Hey Kooky,

Oh no, not you too!!!!

Did you have full face (if so where are the boundary) or just target treated your individual scars? If you have any more scheduled treatments please cancel them until you find out if the hypo is only temporary. Spring is around the corner .... maybe like last time, Golf will help you recover your pigment.

At the meantime, you can do some research on treatments for pigment disorder such as those described on this website

Whatever you do, proceed with caution!

Wishing you the best.

Thank you for that Sword... it's so encouraging to hear that you made it out of this madness after being in the same state as I'm in right now.

I really do think that with each passing day, I learn how to cope with this a bit quicker... as in, it used to take me hours each day to get over the cycle of depression, anger, frustration, and then absolute hopelessness. Sometimes, I wasn't able to move or to simply to get out of bed. I slept more than 9 hours a day for the past several months because my dreams were so much better than facing the reality in the mornings. Should I say, DEPRESSION again??

Anyhow, I don't feel that way anymore. I feel like my moments of shame and frustration are more short-lived, and I'm able to tell myself, it's not everything to look a certain way... infact, I feel a small percentage of what you described you feel. The truth is, even a month ago, when you mentioned that I will feel better sometime... someday in the future, I almost couldn't believe it. I seriously doubted that I would EVER feel okay again. Thank you for your words of encouragement (e-mails), especially as you were enduring all this yourself. I think you're such a strong and determined person!!

-H

Well said Hopeful. I cannot agree with you more about what actually happened in our consultations. I usually questioned everything to death, but if I couldn't trust Dr. Y who has done thousands of dermabrasions and appeared very sympathetic and caring, who else could I trust??? I trusted him before I even met him because of what other said about him!! Easy preys we were indeed.

 

As you know I was in the your current situation for many many months. Just read my messages in this thread and you will see. I didn't have the courage to face anyone or go out to do "normal fun things" that, well, normal people do. I locked myself at home and was going insane. My family sufferred with me during that period. Forget about looking good. The redness, lost of pigment and demarc lines made me I feel I lost my license to exist as a normal and acceptable human being.

 

When I first began my journey to reclaim my life, I had to deal with overwhelming pain and pyschological obstables. Sometimes I grieved for the loss of my color. Most of the time I hated the bright redness and easy flushing. Sometimes I felt beaten up by other's reactions to my face, be it someone at work, or a waiter at a familiar restaurant, or parents of my kid's classmates, etc. etc. etc.. How do I ever face friends and relatives again?

 

Well there was no one time big-bang solution to all that, but through many struggles, each time I gain a little more control and strength. It was like, 3 steps forward 1 step back. Although the pain of loss and anger from being lied to is still here, today there is no doubt I am in control again. I didn't think it would be possible 6 months ago.

 

So, its okay to feel overwhelmed by the emotions you mentioned. Its human, and its normal. When you feel discouraged, take a breather and try again. Step by step, you will conquer all fears and regain your full strength, although your brain and heart may be wired differently after that. Trust me Hopeful, it will happen.

 

Thanks for that link sword. I've had 3 full face fraxels right down to the jaw and chin line, and one spot treatment. I've terminated my fraxel treatments indefinitely.

Hey Kooky,

 

Oh no, not you too!!!!

 

Did you have full face (if so where are the boundary) or just target treated your individual scars? If you have any more scheduled treatments please cancel them until you find out if the hypo is only temporary. Spring is around the corner .... maybe like last time, Golf will help you recover your pigment.

 

At the meantime, you can do some research on treatments for pigment disorder such as those described on this website

 

Whatever you do, proceed with caution!

 

Wishing you the best.

 

My dear friends,

Please, please and please don't give up. It is way too early to dive into a depression mode. None of you has waited long enough to be declared as a victim suffering with a permanant complication. And tanning (or other outdoor activities under some heavy UV exposure) will for sure make your condition permanant. I surffered with perhaps the most severe complication where a third of my face was initially covered with huge bloody red patches. But with extreme UV protection and proper moisturization, the redness is now reduced to 80% and I can see my skin regaining pigmentation on a monthly basis. So please don't give up yet.

