Hi everyone. I've been AWOL for awhile, trying to shift focus away from my scars. But I've been keeoing up with everyone's stories, and I just wanted to give a brief almost-6-month update. But first, I must say, Misty, you look fantastic! Wow. You must be so pleased. I would actually classify you now as an unscarred person. And Portlandboy, it looks like you are a "good healer," and I can only imagine with your skin tone (which I'm really surprised to hear was classified as IV, BTW), that you will fare very well post-dermabrasion. Also, best of luck to Dolmal, Shade, Kooky (with a "y") and everyone else going into this procedure. I think you will all be very happy with your results.

 

As for me, almost 6 months out, I have to say that I am still so pleased and that I can actually still see improvements. I clearly saw a "boost" around the 3-month mark, at which point thigns got much smoother (with respect to the underlying fat, not so much with the surface), and I would have to say that just in the past 2-3 weeks, I have noticedyet another "boost." I just thought I'd report this, because the results of dermabrasion just keep on coming and I would say that even thought most people seem very happy with their results after the first few weeks anyway, at least for those whose scarring involves underlying tissue loss, keep watching for further improvements.

 

Anyway, that's all.

 

cheers,

 

--leo

 

 

 

 

Who else is going to be in New Orleans during this time? anyone else?

Jan 8th. Sounds like you'll all have flown the coop by then.

 

 

 

 

I try search for anyway to speed up the skin pigmentation return. I found the following website useful.

http://www.drstevebyrd.com/herbal.html

"

Postoperative Care (first 6 weeks following surgery unless noted otherwise)

Bromelain (until obvious bruising has dissipated)

Vitamin C, Glutathione & L-cysteine

Vitamin E (not to exceed 400 iu)

Free-Form Amino Acids

Nux Vomica (first 1-3 days, IF needed)

Zinc

"

Jan 8th. Sounds like you'll all have flown the coop by then.

 

 

 

 

How noticable are the punch grafts. I had a dermabrasion 18 years ago that more or less ruined my skin. I now have some ice pick scarring that I would love to have removed. I just don't want to go through another dermabrasion. With the punch grafts, do they replace the skin that is removed with skin from somewhere else(I've heard that they sometimes use skin from behind the earlobe) or do they use skin from some sort of skin bank?

How noticable are the punch grafts. I had a dermabrasion 18 years ago that more or less ruined my skin. I now have some ice pick scarring that I would love to have removed. I just don't want to go through another dermabrasion. With the punch grafts, do they replace the skin that is removed with skin from somewhere else(I've heard that they sometimes use skin from behind the earlobe) or do they use skin from some sort of skin bank?

 

 

 

 

Hi Amberkat!

 

I can certainly sympathize w/you about the derma ruining your skin; I had a dermabrasion done over 20 years ago for some minor scarring.  My skin texture was very smooth prior to the procedure but afterwards, my skin healed very rough.  I too said I would NEVER go through that again!  I have had some acne scarring since then and have tried just about everything else but w/very minor results.  After reading everyone's posts and doing some research on my own, I flew down to see Dr. Y last week.  He did a few punch floats; they are different than punch grafts, which I had w/my first dermabrasion.  Instead of using skin from another part of your body, he floats the indented skin flush with the rest of the skin, then tapes it in place. 

 

I expressed my concerns about dermabrasion because of the bad experience I had; he said that years ago after the procedure, docs allowed the skin to scab over which contributed to the uneven texture results.  They now keep the skin moist during healing and do not allow it scab over; he said this results in a much more even texture.  I'm very nervous about this given my past experience, but I do have confidence in Dr. Y so I'm going to take the plunge and have it done again

 

 

†

 

 

Sounds like you and I had similar experiences. When I had my 1st dermabrasion, I did not have any grafts of any kind. And they did not allow my skin to scab over. They put some sork of clear bandage on it to keep it from scabbing. I could see the oil from my pores surface under the bandage. I still have alot of oil production mixed with dead skin cells, but not as much as when I was younger. Maybe if I tried dermabrasion again my pores would heal smaller now.

 

 

 

 

Here are pics as promised. Hope it helps. Dermabrasion was done on Monday 11/29/2004 afternoon.

