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wow good to see yall are all improvin.. im gonna try get the doc to work me with 20 mJ settin this friday...
hope that'll do.. and birch can u post before/after pics when ur done? and ask ur doc whether 11-12 MJ settings would've been helpful for scarrin.. i'd like to hear out on his opinion also.. and yea.. what skin color or type are u? and how many passes did ur doc execute? anyways.. thanks..best of lucks to yall.
Going for my 5th Fraxel this Friday with Dr. Rokhsar. Really pleased so far. I saw my frist signs of improvement after the 3rd treatment and now, 10 days after the 4th, I'd estimate about 40% improvement. Pretty significant I think.
Most of the improvement is in overall texture and color. But I definitely see raised areas flattening out and the pitted scars filling in and looking softer.
I also have a half-dollar size area from a CO2 test spot (from another doctor who went too deep that resulted in raised scarring) that is seeing nice improvement. The CO2 was horrible, took forever to heal and really still isn't fully healed (after 4 months) but each Fraxel treatment has helped that area tremendously - blending the obvious demarcated and raised edges with the surrounding skin and making it much less delicate.
The deepest scars are seeing the least improvement, but I think it's in line with the rest - they just have further to go.
I held out on forming an opinion on Fraxel until now, but am definitely a big fan. It's too expensive and takes too many treatments, but at least it actually works, heals quickly, and does no harm either. I think it's very dependent on the physician as well, but that will probably change as technique and results spread around. It would be nice if some doctors were even as informed as the people on this site.
So Dr. Rokhsar has been treating me at 20/1250, 2 weeks apart, and he is very determined. He is treating me as aggresively as he feels possible. Over 20mj can blister, creating more problems. I haven't had any blistering or healing problems at 20mj. There is some oozing (yellowish fluid) the first day after treatment that I have to keep from crusting, but that stops within several hours.
I'm planning on doing 6 treatments and then taking a break for a few months so the skin can fully heal (will then post some pics too).
I definitely don't dwell on my scars nearlly as much any more.
Hi Birch, Glad to hear your seeing improvements in your treatments. I am going to Dr Rokhsar in a few weeks for 5 Fraxel treatments myself. I was just wondering if he started you off at the higher settings or did he graduallly move up to the 20/1250 setting? thanks
Hey everyone,
Sorry I should have given a better summary of my treatments so far. Would take like a week to read this whole forum.
I'll definitely post some pics when thru with the treatments. I don't know the fitzpatrick skin grading, but I'm caucasian, 32 and stay out of the sun or wear spf 45. Used to actually lifeguard in HS and would tan pretty dark but also burn, especially in the beginning of summer.
Jeez, that sounds like a personal ad.
Yeah, Dr. Rokhsar started me right off at 20mj. My scars run really deep, even though the depression is only from .25mm -1mm. He said being aggressive is definitely the way to treat deep scars, but that is as high as he will go. Any higher, and the tiny beams of laser begin to splay out and do too much damage that could result in blistering and maybe more scarring.
I'm not sure of the total number of passes, I should try to count. He said that's not really the mission though. The total energy used (kJ) is more important. He did step that up on each treatment. It's a partial area. The 1st one was 1.06 kJ total. The 2nd-1.61, 35rd-2.06, and I forgot to check after the 4th but I think it was probably around the same as the 3rd. You can read it on the screen of the machine.
I saw the most improvement after the 3rd one but I think it may be cumalative.
I think I read on the Fraxel site that a rough limit for a single full face treatment should be around 6.0 kJ.
I guess the machine calculates it on the mj, # of micro thermal zones (mtz), and number of passes or total surface area covered.
Also, he mentioned he uses pinpoint bleeding as a reference for knowing when to stop.
I actually started at 10 days apart, which was the shortest time frame he would do. He said it made no difference if they were done that way or a month apart. I work at home, so I figured I'd get it all done as quick as possible. Once he stepped up the number of passes on the 3rd one then the minimum became 2 weeks and that's what I'm doing now.
If your doctor won't go up to 20/1250 then maybe relay that you know others are being treated that way with more success and which doctors are doing it. But I would error on the side of your doctor's conservative judgement. Not everyone's skin has exactly the same thickness or durability you know? Fraxel is powerful enough to do damage.