Hopeful,

I'm glad you still have lots of fight in you. Actually, much more than you know now. One day you will thank yourself for not giving up.

For whatever reason the past few days a question keep popping up in my head: "How absurd is it for a person to be judged because of his / her appearance?". My honest answer to that is "extremely". Sometimes the world is crazy, but you don't need to obey its rediculous rules like a lot of its occupants.

Something for you, and Kipster, Dolmal , Kooky (I hope you will get off this list soon!!!) and anyone who suffers damage we couldn't even imagine before. Quote from Christopher Reeve:

"When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked 'What is a hero?' I remember the glib response I repeated so many times. My answer was that a hero is someone who commits a courageous action without considering the consequences--a soldier who crawls out of a foxhole to drag an injured buddy to safety. And I also meant individuals who are slightly larger than life: Houdini and Lindbergh, John Wayne, JFK, and Joe DiMaggio. Now my definition is completely different. I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."

Best wishes.

Thanks lunar, but how long is long enough? It has been a year, my tone is still maybe 70% lighter than before, and red. I feel it is unrealistic to expect the pigment to come back for myself. I would rather deal with reality. I'm glad you are improving though.

Take care.

My dear friends,

 

Please, please and please don't give up. It is way too early to dive into a depression mode. None of you has waited long enough to be declared as a victim suffering with a permanant complication. And tanning (or other outdoor activities under some heavy UV exposure) will for sure make your condition permanant. I surffered with perhaps the most severe complication where a third of my face was initially covered huge bloody red patches. But with extreme UV protection and proper moisturization, the redness is now reduced to 80% and I can see my skin regaining pigmentation on a monthly basis. So please don't give up yet.

 

Lunar, pardon me, but I'm confused....isn't sun (uv) exposure / tanning helpful for pigmentation? Or was that just a preventative for your redness?? I am planning on getting some sun in the next couple of months - it seemed to help after my dermabrasion. Let me know your thoughts.

Sword, reality bites but I fear you may be right!

Hey Sword,

Totally feel that quote... so sincere. It's really easy to spit out words when you haven't experienced something, I mean really felt it to your core. But once a person has been in that dark abyss, and come out of it stronger, their words ring so true for those who are still going through it. Thanks for that...

Lunar,

I understand what you mean - it is possibly still too early for me to declare this the finite point of my journey to recovery. However, I don't think it's healthy for me anymore to dwell or have expectations beyond what it is as of right now -- today!

I think that possibly one day, I will get more sun and the demarc line may become a bit less abrupt, or that my red areas will likely resolve a year down the line. But the whole idea is not to get caught up in this waiting game. This waiting game keeps me from really living, and puts a damper on my self-worth of who I am today. I want to say to myself that who I am right this minute, is great and beyond worthy of deserving a wonderful and enriching life. I guess, for me, it's just hard to press forward when I'm constantly hoping for this "vision" to come to fruition...

-H

Hopeful,

 

I'm glad you still have lots of fight in you. Actually, much more than you know now. One day you will thank yourself for not giving up.

 

For whatever reason the past few days a question keep popping up in my head: "How absurd is it for a person to be judged because of his / her appearance?". My honest answer to that is "extremely". Sometimes the world is crazy, but you don't need to obey its rediculous rules like a lot of its occupants.

 

Something for you, and Kipster, Dolmal , Kooky (I hope you will get off this list soon!!!) and anyone who suffers damage we couldn't even imagine before. Quote from Christopher Reeve:

 

"When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked 'What is a hero?' I remember the glib response I repeated so many times. My answer was that a hero is someone who commits a courageous action without considering the consequences--a soldier who crawls out of a foxhole to drag an injured buddy to safety. And I also meant individuals who are slightly larger than life: Houdini and Lindbergh, John Wayne, JFK, and Joe DiMaggio. Now my definition is completely different. I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."

 

Best wishes.

 

100% correct Hopeful

I want to say to myself that who I am right this minute, is great and beyond worthy of deserving a wonderful and enriching life.

