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Yup, it was invented by aussies!(:
I have found two places who offer it but there sure are more. I dont know which laser they use in order to prepare the skin, seems like its either fractional ablative CO2 or Erbium, traditional fully ablative CO2 or dermabrasion. Im from Germany btw!
there are so many treatments out there - I really dont know which would work best for me but I have a treatment plan(;
going to start with 1-2 mild chemical peels in order to improve overall look of my skin, esp pigmentation and mild wrinkly texture (due to dryness i think), dunno if this helps with redmarks tho as they intensify during the day
then individual needling of scars combined with PRP (and LED maaaaybe) - I have yet to find someone who offers PRP here but i consider travelling to London too...also bec i still suffer sides from tane (mainly extreme flushing which isnt beneficial for healing i think)
last would be an ablative procedure with recell. (stem cells?)
Why do you prefer TCA Cross over individual needling? Are you going to have it done professionally? Once the scars have filled in u might not need the strongest laser/ settings or?
Okay I shouldn't have taken so long to respond but I was gone all summer and sort of forgot. Anyway I am extremely happy with the results. I used to have purplish red marks along my jaw line and these are all gone now, my skin tone is much more even. The areas inside my upper cheek scars from cystic acne are much more level, even toned, and the skin is no longer plasticy (if that makes sense). In the first few weeks after the treatment I was disappointed because once the swelling went down my face was still very red and the skin didn't look much different. I guess there's truth to the statement that it takes a few months for the collagen to grow back. In terms of texture I would say my face is at least 40% smoother, but the improvements to skin tone are perhaps just as if not more significant. Strangely I have barely gotten any acne since fraxel, and I'm not sure if its due to the treatment itself or if I've simply grown out of it. I am really amazed at how normal my skin looks now considering I only had one treatment. I would recommend it to anyone.
I must say it's really really really awesome to hear your "plasticy" skin dissapeared. I had deep fx about 1,5 month after yours and I still have this feeling. My skin is still a bit pinkish at certain spots and it SHINES in direct lighting.
How would you describe this and when did it dissapear?
I must say it's really really really awesome to hear your "plasticy" skin dissapeared. I had deep fx about 1,5 month after yours and I still have this feeling. My skin is still a bit pinkish at certain spots and it SHINES in direct lighting.
How would you describe this and when did it dissapear?
Oh I think you misunderstood. What I meant by plasticy skin was the skin inside the scars left by cystic acne before fraxel repair. It was redder, thinner, and shined in the light. Now I'm not saying that fraxel repair improved it 100%, I wasn't expecting a miracle, but it did make a difference. I'm not sure if my skin was plasticy after fraxel repair, but I do know it took maybe 2 months for the redness to go away.
I must say it's really really really awesome to hear your "plasticy" skin dissapeared. I had deep fx about 1,5 month after yours and I still have this feeling. My skin is still a bit pinkish at certain spots and it SHINES in direct lighting.
How would you describe this and when did it dissapear?
Oh I think you misunderstood. What I meant by plasticy skin was the skin inside the scars left by cystic acne before fraxel repair. It was redder, thinner, and shined in the light. Now I'm not saying that fraxel repair improved it 100%, I wasn't expecting a miracle, but it did make a difference. I'm not sure if my skin was plasticy after fraxel repair, but I do know it took maybe 2 months for the redness to go away.
oh this is an interesting point. a lot of my scars have this shiny texture. theres no doubt in my mind it is scar tissue. when fraxel repair made them rise up, did the texture change after it was done healing? or was it just a more level version with the same shinyness?
I must say it's really really really awesome to hear your "plasticy" skin dissapeared. I had deep fx about 1,5 month after yours and I still have this feeling. My skin is still a bit pinkish at certain spots and it SHINES in direct lighting.
How would you describe this and when did it dissapear?
