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Matt TREMDOUS story. Congradulations. Im going for subscision followed by fraxel and maybe rolling after( they said it was ok to do in the same visit) My question was what is the led light you speak of and how do you use it. Thank you.
I purchased a red/infrared hand-held unit via the internet last year that I use for about five minutes on my left and right cheeks as well as my forehead.
The light is supposed to help reduce inflammation and accelerate the healing process.
Hope this helps.
Matt
I may go see your doc in Columbia since I am just an hour away. I have thought about subcision in the past but was told that it was for scars bound down and if you can stretch your scars and they go away, they are not bound down. Mine practically disappear if I pull the skin around them. Was this the case for you? When you stretched your skin around your scars did they disappear?
Also, I too have one under my mouth right above my jaw line, do you think this areas is totally off limits to subcision because of veins arteries present there? I also have two fairly close to my right eye which I can just imagine how bad that would swell if I got them done, but they bug me the most. I may go for a consult, did your doctor charge per scarred area, can you pm the price rage perhaps? Thanks and you really do show great improvement!
I may go see your doc in Columbia since I am just an hour away. I have thought about subcision in the past but was told that it was for scars bound down and if you can stretch your scars and they go away, they are not bound down. Mine practically disappear if I pull the skin around them. Was this the case for you? When you stretched your skin around your scars did they disappear?
Also, I too have one under my mouth right above my jaw line, do you think this areas is totally off limits to subcision because of veins arteries present there? I also have two fairly close to my right eye which I can just imagine how bad that would swell if I got them done, but they bug me the most. I may go for a consult, did your doctor charge per scarred area, can you pm the price rage perhaps? Thanks and you really do show great improvement!
tricia,
When I got saline subcision done, my doctor treated areas by my eye and several on my jawline. I am quite sure that it is safe to perform subcision on these areas. Unfortunately when I went in for traditional subcision weeks ago, my doctor missed those spots. I will definitely make sure he gets all(or at least most) of my scars the next round.
I may go see your doc in Columbia since I am just an hour away. I have thought about subcision in the past but was told that it was for scars bound down and if you can stretch your scars and they go away, they are not bound down. Mine practically disappear if I pull the skin around them. Was this the case for you? When you stretched your skin around your scars did they disappear?
Also, I too have one under my mouth right above my jaw line, do you think this areas is totally off limits to subcision because of veins arteries present there? I also have two fairly close to my right eye which I can just imagine how bad that would swell if I got them done, but they bug me the most. I may go for a consult, did your doctor charge per scarred area, can you pm the price rage perhaps? Thanks and you really do show great improvement!
tricia,
When I got saline subcision done, my doctor treated areas by my eye and several on my jawline. I am quite sure that it is safe to perform subcision on these areas. Unfortunately when I went in for traditional subcision weeks ago, my doctor missed those spots. I will definitely make sure he gets all(or at least most) of my scars the next round.
Tricia:
I am really glad that I had subcision done three times on my scars as nothing else that I had tried up to that point had really made any difference: chemical peels and laser treatments.
I would encourage you to ask whomever you consult with about the scars around your eyes and jawline. I appreciated the fact that my doctor was not willing to perform the procedure around major veins and arteries and had my best interests at heart.
My one year anniversary since my first procedure will be next month and I hope to post my latest photos in late March.
Let me know how things go for you. Be sure to take lots of "before" and "after" photos. The progress you see can be very incremental and it takes time for the collagen to develop.
Best wishes to you on your journey.
Matt
Hi mr matt. i just had subcision,fraxal restore and the roller all in one visit. Let me tell you the needle they use to numb you before the subcision hurt BAD. The fraxel hurt bad and the roller that followed hurt bad as well. Anyway i wanted to ask you a few questions. i was really swollen after the procedure(fat checks) but now 4 days after the swollen is gone and i am a little yellowish orange where the subcision was. I can still see the scars. My question is did you see results a long time after or is this what it is. I cant see it gettting any better. why didnt it get better right after? I had many rolling scars on my checks. im getting a little worried. Any help i would greatly appreciate, thanks.