Kooky,

Tanning will either lighten or darken your pigmentation. That is, a "small" amount of UV exposure for a "short" period of time will help darken the skin but a "huge" amount of UV exposure for a "long" period of time will lighten the skin. Unfortunately, we cannot control the sun, and the "right" amount of UV exposure for the "right" amount of time cannot be correctly estimated. This is why it is considered suicidal to have any UV exposure right after a resurfacing procedure. The best way to regain pigmentation is to wait until the skin becomes healthy again so the skin can endure a longer exposure of sun. For a person who cannot wait that long, an artificial UV exposure (under a controlled environment) may give that person a chance to get some pigmentation back. However, the risk is very high so I'm sure that the doctor will usually ask the patient to wait a year or two to give the skin a chance to heal naturely.

My dear friends,

 

Please, please and please don't give up. It is way too early to dive into a depression mode. None of you has waited long enough to be declared as a victim suffering with a permanant complication. And tanning (or other outdoor activities under some heavy UV exposure) will for sure make your condition permanant. I surffered with perhaps the most severe complication where a third of my face was initially covered huge bloody red patches. But with extreme UV protection and proper moisturization, the redness is now reduced to 80% and I can see my skin regaining pigmentation on a monthly basis. So please don't give up yet.

 

Lunar, pardon me, but I'm confused....isn't sun (uv) exposure / tanning helpful for pigmentation? Or was that just a preventative for your redness?? I am planning on getting some sun in the next couple of months - it seemed to help after my dermabrasion. Let me know your thoughts.

Sword, reality bites but I fear you may be right!

Sword & Hopefulskin,

One suggestion which I may ask Dr. Y to consider is that he may need to ask his Asian patients to be mentally prepared NOT TO LIVE A NORMAL LIFE for at least a year or more if the complications do occur. So if this is too much for the patients to handle (physically or emotionally), then they may not be the best candidates for having a deep dermabrasion. I think this also applies to exoderm or a deep CO2 laser resurfacing.

Hey there, i saw your gallery...i'm so sorry about that

At least your scars are better! keep your head up...things will get better

I dont believe there is nothing you can do to fix things, you may never be able to restore it but you can always improve it!

Have you thoughts of going on obagi to try and even out the skin tones?? I've seen patients with vitaligo (total pigment loss in patches) look heaps better post obagi.

Heres a photo i found of someone with it:

http://www.photoworks.com/servlet/GetThumb...eb17&guest=true

Hey Lunar,

Just wondering about what you wrote to Kooky in regards to UV... why would someone get lighter with more and prolonged sun exposure, and darker if less?? I'm really confused as to where you got this info.

When you mentioned not living a normal life for at least a year or more, who suggested this time frame? I called Dr. Y about my red patches 3 weeks ago, and he told me to start getting some daily sun exposure... not to lay out in the sun in Jamaica or anything, but to get UV walking to the store, getting to the train, etc.

So, don't know what to believe. Either way, I do hope that all of us will continue to heal and get better...

By the way, are your red patches taken care of with Vbeam? mine are there, bright as ever, 7 months later!!

Sword & Hopefulskin,

 

One suggestion which I may ask Dr. Y to consider is that he may need to ask his Asian patients to be mentally prepared NOT TO LIVE A NORMAL LIFE for at least a year or more if the complications do occur. So if this is too much for the patients to handle (physically or emotionally), then they may not be the best candidates for having a deep dermabrasion. I think this also applies to exoderm or a deep CO2 laser resurfacing.

 

Sword & Hopefulskin,

 

One suggestion which I may ask Dr. Y to consider is that he may need to ask his Asian patients to be mentally prepared NOT TO LIVE A NORMAL LIFE for at least a year or more if the complications do occur. So if this is too much for the patients to handle (physically or emotionally), then they may not be the best candidates for having a deep dermabrasion. I think this also applies to exoderm or a deep CO2 laser resurfacing.

 

Just ask him to tell the truth and stop misleading patients.

In June I expressed concerns for hypopigmentation and fire engine redness in length with him, many times. He agreed I suffer serious hypo by looking at my picture. He could not explain why the redness that "supposed to always go away", did not go away. He said I was his first patient who ever suffered such serious hypo, and long lasting redness. By the way does anyone believe that??