Predermabrasion:

1. Right cheek

2. Another right cheek

3. Left cheek

4. Full face

Postdermabrasion by Dr. Yarborough:

Note these are mainly progress pics as you can see. I have pics from 11/29/04-12/4/04. I will post more up-to-date pics later.

Day 1, Monday 11/29/04 7pm in hotel room;

Full face

Day 2, Tuesday 11/30/04 after dressings and bandages removed. Don't look if you have a weak stomach

Full face

Day 3, Wednesday 12/1/04 before bandages removed. This is to show how much oozing (yellow gooey stuff) can occur. Don't look if you have a weak stomach

Full face

After dressings and bandages removed. Don't look if you have a weak stomach

Full face

Day 4, Thursday 12/2/04 bandaged up; more oozing picture with a slight swelling around the eyes.

Full face

Last bandages & dressings removed. These are my skin conditions before wearing the infamous mask to go home for good. After this, it's open-wound care where I put Vaseline on my entire face. Taken at 10am.

Full face

Right side

Left side

More of Day 4 with Vaseline on. Taken at 1pm.

Full face

Right side

Left side

Day 5, Friday 12/3/04 7am, after cleaning before applying Vaseline:

Full face

Right side

Left side

I left that Friday. Flight was at 3pm. Got a flat tire on the rental car. Enterprise wouldn't give me a replacement car and told me to replace the tire myself. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem but I just had surgery and I told Enterprise I don't want to exert any strength. So, they told me there will be someone coming within 1 hour. My flight is in 2 hour. I don't trust their "1-hour" so I decided to go and change the tire myself. Then a sweet gentleman came over and helped me with the task. What's amazing is that this man had cataract surgery not too long ago and he's not supposed to work much. But he helped me regardless!! Wow! Thought I should share his act of kindness to everyone.

Back to pics..

Day 5 At the airport in my full mask. I gave the security people Dr. Yarborough's note and I got through without a problem.

Full face

Still Day 5 After I got home (Toronto) and washed my face before heading to bed.

Full face

Right side

Left side

Day 6 Saturday 12/4/04

Full face

Right side

Left side

Day 7 and Day 8 are on their way.

Could this be why microdermabrasion may have contributed to my scarring? Sometimes I think I would not have had scarring to this degree had I not tried microdermabrasion. After my sessions (I had 8) I would be bleeding and eventually the wounds would turn to scabs and then fall off.

 

 

 

 

Correction...

Predermabrasion

3. Left cheek

Correction...

Predermabrasion

3. Left cheek

 

 

 

 

You should not have bleeding with microdermabrasion.

 

 

 

Portlandboy,

Hey, I'll be in New Orleans Dec. 28th thru Jan. 1st. I'm holding out for better room rates, so I don't know where I'll be staying yet. I'd sure like to check in with you when I'm in town though. I'll give you my info when I have a confirmed reservation.

Portlandboy,

 

Hey, I'll be in New Orleans Dec. 28th thru Jan. 1st.‚  I'm holding out for better room rates, so I don't know where I'll be staying yet.‚  I'd sure like to check in with you when I'm in town though.‚  I'll give you my info when I have a confirmed reservation.

 

 

†

 

 

Hi Leafs,

Thanks for posting the pics. I am from TO (also Chinese) and my derma appoint is on Feb 7. My biggest fear is:

1. Bored to death staying at the hotel room for 5 days.

2. Boarding the plane wearing a mask or not on my return trip.

I shall have 2 weeks off work to recover. I've been putting this off but I should book my flight and hotel now.

Heal well and enjoy the result!

Regards,

Sword

Awesome photo documentation Leafsfan! Thanks so much for sharing with us.

Are you able to tell if you see improvement yet? I'm assuming you're into day 8 or 9 or even longer at this point? (forgive me if you already said)

Keep us posted! Keep taking great pics!

Hello Everyone! This forum has been so helpful! Now I am planning to get my dermabrasion with Dr. Yarborough. For those of you who have had dermabrasion, how did you take time off work? Did you call in sick or did you take vacation time? If you called in sick, did you let your employer know or did you just say you were having a "personal medical treatment"? How soon did you start working again?

Another question is, I have a medical Flexible Spending Account. Has anyone been able to use their FSA money for a dermabrasion procedure. The plan covers cosmetic treatment if it is "medically necessary" to fix scarring caused by illness or disease, but is acne considered a "past illness or disease". Well, I think my dermasion for my scars is medically necessary!