Hi mr matt. i just had subcision,fraxal restore and the roller all in one visit. Let me tell you the needle they use to numb you before the subcision hurt BAD. The fraxel hurt bad and the roller that followed hurt bad as well. Anyway i wanted to ask you a few questions. i was really swollen after the procedure(fat checks) but now 4 days after the swollen is gone and i am a little yellowish orange where the subcision was. I can still see the scars. My question is did you see results a long time after or is this what it is. I cant see it gettting any better. why didnt it get better right after? I had many rolling scars on my checks. im getting a little worried. Any help i would greatly appreciate, thanks.
Congratulations on getting three procedures done at once. You are certainly a brave soul.
You are right. The needles that are inserted into your face before subcision with the anesthetic do hurt quite a bit. Fortunately, the subcision procedure itself is relatively painless due to the anesthetic.
Swelling is perfectly normal anytime these types of invasive procedures are done. Second, the yellowish/orange color you're experiencing right now is due to bruising. My doctor hadn't prepared me for this type of bruising, so I thought I was experiencing discoloration until I did some more online research. You'll have this discoloration for several days.
From what I understand, subcision results in the doctor untethering the fibrous bands which are creating the pits/craters in your skin. Due the prior infection you had from cysts, some of the collagen and tissue was probably destroyed resulting in the "depressions" in your skin.
Unfortunately, it takes awhile for your body to regenerate the lost tissue and collagen. I liken it to trying to fill a swimming pool with a garden hose. It takes time and sometimes it may take multiple procedures to get the type of results you may be looking for. It's a bummer that a cyst can destroy collagen and tissue so quickly, but it takes so much longer to regenerate it.
Your skin may be creating new collagen for up to six months after your first procedure. So, be patient and don't expect 100% improvement.
I saw incremental improvement after each subcision treatment and the dermarolling also helped. I had a Pearl Fractional Laser treatment in November and I'm still seeing improvement in my overall complexion.
Be sure to wear sunscreen to protect your skin and consider using topical Vitamin C products to help with the fibroblast/collagen development.
March 17th will mark my one year mark from my first procedure and I hope to put up a new post with before and after photos. While my skin is far from perfect today, it is vastly improved over what it looked like one year ago. The pain was certainly worth the gain! 
I recently went to visit my brother and his wife who live out-of-state. My brother told me more than one time, "Your skin looks so smooth!" He never would have said that a year ago.
Best wishes to you on your journey.
thank you so much for the reply. Like you said and what i have read on here it might take 6 months for the collegan to come back, but amazinly my doctor wants me back in 6 weeks to do all 3 again(subcision, fraxel, roller.) i dunno man. If i do want to do it again, i think ill wait 6 monthst, not 6 weeks. It was VERY costly. My skin looks now the same it did before the procedure. No more flaking, no more feeling like sandpaper. i dont remember from this blog but did yours look the same as before the proceude once all the funny colors went away?
Hi mr matt. i just had subcision,fraxal restore and the roller all in one visit. Let me tell you the needle they use to numb you before the subcision hurt BAD. The fraxel hurt bad and the roller that followed hurt bad as well. Anyway i wanted to ask you a few questions. i was really swollen after the procedure(fat checks) but now 4 days after the swollen is gone and i am a little yellowish orange where the subcision was. I can still see the scars. My question is did you see results a long time after or is this what it is. I cant see it gettting any better. why didnt it get better right after? I had many rolling scars on my checks. im getting a little worried. Any help i would greatly appreciate, thanks.Congratulations on getting three procedures done at once. You are certainly a brave soul.
You are right. The needles that are inserted into your face before subcision with the anesthetic do hurt quite a bit. Fortunately, the subcision procedure itself is relatively painless due to the anesthetic.
Swelling is perfectly normal anytime these types of invasive procedures are done. Second, the yellowish/orange color you're experiencing right now is due to bruising. My doctor hadn't prepared me for this type of bruising, so I thought I was experiencing discoloration until I did some more online research. You'll have this discoloration for several days.
