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Hey Lizlee,
Thanks for the reply. Are you using the lotion or the cream? Cassandra told me to start with the cream and then move onto the lotion. Which did you start with?
I'm SO shiny now. I hate how shiny I look... very shiny and red.
And I'm itching like mad!!!
Dr. Y told me the few little pimples I had today were from the vaseline which I stopped (hopefully it stops but I just have this ill feeling that my acne battles have just begun) At least until things even out. I still haven't healed up all the way either.
My skin feels TIGHT and firm to the touch. Does this mean I still have swelling? God I hope not. Could there be internal swelling that doesnt appear externally? (I mean that my facial features appear to be normal - back to my pre-derma condition). My skin is also pretty hot to the touch (temp wise).
Leafsfan Looking forward to seeing your updated pics. Tomorrow my bandage/mask comes off. Did you have 3 or 4 masks. Today I got my third one and Cassandra said this will be the last one since it comes off tomorrow. I can't wait to eat solid food again, I don't think I can stand the sight of soup any longer.
I have a lot of crust around my mouth, basically wherever the bandage is not covering the skin, and I'm hoping these areas heal as well as the covered areas. Since you are into week 5, do you feel like you can go outside without makeup on? I plan on staying indoors for atleast 4 weeks but eventually I have to return to school so going out is a must, and I don't want to put on make up, just the spf 15 lotion.
I wanted to ask you specifically if you are having pigmentation problems since you have asian skin. The doctor said these would come up around the beginning of week 4 and that he would prescribe trilauma cream for it, which would take an additional 3 weeks to heal. Let me know.
Good luck, thanks for your informative posts and great pictures. I play online poker too, what site you use??
portlandboy sup man you still here? I wish i was at your stage, i'm just looking forward to getting rid of this mask I don't think i can live like this any longer. dr.y and cassandra said I was healing exceptionally well, and that tomorrow i wont need another mask. i wanna thank you again for that shaving cream and vaseline, gonna save me a trip to the store
keep in touch as well, take care
Hi everyone,
I had my dermabrasion done on Dec 20th, same day as Portlandboy, the one before him (Hi Portlandboy, IAaam the Asian lady you met that day). It has been 10 days since the procedure and as for my appreciation to this board I would like to post my experience here.
The whole procedure was very smooth and I only felt a little discomfort on the part of freezing spray, other than that, I would say itAaas actually quite an pleasant experience ( I mean I expected the worst). The whole time I was very calm and relax (I told myself I had gone so far to this and I wanted the best out of it) and Dr Y and Cassandra said IAaam their best patient. After the procedure, I got to meet Portlandboy (I think he has good skin overall) and then I went back to hotel and rest. I didnAaat have any fever or headache. I did have a lot of dripping and I had to put some toilet paper wrap around my neck at all time (Cassandra was teasing me about my new stylish scarf). Like Portlandboy I was very swollen the first few days and I couldnAaat even recognize myself in the mirror. I guess I spent most of my time staying inside the hotel room watching TV and I didnAaat get to move around much and that could lead to more swelling (bad blood circulation) and Cassandra suggested me to walk more which might help. Also, I did feel some pain when Cassandra changed my dressing and she said I was healing beautifully and she saw a lot of new skin coming out. On day 4 (which was the day I flew home) around 7:30am, Cassandra cleaned my face for the last time and gave me a mask to put on, then I headed the airport. I felt okay at first until that very moment I got to the airport, my face started to feel tense and had this burning pain. I couldnAaat stand it and I took two Tylenol, and every 2-3 hours whenever my skin felt dry I would put on some Vaseline. With the Midwest snow storm, flight delay and a long wait, I didnAaat get home until like 12 hours later. I felt extremely uncomfortable especially the last few hours, I felt my face was cooking underneath the mask and I was scared. As soon as I got home, I rushed to the bathroom and wash my face with the shaving crAAme and when I rinsed, my face burned like hell, ouch! On day 4, 5 and 6, it was still painful for me to wash my face, yellow liquid was dripping down to my neck while I asleep and I would feel dry on my face and burning sensation on my jaws and I had to get up in the middle of night like four/five in the morning to clean my face again. Then on day 7, everything started to get better.
