Acne.org Products
i just want this over that's why i'm currently working my @ss off, i'll have the $6,000 in about 3 1/2 months so maybe on feb. march april i'll be going in to finally put this to rest.
Thanks
10 Weeks Update.
I still have alot of blotchiness all over my face. There is one BIG patch of brown area on one side of my face. I'm currently using Tri Luma to fix that. There is also this line. It's redder than all other part of the face. It's so noticable. Time like this, I dont know if the result justify the money and complication arise from this procedure.
P.S: I will express my concerns Dr. Y when I give him my picture.
Moonsoon,
I would be curious to know what Dr. Y. says re: your skin. Please keep us posted. Do you have any photos?
By the way, what is the color of your skin? I have olive skin and I am scared that dermabrasion may discolor my skin. I thought I would be safe with Dr. Y but I guess that is not the case.
aaaawwwww
Moonsoon,
Have you talked to Dr. Y since your procedure? Atleast it is darker and not lighter. Dr. Y repeatedly tells me that the lighter blotchiness is what is not cureable. I am sure it will fade but it must suck since you are a guy and make up migth not be your choice to help with that.
wantperfectskin remember that complications are not neccesarily based on skin tone, it is also related to the persons individual healing capacity and process.
I plan to ask him to dermabrade a small area when i get my floats, to see how the skin will react, it will cost more but better safe than sorry.
After reading many of the posts detailing positive results that people have had with dermabrasion done by Dr. Y, I've let myself get my hopes up that this may be the answer for me. I'm from Canada, and I've gone as far as considering moving temporarily to the New Orleans area so that I can have some punch floats and excisions done and then 3-4 weeks later a dermabrasion session. I could recuperate in New Orleans and wouldn't have to worry as much about facing the world while recovering.
I probably won't do it, but I really hope I can figure out how to make it happen. I think it could really make a difference and change my life, so it's something I have to give some serious thought to.
--okay, part two:
THE FLIGHT HOME
Because, as I explained, I had about 4 hours to spare before my shuttle picked me up, I just hung out on a couch right by my room at the McFarland Inn. In fact, I fell asleep and awoke at 4:05Aaa5 minutes after the shuttle was to pick me up. ARGHH! ran down there and called the dispatcher, but I had indeed missed the shuttle! CRAP. Oh well, they said that I should call a cab and that they would refund my money for the return trip (which I thought was very fair given it was my screw up). So I called United cab and they were there literally within 3 minutes. ItAaas a $28.oo flat rate to or from the airport with any cab company, so that was fineAaaa bit more that I had paid with the shuttle service, but I was grateful for the privacy. I made sure to get a direct flight on the way home. Got in the first boarding group (yay-a good seat), and 20 minutes before we were to board, there was a HUGE thunderstormAaaWOW! We donAaat get those out in CA. I was thinking AaAOh #@&*! IAaam gonna get stuck in the airport forever.Aa? Luckily, down there, storms wind up, are intense, and then are over fairly quickly so we got out there only about 1/2 hour late. I boarded quickly and made my way to the very back row (I knew that it was not a full flight so I was hoping to get a row all to myself), but alas two mothers each with multiple screaming children (normally I love kids), sat all around me. Oh well, I just bundled up and listened to music. We got in about an hour late. Went down stairs, called the shuttle to come take me to my car and was out of there in a jiffy. And really, no one on the whole trip home even took a double-take. (This of course, would not be the case if you had a full face, but you could probably make up some cool excuseAaaand the best part, no one could possibly recognize you!) Either they didnAaat notice or were being polite (probably the former). In fact, I was feeling so well-hidden, that I stopped by a grocery store where I knew I wouldnAaat run into anyone (it was 11:00 at night anyway), and got more food for myself.
ONCE HOME
It was so nice to be home. The first night I just fell into bed almost immediately. And these next few days, IAaave just been cleaning the house, reading, watching movies, and basically taking a AaAvacation,Aa? and of course writing this monstrosity. Everyone I know thinks IAaam out of town at a conference, so I havenAaat had to deal with many phone calls (except for my husband), or people wanting to see me. So IAaave been cleaning my skin now about twice a day with the shave foam and gauze and then liberally applying the Vaseline. As of yet, I have not put anything else on it. But, one ingenious (if I do say so myself) idea I came up with is, after the vaseline, to wrap my forehead in saran wrap as it seals in the moisture and the take either gauze roll or that Coban wrap and lightly wrap my forehead in that to keep the Sara wrap in place. I really think this helps. I also let my skin breath (with the Vaseline on of course) for a while each day, but I mostly keep it wrapped (lightly). IAaave also been drinking lots of water, eating fruit, trying to take some of my supplements, etc. And each time I cleanse the area, I can literally see new skin and my scars filling inAaaitAaas very exciting. Dr. Y said that I should be able to go out with makeup on by Monday (with sunscreen of course), but IAaam in no hurry. I have to call their office again on Monday or Tuesday to give an update.
