One week out pics. Neem oil has been the best as far as helping any wounds. Ie : the rug type burns that were around my mouth. Lol. The areas where microneedling were aggressive I've noticed has really softened the texture.  Cant wait to see another week out,  and another after that, as I feel the closer I get to 3 weeks , the more realistic my outcome will be. 

Thanks for keeping us updated @Cleopatra88, looks really good so far! But ofc like you said, only time will tell

BTW - did Dr. Rullan suggest doing TCA CROSS or Phenol CROSS? There was some discussion of this earlier on this thread, but not sure what the dis/advantages of each are...

@grandorI honestly dont know the big difference with the two. Some say phenol helps raise the scar without widening it like tca cross. I'm not sure its true. But I think that healing wise they are similar as far as down time. They both have to be repeated quite a few times. I think my doc in particular likes to use phenol cross and abrading the scar the next day * I think.* I'm sorry but I dont know too much. I heard it's best treatment for ice picks but also some boxcars. I chose not to do it due to the fact I chose to suction my face and cant with healing tca/phenol cross areas. I may ask him to do it next time though.

@Cleopatra88hey im thinking about seeing Rullan for a subcision + filler. I am from the east coast so i would be flying in to see him. I was wondering if you had any idea how many days it would need to have the swelling go down after subcision to have the filler be accurately placed. I'm thinking around ~3-4 days but wanted to see how many it was for you (if you had to guess - i know you arent doing filler)

Thank you for this really informative blog Cleopatra - I will be following with interest and wish you all the best with your scar revision journey. My scars are very very similar to yours, except they're localised to my cheek area. I'm also hoping to have subcision, but finding a dermatologist who does it here in the UK is difficult.

Also, what kind of microneedling did you have - a stamp or a roller?

@EvidentNancyit's hard to say as healing is so different from others , I stayed pretty swollen and even when I suctioned on day 3 , I probably could have waited til day 5. I think most people do it about 4 to 7 days out.

@Jollyhohnson I look forward to posting moreupdates . I'll probably do more pics here in a few days and then definitely at the three week mark. The doctor did aderma pen type needle. It was very aggressive but helped me tremendously texture wise. I think ultimately most the down time came from that specifically. I have a derminator I will be using at home for further treatments. It's quite painful for me. So make sure if your tolerance to pain is low that your numb as hell. Lol. Have you looked at the page for referencing docs near you? @beautifulambitionknows where to direct you.

@JollyhohnsonDr Chu does microneedling subcision and tca cross if needed and he is in London.

BA

Link is in here

https://www.acne.org/messageboard/topic/361029-acne-scar-qa-faq-library-of-popular-threads/

Just an update on 2 weeks 1 day post subcision. I'll be back with more pics at the 3 week mark in hopes the results will be more permanent at that point. Their has been  an obvious redepression in scars. For now they are looking pretty good despite that. Looking forward to my next subcision:) I think the microneedling was a good addition to the subcision. I'm thinking about doing a tca peel at home as I already have some 30 or 35 percent at home that I can dilute. If and when I do, I'll add that to my journey.

27 minutes ago, Cleopatra88 said:

Just an update on 2 weeks 1 day post subcision. I'll be back with more pics at the 3 week mark in hopes the results will be more permanent at that point. Their has been  an obvious redepression in scars. For now they are looking pretty good despite that. Looking forward to my next subcision:) I think the microneedling was a good addition to the subcision. I'm thinking about doing a tca peel at home as I already have some 30 or 35 percent at home that I can dilute. If and when I do, I'll add that to my journey.

what do you mean redepression? 

@Amp2695 the indentation in the skin is coming back, although not as bad as it was before. But I still have to wait till the 3 week mark to see where exactly I'm standing . Collagen will continue for some time after that and I can reevaluate them. No matter what,  I'm going to get more subcisions done

It has been 3 weeks and 2 days since my procedure. I have lumps in some areas that I avoided suctioning when I noticed them but they are still very much noticeable. I hate it.  I'm trying all sorts of things to help them go away. I guess it takes time. I am showing the area in which scars were the worst and the results thus far. My forhead shows no improvement right now. I will be getting another subcision I believe in August. And am really thinking I'll be doing filler that time. I haven't done any peels or microneedling since the procedure just yet. Will keep updating throughout my journey. 