As far as my scars, it did look more obvious right after the procedure (especially the two big ones which bother me the most on right cheek). Cassandra did tell me the collagen will kick in later, but then on day 4, 5 and 6 when I still didnAaat see much improvement on that spot, my heart just sank (thatAaas the main reason I went for dermabrasion) and I was disappointed even though I got a big improvement overall on the rest of my scars. Then something happened on day 7, I saw my two scars starting to fill in slowly and nicely and within 2 days, it looked completely different and itAaas just so amazing! I still have some scars on my face, but theyAaare much smoother and shallower. IAaam not looking for perfection but improvement. I donAaat have any breakout except thereAaas this one that looks like a pimple but when I look closer itAaas just a little bump. My face right now is still very pink and it is more red when I get out of shower. Also, today my face doesnAaat itch as much. ThereAaas no more burning feeling except my jaw lines still feel sore, and itAaas weird that when I watch the news about the Tsunami I will get goose bump and my whole face will have this tinkling sensation that I never had before. Does anyone of you feel that way? Maybe because right now my nerve on my face is very sensitive? Also, my face is very tight and dry, and like Animegirl, IAaam peeling a lot like a snake (I have been very bad picking on the peeling, I know I get to stop). IAaam using Eucerin lotion but my face still feel dry so I apply Jojoba oil today (instead of Vaseline) where I needed it. I think I should keep my face moist so my peeling will come off quicker, right?
Anyway, IAaam pleased with my result so far and IAaall try to post my update every now and then. I have to say Dr Y and Cassandra are really the best, I feel very lucky to have been treated by them. Good luck to all of you!
Woodson
Hi everyone,
I had my dermabrasion done on Dec 20th, same day as Portlandboy, the one before him (Hi Portlandboy, IAaam the Asian lady you met that day). It has been 10 days since the procedure and as for my appreciation to this board I would like to post my experience here.
The whole procedure was very smooth and I only felt a little discomfort on the part of freezing spray, other than that, I would say itAaas actually quite an pleasant experience ( I mean I expected the worst). The whole time I was very calm and relax (I told myself I had gone so far to this and I wanted the best out of it) and Dr Y and Cassandra said IAaam their best patient. After the procedure, I got to meet Portlandboy (I think he has good skin overall) and then I went back to hotel and rest. I didnAaat have any fever or headache. I did have a lot of dripping and I had to put some toilet paper wrap around my neck at all time (Cassandra was teasing me about my new stylish scarf). Like Portlandboy I was very swollen the first few days and I couldnAaat even recognize myself in the mirror. I guess I spent most of my time staying inside the hotel room watching TV and I didnAaat get to move around much and that could lead to more swelling (bad blood circulation) and Cassandra suggested me to walk more which might help. Also, I did feel some pain when Cassandra changed my dressing and she said I was healing beautifully and she saw a lot of new skin coming out. On day 4 (which was the day I flew home) around 7:30am, Cassandra cleaned my face for the last time and gave me a mask to put on, then I headed the airport. I felt okay at first until that very moment I got to the airport, my face started to feel tense and had this burning pain. I couldnAaat stand it and I took two Tylenol, and every 2-3 hours whenever my skin felt dry I would put on some Vaseline. With the Midwest snow storm, flight delay and a long wait, I didnAaat get home until like 12 hours later. I felt extremely uncomfortable especially the last few hours, I felt my face was cooking underneath the mask and I was scared. As soon as I got home, I rushed to the bathroom and wash my face with the shaving crAAme and when I rinsed, my face burned like hell, ouch! On day 4, 5 and 6, it was still painful for me to wash my face, yellow liquid was dripping down to my neck while I asleep and I would feel dry on my face and burning sensation on my jaws and I had to get up in the middle of night like four/five in the morning to clean my face again. Then on day 7, everything started to get better.
As far as my scars, it did look more obvious right after the procedure (especially the two big ones which bother me the most on right cheek). Cassandra did tell me the collagen will kick in later, but then on day 4, 5 and 6 when I still didnAaat see much improvement on that spot, my heart just sank (thatAaas the main reason I went for dermabrasion) and I was disappointed even though I got a big improvement overall on the rest of my scars. Then something happened on day 7, I saw my two scars starting to fill in slowly and nicely and within 2 days, it looked completely different and itAaas just so amazing! I still have some scars on my face, but theyAaare much smoother and shallower. IAaam not looking for perfection but improvement. I donAaat have any breakout except thereAaas this one that looks like a pimple but when I look closer itAaas just a little bump. My face right now is still very pink and it is more red when I get out of shower. Also, today my face doesnAaat itch as much. ThereAaas no more burning feeling except my jaw lines still feel sore, and itAaas weird that when I watch the news about the Tsunami I will get goose bump and my whole face will have this tinkling sensation that I never had before. Does anyone of you feel that way? Maybe because right now my nerve on my face is very sensitive? Also, my face is very tight and dry, and like Animegirl, IAaam peeling a lot like a snake (I have been very bad picking on the peeling, I know I get to stop). IAaam using Eucerin lotion but my face still feel dry so I apply Jojoba oil today (instead of Vaseline) where I needed it. I think I should keep my face moist so my peeling will come off quicker, right?
