Hey guys
As promised I've got some photos, please note the swelling hasn't completely gone down and I still have two sessions remaining.
I've tried to get the same angle in natural lighting. Also as you can see my pores are huuuuge, which I believe happened after damage from my first co2 laser, if anyone has any recommendations that isn't emu oil (didn't work for me) I'd appreciate it! Also my scars look pretty bad in the first photo because I had just used my face brush and skin looks irritated. I think pores are my biggest problem now! I never had this problem before my first co2 laser!
Im happy with what I'm seeing, but that could just be the swelling!
First picture before, second picture after, then day 2, last two are today (day 3).
The shallow rolling scars have gone and skin looks overall better. 
What rf microneedling will do for your texture i dont know cos i aint tried it,let someone who has chime in.but,tca peels at 25%+ will help your texture issues.
would get your other treatments done depending on when they are scheduled.you need a month for tca peel and i wouldnt recommend subsicing after a peel as the skin is realy thin so might damage your skin.
12 minutes ago, Quadboy said:What rf microneedling will do for your texture i dont know cos i aint tried it,let someone who has chime in.but,tca peels at 25%+ will help your texture issues.
would get your other treatments done depending on when they are scheduled.you need a month for tca peel and i wouldnt recommend subsicing after a peel as the skin is realy thin so might damage your skin.
Thanks! I've already had infini and I don't think it made it any better, I had it the same time as the co2.
I don't plan on doing any TCA peels or micro needling for now. In my eyes I've done the "big guns" of resurfacing and had the erbium ablative with Dr Lim hitch didn't help this, but did help my scars? I'm hoping some good skincare can improve it, because some days it does look better/worse.
Ive read that it's possibly the moisture barrier in my skin that's been damaged from all the laser? My skin does feel tight and dry all the time, so I think that might be it. I'm test patching retinol on one area as I've heard that can help post laser, but I've also heard the opposite and it can make it worse!
If your moisture barrier is damaged, you will need to use topicals containing hylauronic acid or other water-drawing chemicals. You may want to try using something like Cerave in the tub at night, covered with a layer of aquaphor/vaseline. You may feel like it will break you out, but both products are non-comedogenic No AHA/BHA, and probably not retinoids/retinols until the barrier is fixed.
16 minutes ago, Petsme said:If your moisture barrier is damaged, you will need to use topicals containing hylauronic acid or other water-drawing chemicals. You may want to try using something like Cerave in the tub at night, covered with a layer of aquaphor/vaseline. You may feel like it will break you out, but both products are non-comedogenic
Thanks! I feel like this is a better way to go for me. Try the topicals out first, then look at the alternatives. I'll try and get some Cerave. I bought some HA moisturiser recently, and my skin looks better instantly when I put it on!
Hey, I have very similar scars as yours (extensive surface boxcars, some rolling), and I've had TCA Cross x1, Fractional CO2 x1 and subcision x1. What really made a difference was subcision, as it made the boxcars less "boxy", raised them up from their depressions and made the walls less defined. Did Dr. Lim tell you why he went straight for the ablative? I think he usually does other procedures and then goes for the ablative as a final "smoothing" over of the scars.
What I want to treat right now is the same as you: those annoying bumps and dents that make the skin look "rough", especially in harsher sunlight. I think it's a combination of the skin texture itself being "rough" (large, irregular pores, wrinkly lines on the skin, etc.) and the small persistent scars that make the whole area look rougher. If I compare my scars with other people who have deeper scarring but good overall skin texture, I think theirs actually look better despite mine being extremely shallow.
I don't know if filler is really the answer, as both my scars (and yours -- at least from the ones I can see) are quite shallow. I think if we can fix those little wrinkly dents and pockmarks across the cheek, it would be so so much better.
Maybe Infini can help this time? My doctor mentioned to me that she also had a patient who got "80%" improvement and who had very similar scars to me. I didn't get to ask her what procedures she had, but I'll ask her next time.