Oh I think you misunderstood. What I meant by plasticy skin was the skin inside the scars left by cystic acne before fraxel repair. It was redder, thinner, and shined in the light. Now I'm not saying that fraxel repair improved it 100%, I wasn't expecting a miracle, but it did make a difference. I'm not sure if my skin was plasticy after fraxel repair, but I do know it took maybe 2 months for the redness to go away.
oh this is an interesting point. a lot of my scars have this shiny texture. theres no doubt in my mind it is scar tissue. when fraxel repair made them rise up, did the texture change after it was done healing? or was it just a more level version with the same shinyness?
More level with less shininess.
Sverd, happy to hear of your results. Additional laser treatments will add to those improvements. I will undergo my 4th and perhaps last Re:pair in October. Patience is needed using lasers, but everybody want results yesterday, or miracle cures after one treatment.
thank you. wow 4th treatment? How much improvement did you notice after the 2nd time compared to the first?
Sver, it was actually after the 2nd that I realized the most improvement. I jumped from about 30% to 50% but my confidence jumped to about 75%. Between 2 and 3 was about 50% to 65-70%. I don't know that 100% is obtainable with current technology, but I will continue on my current path. Medical advances move slowly, but they are sure speeding up. Figure dermabrasion was around over a hundred years before the original Co2 laser came around 1995 and then Fraxel:Repair was the next big leap in 2008. I am not discounting treatments like subscision, I just don't know anything about them.
I went to Ron Shelton ( http://www.realself.com/find/New-York/New-York-City/Dermatologist/Ronald-Shelton ) who's listed as one of the best NYC docs for Fraxel about re:pair and he told me:
1) it's only done once not multiple times (i keep reading people get it done multiple times)
AND
2) even if i only got my cheeks done, it would cost $8k!!!
after reading all these posts, these both seem totally wrong/off. has anyone else seen this guy? he seemed very cool and knowledgeable but it seems that I was mistaken.
I've seen Dr Shelton for several years. While Dr Shelton's never treated me with fraxel, I can say that he is hands down the best dermatological surgeon I have ever seen. He's treated my mother for skin cancer with MOHS and did an incredible cosmetic job (no scar at all), and has performed scar excision surgery on me and also did an amazing job. He's referred me out to another dr for micro-droplet silicon injections and is now referring me out for fraxel treatment with another dr. who has long term experience treating silicone patients with fraxel (Dr Orentreich).
He is a perfectionist, caring and very talented. I agree that the fraxel cost he quoted you is obscene, but I have found him to be very fair price wise. Also-- it's nyc, and if you want the best it's going to be very expensive. Last week I saw him for a consult (it's been about a year since I have had any scar treatments) and he completely waived the consult fee. I've never had a dr. do that before!
Long story short-- yes, i think the $8000 is absurd. BUT, Dr. Shelton is the best and he cares about results.
Sverd and Dudley,
It's really, really encouraging to hear you've had such good results. I've always been scared of lasers and I'm still on the fence, but I have a consult tomorrow with Dr. Orentreich in NY to discuss Fraxel and other possible treatments. I've been browsing these boards today, and I keep reading lukewarm to negative fraxel reviews, so I'm happy to hear that there are some with positive results!
I have three main issues that I want to address:
- slightly raised areas due to "over correction" with injected microdroplet silicone.
- all-over, blotchy hyperpigmentation along with hypopigmentation where acne scars are (or were), due to long term use of minocycline. I ceased taking minocycline about 9 months ago, and while the hyperpigmentation had improved significantly, what I am left with seems to be permanent tan. It looks a bit like melasma (pregnancy mask). One of my fraxel fears is worsening of hyperpigmentation. I REALLY don't want to look like Snooki.
- deep icepick and boxcar scars that don't improve with fillers, because the scar tissue beneath is bound down and fibrous.
Dr Shelton, my referring dr., believes it could be possible to treat silicone over-correction with fraxel, so he has referred me to this other dr. who does have experience with both modalities... the guy I'm seeing tomorrow.