That's a pretty good result.  

@Raster yeah I think after my second one I'll be pretty satisfied I know it wont ever be flawless, but I'm just looking to feel comfortable around people!! Fingers crossed that over the next few months it gets even better 

@Cleopatra88why do you think you will be doing filler next time? is it because you dont think the suctioning is working out, but isnt it too early to tell because the scars probably havent had the chance to even re-tether again?

if you had to guess, what day do you think you'll get the filler done on, the same day as subcision, or like 4 days later?

Hey, thanks ALOT for putting up a great before/after comparison photo!! There is so many who dont use the same lighting on both photos. You lead the way! 

Anyways, om really impressed by your results. So you have any scars on the other side as well? Im gonna do the same procedure next month

@EvidentNancywell I was maybe going to do tca cross next time so I wasnt going to suction. I really think suctioning helped a lot and I'd do it again, but I also have a wedding to go to around that time. They say around the three week mark you should see promising realistic results. I dont think they will get any worse and hopefully continue to get better as the collagen starts rebuilding the next few months. I'm planning on doing it around day 4 for sure for the filler next to around 🙂 @Mjjmandsyes I have scars on the other side but nowhere near as bad. I have a lump on the "good" side and that makes me upset. I feel like I've tried everything to get it to go down, this thing better disappear like people say. Lol. Who are you going to have do your subcision?

@beautifulambitionI have both mupircon and desonide cream. Can i use one of these for my hematomas? Or will it make it worse? I'm afraid to get steroid injections because of atrophy. I really only am bothered by two of them . please help. Also do u think I would be ok with one more subcision and then go ahead with infini treatments? Or is it looking like I need 2 more subcisions. Because I am going to do infini after my subs

23 hours ago, Cleopatra88 said:

It has been 3 weeks and 2 days since my procedure. I have lumps in some areas that I avoided suctioning when I noticed them but they are still very much noticeable. I hate it.  I'm trying all sorts of things to help them go away. I guess it takes time. I am showing the area in which scars were the worst and the results thus far. My forhead shows no improvement right now. I will be getting another subcision I believe in August. And am really thinking I'll be doing filler that time. I haven't done any peels or microneedling since the procedure just yet. Will keep updating throughout my journey. 

if this is same lighting, this is noticeable results. The deep one looks more plumped up. Are the lumps beneath the skin or are they visible over skin? Those are good results from 1 sub and three weeks later.

@Amp2695they weren't visible at first, and i even stopped suctioning those areas, now u can see them . Like people would definitely notice them. Lol. Yes I hope the results continue to improve as collagen starts forming. I'm happy so far.

@Cleopatra88

No those are not for hematomas. You can always have them injected by a local derm with steroid. Do they sell OTC steroid creams in Europe like hydrocortisone? Get some vitamin K. Vitamin C is also beneficial.

Hot and Cold Compress: Hematomas occur when blood begins to pool outside the blood vessels. Applying hot and cold compressions alternatively can dilate and contract the blood vessels, allowing blood to flow normally and the pooling to cease. It is important to alternate hot compresses with a cold compress. Simply apply the warm compress on the bruised area for about 5 to 7 minutes, after which alternate it with a cool compress for 5 to 7 minutes. Keep repeating until the skin changes color and the bruising appears to have faded. This is ideal for bruising on specific areas of your body such as the lip, elbow, knee, or any other muscle. Ice or heat should never be applied in isolation or it could worsen the symptoms and cause further complications.

Additionally, topical applications including anti-inflammatory creams, rosemary extract, rosemary essential oil, sweet clover, arnica and comfrey help control pain and ease inflammation. Using a compress of a cabbage leaf over these creams also helps shrink hematomas.

