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Ill post more pics at 3 months. So in a few more weeks.
Everything looking great. Pigment is coming through albeit slowly but the pigment "is definately there" so its already a success in my books. Just need to see how much I get over the next 12 months.
I would say 10-20% pigment returned so far on the large patch, and only after 2 months!.
Scars are looking really smoothed out. Slight pinkiness on that side as the dermabrasion went deeper. Need to be patient 
I was just wondering how the recovery was going. I had the procedure done a little under four weeks ago in Nottingham (26 June) for hypopigmented scars on my forhead. So far the recovery is going as it had been described. The new layer of skin formed and the dressing was removed after three days. I'm still rather red in spots, but from what I've read and been told, it's a slow process. I still see a lot of lighter spots on my skin, but again from what I've read and been told the skin first needs to finish healing, then grow and start producing the pigment. Mentally the sight of the white spots at this stage causes concern, but having been explained the process, it's not surprising to see them at this stage. If it goes the way it's been explained, over the next few months I should start to see pigment gradually appear in those areas. It's just a little difficult to trust that given the number of times I've been told in the US that there really isn't a treatment for hypopigmentation. But I'm hopeful that this will work the way it's been described, I think the biggest thing from a mental standpoint is to be patient, as this isn't a quick fix treatment. It's been just under four weeks so I'm still very early in the process so appearance at this point isn't something I should take as the final result. That, however, is the tough part.
So I hope your progress is going well.
Thanks.
Hi dubldwn01.
Firstly, great we can swap notes.
What laser did he use and was it fractional or fully ablative?. How big were the hypopigmented area?
What to expect (I hope this helps)...
When my skin was pink after the procedure I could still see the white patches under the skin. It concerned me at first and I doubted that he gone deep enough
As the pinkness started fading I still saw the white patches. Still concerned. What made it easier was researching skin biology to see how it all works 
but.. at about 2 months, in some mirrors I saw small dots appearing all over the white areas. Other mirrors I saw nothing.
after 2 months it showed up in more and more mirrors and my concerns were basically gone.
At 3 months it was very obvious the colour was coming back. Actually probably at this point people started not to notice anything. A sensation I havent had in a long time.
Now at over 4 months I have about 50% and more is coming every week. My doc has given me a UV protocol to follow so I have I have to have direct sun exposure for 10-15mins twice a week. Actually im getting a little more as I run, cycle, swim etc but always have SPF30.
Touch wood it keeps coming.
The process is slow and everyone is different. gbl was told that in some people it can start at 12months. Others its quicker.
Dont over analyse your skin at this point, you have a long way to go. Remember melanin has to be produced and then it has to "jump" up and down all the layers of skin.
I will add photos soon. In most photos the hypopigmentation is not visible so I have to get it in the right light.
Also, I have no idea if this is right or not but from what ive read; melanin doesnt only migrate up to the surface of the skin but also "down" into the top of the dermis. Dermabrasion removed the epidermis but the contrast was still there as the dermis was also removed of any melanin by the (insert harsh word here) co2 laser. That was my conclusion as to why I still had a white patch after the top layer of skin was removed. i.e there was still a contrast between my normal skin and the white skin.
sounds like your progress is going really great. that's good to hear. to answer your questions about my hypopigmentation. I have small white spots accross my forehead. As a teenager I had really severe cystic acne on my forehead. He used a combination of lasers, fully ablative in the more severe areas and then fractional around that. The end result was that the entire forehead was treated. He took a sample of skin from my armpit to use for the recell. He said that he got a really good solution (it's apparently supposed to be a milky liquid). He then spread the solution over my entire forehead and put the bandage on.
It sounds as if what you went through after the treatment is kind of where i'm at now. I'm still red in some spots and I still see the white spots, but I have noticed a couple of the little brown spots popping up. The Dr. also told me that getting some sun will help. I've exposed it a couple times at about 10-15 min each time, but I'm also up in the west Highlands of Scotland for a week and a half on holiday and the sun has been a bit hard to come by latley.