4 hours ago, Raster said:Hey, I have very similar scars as yours (extensive surface boxcars, some rolling), and I've had TCA Cross x1, Fractional CO2 x1 and subcision x1. What really made a difference was subcision, as it made the boxcars less "boxy", raised them up from their depressions and made the walls less defined. Did Dr. Lim tell you why he went straight for the ablative? I think he usually does other procedures and then goes for the ablative as a final "smoothing" over of the scars.
What I want to treat right now is the same as you: those annoying bumps and dents that make the skin look "rough", especially in harsher sunlight. I think it's a combination of the skin texture itself being "rough" (large, irregular pores, wrinkly lines on the skin, etc.) and the small persistent scars that make the whole area look rougher. If I compare my scars with other people who have deeper scarring but good overall skin texture, I think theirs actually look better despite mine being extremely shallow.
I don't know if filler is really the answer, as both my scars (and yours -- at least from the ones I can see) are quite shallow. I think if we can fix those little wrinkly dents and pockmarks across the cheek, it would be so so much better.
Maybe Infini can help this time? My doctor mentioned to me that she also had a patient who got "80%" improvement and who had very similar scars to me. I didn't get to ask her what procedures she had, but I'll ask her next time.
Hey there, none of my scars were deep or tethered to start with so I don't think he thought of subcision as an option.
He he said all my scars lay in the same plane/same depth so ablative was the way to go.
Ive done infini already and it didn't make my scars any better. TBH the filler has made my skin a lot better, and that's what David Lim recommended. I'm not sure if the first picture really captures my scars well, they're superficial, and the ablative laser smoothed all the boxcars so they look a lot softer now. I have a few ice picks on my cheeks that are linear, but I actually don't care much about them!
A combination of co2 fractional and Infini have me the bad texture in the first place! So no more lasers for me. I've spent enough! im going to treat the bad texture with good skincare, too many lasers isn't good for your face, and I've definitely overtreated it.
Most people especialy with white skin are good candidtates for tca and it will definately help with texture,the downside is staying out sun and the 7 day peeling but 25%-30%+ tca treating each 2 months will take a loong time to get somewhere but it works.
strong peel and longer heal time will maximise the benefit from the healing but must be strong peel for the collangen growth benefits.
59 minutes ago, Quadboy said:Most people especialy with white skin are good candidtates for tca and it will definately help with texture,the downside is staying out sun and the 7 day peeling but 25%-30%+ tca treating each 2 months will take a loong time to get somewhere but it works.
strong peel and longer heal time will maximise the benefit from the healing but must be strong peel for the collangen growth benefits.
Thanks! The only things I'm concerned about is I've heard TCA makes scars wider? I don't really want that because they're so wide already, just shallow!
Definitely something ill I'll look into when the fillers wear off.
Your results look great abigaillara. Congratz with those results.
I don't want to diverge the thread but i have some questions for beautifulambition.
I live in Denmark and i have considered paying Emil Henningsen a visit for my acne scars. Actually my scars look more or less like abigaillara's, therefore i also have considered subcision.
I can see that you/beautifulambition have listed doctor emil in the official acne scar FAQ/info thread. What is that based on, and do we have users here who have paid doctor Henningsen a visit.
Thanks in advance
1 hour ago, incepticon said:Your results look great abigaillara.
I don't want to diverge the thread but i have some questions for beautifulambition.
I live in Denmark and i have considered paying Emil Henningsen a visit for my acne scars. Actually my scars look more or less like abigaillara's, therefore i also have considered subcision.
I can see that you/beautifulambition have listed doctor emil in the official acne scar FAQ/info thread. What is that based on, and do we have users here who have paid doctor Henningsen a visit.Thanks in advance
Dr. Lim, who is pretty much regarded as best scar specialist here, recommends Emil in his website for EU patients. But would also like to hear if anyone actually got treatment from him and what lasers he uses.
@incepticonDr Emil was a recommendation from a few people who went to him for treatment. It is very hard to find anyone in Europe who does subcision, he does this and was trained by Dr. Chu a famous Dr in the UK who also does subcision.
I do not recommend laser from any Dr. Yes he does it but I am sending patients to him for subcision and filler. All Drs love laser when peels work sometimes much better (less side effects). You can even goto a Med Spa for this. I do not know if he has RF Microneedling, ... that seems easier to find around Europe.