Thanks again for all your posts!

Maria

Hello Everyone! This forum has been so helpful! Now I am planning to get my dermabrasion with Dr. Yarborough. For those of you who have had dermabrasion, how did you take time off work? Did you call in sick or did you take vacation time? If you called in sick, did you let your employer know or did you just say you were having a "personal medical treatment"? How soon did you start working again?

 

Another question is, I have a medical Flexible Spending Account. Has anyone been able to use their FSA money for a dermabrasion procedure. The plan covers cosmetic treatment if it is "medically necessary" to fix scarring caused by illness or disease, but is acne considered a "past illness or disease". Well, I think my dermasion for my scars is medically necessary!

 

Thanks again for all your posts!

 

Maria

 

 

 

 

Portlandboy,

Thanks so much for the info. I already purchased airline tickets & am trying to get a package deal for hotel and car. Can you tell me is there a particular area I should stay away from? I want to make sure I'm in a safe location being female and travelling alone. I can get much better deals closer to MSY Airport. Do you know if that is an okay area?

Portlandboy,

 

Thanks so much for the info. I already purchased airline tickets & am trying to get a package deal for hotel and car. Can you tell me is there a particular area I should stay away from? I want to make sure I'm in a safe location being female and travelling alone. I can get much better deals closer to MSY Airport. Do you know if that is an okay area?

 

 

 

 

Hi Portlandboy,

I made all my reservations too. If you want, you can PM me and I'll tell you where I am staying. I think I am fairly close to his office, but I am not quite sure. I think I will be very close to the Clarion Grand Boutique. I stayed downtown next to the superdome last time, and I had fun. I took the St. Charles Trolley to Napoleon and then walked about 12 blocks or so to his office. The area right near his office is quite nice.

I am so wondering what this next week will be like. I haven't really thought about the details much. I leave Saturday morning and will get there Sunday afternoon (I am not a rich girl, therefore I will be taking the bus in order to stay in a nice hotel!) I was planning on walking to his office (I love to walk), but I don't know if I'll be able to walk back to my hotel. Hopefully, with my face wrapped, I will be able to walk around slowly a bit during the day, maybe with a hat. And hopefully at night I will be able to go out a little. Also, I am not sure that I will be able to head home on Saturday the 18th with a bloody, gooey face. Maybe with a hat and some kind of mask I'll be okay. If anyone can think of anything I am forgetting, please let me know. Thank you

P.S. I am so scared, and scarred

Hi Portlandboy,

 

I made all my reservations too.‚  If you want, you can PM me and I'll tell you where I am staying.‚  I think I am fairly close to his office, but I am not quite sure.‚  I think I will be very close to the Clarion Grand Boutique.‚  I stayed downtown next to the superdome last time, and I had fun.‚  I took the St. Charles Trolley to Napoleon and then walked about 12 blocks or so to his office.‚  The area right near his office is quite nice.‚ 

 

I am so wondering what this next week will be like.‚  I haven't really thought about the details much.‚  I leave Saturday morning and will get there Sunday afternoon (I am not a rich girl, therefore I will be taking the bus in order to stay in a nice hotel!) I was planning on walking to his office (I love to walk), but I don't know if I'll be able to walk back to my hotel.‚  Hopefully, with my face wrapped, I will be able to walk around slowly a bit during the day, maybe with a hat.‚  And hopefully at night I will be able to go out a little.‚  Also, I am not sure that I will be able to head home on Saturday the 18th with a bloody, gooey face.‚  Maybe with a hat and some kind of mask I'll be okay.‚  If anyone can think of anything I am forgetting, please let me know.‚  Thank you

 

P.S.‚  I am so scared, and scarred‚ 

 

 

†

 

 

Hi Leafs,

 

Thanks for posting the pics. I am from TO (also Chinese) and my derma appoint is on Feb 7. My biggest fear is:

 

1. Bored to death staying at the hotel room for 5 days.

 

2. Boarding the plane wearing a mask or not on my return trip.

 

I shall have 2 weeks off work to recover. I've been putting this off but I should book my flight and hotel now.

 

Heal well and enjoy the result!

 

Regards,

Sword