244 replies to this topic

[10yearswiththis]

Matt, I so appreciate your post - im 30 almost 31 and about 10 months away from hopefully starting a family sooo im kind of on a time crunch in my mind to get these treatments done but seeing your process i really hope my skin can look like yours some day... i cant believe how great of a job your derm did... im to a point right now where i dont want to do anything and im really a fun girl and absolutely hate that i feel so insecure all the time... i feel like i lost my entire 20s and now, 8 months married, trying to enjoy this life that we live and the constant feeling that I absolutely HATE hate looking at anyone in the eye is really starting to get in the way of everything and I know my husband is tired of Me feeling this way... he cant even talk to me about it - all he does is get pissed off/frustrated at me for letting it get me so down all the time but i cant help it... i dont know what to do to change it besides try to do something about it - hes just afraid that what i end up doing will make my skin worse... but what im seeing is as i age, with these scars, my skin will look worse and worse so either way im screwed...

Glad I saw your post. I have very similar scarring to you its almost scarey. I did my first subcision about 32 days ago with Matt's derm he uses. Results - not as great as I was hoping for but improvement there is. I'll post pics here in a couple days under Matt's thread. I'll need at least 3 to 5 subcisions and you probably will as well. Its a slow and cumulative process that can be very frustrating. I wish scar revision was like a boob job where I could just drop 10 grand and look amazingly better in a month.

And I know exactly what your talking about when you say one day your skin looks ok and the next it looks crappy. In the morning my skin looks damn good but by 5 pm its looks bad.

[readytosmileagain]

Where do you all live? I wish i could find a doctor in philly who can do this type of procedure - i contacted one yesterday and im waiting to hear back so cross those fingers! I know - how great would it be if we could just get a boob job and it would all be fixed in a month haha - amazing! I was watching this show last night and this guy lostlike 300 lbs and change his entire life and he was so so happy... i actually sat there and said to myself, i wish i had a weight issue than this... how crazy is that... but Id give anything to feel like that man did and not have to rely on a procedure that comes with lots of risks to fix my "problem"...

what are the risks in Subcision? I havent had the guts to look that up yet - I know all the risks associated with Fraxel and the percentage rate for success, etc.

Mr. Matt - my hubby is the best, and i know he loves me very much but i also know in my messed up head, i got these scars after he proposed and i still wonder if he isnt turned off... crazy to think or even type... but its the truth. I know he loves me, he has for many many years - he says he doesnt see them but i know he notices me hiding my face often - he hates that i dont wear my hair in a pony tail like i did in college or just leave the house without any make up... so he is probably just turned off by my lack of confidence if anything... i dont blame him... i try to tell myself that everyone has something they dont love about themselves ... mine is just out there for others to see but if i allow myself to act self conscious then it will also allow others to not only see my scars but then see how im acting and really think i have issues haha - if i just keep my head up high, continue through everything smiling and letting my personality shine id like to think the scars might become an after thought for most... right?

Trying to smile today

thisisnothollywood (love the name by the way) - will the scrub help? I wouldnt mind doing something to help my unscarred skin stay really clean and "pretty"! Hope you are having a great day

Edited by readytosmileagain, 13 June 2012 - 11:02 AM.

[*Can*I*Live*]

Trying to smile today

Same here. I truly hope you find what your looking for!

[FruitBiscuits]

Trying to smile today

Same here. I truly hope you find what your looking for!

And same here! =)

[FruitBiscuits]

I found a topic about filler treatment, and it seems like it worked wonder in her scars(although I would like to hear the current update).

http://www.acne.org/...rm/page__st__40

I have six box/rolling scars that really bother me(two of them are deeper than others...both located middle of my cheeks! In some lighting, those looks really bad...especially in my bathroom light and I have to deal with it everyday), and I really want to fill them using fillers. So now I am looking for a derm/PS who is specialize with fillers. About filler type, she got semi-pamanet filler called 'surgiderm'(I'ver never heard of 'surgiderm') , but I prefer temporary fillers, because I don't want to get any risks to my face, I know it's pricy, but better than having risks...! I

Also she got bumps on her face after the fillers, but I really don't mind bumps...to me, bumps are much better than indentation

Edited by myskin2012, 13 June 2012 - 10:11 PM.