Review Dr Emil's website please.
55 minutes ago, beautifulambition said:@incepticonDr Emil was a recommendation from a few people who went to him for treatment. It is very hard to find anyone in Europe who does subcision, he does this and was trained by Dr. Chu a famous Dr in the UK who also does subcision.I do not recommend laser from any Dr. Yes he does it but I am sending patients to him for subcision and filler. All Drs love laser when peels work sometimes much better (less side effects). You can even goto a Med Spa for this. I do not know if he has RF Microneedling, ... that seems easier to find around Europe.
Review Dr Emil's website please.
Thanks for a fast response. I have really tried to find reviews online of Dr Emil Henningsen, and I haven't been successful at finding anything written by a patient - in Danish and English. I have reivewed his website and checked out the prices and as you correctly underline, he is one of the few who does subcision in Europe.
I'm not really interested in taking the risk of an invasive procedure like subcision without reading some patient reviews. It is naturally a bonus that Davin Lin refers to him and he was trained under Dr Chu in the UK. My scars are mostly boxcar+rolling all concentrated on the cheek (around the cheekbone are - fortunately its a small area). I'm not shy of seeking out any professional in Europe, since I only have one face and my scars do bother me.
Great to see the progress! keep us updated will be seeing Dr Renee soon! Excited!
i have been getting tca cross with prof chu in london and my icepicks/shallow boxscars have gotten smaller over the period of three treatments. They get bigger before the healing takes place. He recommended salicilic acid peels for pores! X
On 12/11/2017 at 11:07 PM, Raster said:Hey, I have very similar scars as yours (extensive surface boxcars, some rolling), and I've had TCA Cross x1, Fractional CO2 x1 and subcision x1. What really made a difference was subcision, as it made the boxcars less "boxy", raised them up from their depressions and made the walls less defined. Did Dr. Lim tell you why he went straight for the ablative? I think he usually does other procedures and then goes for the ablative as a final "smoothing" over of the scars.
What I want to treat right now is the same as you: those annoying bumps and dents that make the skin look "rough", especially in harsher sunlight. I think it's a combination of the skin texture itself being "rough" (large, irregular pores, wrinkly lines on the skin, etc.) and the small persistent scars that make the whole area look rougher. If I compare my scars with other people who have deeper scarring but good overall skin texture, I think theirs actually look better despite mine being extremely shallow.
I don't know if filler is really the answer, as both my scars (and yours -- at least from the ones I can see) are quite shallow. I think if we can fix those little wrinkly dents and pockmarks across the cheek, it would be so so much better.
Maybe Infini can help this time? My doctor mentioned to me that she also had a patient who got "80%" improvement and who had very similar scars to me. I didn't get to ask her what procedures she had, but I'll ask her next time.
I agree completely with this comment. After years of treatments, my scars are now super shallow, but what I cannot seem to perfect is the texture. They're way too small to fill, and lasers actually just made my pores large and more pronounced. When people have scars but good skin tone and overall texture, they can just treat the individual indentations and their skin can look really good. When you have texture abnormalities, it is very difficult to get it to look smooth. The conventional treatments like resurfacing can often make pores larger.
OP, I also do skin boosters as well because my scars are no longer deep, and quite shallow. Immediately after each session my skin is lumpy and very rough looking like in your first pic. Everything actually looks worse immediately post op. After several days the fillers soften and look much smoother, exactly like in your later pics.
On 17.12.2017 at 4:57 AM, Acnescars2017 said:Great to see the progress! keep us updated will be seeing Dr Renee soon! Excited!
i have been getting tca cross with prof chu in london and my icepicks/shallow boxscars have gotten smaller over the period of three treatments. They get bigger before the healing takes place. He recommended salicilic acid peels for pores! X
@Acneescars2017:
I am based in London and planing to see Dr. Chu, since he has quite a good reputation. What is the best way to see him? At the West London Dermatology Centre on a private basis? Or somehow through the NHS at the hospital in Hammersmith?
Thanks!