From what I understand, subcision results in the doctor untethering the fibrous bands which are creating the pits/craters in your skin. Due the prior infection you had from cysts, some of the collagen and tissue was probably destroyed resulting in the "depressions" in your skin.
Unfortunately, it takes awhile for your body to regenerate the lost tissue and collagen. I liken it to trying to fill a swimming pool with a garden hose. It takes time and sometimes it may take multiple procedures to get the type of results you may be looking for. It's a bummer that a cyst can destroy collagen and tissue so quickly, but it takes so much longer to regenerate it.
Your skin may be creating new collagen for up to six months after your first procedure. So, be patient and don't expect 100% improvement.
I saw incremental improvement after each subcision treatment and the dermarolling also helped. I had a Pearl Fractional Laser treatment in November and I'm still seeing improvement in my overall complexion.
Be sure to wear sunscreen to protect your skin and consider using topical Vitamin C products to help with the fibroblast/collagen development.
March 17th will mark my one year mark from my first procedure and I hope to put up a new post with before and after photos. While my skin is far from perfect today, it is vastly improved over what it looked like one year ago. The pain was certainly worth the gain!
I recently went to visit my brother and his wife who live out-of-state. My brother told me more than one time, "Your skin looks so smooth!" He never would have said that a year ago.Best wishes to you on your journey.
That is so cool man. Alot of times i'll find myself thinking, man if i was able to get rid of my scars and improve my skin, what would my family's reactions be? My coworkers, what would their reaction be? I imagine the look on their faces, but right now it's just a dream.
congrats on your success Matt!
Wow, what a great thread! I really love all the information on dermarolling. Thanks so much for sharing, and I'm looking forward to updated pics.
My acne scars are very new 2-5 months, and I'm still getting mild break-outs (no longer inflamed ones though, thank God). I'm not ready to treat my scars, but I'm certainly ready to learn more about my options.
I did just order a lactic acid peel to help with hyperpigmentation. Any chance that will help with resurfacing? Right now my scars are mild rolling scars, but I feel like more are still forming 
Do newer scars heal better than older ones? I would think so, but I'm not sure, and I certainly don't know of any scientific proof.
So happy for you Matt, and thanks a ton for keeping us updated. It gives us all hope!
Wow, what a great thread! I really love all the information on dermarolling. Thanks so much for sharing, and I'm looking forward to updated pics.
My acne scars are very new 2-5 months, and I'm still getting mild break-outs (no longer inflamed ones though, thank God). I'm not ready to treat my scars, but I'm certainly ready to learn more about my options.
I did just order a lactic acid peel to help with hyperpigmentation. Any chance that will help with resurfacing? Right now my scars are mild rolling scars, but I feel like more are still forming
Do newer scars heal better than older ones? I would think so, but I'm not sure, and I certainly don't know of any scientific proof.
So happy for you Matt, and thanks a ton for keeping us updated. It gives us all hope!
Lactic peel will definitely help with hyperpigmentation but does very little for scars. It is probably better than nothing though. Peels do promote collagen growth but it is very minimal. Just make sure you do it at least 6 times before you make a judgment. It takes a while to notice a difference.
Wow, what a great thread! I really love all the information on dermarolling. Thanks so much for sharing, and I'm looking forward to updated pics.
My acne scars are very new 2-5 months, and I'm still getting mild break-outs (no longer inflamed ones though, thank God). I'm not ready to treat my scars, but I'm certainly ready to learn more about my options.
I did just order a lactic acid peel to help with hyperpigmentation. Any chance that will help with resurfacing? Right now my scars are mild rolling scars, but I feel like more are still forming
Do newer scars heal better than older ones? I would think so, but I'm not sure, and I certainly don't know of any scientific proof.
So happy for you Matt, and thanks a ton for keeping us updated. It gives us all hope!
Lactic peel will definitely help with hyperpigmentation but does very little for scars. It is probably better than nothing though. Peels do promote collagen growth but it is very minimal. Just make sure you do it at least 6 times before you make a judgment. It takes a while to notice a difference.