Then came Hopeful's consultation / dermabrasion in mid July. By that time he should have counted me as a casualty of dermabrasion. Did he mention my condition (or Dolmal's who had dermabrasion Nov 2004, or other victims' ) to her? Of course he didn't. Instead she was told the standard BS about near zero past complication rate (except for 2 patient's own fault), like he told me, Kipster and Dolmal. How do you defend that?????

My verdict: It is a crime to downplay known risks and past complications to unsuspecting patients.

By the way a number of members of this forum reported PERMANENT redness and pigmentary damage, many many years after dermabrasion, not limited to dark skin but light skin people too. He should have agressively warned the patients victims.

Hopefulskin,

It is indeed confusing and you can google the keywords "Vitiligo" and "sunburn" to dig out more information. It is known that melanocytes (cells that produce skin color) can be excited by sun exposure to produce more melanin (skin color) but melanocytes can also be destroyed or damaged by sunburn. So there is a fine line between normal sun exposure and sunburn. For a damaged skin (caused by a resurfacing procedure), it is extremely easy to get sunburn. I'm 110% sure that Dr. Y did not ask you to go outside by NOT wearing a sunblock. Wearing a sunblock (and reapplying it on a regular basis) will surely provide enough daily sun (or UV) exposure since none of the sun protections will prevent 100% UV penetration. It is absolutely heartbreaking to know some board memebers trying to regain pigmentation by tanning. As for pulse dyed laser, you may consider having a spot test on your red patches. Unlike other lasers, you will see some results in few days so this may be an option if you concern about the risk. I will schedule one more pulse dyed laser treatment to get rid of the patches completely.

Hey Lunar,

Just wondering about what you wrote to Kooky in regards to UV... why would someone get lighter with more and prolonged sun exposure, and darker if less?? I'm really confused as to where you got this info.

 

When you mentioned not living a normal life for at least a year or more, who suggested this time frame? I called Dr. Y about my red patches 3 weeks ago, and he told me to start getting some daily sun exposure... not to lay out in the sun in Jamaica or anything, but to get UV walking to the store, getting to the train, etc.

 

So, don't know what to believe. Either way, I do hope that all of us will continue to heal and get better...

By the way, are your red patches taken care of with Vbeam? mine are there, bright as ever, 7 months later!!

 

 

 

Sword & Hopefulskin,

 

One suggestion which I may ask Dr. Y to consider is that he may need to ask his Asian patients to be mentally prepared NOT TO LIVE A NORMAL LIFE for at least a year or more if the complications do occur. So if this is too much for the patients to handle (physically or emotionally), then they may not be the best candidates for having a deep dermabrasion. I think this also applies to exoderm or a deep CO2 laser resurfacing.

 

Hey Lunar,

Just to clarify... yes, Dr. Y did tell me to get some sun. As I mentioned before, he did NOT advise me to sit under mid-day sun and get a tan, however, he did suggest I start getting moderate UV exposure. I tried doing that to some parts of my face, the parts that have healed normally - forehead, nose, upper cheeks - and wore no sunscreen at all for the past week. I continued to wear SPF on the areas that are still struggling with red splotches - jawline, lower cheeks - as I didn't want to risk anything to those sensitive areas. In the end, it did work. Those exposed areas are darker and I was able to tan. Those areas have tanned to a regular yellowish coloration, which is really good. It may have been stupid to have done this, but I guess I just needed to know that I can atleast tan to some degree...

My concern is that my lower jaw areas have lost the ability to gain pigment because of the problematic nature of its recovery... it's been over 7 months and it still retains the red areas, while some parts have actually developed into hypertropic scars. I guess my thought is that if the jawline loses its ability to gain pigment, the demarcation line will be as evident as it is now, permanently.

Anyhow, will look further into pulsed dye. I spoke with Dr. Rohksar in NYC and he sounded optimistic about treating the redness. I just have doubts, because after the dermabrasion, I'm skeptical of EVERYTHING and ANYTHING!! Perhaps the ONLY good that came out of this tragedy. So I will never trust another doctor, even an expert, ever again!! If I decide to do anything further, it will be with the knowledge and acceptance that some shit can happen again (excuse my language, but that's such an appropriate word right now!!)