[readytosmileagain]

thanks so much! im debating about fillers but its really not a bad idea for temporary fixes! Anything is better than nothing i guess I just cant wait to talk to someone who wants to listen and wants to actually help - not push a procedure on me and walk out of the room - im hopeful there is some one out there who will do that!!?! I may be flying to CA to meet with some of these doctors all you west coast people have had success with hahah... if only it were that easy!

I found these photos from 6 months after my accutane so this would put us in Feb 2011
keep in mind i havent had another horrible break out - so this is just the difference my skin looks now in relationship to where it was then... the only thing i did in between there was a microdermabrasion that did cause me to break out in little pimples but nothing cystic (which im assuming is the acne that causes scars like mine)

I know the light and angle are completely different (the photos in the beginning on this thread are taken with my phone by my side of my body - near my ribs) but i cant help but feel horrible that my skin could progressively go to where it is now just with time? could it be the differin? is it just making my skin so thin that now it keeps looking worse and worse?

anyone have any thoughts here...

remember these photos below were from Feb 2011

Edited by readytosmileagain, 14 June 2012 - 08:20 AM.

[10yearswiththis]

thanks so much! im debating about fillers but its really not a bad idea for temporary fixes! Anything is better than nothing i guess I just cant wait to talk to someone who wants to listen and wants to actually help - not push a procedure on me and walk out of the room - im hopeful there is some one out there who will do that!!?! I may be flying to CA to meet with some of these doctors all you west coast people have had success with hahah... if only it were that easy!

I found these photos from 6 months after my accutane so this would put us in Feb 2011
keep in mind i havent had another horrible break out - so this is just the difference my skin looks now in relationship to where it was then... the only thing i did in between there was a microdermabrasion that did cause me to break out in little pimples but nothing cystic (which im assuming is the acne that causes scars like mine)

I know the light and angle are completely different (the photos in the beginning on this thread are taken with my phone by my side of my body - near my ribs) but i cant help but feel horrible that my skin could progressively go to where it is now just with time? could it be the differin? is it just making my skin so thin that now it keeps looking worse and worse?

anyone have any thoughts here...

remember these photos below were from Feb 2011

Camera angle (especially aiming upward) and lighting have a huge amount of influence on how it looks.

I would take a pic and the same angle and light as the Feb one and compare.

Also, how are you feeling otherwise? Autoimmune diseases can wreak havoc on your skin. Do you have any weird looking pigmentation patches on your body? Or scaly looking patches i.e. psoriasis. Have you taken any large amounts of steriods recently llike prednisone? Any large doses of meds in last yr, etc, is what i would look at if the Feb pics to todays show significant difference.

[FruitBiscuits]

I may be flying to CA to meet with some of these doctors all you west coast people have had success with hahah... if only it were that easy!

YW =) and it's funny to hear, i was thinking exactly the same. flying to CA to meet with some of doctos hahaha i'll need to save my money

[*Inspired*]

Are you using a sunblock to protect your skin when outdoors?

[SoontobeMD]

thanks so much! im debating about fillers but its really not a bad idea for temporary fixes! Anything is better than nothing i guess I just cant wait to talk to someone who wants to listen and wants to actually help - not push a procedure on me and walk out of the room - im hopeful there is some one out there who will do that!!?! I may be flying to CA to meet with some of these doctors all you west coast people have had success with hahah... if only it were that easy!

I found these photos from 6 months after my accutane so this would put us in Feb 2011
keep in mind i havent had another horrible break out - so this is just the difference my skin looks now in relationship to where it was then... the only thing i did in between there was a microdermabrasion that did cause me to break out in little pimples but nothing cystic (which im assuming is the acne that causes scars like mine)

I know the light and angle are completely different (the photos in the beginning on this thread are taken with my phone by my side of my body - near my ribs) but i cant help but feel horrible that my skin could progressively go to where it is now just with time? could it be the differin? is it just making my skin so thin that now it keeps looking worse and worse?

anyone have any thoughts here...

remember these photos below were from Feb 2011

Hello readytosmileagain,

Differin DOES thin the skin, and can certainly make acne scars appear worse then before while you are using it. If it is the differin causing a difference in your appearance, it should go away a few weeks after you stop using it, and you SHOULD look better than when you started using it.

