12 replies to this topic

[bucelee]

Well i dont know if anyone reads my posts maybe because i'm new , anyhow i saw dr patel at the viva clinic for a first consult he offered me e matrix, i was told to have 4 sessions after which if im not happy i can have co2, my q is why not just have co2 straight up. im tired of many treatments having little or no effect. Please advise me all

thanks

[acnescar123]

No reason not to have the co2 right away if you're willing to take on the added risk + downtime. He probably doesn't think your scarring is super serious and thinks rf needling *may* give you the results you want (+ he gets to make more $).

[bucelee]

if that was the case it's kind of weird he said after the sessions he would deduct that cost from C02 laser so i'd have to pay just the remainder for c02 then again it could be the remainder for jsut one co2. in terms of the risks are they common woth co2 what about if u have co2 pin pointed on the scars i asked him aout this and he said no but didnt really explain why. Then he said my scars were mainly box and ice pick so i woldnt benefit much fom subcision but went on to say yeah i would do subcicion after anyway :S :S im so confused are there any good doctors that make sense in england who arent about money grabbing i mean id pay the price if it works. There is no point having something that gives little benefit with medium down time right

[monopoly]

Keep going to more consultations until you find a dermatologist you feel comfortable with. It sounds like he just wants to make some money off you.

[justmeuk]

I've seen Dr Patel and he's a really good doctor who isn't just in it for the money.  If he was in it for the money he wouldn't be willing to deduct the cost of the Ematrix from the C02.  It sounds to me as though he thinks Ematrix will be enough for your scars and he is recommending you try that first as it carries a lot less risk than the C02.  I don't think you have anything to loose as if he is prepared to deduct the cost of the Ematrix from C02 he is basically refunding you if you are not happy.  If he wanted to make more money from you he would just go straight to the C02 which is the more expensive treatment.  It sounds like he has your best interests at heart and doesn't want to put you through the C02 if it's not necessary.  

[bucelee]

But the pictures that I was shown from the Ematrix showed little improvment justmeuk what treatment did you receive from Dr patel- somehthing doesnt quite add up. I mean he mentioned the fact that patients who werent happy with the ematrix were moved on to co2. I feel its just a selling point " I'll pay the remainder for co2" i really think he didnt meant what he said there. I'm thinking about getting my scars excised or punch graftsdoes anyone know any uk plastic surgeons who could help. Also what does dr chu recommend are the best options for boxcar and ice pick scarring. I'm tired of watiting for my referral to go through. I mean ive got the gp referral but ive yet to see dr chu ive been seen by other docs at hammersmith hospital and have put a special request to see Dr Chu but its not happening apparently hes about to retire for good soon!

[justmeuk]

I'm sure if you just want to go straight to co2 he would do that, perhaps he is just trying to save you money by trying the matrix first. I've been recommended to have the co2 with him, he hasn't mentioned ematrix to me but my scars are moderate to severe. I don't know how bad yours are but maybe he doesn't think you need it? Did you stress to him that want to go straight to the co2? I've had subcision with him which has helped and I've found him to be great, he hasn't tried to push any treatments on me. Regarding Dr Chu I've seen him too and he offers prp, dermapen, subcision, tca cross and I think excision too. If you have seen other doctors at Hammersmith I'm guessing that they offer the same so you want get anything different from seeing Dr Chu as I think they all do the same treatments. What treatments have you had so far and have they helped?

[bucelee]

\just me uk thanks a lot for your posts

I've had dermaroller at hammersmith but that didnt help much at all. \i havent met dr chu yet hes refuse to see me so far

dr patel said I have boxcar and ice pick so rolling wont help at all!

are you going ahead with the co2

now im in a dilemma

Next week i have a session of dermarolling so booked 4 days from work if this is a waste of time i might as well do the ematrix next week.\btw wat is the downtime for ematrix ?

But im thinking of going to hammersmith and demanding dr chu this time for at least a consult- i like the excising idea peoples moles scars go eventually with time

[justmeuk]

Have you had TCA cross at Hammersmith?  That helped quite a bit with some of my boxcars.  Dr Chu will probably just advise the same as the derms you've already seen at Hammersmith as they have all been trained by him and i imagine they all follow the same protocols.  

 

How many sessions of dermarolling have you had as you should see some results if you've had more than three treatments.  If you've had three or more treatments and seen no results i wouldn't bother to be honest.  I had three treatments of dermarolling and didn't get any results from it.  

 

If you really want the C02 i'm sure Dr Patel will do that for you.  I don't know what the downtime is for ematrix as i've never had it.  Also i didn't think that laser worked too well for ice pick scars?  You may be better off trying to build them up with tca cross first or looking at excision and then getting laser after.

[bucelee]

justmeuk thats what i was thinking get some excisions tca crosses and then do a laser but maybe my scars are already ready for laser and not that deep ( you always think your scars are the worst)  thing is i have light brown skin and maybe co2 would have some unwanted side effects -i mean i say now yeah i can handle pigmentation better than scars but you dont know how much of an impact hyperpigmentation may have on someone until you get it yourself! Dr patel said he would do a tca cross in the same session as the ematrix btw theematrix is not a laser. At hammersmith hospital the doctors i saw knew next to no english and ignored what i was saying. She told me i have little scarring and dermaroller would be fine honestly the people i saw didnt have a clue! I work for the nhs and i was shocked how these people were allowed to operate.

ive had 3 dermarollers with no improvement ( 1 private dermaroller costed me 450 pounds for the one session madness) I now understand a lot more about my scars yes boxcar and ice pick are not to be treated with dermaroller

[bucelee]

ah you know what sod it i'mjust going to go ahead and give it a try justmeuk thanks so much for your replies youv'e been so helpful did you have any tca cross performed by dr patel

[justmeuk]

I didn't get TCA cross from him as i had three rounds of it with Dr Chu and it did a reasonable job of filling in most of my boxcars.  Please keep us updated if you decide to go for the ematrix and let us know how you get on.  

[bucelee]

I will do justmeuk i have an appointment at hammersmith tomorrow for that routine crappy dermaroller-im going to go in annd demand i have tca cross or somethign useful !