-H

Hopefulskin,

 

It is indeed confusing and you can google the keywords "Vitiligo" and "sunburn" to dig out more information. It is known that melanocytes (cells that produce skin color) can be excited by sun exposure to produce more melanin (skin color) but melanocytes can also be destroyed or damaged by sunburn. So there is a fine line between normal sun exposure and sunburn. For a damaged skin (caused by a resurfacing procedure), it is extremely easy to get sunburn. I'm 110% sure that Dr. Y did not ask you to go outside by NOT wearing a sunblock. Wearing a sunblock (and reapplying it on a regular basis) will surely provide enough daily sun (or UV) exposure since none of the sun protections will prevent 100% UV penetration. It is absolutely heartbreaking to know some board memebers trying to regain pigmentation by tanning. As for pulse dyed laser, you may consider having a spot test on your red patches. Unlike other lasers, you will see some results in few days so this may be an option if you concern about the risk. I will schedule one more pulse dyed laser treatment to get rid of the patches completely.

 

Hey Lunar,

Just wondering about what you wrote to Kooky in regards to UV... why would someone get lighter with more and prolonged sun exposure, and darker if less?? I'm really confused as to where you got this info.

 

When you mentioned not living a normal life for at least a year or more, who suggested this time frame? I called Dr. Y about my red patches 3 weeks ago, and he told me to start getting some daily sun exposure... not to lay out in the sun in Jamaica or anything, but to get UV walking to the store, getting to the train, etc.

 

So, don't know what to believe. Either way, I do hope that all of us will continue to heal and get better...

By the way, are your red patches taken care of with Vbeam? mine are there, bright as ever, 7 months later!!

 

 

 

Sword & Hopefulskin,

 

One suggestion which I may ask Dr. Y to consider is that he may need to ask his Asian patients to be mentally prepared NOT TO LIVE A NORMAL LIFE for at least a year or more if the complications do occur. So if this is too much for the patients to handle (physically or emotionally), then they may not be the best candidates for having a deep dermabrasion. I think this also applies to exoderm or a deep CO2 laser resurfacing.

 

 

Hopeful,

That's really good news that part of your face responds to UV. I'm so happy for you. I think a celebration is warranted.

I guess my thought is that if the jawline loses its ability to gain pigment, the demarcation line will be as evident as it is now, permanently.

 

Hey Sword,

Thanks, I think it's good news too... I'll definitely look at the positives while pushing forward with life. I'm still in that in between phase where I can feel so strongly one day and several days later hit a downward spiral. I know, that's weak, but I'll bounce up from it again soon enough. Thanks for your endless encouragement and support. It has helped me greatly not only to cope, but to believe in the importance of more than the exterior!

By the way, why are derms so quick to disregard the possibillity of ever tanning again to post derm patients (olive complexion)? I was told on several occasions that I will have the demarc line (which I know I will) but told me that this was what it was and will be... when in reality, I was actually able to tan on some parts of my face already. Do they already know when the skin looks like it can't tan again? Can they tell which parts are hypo vs. just lighter skin from not tanning? I wonder...

-H

Hopeful,

 

That's really good news that part of your face responds to UV. I'm so happy for you. I think a celebration is warranted.

 

I guess my thought is that if the jawline loses its ability to gain pigment, the demarcation line will be as evident as it is now, permanently.

 

Please keep training to not let the demarc affect you anyway, stay positive and take any further gain as additional bonus. You will do okay!

Hey Hopeful,

I'm no therapist but I believe the ups and downs you feel is normal. There is no instant solution as force feeding confidence does not work. In my case it took time for real confidence to develop, so I'm sure you will get progressively stronger in time.

Technically we're dealing with 2 issues: confidence in public and self-acceptance.

