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Hello everyone, I am not new to this board but have been a lurker for years and posted a few things in the past. I came back to tell my experience with trying to heal my scars with TCA cross and microneedling. I am 29 years old and I started my journey of seriously trying to get rid of my acne scars three years ago. Ive had scars since I was 11. I went to the University of Michigan three years ago and started doing TCA cross with a derm I felt could have only been the best since it was U of M and I couldn't find anyone else who performed it. I had 4 TCA cross sessions with one male derm and then switched to a female derm also at U of M and stuck with her because she seemed more meticulous and took her time hitting my scars with the toothpick. However, I was very disappointed with the results and felt that after 7 total sessions, I probably only had 20% improvement. My own family never thought it made it difference, but I did notice that the scars changed shaped but never completely went away.I still looked a mess.
I stopped TCA cross after giving it a fair chance and began microneedling last October 2016. I have done one session per month (9 so far). The esthetician I went to didn't go too deep the first four sessions at only 1.5mm but I told her to please go up to 2.5 mm for the next three sessions. She used the Rejuvapen. I totally believed that this would be the answer to finally getting rid of all of my scars all over my cheeks. I have probably only seen 20% improvement in some rolling scars. One cheek is a little smoother, but I was disappointed again. After 9 months and 9 sessions,I couldn't justify spending more money on something that was barely giving me results.
But...I decided to try microneedling along with PRP in June, or the "vampire facial". I can tell that my skin responded a little better to this and I wish that I had PRP done with all of my other sessions but it is insanely expensive ($625 per session).I may go back to do one more PRP.
But guys, HERE IS THE MIRACLE!! TCA CROSS WITH A NEEDLE! Just last week, I found an esthetician in the Dearborn, MI area who performed TCA cross with a needle, not a toothpick. I wasn't looking for anyone and was done with TCA cross but I came across a video of her work and it looked promising. I went in and asked her if she can just do a test spot on my most annoying scar in the middle of my cheek. I CANNOT BELIEVE MY EYES! What I have spent thousands of dollars on trying to get of is finally gone. Now, when she hit my scar, it frosted and I was scared shitless for about four days because the frosting didn't disappear immediately like how it used to at U of M. It formed such a large nasty white scab that was much larger than the actual scar. I wondered if she hit other scars too or something without me knowing for such a large scab to form. It never happened before and I truly thought she burned my face off and I ruined my skin. I kept Neosporin on it religiously and after 5 days, the scab fell off. I didnt want to get too excited yet because I know there is swelling. Its been 8 days now and I cannot find the scar! It was a deep, jagged boxcar. I AM SO BEYOND HAPPY RIGHT NOW. I still have so many scars all over my cheeks and cannot wait to do a real full session.
Im not sure what the difference is, but it seems as if TCA with a needle is the way to go. The docs at U of M seemed to go super quick with the toothpick and I wondered if they were even hitting the scar or healthy skin. I also think it worked better for me this time because my skin has been prepped so much from the microneedling, so that aided the TCA.
Anyways, I know this was long, but wanted to share
Thank you for posting your journey, ... so very glad you have improvement. Some things that made me think going through was if the other derms possibly used overly weak TCA / Acid with a toothpick being overly cautious or cheap. Also some doctors add a little extra acid to make it frost up as they have more gumption to try something a bit riskier with acids. Yes TCA Cross turns them into rolling scars (it lifts the bed of the scar) also one then needs tca spot peels over the area to even out texture or subcision and filler. Regardless I am glad you found someone who is using something that works on you. Acne scar treatment is a journey and we get a percentage of treatment at a time.
@LS14
Did you go Jeffrey Orringer at the hospital? i had 2 sessions of CROSS done with him. He was really fast, thats the part i hated about him
On 7/12/2017 at 4:32 PM, keving100 said:@LS14
Did you go Jeffrey Orringer at the hospital? i had 2 sessions of CROSS done with him. He was really fast, thats the part i hated about him
Yes! I had Dr. Orringer and I just wasn't happy with how fast he went. I ended up having to schedule with Dr. Dana Sachs and she was better.