On 29/12/2017 at 3:33 PM, hansdieter2k10 said:@Acneescars2017:I am based in London and planing to see Dr. Chu, since he has quite a good reputation. What is the best way to see him? At the West London Dermatology Centre on a private basis? Or somehow through the NHS at the hospital in Hammersmith?
Thanks!
Hi, I have gone through private treatment as it is faster, however theough the NHS you may be able to get free/cheaper treament is what ive heard but there is a waiting list which goes on for months. However, Prof Chu treatments arent as expensive as some places and he is a very reputable doctor and knows what he is doing and doesnt sell dreams like some only to lead to disappointment as many acne scar sufferers go through after each treatment. Wish you the best of luck!
On 12/11/2017 at 4:10 PM, AbigaiL29 said:Hey guys
As promised I've got some photos, please note the swelling hasn't completely gone down and I still have two sessions remaining.
I've tried to get the same angle in natural lighting. Also as you can see my pores are huuuuge, which I believe happened after damage from my first co2 laser, if anyone has any recommendations that isn't emu oil (didn't work for me) I'd appreciate it! Also my scars look pretty bad in the first photo because I had just used my face brush and skin looks irritated. I think pores are my biggest problem now! I never had this problem before my first co2 laser!
Im happy with what I'm seeing, but that could just be the swelling!
First picture before, second picture after, then day 2, last two are today (day 3).
The shallow rolling scars have gone and skin looks overall better.
How is it looking now that the swelling must have gone down? Have you had additional treatments?
Hello!
I actually went for my second treatment today. So Ill do post some photos after this swelling has gone down after this treatment.
After the swelling went down, I didnt think I saw any improvement, my skin sort of just went back to normal. But then over the next few days my skin did start to look better and I can say overall I noticed a good improvement In my skin. Especially under certain lighting. My larger scars didnt look so deep and overall looked a lot smoother, so I was very happy with the treatment, especially as this was just the first round. This is exactly was Dr Renee said would happen and the improvement happens gradually after the swelling subsides.
I do feel more confident with my skin now. Its no where near perfect, but Im not aiming for perfect because its never going to be. But I can definitely get my skin in better condition.
In regards to skincare Ive been using the ordinary brand, really affordable and good quality solutions. Just thought Id mention it if anyone here hasnt heard of the brand.
4 hours ago, AbigaiL29 said:Hello!
I actually went for my second treatment today. So Ill do post some photos after this swelling has gone down after this treatment.
After the swelling went down, I didnt think I saw any improvement, my skin sort of just went back to normal. But then over the next few days my skin did start to look better and I can say overall I noticed a good improvement In my skin. Especially under certain lighting. My larger scars didnt look so deep and overall looked a lot smoother, so I was very happy with the treatment, especially as this was just the first round. This is exactly was Dr Renee said would happen and the improvement happens gradually after the swelling subsides.
I do feel more confident with my skin now. Its no where near perfect, but Im not aiming for perfect because its never going to be. But I can definitely get my skin in better condition.
In regards to skincare Ive been using the ordinary brand, really affordable and good quality solutions. Just thought Id mention it if anyone here hasnt heard of the brand.
I have had my first set of skin boosters and after swelling went down my deep boxscars have returned to their usual state wondering if they wil stay like this or improve with time. Will be booking my second soon! Goodluck with your journey hope you get the best outcome for you with this treatment
Hey team
Sorry it™s taken a while for me to upload these, but the bruising lasted quite a long time, well over a week. But here™s some updated photos of my progress after the swelling has gone. I still have one more booster to complete the course. Overall I™m happy, you can still see I have scars, but my face does look a lot smoother, they™re not as noticeable. I™ve tried to get the right angle/lighting the same as last time and also tried to highlight the scars. Some lighting you can see barely anything!
The second photo I tried to take away quite a harsh angle/ shadow lighting so you can actually see where my scars are. I think they look better than this in person.
Also my skin feels a lot smoother after the boosters and although my face looks a bit blotchy here, my skin tone does look more even overall.
@AbigaiL29that's a truly amazing improvement!
I might visit London with that kind of improvement. Can you tell me whether the clinic is in London and did you pay much for it?