Aspirin can cause thinning of the blood.

Sure you can do 2 subcisions and infini. That's fine if that's your plan.

@beautifulambition the renew spa that was mentioned earlier has a special for the gold plated radio frequency microneedling for face and neck right now for 600. Do you think it would matter how deep they really go as far as helping me. My scars after subcision are so surface oriented now and pretty shallow. Do u think itd be beneficial despite an acne scar specialist using it for that purpose and just getting it done for collagen build up period? Like do you think it would help no matter what at this point? This spa has a great rep and is the first to bring radio frequency microneedling to the area. I'm just nervous they could do harm for the improvement I have so far which I think is pretty tremendous at this point. Also would it have a bad effect on the hematomas? They are getting smaller.

The red area is an area that was missed by the doctor. The top and bottom left are from today. I am showcasing my side that had the worst scarring. 

It has been 6 weeks and 3 days from date of procedure

They def do look more plumped up, like more shallower. What would you say your improvement is? This is just after one subcision and microneedling right?

@Amp2695Yes just one. I think the combo together is genius. Lol. I think 60 + on most, some I cant see anymore and some had no improvement,  like my forhead and temples but I have a very thin face and I think that with one more sub I'll be happy enough to move forward with just radio frequency.  I'm not sure I can get filler. I really tried to make my scars look as bad as I could get them in the photos but they are shallow as hell now. If I can get filler I'm still debating on what one might be best. Of course I'd love sculptra because it works best with infini but I dont think with my shallow scars I'd be able to use that as a filler??? I dont know. Anyone correct me if I'm wrong.  Lol. I said I was going to do filler with my next sub but as the days go by and my collagen is continuously building, i would probably do suction again no doubt. I'm asking about radio frequency now because i think if i can get it for 600, I should do that,  and then do my next sub 3 to 4 months after . I haven't even done tca and microneedling in between yet, which I think is really going to be great, but I might wait till after my next sub to start that. I'm really trying to give my body time to build up collagen in the beginning of this whole journey

Also I use retin a gel nightly , I take collagen building supplements,  and I also drink food grade diotomacepus earth. It was very interesting because I noticed on one of mr. Matt's posts he mentioned he was drinkin diotomaceous earth as well. If you research it for its collagen building properties, I think it is a very good product to add to your daily regimen. Just my opinion. 

31 minutes ago, Cleopatra88 said:

@Amp2695Yes just one. I think the combo together is genius. Lol. I think 60 + on most, some I cant see anymore and some had no improvement,  like my forhead and temples but I have a very thin face and I think that with one more sub I'll be happy enough to move forward with just radio frequency.  I'm not sure I can get filler. I really tried to make my scars look as bad as I could get them in the photos but they are shallow as hell now. If I can get filler I'm still debating on what one might be best. Of course I'd love sculptra because it works best with infini but I dont think with my shallow scars I'd be able to use that as a filler??? I dont know. Anyone correct me if I'm wrong.  Lol. I said I was going to do filler with my next sub but as the days go by and my collagen is continuously building, i would probably do suction again no doubt. I'm asking about radio frequency now because i think if i can get it for 600, I should do that,  and then do my next sub 3 to 4 months after . I haven't even done tca and microneedling in between yet, which I think is really going to be great, but I might wait till after my next sub to start that. I'm really trying to give my body time to build up collagen in the beginning of this whole journey

Also I use retin a gel nightly , I take collagen building supplements,  and I also drink food grade diotomacepus earth. It was very interesting because I noticed on one of mr. Matt's posts he mentioned he was drinkin diotomaceous earth as well. If you research it for its collagen building properties, I think it is a very good product to add to your daily regimen. Just my opinion. 

awesome!! how are the lumps healing? idk where you live but here in phx they have several places that do infini rf for $650 a session and the estethician that does it is very good! 

@Amp2695oh yeah? The 600 is the lowest I've seen the spa have it for so far. It's usually 900. So do you think I should do that once before my second sub?