9 hours ago, keving100 said:On 7/13/2017 at 7:16 PM, LS14 said:Yes! I had Dr. Orringer and I just wasn't happy with how fast he went. I ended up having to schedule with Dr. Dana Sachs and she was better.do you mind sharing the name of the clinic and the nurse who performed CROSS on you using a needle?
It is called the Aesthetics Room and she has an instagram page, AestheticsbyLinda that you can follow. There are two women who work there that can do cross, but Linda did mine. I watched a video on instagram.
On 7/14/2017 at 10:18 PM, LS14 said:It is called the Aesthetics Room and she has an instagram page, AestheticsbyLinda that you can follow. There are two women who work there that can do cross, but Linda did mine. I watched a video on instagram.
Wow great find..u should definitely get you CROSS done there. She also do 50% TCA peel. Couple ques.:
1. Doe she use harsh tangential lighting to access and treat the scars?
2. does she do any other scar treatments?
i will definitely drive down there to see her.
21 hours ago, keving100 said:Wow great find..u should definitely get you CROSS done there. She also do 50% TCA peel. Couple ques.:
1. Doe she use harsh tangential lighting to access and treat the scars?
2. does she do any other scar treatments?I live in toronto, Canada but i will definitely drive down there to see her.
I plan to get it done at the end of August. She was very hesitantto do it during the summer and advised me not to. I dont know what else they provide, but from what I've gathered, they do TCA cross, TCA peels, and microneedling. You should call and make an appointment!
On 7/16/2017 at 4:18 PM, leonhart said:Could you point out a video of this treatment? i cant find it on the instagram account. Is it like this?
Thank you.
Yes it's just like that. The video was posted on October 6 and it's next to a video with a giant orange pie graph, if that helps to find it.
On 7/14/2017 at 11:16 PM, keving100 said:Wow great find..u should definitely get you CROSS done there. She also do 50% TCA peel. Couple ques.:
1. Doe she use harsh tangential lighting to access and treat the scars?
2. does she do any other scar treatments?I live in toronto, Canada but i will definitely drive down there to see her.
Kevin, how did you like the results of Dr. Orringer?
I had TCA cross sure it looks good for a month hated the hyperpigmentation, you have to wait 2-6 months for true results some swelling might still be there.
On 7/18/2017 at 10:50 AM, LS14 said:Yes it's just like that. The video was posted on October 6 and it's next to a video with a giant orange pie graph, if that helps to find it.
Kevin, how did you like the results of Dr. Orringer?
Dr Orringer used 90 % TCA on me. True ice pick scars got better, some boxcar scars widened. I got 2 treatments done with him.
Reasons I dont go to him anymore: he is 5 hours away from me.
He rushes through the treatments.
I wanted him to do subcision on some of the other scars that cannot be treated with CROSS, he said wait until CROSS sessions are done. He said i might need 10 TCA cross sessions. He didnt seem comfortable doing subcision.
On 7/19/2017 at 0:32 PM, keving100 said:Dr Orringer used 90 % TCA on me. True ice pick scars got better, some boxcar scars widened. I got 2 treatments done with him.
Reasons I dont go to him anymore: he is 5 hours away from me. i live in toronto, canada.
He rushes through the treatments.
I wanted him to do subcision on some of the other scars that cannot be treated with CROSS, he said wait until CROSS sessions are done. He said i might need 10 TCA cross sessions. He didnt seem comfortable doing subcision.
Yeah, same. He kept pushing fraxel whenever I mentioned subscicion
Ok, so here is an update for anyone following this thread. It has now been over three weeks since I've done the test spot, and let me tell you...hyperpigmentation sucks. The white giant scab just turned into a very red area. It's like a burn mark, as I feared. The area still feels a little rough/scabby. The individual scar does look better and not as indented, so that is a positive. However, I'm sure that with time, Vitamin E, Neosporin and some fading cream it will go away. But as a heads up, do a test spot first. I'm not sure if I can handle a full face treatment anymore with a needle.