Thanks for your description of progress, it all comes down to being patient which at times can be a difficult thing. One positive I did notice right away is that before, the white spots appeared "flat" when you looked at it from the right angle. Now the skin all seems to have the same texture. So that's a good thing.
I'll keep updating if it's of any interest, I can say hearing your experience to date has calmed me down a bit. I won't try and microanalyze it on a daily basis. Just have to give it some time.
all the best,
Yea, Dr. Maini. Really great Dr. He's pretty confident in the results that this procedure produces. The reasoning for the armpit was that was he said that usually he takes it from the head, but for a long time in my late teens through mid 20's i had a buzz cut, and he said that I've got sun damage up there. He said armpit has got everything I need and it has been protected from any damaged. Made pretty good sense to me, and now that I have long hair, we didn't have to take a chunk out....which is also a good thing.
Borec,
I did have a question for you. Are there any specific studies that you've read about how this all is supposed to work? Logically it all seems to fit, I'd just like to learn a bit more about it. I've done some reading online and learned a bit, but you seem to have been able to find info much more detailed. Thanks.
Hi, i never kept a list but i basically googled alot of the information
Melanocytes, melanin, melanogenesis (wiki has some good stuff)
Avita case studies of course
Vitiligo treatment and melanocyte transfer/transplantation
I got the names of the recell surgeons from the avita case studies and googled them, checked out there web sites and emailed some of them.
Hypopigmentation medical reports.
Interviews with rajiv sood(heading the FDA trials in us), fiona wood and William dolphin
Contact with other patients including clinical trial patients
Contact with fiona wood and jeremy rawlins and dr maini
Ill check the history on my pc when i get home
Its now a little over 4 months. Things have been quite hectic in my life to say the least.
So sorry for those who have been eagerly awaiting an update.
Firstly about a month ago Dr Rawlins gave me a UV protocol to follow. I have had about 15-20 minutes of direct sun exposure twice a week.
Ok so in relation to the pigmentation. Pigment is better and better every week. It depends on what mirror I look in still. Some make it appear like its less, others more, but there is no doubt that the pigment is coming back. Even in the mirrors where the pigment looks the worst it is possible to see thousands of dots of pigment migrating through the layers of skin. I would say i have about 50% pigment returned so far. Its still a matter of another 12 months before I know the full result but im secretly expecting/hoping for over 80%.
I had a haircut yesterday and i was interested to see myself in a full length mirror under the hairdressers light as they usually show all your imperfections. I was really really happy with what i saw. My skin looked 10 years younger imho. Maybe it was the mirror lol.
Only time will tell.
As for the scarring. Well thats also looking amazing but the filler is slowly disappearing (20 months) and so some craters are becoming slightly more obvious. One of the things that I regret is that i wish I had had the procedure done without any filler. In that way the doctor could have seen the scars for what they are rather than seeing a "plumped up" scar and dealt with it accordingly. Furthermore I would have a better idea of what is benefitting me. Anyway I think the scarring is easily 50-60% better, maybe more. Ill let you guys decide that but basically I think if I had the same thing done again i would have minimal scarring but there is a chance i wont even need another shot. Perhaps the growth factors have helped and the filler is gone? I dunno. Again ill have to wait.
In the scar are two fine white lines which I expect will remain white. They look like finger nail marks and are most likely scar tissue being seen visibly through the epidermis. They are small and not so bothersome so im not expecting them to go. The rest is greatly smoothed out and now only slightly pinkish in the middle. He ablated quite deep on this scar so it will obviously take longer to heal.
Ive tried to take photos in the "worst" light with and without a flash.
Ill take more photos in different lights and compare them and if i see any that are worse ill post them. These ones are taken at 7pm my time (sun still out) so ill try in full day light and after sun set and compare them.
For me recell is amazing. Its not a 100% miracle cure but im sure for alot of people it will be enough.
Hope this helps. Stay strong
Looks great, Borec!
Its now a little over 4 months. Things have been quite hectic in my life to say the least.
So sorry for those who have been eagerly awaiting an update.
Firstly about a month ago Dr Rawlins gave me a UV protocol to follow. I have had about 15-20 minutes of direct sun exposure twice a week.