That being said, I think the biggest difference in your photos is due to the different lighting. Harsh lighting can make acne scars look 10x worse.

[DudleyDoRight]

it makes me sad that the surgeon would suggest something that wouldnt help you know... makes me so frustrated. and this doctor is one of the best in PA and in the US - the thing that go to me though is when i was sitting there and he was looking at my skin and i was talking about how i feel, etc. he didnt even listen and when i addressed my concerns, he said you know you are super skeptical, i dont know if i want you as a patient of mine... i was blown away - he was very cocky and its because hes on TV, in the media etc. cost me 150 dollars just for the consult...

i stopped the accutane in august on 2010

oh also - in a year we are going to start trying to have a baby... so my one friend suggested i wait to do anything for the scars til after i have kids because my acne could get worse and i could get more scarring... thoughts on that? since you all know my mental state right now... how badly i need a change

It was because of a Plastic Surgeon that I did not do Re:store. They were giving me all the information on that laser when he came back into the room and said that Re:store would not help, and this was before Re:pair was even released. I jumped on Re:pair as soon as it came out. Everybody gets depressed from time to time, but look at it this way. I have done dermabrasion and regular CO2 resurfacing with no results. At least you have Re:pair and Deep FX, which I didn't have until 2008.

Check out Laser-Link-O-Rama http://www.acne.org/...er-link-o-rama/
Here is a search function that should help you narrow things down. http://www.fraxel.co...r/find-a-doctor

Edited by DudleyDoRight, 14 June 2012 - 05:31 PM.

[readytosmileagain]

Update - went to see another derm here outside of Philly - we talked for an hour and she was concerned about two things... one, that im still getting a few pimples here and there and she wanted me to take care of that with my other derm but after breaking down, big time, in the florescent lighting and having 4 people in the room with me and really just letting my emotions get that best of me at 8am in the morning, she gave me a perscription for a topical called Klaron and after a lot fo discussion between laser and subcision she scheduled a subcision for July 24!!!!!!!!

Main concern - she mentioned something called Connective Tissue Disease... and wondered since im in the process of trying to figure out why I keep getting a positive ANA test result - my doctor has had me tested for Raynauds Disease (autoimmune) and she seemed to think that if i do have a connective tissue disease which can be associated with positive ANA tests and Raynauds that she might not feel comfortable doing the procedure... so.... anyone have any similar issues, know anything about connective tissue diseases, heard of a situation where something went horribly wrong wih a subcision or laser treatment because the person had a connective tissue disorder, etc. Im now not as excited as I was about the process...

I am going to send her my positive ANA test results and i think the new derm is going to send me for another blood test to see if I do indeed for another "issue"...

would love a smile today - please send them my way!

[readytosmileagain]

anybody have anything to add to this last post I put up - im days away from my first subcision and starting freak out a little...

[trendycat]

Unfortunately I don't have anything to add on the connective tissue disease, but I just wanted to say I'm really glad you went with subcision because that's the best one for your type of skin. You'll need a few of them before it really does the trick, but your scars will be better than they were before even after the first one. Lastly, and most importantly, I wanted to say that you're a very pretty lady, and I'm not just saying that... you're actually very attractive, so don't worry too much, k? Enjoy your life, your new family, know that you are pretty, and that things will only get better for you in these next few years as you go through these treatments. Just have hope.

[Coppedsynergy999]

anybody have anything to add to this last post I put up - im days away from my first subcision and starting freak out a little...

