13 hours ago, BlueIris said:

Hi, lurker here for quite a while now, and I have been grateful for all the resources and experiences that are posted here.

Just a bit of background - I'm a very fair skinned Asian and I've suffered from acne and scarring most of my life. My skin had scars a few years ago, but when I hit my late 30s, my pores became larger, I developed fine lines, and my skin became parched and saggy.  I have had treatments in the past that failed and made my skin worse due to bad doctors and practitioners.

I suffered burns and hypo/hyper pigmentation a resurfacing that I did 10 years ago.  Almost two years ago, I went to a top derm on Realself and he gave me a series of cool touch laser that gave me zero improvement and hyperpigmentation.  I tried microneedling last year, but the one who did it was a quack and made my scars deeper and gave me new puncture marks.

I am attaching my picture for the scars in the worst light, and  I would like to get your opinion, and especially BA's for what treatments I should seek. 

I am tired of spending on derms that push treatments and just end up making my skin worse.  I burn/scar easily, have slow healing and have dry skin.  Also, if anyone has gone to Dr. Behnam or Dr. Hazany (both in LA area), please let me know of your experience.  I am hoping to document my journey on this forum...

Thanks in advance.

i also have similar scars and same skin condition (bad healer scar easily) but i am concentrating on my other major scars first

@BlueIrisThank you for posting

I see textural issues mainly, some icepicks, and boxcars.

If your skin became saggy, this is due to aging and acne scars causing - pre mature aging.

Things like botox for the forehead, Sculptra for the cheeks, and a good skincare regimen with moisturizer and sunscreen can help.

"hypo/hyper-pigmentation," this means you have incredibly sensitive skin and limits our options of treatment. It is normal for any Ethnic skin type to get some hyperpigmentation as treatment is done, this is combated with skincare prep and treatments for this condition. Otherwise they will do weak treatments to avoid this, with little results.

Ok again this confirms, ... if microneedling made your skin worse, then any treatment could have effects on your skin, ... you have to chose if you want to deal with the possible side effects, slow - lower power procedures because of these side effects or do nothing. This is indicative of sensitive skin or someone who heals poorly. Sadly anything we do except for filler Scuptra again I highly suggest for you and hydrofacials can cause healing issues.

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Disclaimer: Information and support is not meant to diagnosis, treatment, or cure any health or mental condition and is not a substitute for professional face to face medical care (consult with a few Dr's and pick your favorite one). Posts are for informational purposes only, please consult your personal health care practitioner before engaging in anything discussed.

9 hours ago, Anish004 said:

i also have similar scars and same skin condition (bad healer scar easily) but i am concentrating on my other major scars first

Hi, how are you treating your scars?

Thanks so much for your very detailed response @beautifulambition.

I apologize if I am using a different username as I had problems resetting my password on my original account.  

I unfortunately bought a ViPeel session earlier this year, and now I am scared to go through with it - is it okay for me to go through with it, or should I just skip it?

Great advice on treating one thing at a time, I will look into the products you recommended, and also about getting an appointment Dr. Pien.  I am unable to go to Dr. Rullan , he is simply too far from me and I cannot easily travel to him if I need multiple treatments, or worse - if I need follow ups for complications.

The issue that bothers me the most are my ice picks and box scars.  Should I have them do a TCA cross first before resorting to energy devices? Also, do you think subcision can help for my rolling/box scars?  

TIA!

@blueiris2You can do the Vi peel if you wish, they will go weaker on the concentration, let them know your sensitivities. You must!!!! prep before any procedure. Weather retin-a, tretinorin, Differin, hydroquinone or the more natural pca hydroquinone free pigment gel for at least 3 weeks before and after your peel and your healed a bit start again. Sunscreen!

Icepicks if you heal poorly might come down to punch excisions, ... why, because the other methods rely more on your body healing itself. Well anything really does. Pick a few and do a small test area if you wish instead of everything. Some plastic surgeon's do this. Pien will try to fix this with laser, and she may be successful, I cannot say with your healing abilities - sensitivities.

Manual methods are always best, but your case is complicated. Perhaps subcision can help, in the pics provided I cannot see that"many" areas anywhere it can help as you have a majority of box cars and icepicks.

Consult with Pien and let me know what she says about your case, she can touch and feel the scars, etc...

The two derms you mentioned above may do punch excision, ... I am not sure. I don't normally push this procedure as it's surgical, but my fear is procedures with longer healing times - reliance on your body would be harmful.

6 hours ago, beautifulambition said:

see that"many" areas anywhere it can help as you have a majority of box cars and icepicks.

Consult with Pien and let me know what she says about your case, she can touch and feel the scars, etc...

The two derms you mentioned above may do punch excision, ... I am not sure. I don't normally push this procedure as it'

@beautifulambitionOnce again, thank you. I at least now have some direction, rather than going aboutthis blindly and relying on random doctors that have no experience with myskin type. I never even thought of asking a doctor about doing a test area first...I really wish I found this forum years ago!

Your replies have made me realize my skin's limitations, so I am so very grateful that you made me aware of that. I have often been lured by good deals and promises of fast results, which ends up quite badly. This time, I will embark on this healing journeywith more awareness, even if it's a slower pace. I will most likely avoidanything too invasive, as I just do not heal properly. Realistically, evena30-50%improvement would make me happy.

I will purchase the HQ-free gel and will make sure that I use that before my peel.

Once I am able and my budget allows, I will meet with the docs, decide on the best optionand will continue updating this thread.