I realize these are incredibly specific issues, but does anyone here have experience with using fraxel to treat the three problems I've mentioned above?
Another concern: I can't take more than a week off from work at a time. The next time I can take a week off is in December, but I'm happy to wait till then for treatment. Dr. Shelton suggested I do Fraxel Re:store Dual, which I understand is somewhere between Re:store and Re:pair in terms of down-time. Can anyone approximate how scary I will look a week after the Dual? Sorry in advance if this sound pompous-- but I work in a high-profile gallery (I can't believe I just said that), and my boss will be really displeased if I come in looking like Freddy Kruger. I don't always trust Dr's estimations of down-time-- I'd much rather hear it from someone here!
I'm also considering subcision, which I've never done before.
Sorry this post is so long and meandering-- there are a few questions in here! Thanks in advance for any feedback.
I went to Ron Shelton ( http://www.realself.com/find/New-York/New-York-City/Dermatologist/Ronald-Shelton ) who's listed as one of the best NYC docs for Fraxel about re:pair and he told me:
1) it's only done once not multiple times (i keep reading people get it done multiple times)
AND
2) even if i only got my cheeks done, it would cost $8k!!!
after reading all these posts, these both seem totally wrong/off. has anyone else seen this guy? he seemed very cool and knowledgeable but it seems that I was mistaken.
Oh and one more thing! I'm seeing Dr. Shelton again this Thursday to discuss my treatment plan after my consult with Dr. Orentreich, and I will asked him about his fraxel pricing and report back. I just can't believe that he quoted you 8k. It's not that I don't believe you, but it just doesn't make sense. I really hope there is a mistake or miscommunication here.
Now I'm going to sound like I'm secretly working for Dr. S-- I swear on my life that I have no stake in Shelton's business/livelihood/whatever, I'm just a long-term patient who truly believes he is an honest, deeply compassionate, very talented dr, and can't believe that he would swindle anyone. Last week at my consult (which, as I mentioned, he waived the fee for) Shelton actually offered to do a free fraxel test area, because of possible concerns as to how fraxel will affect prior silicone injections. No strings attached, no promise that I will see him for future treatments or anything. I doubt that he makes a habit of performing free "tests", I think it's because I've been a loyal patient for so long-- but I mention this because I want to convey that he is in no way a money hungry jerk.
Are you even allowed to have lasers with silicone in the skin? Icepicks usually don't improve from lasers. Hyperpigmentation could improve but it coudl also worsen. You should look into TCA cross or the icepick and boxcar scars and perhaps some lighter peels for the pigmentation issues.
Softly, if your scars are very mild there may be less invasive, less costly treatments that would work for you. If nothing else works you may want to look into regular Co2.
Sleepy, 8k is ridiculus for Re:pair. I paid 5k for my first one in 2008 and there were only 35 machines in the whole country. You are in unchartered territory with those silicone injections.
Are you even allowed to have lasers with silicone in the skin? Icepicks usually don't improve from lasers. Hyperpigmentation could improve but it coudl also worsen. You should look into TCA cross or the icepick and boxcar scars and perhaps some lighter peels for the pigmentation issues.
Thanks for the replies!
Ziko: The guy I saw today, Dr. Orentreich, said that yes, he's performed fraxel on silicone treated patients before. Hid did tell me that if a glob of silicone was sitting on a table and someone shot it directly with a fraxel laser that it would ignite (scary!!!!), but that drops under the skin are in no danger of igniting.
I'm am really concerned about the hyperpigmentation becoming more severe with lasers-- not sure what to do yet. In any event, I decided to hold off on the fraxel for the immediate future. Wednesday I'm just going to get a number of subcisions as well as shavings to level the raised spots from silicone over-correction. I'm going to revisit fraxel maybe in a few months. Unfortunately the pigmentation from minocycline is too deep in the dermis to benefit from peels.
Dudley, I totally agree! I just don't believe it based on all my experience with this particular Doc. I'll be asking his what he charges for fraxel later this week.