I just uploaded my latest photos in my album. I believe that the photos should be approved for viewing by Monday or Tuesday of next week. I tried to capture the same angle and lighting with each photo, but wasn't always successful in doing so.
I hope that my photos will help encourage some of you out there who are thinking about having some type of acne scar revision procedure done to help improve the appearance of your skin.
This whole thing has certainly been a journey for me and I am glad that I embarked upon this journey. While my skin is not perfect today, it has improved dramatically from what it looked like a year ago.
Best wishes to all of you.
Matt
mr. matt,
congrats! your results are phenomenal. the left side's improvement is so good I almost can't believe it!! did you get filler in addition to the subcision/TSA cross or are the results in these photos strictly from the above methods?
I'm new to this thread, it sounds like you have a blog, could you please post the web address for that again?
also, why do you and your doctor prefer the Pearl Laser over the Fraxel? Is it a fractional laser, just different brand?
I have been researching and on a quest to reduce my scars for years, I just need to find the right doctor, which seems to be the difficult part. I have icepick scars which doctors don't seem to know how to treat.
thanks for sharing, it's definitely encouraging and much appreciated!
mr. matt,
congrats! your results are phenomenal. the left side's improvement is so good I almost can't believe it!! did you get filler in addition to the subcision/TSA cross or are the results in these photos strictly from the above methods?
I'm new to this thread, it sounds like you have a blog, could you please post the web address for that again?
also, why do you and your doctor prefer the Pearl Laser over the Fraxel? Is it a fractional laser, just different brand?
I have been researching and on a quest to reduce my scars for years, I just need to find the right doctor, which seems to be the difficult part. I have icepick scars which doctors don't seem to know how to treat.
thanks for sharing, it's definitely encouraging and much appreciated!
Thanks for your encouraging e-mail.
I have not opted to get any filler of any type yet as I wanted to see what type of improvement I could gain from my subcision treatments, chemical peels, dermarolling sessions, and Pearl Fractional Laser first.
My doctor recommended the Pearl Fractional Laser for several reasons. First, it reaches deep within the dermis to create micro-dermal injuries which result in collagen development.
I "lifted" the following text off another doctor's website as I found it can explain the procedure and its benefits better than I ever could:
What is the Pearl Fractional treatment?
Pearl Fractional is a new volumizing fractional laser perfected for photoaging in just one treatment. Pearl Fractional offers the best combination of patient experience and recovery time. Patients will see improvements in photodamage, tone and texture as well as a noticeably smoother, brighter complexion. The Pearl Fractional is also ideal for treating "pitted" acne scars, other scars and stretch marks to improve and/or remove the appearance of these imperfections.
What does "fractional" mean? How does the Pearl Fractional treatment work?
Fractional therapy describes a treatment that affects only a fraction or small percentage of the skin. With Pearl Fractional, laser pulses place tiny holes deep in the skin. Columns of damaged tissue are selectively removed, leaving surrounding skin intact.
The treatment shortens healing time and stimulates the body's own natural process for creating new collagen, plumping the skin from below and reversing photoaging and other imperfections.
* Tiny holes enable safe treatment and a rapid recovery
* Deep treatment provides results in a single session
* Controlled energy means maximum results with a more comfortable patient experience
Who is a candidate for a Pearl Fractional treatment?
Patients with light-to-medium skin tones and skin imperfections due to aging and sun damage will benefit from a Pearl Fractional treatment.
Here is a link to the blog that I wrote about my experience with this laser:
http://www.acne.org/messageboard/index.php...logid=1795&
If you have icepick scars, I think most physicians who perform acne scar revision would recommend TCA CROSS (Chemical Reconstruction of Scarred Skin). I had several ice pick scars on my face (mainly temple, nose, and chin areas) that were treated with TCA Cross and with the Pearl Fractional Laser.
If you've read this thread from the beginning and my other blog about my experience with acne scar revision, you'll discover that I had had three Laser Genesis treatments and a multitude of chemical peels that rendered zero net results for me.