If someone cross the line and say something disrespectful regarding my discoloration (or anything else) I will definitely give him a lesson. (BTW thanks for you PM Dan T!!!) Otherwise, I don't really care much if people notice my abnormal color now. Why let stares from people ruin quality time with friends and family? Not fair to people I care about.

What I really need to work on is co-existing with the dermac and discoloration. Sometimes I still feel upset when I see the mask effect in the mirror. However, as I re-discover more and more truly important things in my life, it becomes less difficult to control the pain and the rejection. Most importantly I keep reminding myself how I act now will directly affect not just my future but my loved ones too.

Like you said in an earlier post, recovery from any "medical" resurfacing procedure are crapshots. Once its done nobody really know how it will heal until it heals. If all plastic "surgeons" admit this they will probrably lose most of their $$ business but its true. Sounds like you have pretty good coverage as far as tannable skin goes. I suggest relax and not think too much about final result as only time can tell.

Oh did you go out to celebrate your recent progress? Cheers.

sword and hopeful:

From your numerous posts, I gathered neither of you had even moderate scarring prior to the dermabrasion. If that's true, then it was Y's (I refuse to call him a doctor) ethical responsibility to refuse to perform the procedure on you guys. Unlike plastic surgery freaks, acne scarring is an actual condition as opposed to mental mindset. Therefore, doctor's bear a real medical responsibility to act ethically as opposed to greedily.

And hopeful, are you sure getting sun is a good idea? The only thing that helped my demarcation line/redness was staying the heck away from UV for a loooooong time. BTW, sunscreen didn't help me at all in terms of protecting my skin from burning (turning red), just total avoidance.

I really hope neither of you feel like it's your fault, like "oh, if I could only turn back time....". It was Y's medical duty to warn you of the serious risks, and imo, not perform the procedure at all on you.

Hey Sword,

I'm feeling glad that I'm a bit less obsessive about my face. It helps to be really busy and engaged in my day to day life with friends and family (as you earlier mentioned). So funny because I feel like I'm repeating your old posts... the cool thing is now I finally get it!

Anyhow, here and there, it's somewhat still difficult to deal with, however, knowing that I made it past the worst (I'm thinking it was the worst), makes me feel stronger as well as helps me to relate to the world as I have never before. By this I mean, I used to listen to people's problems and sort of symphathize, but now, even though the problem isn't identical, I feel like I can completely understand and feel their pain and frustrations. It's actually bringing me closer to my friends who've been having various (non skin related) problems for the past few years. So strange how we can grow in the midst of destruction. Like when new plants sprout from the forest grounds after a brush fire... okay, enough mushy stuff for now.

Oh, about celebrating, I feel I don't really want to. Almost like, I don't want to give it so much power over me, whether good or bad result-wise.

Farewell for now,

-H

Hey Hopeful,

 

I'm no therapist but I believe the ups and downs you feel is normal. There is no instant solution as force feeding confidence does not work. In my case it took time for real confidence to develop, so I'm sure you will get progressively stronger in time.

 

Technically we're dealing with 2 issues: confidence in public and self-acceptance.

 

If someone cross the line and say something disrespectful regarding my discoloration (or anything else) I will definitely give him a lesson. (BTW thanks for you PM Dan T!!!) Otherwise, I don't really care much if people notice my abnormal color now. Why let stares from people ruin quality time with friends and family? Not fair to people I care about.

 

What I really need to work on is co-existing with the dermac and discoloration. Sometimes I still feel upset when I see the mask effect in the mirror. However, as I re-discover more and more truly important things in my life, it becomes less difficult to control the pain and the rejection. Most importantly I keep reminding myself how I act now will directly affect not just my future but my loved ones too.

 

Like you said in an earlier post, recovery from any "medical" resurfacing procedure are crapshots. Once its done nobody really know how it will heal until it heals. If all plastic "surgeons" admit this they will probrably lose most of their $$ business but its true. Sounds like you have pretty good coverage as far as tannable skin goes. I suggest relax and not think too much about final result as only time can tell.

 

Oh did you go out to celebrate your recent progress? Cheers.