Anyway, IAaam pleased with my result so far and IAaall try to post my update every now and then. I have to say Dr Y and Cassandra are really the best, I feel very lucky to have been treated by them. Good luck to all of you!
Woodson
Hi Portlandboy!
I started with the cream and now I am using the lotion.AA I was very shiny at first and very pink.AA I am still very pink, but it gets better with each day.
I didn't itch very much, but I think it might be a good thing.AA I'd ask Dr. Y. if most people get itchy a lot.AA I did get a few little "acnes" when I was using the vaseline, so on day 7 I stopped it.AA I am so worried about a breakout.AA Has Dr. Y said when you can treat your face to keep acne away?AA I need to ask him when I can put bp/retin-a on.AA How do you keep your acne under control?
I think tight and firm is good too.AA Mine skin is still pink and I am sure still slightly swollen, and I think this will take some time to go away.AA My skin doesn't feel hot though.AA You might want to make sure that this is okay with Dr. Y.
Don't worry about it, be happy.AA All of this minor pinkness, swelling, itchies will be worth it!
Hi Portlandboy,
You're right. I should have stayed 2 more days before heading home. Anyway, why you don't have any peeling? That's weird. I wonder if Leafsfan had any. I don't like the Eurcerin creme either, it make my face white, plus it is not absorbed into my skin, that's why I need something else and I use Jojoba oil. I hope you'll recover well, and I'll keep you updated w/ my progress.
Woodson
ok, here's something realllllllly weird that happened that I forgot to mention and ask the fellas about
And before I begin, NO, I'm not crazy
This morning after I shaved, I felt something coarse and prickly on my chin. When I examined closer, I noticed a WHITE hair sticking out which was nearly a 1/2" long. It was white and very coarse. It had the consitency of a finger nail (that tough) but it was clearly a hair as I plucked it out and saw the folicle base/root. I was amazed by this. Do you think the dermabrasion re-programmed that hair or something? I've never had a white hair on my face before or anything that coarse/hard to the touch. Very odd. I wonder if it will return. It was like a retarded hair basically.
Hey Shade,
Hang in there man, almost done. I almost wanna see what you look like after the mask is off and see how you're healing up. I'll be in New Orleans again tomorrow, gone bring my god child xmas shopping (since I missed xmas with the family) so if you're up for a visitor let me know.
I think you should use a minimum of spf 30. Ask Cassandra tomorrow to be sure but I think that is what she told me.
Also, you should be moisturizing the crusty areas near your mouth, nose, and eyes that are exposed and drying out. Apply vaseline to those areas with a q-tip. Don't let anything dry out at this stage.
Are you swelling at all? Is your pain subsiding? Did he give you something for pain? What was more painful for you (freezing spray? eye peel? dressing change? rotating brush?). I'm curious about your experience.
i have experienced the goosebump pains some others have described, I don't find them fun at all.AA I can feel pain in my forehead and jaw if i try to move my face around, so eating is going to be painful but maybe that's because the mask is still on.AA anyway the damn sleeping pills NEVER kick in so i guess i have to force myself to sleep again.AA later
Leafsfan,
What do you estimate your improvement to:
scars?
skin tone?
skin texture?
overall?
The lighting seems to make a huge difference in your pics (as mine, and everyone elses). For example the mild scarring on your nose shows up in some pics, but not others. This leads me to believe it's playing tricks on your other scars too. So perhaps you can gauge your improvement for us as nothing is as good as looking under the same bathroom lighting/mirror everyday. Only you can make the comparison for us.
I hate that texture isnt retained My texture is already not that great to begin with even on the early days but I was happy enough with what it did for texture. I'm crossing my fingers that I'm different. LOL
Leafsfan your skin is looking great!
I have a question..... where do you guys all purchase your Eucerin lotion and your cetaphil lotion from? as i'm not familiar with these products, does Docotor Y sell them? also what kind of shaving foam is it that you have to wash your face with? does it have to be a specific type? Damn i wish i stayed in america, this would be a whole lot easier, haha!
Thanks folks!
the worst part is i feel very malnourished, which can't be good for healing. I can only sip so much soup and apple sauce, and juice and gatorade can only go so far. I am looking forward to eating a solid food lunch tomorrow to regain some of my strength, i just feel shitty b/c i hvent been able to eat well and have just been laying around doing nothing.