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
Okay, since money is certainly an issue for me, I thought itAaad be useful to try to tally up what I spent on this trip:
Essentials
Prescriptions: $15 (this would vary with coverage)
Off Airport Parking: $40
Flight: ~$200 (varies of course)
Accomadations: $160 (4 nights at $40/each)
Shuttle: $26 RT + tip (minus $13 for my screw up)
Cab ride back to airport $28 + tip (if you donAaat fall asleep you can omit this)
Consultation fee $125
Procedure $1500 ($4500 for a full face)
Food, etc $20-25 or so
__________________
~$2106
Nonessentials
Cab rides to/fro FQ: ~$25
Nice dinner at Oliviers ~$25 + tip
___________
~$50
Sorry to be so meticulous, but when youAaare a teacher living in SF, every dollar counts!
A FINAL NOTE ON THE BOARD (ACNE.ORG)
Dr. Y and Cassandra are both aware of acne.org. ItAaas sort of an old-fashioned environment out there (not in terms of the medical technology but in terms of how people relate to each otherAaain a very good way), so I donAaat think they are really that familiar with the internet. In fact, he came back in to see me on Tuesday morning and said that he had spoken to someone the day before on the phone who asked AaAhas that girl from California had her forehead done yet?Aa? (BTW, whoever you are, thanks for checking in on me! =) Anyway, he said that it seemed that almost everyone who contacted him these days mentioned the board. I was a little worried that maybe he might feel a little freaked out by this. So I told him what a great board this is for mutual support and for exchange of information. And I told him that people are only saying the most wonderful of things about him and his office, and that even though it might feel like a zillion people are talking about him, that in actuality there is a relatively small number of us interested in dermabrasion with him and itAaas just that weAaare all contacting him now. I just didnAaat want him to feel uneasy about any of this. He assured me that he was not, and just said he hoped that it didnAaat compromise peopleAaas confidentiality, for our sakes. I explained to him that it was all anonymous and that people only revealed their identities to each other in private and shared their personal experiences if they so chose. He seemed fine with it and I think that put his mind at ease, but IAaad just say that I think that we should all try to be mindful of the fact that this board may be a bit foreign to him and not to overwhelm him with it (I include myself in this as well). Though when I did explain how much this board had done for me, he did seem very happy that something like this existed.
A POSTSCRIPT
Although it is still too early to see the results, things seem to be coming along very well and from what he tells me they will only continue to improve. If I havenAaat already communicated this, I could not be happier with my decision to fly out there. Dr. Y and Cassandra are two of the most decent, caring, compassionate people IAaave ever met. They manage to strike this incredible balance of laid-back, mellowness with absolute professionalism and seriousness when needed. And from what everyone tells me, I am in for some major improvement. I donAaat know whether I will need/opt for a follow up, but in any case, I will certainly be going back out there in about a year, at least for a vacation and to show them my progress and let them take after shots. Whew, okay IAaall end now. Thanks for readingAaait really helped me to write it out, and I certainly have the time on my hands now. Hopefully, this can be of help to some of you. Thanks again for all of your good wishes!
--leo
Im sorry I don't know how I copied Leo's post and submitted it. I have never been to this board or any board really so I guess I screwed up how to reply. Im so sorry Leo I just wanted to say how greatly informative you post was It was wonderful and I am very happy for you. sorry for the mix up
Hey fellow Canucks!I respect your opinion. However, I'm doing mine November 29th with Dr. Y. I'm also from Canada and with the US-CAD conversion I can sympathize with you how expensive it is. I am also Asian, which might complicate things when I recover.. patchiness and all. I'm not looking for perfection but some improvements.
I know money is a big problem for many people. For me, I saved up money by not going out much for the last few months. I also cashed out some of my GICs (savings). I know and have faith that it WILL be worth it.
I will post up before and after pics to help more people make an informed decision.
Moonsoon and Poe, can you please post up more after pics? Thanks.
5 more weeks til dermabrasion... can't wait!!!
If I can come up with the money, I would do another one.. With Dr. Y, it can only improve so why not? Nope, I didn't get punch-floats done but I want to next time. And I have no idea where Misty is.. I hope she comes back on soon
Edit: I only have 2 boxcars and the derma didn't help much with it.
Monsoon, i feel gutted for you! i'm sure your skin will continue to get better though, its just going to take time, all of the blotchyness, and redness will gradually fade over time.
My main concern with getting dermabrasion is that, i have these ugly WHITE line shaped scars on my cheek, i have 4 of them, and when i get warm my face goes red, and these white scars stick out a mile!!! is there anything that can be done for them? they are also indented, so i'm hoping that dermabrasion will help smooth them out, so that they are at least level with the rest of my skin!
I know that i will probably freak out after the bandages come off as my face will be BLOOD RED! and i'll still be able to see these god damn ugly WHITE scars......aaaaargh! i just want them to blend in!!