 

I'm feeling glad that I'm a bit less obsessive about my face. It helps to be really busy and engaged in my day to day life with friends and family (as you earlier mentioned). So funny because I feel like I'm repeating your old posts... the cool thing is now I finally get it!

 

That's excellent Hopeful. Its must feel like breathing again after suffocating for 7 months.

Anyhow, here and there, it's somewhat still difficult to deal with, however, knowing that I made it past the worst (I'm thinking it was the worst), makes me feel stronger as well as helps me to relate to the world as I have never before.

 

I am not ashamed to show my face but I work hard to overcome moments of self-rejection, because I absolutely hate the demarc and redness. It has almost become a daily routine. I guess we just have to push ourselves a little harder than before to live well and prosper.

Oh, about celebrating, I feel I don't really want to. Almost like, I don't want to give it so much power over me, whether good or bad result-wise.

 

Hmmm, that makes perfect sense because you are the one in control now. Good job hopeful

Hi blotchy_asian

If that's true, then it was Y's (I refuse to call him a doctor) ethical responsibility to refuse to perform the procedure on you guys.

 

In June I expressed concerns for hypopigmentation and fire engine redness in length with him, many times. He agreed I suffer serious hypo by looking at my picture.

 

Then came Hopeful's consultation / dermabrasion in mid July. By that time he should have counted me as a casualty of dermabrasion.

 

This sounds really bad and starts change my view. I did call by July/Aug time frame informing Dr. Y. having recovery problem. At that time, I was so naive and thinking I was my fault (I belong to less 1% of his patient who suffers from the complication).

A good Dr should have good a tracking system. He/she should know if his patients can recover from the surgery (which is the least). As for improvement, it is another story. Based on feedbacks, he/she should further enhances his skills/learnings/services. I can't believe I buy into some posts that he being the best doctor. He has served more than 4000 patients, I wonder how many have suffered from complication. I am pretty sure he does not know the answer.

Hi Sword and Hopefulskin.

It sounds like You are both in the same boat that I've been in for the past few years. I'm not Asian. I'm a mix of Irish, German and Native American (my grandfather is 100% Cherokee).

I had a full face CO2 resurfacing for scarring which left me much worse off. Like you, I have lost faith in doctors. My scarring was not very bad, just a few boxcar scars and a couple of scarred pores. The plastic surgeon should have sent me on my merry way, but the thing is, I had consulted with two other doctors who also recommended the CO2 laser. The risks were greatly downplayed by all 3. Before the surgery I was the only one who really noticed my scarring. Afterwards, strangers stopped me to ask what had happened to my face.

Perhaps I can give you something that no one was ever able to give me: a little bit of hope. Over the years, my redness has significantly faded and my skin has continued to improve with just topicals and mild peels. The demarcation is not nearly as evident (and I had a noticible demarcation, since he only did part of my forehead). I still feel I have a long way to go, but things are much, much better.

I don't know if that will be of any comfort to either of you, but when I was searching for answers I never found anyone who had taken as long to heal as I had. I went to many dermatologists, and none of them were able to tell me what had gone wrong or to offer much help. I gave up all hope of ever looking normal again. I honestly believed I was going to look like a burn victim for the rest of my life.

Has your doctor prescribed topical steroids for the hypopigmentation? You cannot use them for more than a few monrhs, but they do work for many people. I've just started using them on a couple of my hypopigmented spots. If that doesn't help, I might try needling. I'm also researching rhytec portrait treatments to improve my texture.

Have you considered or talked with your doctor about hyperbaric therapy? Spending time in an oxygen rich environment can help you heal faster. It is also important to eat well and exercise. I was so depressed that I wouldn't get out of bed many days, and I think it led me into a negative cycle which further slowed my healing response.

I'm always sorry to hear of other people going through what I've been through. In one sense it was a blessing not to be able to look at myself in the mirror for so long. I focused on other things. I learned how to attract men with my personality, not just my looks. Now that I can look in the mirror again, I'm back to studying every little flaw. Unfortunately, I blame almost every imperfection on the laser and I still spend way too much time wishing I had just cancelled that appointment.

I think it is important to know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. My wish for you is that your tunnel will not be as long or as dark as mine has been.