Leafsfan your skin is looking great!
I have a question..... where do you guys all purchase your Eucerin lotion and your cetaphil lotion from? as i'm not familiar with these products, does Docotor Y sell them? also what kind of shaving foam is it that you have to wash your face with? does it have to be a specific type? Damn i wish i stayed in america, this would be a whole lot easier, haha!
Thanks folks!
Leafsfan your skin is looking great!
I have a question..... where do you guys all purchase your Eucerin lotion and your cetaphil lotion from? as i'm not familiar with these products, does Docotor Y sell them? also what kind of shaving foam is it that you have to wash your face with? does it have to be a specific type? Damn i wish i stayed in america, this would be a whole lot easier, haha!
Thanks folks!
Dr. Y gave me the lotion and soaps to wash my face with, they were sample size, but it lasted for as long as I needed to use them. As for the shaving foam, he recommends Colgate regular shaving foam, unscented, ect. I wanted to be prepared when I came home with peroxide, shaving foam, and vasoline, so I went out and bought a whole bunch of it, when all I really needed was one of each.
congratulations leaf, i hope i can post similar results later when i can notice them. right now (i'm only on day 4) my face is still a bloody mess. I just did my first personal cleaning with the shaving foam and then took a warm shower. it really hurt when the water washed off all the foam but only for a while. when i was applying the vaseline i can already see that some of my deepest scars are still there, but im not disheartened. this was to be expected. plus right now it's really hard to tell exactly what will be the case once the skin has really properly healed.
i just had a few questions again. when u dry your face after washing off the shaving foam, do you pat dry witha towel or wipe with gauze? i didn't really know what to do, i tried to just pat dry with gauze and since vaseline is going right back on i dont know if it really matters.
did you still have some bloody patches on day 4? i have ALOT of new pink skin but some areas that are crusted and some areas that are still blood red. i wish i had gotten a camera to post pics so you could see what i mean but maybe this description was enough. anyway it feels great to be "free" of the mask, im enjoying just walking around eating solid food and feeling air on my vaseline soaked face. haha. how liberal are you guys with the vaseline and shaving foam, i think for my first time i may have gone overboard and then i hardly used any pressure when i was scrubbing my face with the folded gauze.
congratulations leaf, i hope i can post similar results later when i can notice them. right now (i'm only on day 4) my face is still a bloody mess. I just did my first personal cleaning with the shaving foam and then took a warm shower. it really hurt when the water washed off all the foam but only for a while. when i was applying the vaseline i can already see that some of my deepest scars are still there, but im not disheartened. this was to be expected. plus right now it's really hard to tell exactly what will be the case once the skin has really properly healed.
i just had a few questions again. when u dry your face after washing off the shaving foam, do you pat dry witha towel or wipe with gauze? i didn't really know what to do, i tried to just pat dry with gauze and since vaseline is going right back on i dont know if it really matters.
did you still have some bloody patches on day 4? i have ALOT of new pink skin but some areas that are crusted and some areas that are still blood red. i wish i had gotten a camera to post pics so you could see what i mean but maybe this description was enough. anyway it feels great to be "free" of the mask, im enjoying just walking around eating solid food and feeling air on my vaseline soaked face. haha. how liberal are you guys with the vaseline and shaving foam, i think for my first time i may have gone overboard and then i hardly used any pressure when i was scrubbing my face with the folded gauze.
Hey Shade,
Be liberal in your applications in both shaving foam and vaseline. You won't nearly go through either one, even applying tons of it. PAT DRY, do NOT wipe. Use equal pressure as Cassandra did during the morning dressings. Gentle pressure, you don't want to scrub. I was still extremely bloody (look back at my pics I think they are on page 40 or 42 or around there). You are on track. I was very concerned about the very bloody spots too. Don't try to remove the crusts. Let the shaving foam and gauze do what it will. Don't over do an area either, keep moving on just as Cassandra did. What wants to come off will. Someone said they used the samples only that Dr Y's office supplied. I don't think that that is enough to fully saturate the face like were supposed to be doing. Dr. Y and Cassandra said to be liberal with the applications. I was craving carbs too as soon as I got the mask off I went to Popeye's and got some Cajun rice! hahaha
I called doctor Y's office from Iraq at 3 eastern time and got a bad vibe from the lady answering the phone. She put me on hold once and then I told her I was in the dessert and she put me on hold again. Then I asked if I could just do my checks and she said no 4900 for the whole face. I don't know whats up with this.
I wanted to talk to the doc but I just didn't like her attitude I don't know what it was.