However, the TCA Cross, dermarolling, chemical peels, and Pearl Fractional Laser combined really have made my skin look so much better.
My nose use to resemble a "pin cushion" due to all of the scarred and enlarged pores. Today, it looks much, much better.
Again, I don't want anyone to get the impression that I now have perfectly smooth and flawless skin. That is not the case.
However, the appearance of my scars is so much less pronounced today than it was in March of2009 when I began this journey.
I use to "wince" when I would look at myself in the mirror and was truly ashamed of my appearance. It really affected my self-esteem. It bothered me when people would look at the scars on my face and not into my eyes when they were talking to me.
Today, my self-esteem is so much better and I would to encourage anyone out there reading this thread to look into the options that are available to you for acne scar revision.
I want to also say that I have learned SO MUCH from reading posts on this website. In fact, it was here that I learned about TCA CROSS and subcision.
So many people from across the country and around the world have e-mailed me and encouraged me on this journey, so I hope that this thread helps someone else as well.
Finally, I want to encourage anyone who is considering any type of acne scar revision procedures to keep this in mind:
1) Manage your expectations and don't expect to have a "model perfect"complexion when your done with the process. I could use some filler on some of my scars and may do that eventually.
2) The healing process is a gradual process. While it only takes a few weeks for a cystic lesion to destroy collagen in your skin, it could take up to six months for new collagen to develop after a procedure. Be patient and allow your skin time to heal. For me, watching my scars diminish as new collagen developed was like watching a swimming pool being filled with a small garden hose. It took a while, but the scars eventually improved.
3) Wear sunscreen to protect your "investment". Practicing good skincare will be essential to maintaining your improved complexion. A $10 bottle of sunscreen is worth every penny to protect the hundreds if not thousands of dollars you will have spent on acne scar revision procedures.
4) If you're a smoker, consider stopping. Smoking is known to damage collagen and will be counterproductive to any treatment you may receive to develop collagen.
5) Vitamin C and Vitamin A are critical to fibroblast and collagen development. My doctor prescribed Retin-A (0.1%) and I've been using it for over a year now and it has really helped my skin to look better. It takes at least three weeks before you'll see any type of change as the change is subtle. However, over the course of time, it has really improved my skin's appearance.
I also used a topical Vitamin C serum on my face and applied it, in particular, after every dermarolling session as the needles on the dermaroller opened up micro-channels that allowed my skin to absorb it better.
Oral Vitamin C (I used Esther-C) was another supplement that I took during the first ten months of this journey.
6) Exercise is important. Your skin is the largest organ in your body and capillary development/formation is important to the appearance of healthy skin. I swim a mile a week and have done so for years. I think it helps to promote the healing process.
7) I take Probiotics and research indicates that they are extremely good for your health and promote better absorption of vitamins and minerals.
8) I was pleasantly surprised by the results that I got with using a dermaroller. I've done at least five or more sessions in the last year. For about $30.00, I think you might be surprised with the results.
If anyone out there has purchased Perlane or Restalyne online through Canada, could you e-mail me and let me know what type of experience you had? Thanks.
Here's to better skin!
Matt
wow matt, I checked out your gallery...your skin looks...really great now.
I wish my skin was on that level...my left cheek is but I am still having issues on my right cheek.
I am kind of sad now because I had a subcision and that caused a linear scar...and it helped my rolling scar...but the doc whom I USED to trust told me dermabrasion would be the best to treat it but that opened the scar and am still suffering from some partial pinkness and skin is not 100% blended...
So basically it kind of took away some of the results of my subcision.
Now sure what to do..I'll PM you.
Hi Matt,
what size dermaroller do you use? is it the 1.5 mm? i just order a 1.5 mm one and dont know how long it takes to heal after you roll.
I started with the 1.5mm and just "upgraded" to the 2.0mm.
My face has undergone so many procedures (i.e. peels, three subcision treatments, four laser treatments, etc.) that it tends to heal very quickly.
After my first dermarolling session, I had some small pin-sized dots on my face from the blood that oozed out that lasted for two days. The redness disappeared overnight each time I've done a dermarolling session.