12 hours ago, LS14 said:Ok, so here is an update for anyone following this thread. It has now been over three weeks since I've done the test spot, and let me tell you...hyperpigmentation sucks. The white giant scab just turned into a very red area. It's like a burn mark, as I feared. The area still feels a little rough/scabby. The individual scar does look better and not as indented, so that is a positive. However, I'm sure that with time, Vitamin E, Neosporin and some fading cream it will go away. But as a heads up, do a test spot first. I'm not sure if I can handle a full face treatment anymore with a needle.
What was the strength of TCA used?
Did you get the hyperpigmentation when u got CROSS done with Orringer and the other doc at UofM hospital?
1 hour ago, keving100 said:What was the strength of TCA used?
Did you get the hyperpigmentation when u got CROSS done with Orringer and the other doc at UofM hospital?
I think it was just 50%. No, I had no hyperpigmentation with Orringer. It was slightly pink for a few days, but always went away. Ughhh, I thought this was my answer but I'm too scared to let her touch my face now, even thought the indent is much much better.
On 7/26/2017 at 3:49 PM, LS14 said:I think it was just 50%. No, I had no hyperpigmentation with Orringer. It was slightly pink for a few days, but always went away. Ughhh, I thought this was my answer but I'm too scared to let her touch my face now, even thought the indent is much much better.
How is the hyperpigmentation from CROSS looking?
Are you looking for Infini RF treatment. There is a doc in windsor who does it for $500. i think he do subcision as well. LEt me know if you are interested.
On 8/15/2017 at 11:13 AM, keving100 said:How is the hyperpigmentation from CROSS looking?
Are you looking for Infini RF treatment. There is a doc in windsor who does it for $500. i think he do subcision as well. LEt me know if you are interested.
Sorry for the late reply. It's still there but looks a lot better! I've been using the dark spot corrector from Proactiv and vitamin e. I will let you know if I decide on Infini!
On 28/8/2017 at 4:54 AM, LS14 said:Sorry for the late reply. It's still there but looks a lot better! I've been using the dark spot corrector from Proactiv and vitamin e. I will let you know if I decide on Infini!
@LS14 could you give some update on your thougths about the threatment.
I made a 90% TCA Cross with needle on my chest (some deep and box scars) as a test about a month ago. It is promising as it is a very aggresive treatment (pls always test before anyone do it), i can see what it seems to be a good improvement, but with hyperpigmentation and inflamation still there is hard to talk about definitive results, not to mention the life planification required to made it on the face. "Cooling time" has to be reduced, some success on this? thk you
On 10/14/2017 at 11:05 AM, leonhart said:@LS14 could you give some update on your thougths about the threatment.I made a 90% TCA Cross with needle on my chest (some deep and box scars) as a test about a month ago. It is promising as it is a very aggresive treatment (pls always test before anyone do it), i can see what it seems to be a good improvement, but with hyperpigmentation and inflamation still there is hard to talk about definitive results, not to mention the life planification required to made it on the face. "Cooling time" has to be reduced, some success on this? thk you
I think the one spot she treated filled in quite a bit. The hyperpigmentation worried me and stopped me from doing the whole face. It seemed to go away so I am on the verge of booking an appointment for this week so she can treat other spots that bother me. Any improvement is awesome to me, even if its not perfect.
Hi everyone,
Just as update, I went ahead and have now had 2 full-face TCA Cross with a needle. My first one was during Thanksgiving break in November and second one last week. The results are AMAZING!! I am still recovering from my second one but I can tell that my scars are barely visible anymore. This isn't just swelling either-I have had enough experience to know the difference. It's pretty upsetting that the needle/syringe method worked but 7 sessions of TCA cross with a toothpick barely gave me any result. She used 65% TCA. I have confidence I never had since I was 11 years old.
She suggested microneedling followed by TCA cross in the same session next time but I have yet to decide if I need another one and I have done microneedling every month this past year with no result so I have to decide if it's worth it. Anyway, just wanted to share my story.