on the thread I started back in 2009, which needs to be updated. http://www.acne.org/...er-link-o-rama/

CollegeBoy, I realized about a 30% improvement with my first Re:pair. It was actually 2 non-acne scars that were easy to pinpoint, that turned me into a Re:pair believer. They were so improved that I knew this was working. It was after my 2nd Re:pair that I realized the biggest difference. A lot of people were sold on that "one and done" lie, and that turned them off to lasers. Blame Reliant and Lumenis for that lie. Plus if you are treated at too low a mj level results will come more slowly. Most of my face was done at 70 mj, but around the eyes and on the neck was lower. You will go from elated to deflated and then back up at about 6 months, but it will not reach your initial level of elation. People put out the big money for the first Re:pair and then quit, and most doctors give big discounts for subsequent treatments. Re:pair is a process that must be followed through or people will never see the real benefits. Re:pair has been around long enough that doctors should have a handle on how many treatments they think a person will need. I say Re:pair because it is easier than saying fractionalized ablative CO2. I wish there were more information on the SCAAR FX. They say it can penetrate to 4mm which of course would have to be turned down for the face, but may have good implications for burn scar victims like the Bern Triplets. http://today.msnbc.m...-have-new-hope/