It's not for the faint of heart. It does hurt, but I really feel that the results are worth it.
I wait about six weeks between treatments to allow my skin to recover before doing another session.
Hope this helps.
Matt
Hi Matt,
what size dermaroller do you use? is it the 1.5 mm? i just order a 1.5 mm one and dont know how long it takes to heal after you roll.
I started with the 1.5mm and just "upgraded" to the 2.0mm.
My face has undergone so many procedures (i.e. peels, three subcision treatments, four laser treatments, etc.) that it tends to heal very quickly.
After my first dermarolling session, I had some small pin-sized dots on my face from the blood that oozed out that lasted for two days. The redness disappeared overnight each time I've done a dermarolling session.
It's not for the faint of heart. It does hurt, but I really feel that the results are worth it.
I wait about six weeks between treatments to allow my skin to recover before doing another session.
Hope this helps.
Matt
Thanks, Matt!
yeah, i think i'll have to stay at home for 4-5 days after each treatment of Rolling 
. I will order Terproline cream and LED lights to help skin heal better. I learned this technique from Lamarr (a member of acne.org) that had much success with dermaroller. Oh, btw... i have 4 super shallow rolling saucer shape scars that only can be seen with certain lighting, it's shallow but wide...i'd say 1/3 of an inch wide. do you think subcision would help? I have been getting saline subcision in fullerton california. What the doctor does is that he injects saline solution (salt water) under each depress scar to break up the fibrous tissue that is holding down the scar and the solution then creates a blood clot for a couple days, and the saline is suppose to promote collagen-the skin is suppose to stay leveled for about a week and when the saline goes away, your scar is suppose improve (not as depressed). So far i got 2 treatments out of the 6, and i only see... 15% improvement so far. If rolling and everythign else fails... i think i'll go for subcision... but possibly after graduate school (in 3 years). :/ im still a poor college student.
All this scarring happened when i broke out in october 2009 (6 months ago) and I am so self conscious and depressed about it where i've been avoiding lots of social events... i feel as if i threw away my life. everywhere you look, you see people with normal looking skin, and if you see anyone with scars, its super less where it doesnt even effect the way they look. I was wondering how do you cope with it(life with imperfections and scars) before you had your successful procedure.
Hi Matt,
Thanks for all of your posts! They have been very helpful and inspiring. I have been researching extensively for a good surgeon in California for my acne scars. May I ask which doctor has been performing your treatments? Thanks!
My dermatologist's name is Dr. John DeSpain. He performed the subcision, TCA CROSS, and Pearl Laser treatment on my face.
His website is www.columbiaderm.com.
Hope this helps.
Matt
Wow, Matt, your skin looks amazing! In fact, you look younger than you did in your baseline photos! Thank you so much for sharing! <3
I bought Restylane from a online Canadian pharamacy, which apparently is unusual since they don't ship to US customers anymore. Let me know if you'd like to find out what I did during 'checkout' (I think I've figured out why they made an exception with my order.)
Wow, Matt, your skin looks amazing! In fact, you look younger than you did in your baseline photos! Thank you so much for sharing! <3
I bought Restylane from a online Canadian pharamacy, which apparently is unusual since they don't ship to US customers anymore. Let me know if you'd like to find out what I did during 'checkout' (I think I've figured out why they made an exception with my order.)
Yes, I am interested in learning more about your experience with ordering Restylane.
Any problems with injecting it? Infections? Any bruising?
By the way, I've been using Retin-A (0.1%) for over a year now as well as using topical Vitamin C. Both Retin-A and topical Vitamin C have been proven to help create fibroblasts which create the collagen. I use both topicals right after I dermaroll and it appears to be helping my skin.
The vast majority of lines around my eyes and on my face have vanished. Subcision played a role in the collagen development as well as the dermarolling sessions and Pearl Laser treatment.
My wife and kids think I'm crazy that I wear sunscreen seven days a week even on cloudy days. But, I view it as one way to protect my "investment'.
Here's to better skin and a better tomorrow for everyone.
Matt