First off. I want to say you skin isnt bad at all! It looks pretty darn good honestly. Just a little bit of wear and tear hear and there. If i was dating you. As a guy, I wouldnt even give it a second thought. Also, If you are feeling really nervous you know you can just have them try subcision out in a few areas as opposed to all over your face for the first time. Just to see how everything responds. On another note, subcision seems to be a low risk procedure. Just look up people like Mr.Matt and youll see what to expect. Look him up and check out his gallery. I have subcision coming up too for the first time and im nervous. But sometimes our nervousness can be irational. My scars are muuuch deeper than yours. Im hoping to get some good improvement.

[readytosmileagain]

So I did it...photos to come... Looks pretty crappy right now with all the holes and the fact that when I left I liked my skin today but I kept telling myself, think of everytime you didn't want to do something because of your scars, etc. Has anyone else thought the scars looked much worse after?!

Edited by readytosmileagain, 24 July 2012 - 06:21 PM.

[Coppedsynergy999]

So I did it...photos to come... Looks pretty crappy right now with all the holes and the fact that when I left I liked my skin today but I kept telling myself, think of everytime you didn't want to do something because of your scars, etc. Has anyone else thought the scars looked much worse after?!

Good for you. Make sure you take lots and lots of vitamin c. Arnica tablets can help bruising also. Make sure you are getting an adequate amount of protein because protein helps the tissue heal. Be gentle right now and get lots of sleep. Light aroebics like jumping jacks and such can help with circulation. Drink lots of water. NO smoking or drinking for a while! You should see some improvement. I hope all is going well with you and you reach a level of satisfaction with thi procedure. If you can please post pics of right after your procedure that would be very helpful. I am very curious to see the state the skin is in after the procedure.

So I did it...photos to come... Looks pretty crappy right now with all the holes and the fact that when I left I liked my skin today but I kept telling myself, think of everytime you didn't want to do something because of your scars, etc. Has anyone else thought the scars looked much worse after?!

Good for you. Make sure you take lots and lots of vitamin c. Arnica tablets can help bruising also. Make sure you are getting an adequate amount of protein because protein helps the tissue heal. Be gentle right now and get lots of sleep. Light aroebics like jumping jacks and such can help with circulation. Drink lots of water. NO smoking or drinking for a while! You should see some improvement. I hope all is going well with you and you reach a level of satisfaction with thi procedure. If you can please post pics of right after your procedure that would be very helpful. I am very curious to see the state the skin is in after the procedure.

Furthermore i woud be weary of washing with glytone during the healing process as it contains glycolic acid.

[readytosmileagain]

here are the photos - taken about 5 hours afterward - they are not at the same angle as my original photos as I do not hvae flourescent lighting on my ceilings of my home (Thank god). A lot of my scars are now raised and my definitely bruised underneath my skin with about 3 showing up so far. I cant really smile with out it hurting a little bit but all in all not as much swelling as I imagined and I have been doing really good with icing as much as possible.


and yes, i should update my products - i havent used the Gytone products in a while. Ive been using just cetaphyl and cerave for a moisturizer

Attached Thumbnails

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Edited by readytosmileagain, 25 July 2012 - 07:48 AM.

[readytosmileagain]

Hey guys!
Day three photos after the procedure

I guess I should talk to you all about how it went down. I got there, they numbed my face with a numbing cream and took photos. Then 20 minutes later I went into a room and she put numbing blocks into my cheeks - this hurt the most and felt so weird. I also tried to keep in perspective that I was very anxious so everything hurt a lot worse than it probably actually did. Then she started with a 26 (unsure what its called) surienge and because i was jumping a little she went down to a 18 but told me the results would not be as great... so I hesitated but she said she was going to stick with the 18... maybe because i was bleeding more with the 26 as well, who knows.

It took about 25 minutes, she moved very quickly and was very aware of how I was feeling, etc. As I look at my face, now I know collagen will not grow back in 3 days so im trying to be very positive, but i feel like she missed a lot of scars that I really dislike but at the same time, I know she did some work and i cant expect all my scars to just disappear over night... so im trying my best to stay calm, focused on other things and heal.

Here are the photos from today - tried to get a good light angle photo as well

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY

[Littlehelp]

The process needs time

Your face look better some how I think

Suction cup will help too