Ok so in relation to the pigmentation. Pigment is better and better every week. It depends on what mirror I look in still. Some make it appear like its less, others more, but there is no doubt that the pigment is coming back. Even in the mirrors where the pigment looks the worst it is possible to see thousands of dots of pigment migrating through the layers of skin. I would say i have about 50% pigment returned so far. Its still a matter of another 12 months before I know the full result but im secretly expecting/hoping for over 80%.
I had a haircut yesterday and i was interested to see myself in a full length mirror under the hairdressers light as they usually show all your imperfections. I was really really happy with what i saw. My skin looked 10 years younger imho. Maybe it was the mirror lol.
Only time will tell.
As for the scarring. Well thats also looking amazing but the filler is slowly disappearing (20 months) and so some craters are becoming slightly more obvious. One of the things that I regret is that i wish I had had the procedure done without any filler. In that way the doctor could have seen the scars for what they are rather than seeing a "plumped up" scar and dealt with it accordingly. Furthermore I would have a better idea of what is benefitting me. Anyway I think the scarring is easily 50-60% better, maybe more. Ill let you guys decide that but basically I think if I had the same thing done again i would have minimal scarring but there is a chance i wont even need another shot. Perhaps the growth factors have helped and the filler is gone? I dunno. Again ill have to wait.
In the scar are two fine white lines which I expect will remain white. They look like finger nail marks and are most likely scar tissue being seen visibly through the epidermis. They are small and not so bothersome so im not expecting them to go. The rest is greatly smoothed out and now only slightly pinkish in the middle. He ablated quite deep on this scar so it will obviously take longer to heal.
Ive tried to take photos in the "worst" light with and without a flash.
Ill take more photos in different lights and compare them and if i see any that are worse ill post them. These ones are taken at 7pm my time (sun still out) so ill try in full day light and after sun set and compare them.
For me recell is amazing. Its not a 100% miracle cure but im sure for alot of people it will be enough.
Hope this helps. Stay strong
I just love these ReCell threads. When I say they inspire me, and give me the strength to carry on, I am not exaggerating in any way. You look great, Borec! Your indented scar reminds me of one I have on my left cheek, which left quite a nice little indention after having been the site of a deep cyst.
I was completely ignorant about cystic acne at that time, and was just beginning to get cysts at that point in my life. I let the site become very infected, thinking it would go away, and ended up with a crater. I hate it, but I am so thankful I live in a day in which there is something to be done about those types of scars.
Please keep updating when you are able to. Your pics have been so uplifting.
francisk, it would be great if you could post pictures so we can swap notes or PM me if you like (I pmed you Jeremies details)
@Cherry, your story sounds exactly like mine, in my case i had 3 cysts and then they joined into one big one. Soul destoying for a 18 year old at the time.
Its good to know im inspiring hope so ill keep updating.
Nothing really new to say other than i have further improvement but its slow, so ill wait a little longer before i post something new
All in all a great experience after a nightmare co2 cowboy destroyed my skin (more).
francisk, it would be great if you could post pictures so we can swap notes or PM me if you like
(I pmed you Jeremies details)
@Cherry, your story sounds exactly like mine, in my case i had 3 cysts and then they joined into one big one. Soul destoying for a 18 year old at the time.
Its good to know im inspiring hope so ill keep updating.
Nothing really new to say other than i have further improvement but its slow, so ill wait a little longer before i post something new
All in all a great experience after a nightmare co2 cowboy destroyed my skin (more).
Glad that you will continue to update this thread. I have really enjoyed it alot. 
Hey Borec,
Love your 4 month update. I can see what you are talking about, dots or patches of skin colour returning to your cheeks, so excited for you!
I was wondering if you could answer some questions, regarding your procedure;
At the moment do you have any side effects from your dermabrasion+recell procedure at all?
Secondly, I think I remember you saying that dermabrasion+recell has helped you with some scarred/enlarged pores, I'm just wondering if you still notice and improvement now. I mean your skin looks really good now, but I know you will be the best judge of the improvement of your skin.
Thanks for the updates; very, very encouraging for me
-Luke