Also, I forgot to mention the Zimmer machine. It is absolutely essential at the high setting. It's a cold-air blower. A continiuous blast of freezing air aimed at your skin. The first treatment we didn't use it and the first pass was ok, but the second felt like my skin was being seared off by a hot iron. I couldn't imagine doing a full face like that. Since then we've been using the Zimmer, and I don't feel a thing at all. I actually got a bit of brain-freeze last time - like from eating a smoothie too fast. Crazy.
Lastly, taking Sin Echh for the swelling. It's homeopathic and I'm not sure if it really does anything, but almost all my swelling is gone withing a day or a day and a half. You can find info here(are links ok?): [Removed]
Hope this helps. Good luck to you all.
Going for my 5th Fraxel this Friday with Dr. Rokhsar. Really pleased so far. I saw my frist signs of improvement after the 3rd treatment and now, 10 days after the 4th, I'd estimate about 40% improvement. Pretty significant I think.
Most of the improvement is in overall texture and color. But I definitely see raised areas flattening out and the pitted scars filling in and looking softer.
I also have a half-dollar size area from a CO2 test spot (from another doctor who went too deep that resulted in raised scarring) that is seeing nice improvement. The CO2 was horrible, took forever to heal and really still isn't fully healed (after 4 months) but each Fraxel treatment has helped that area tremendously - blending the obvious demarcated and raised edges with the surrounding skin and making it much less delicate.
The deepest scars are seeing the least improvement, but I think it's in line with the rest - they just have further to go.
I held out on forming an opinion on Fraxel until now, but am definitely a big fan. It's too expensive and takes too many treatments, but at least it actually works, heals quickly, and does no harm either. I think it's very dependent on the physician as well, but that will probably change as technique and results spread around. It would be nice if some doctors were even as informed as the people on this site.
So Dr. Rokhsar has been treating me at 20/1250, 2 weeks apart, and he is very determined. He is treating me as aggresively as he feels possible. Over 20mj can blister, creating more problems. I haven't had any blistering or healing problems at 20mj. There is some oozing (yellowish fluid) the first day after treatment that I have to keep from crusting, but that stops within several hours.
I'm planning on doing 6 treatments and then taking a break for a few months so the skin can fully heal (will then post some pics too).
I definitely don't dwell on my scars nearlly as much any more.
Birch - it's really great to hear that you've had such good results with the Fraxel. I had one done but now I'm doing the Portrait PSR3 treatment. I am curious about Dr. Roksar. I've heard great things about him. I've been on his website but it just shows that he does CO2 & Fraxel. Do you know if he does anything else in regards to scars? Did you have to pay for a consult with him? Are you going to his NYC office? If so, where in the city is it? I hate driving in NYC!!!
I'll definitely post some pics when thru with the treatments. I don't know the fitzpatrick skin grading, but I'm caucasian, 32 and stay out of the sun or wear spf 45. Used to actually lifeguard in HS and would tan pretty dark but also burn, especially in the beginning of summer.
Jeez, that sounds like a personal ad.
Be careful, your PM box might be full in the morning with ladies (guys?) asking you for dates, Lol.
If your doctor won't go up to 20/1250 then maybe relay that you know others are being treated that way with more success and which doctors are doing it. But I would error on the side of your doctor's conservative judgement. Not everyone's skin has exactly the same thickness or durability you know? Fraxel is powerful enough to do damage.
I believe I won't have to worry about my doctor going at too low of a setting. In fact, I think she is certifiably insane. She treated one patient with really deep acne scarring at LEVEL 30! As well as her own nasolabial folds at 30. She's a bit of a mad scientist more than a doctor. She did tell me about the blistering which resolved itself in a week.
Also, I forgot to mention the Zimmer machine. It is absolutely essential at the high setting. It's a cold-air blower. A continiuous blast of freezing air aimed at your skin. The first treatment we didn't use it and the first pass was ok, but the second felt like my skin was being seared off by a hot iron. I couldn't imagine doing a full face like that. Since then we've been using the Zimmer, and I don't feel a thing at all. I actually got a bit of brain-freeze last time - like from eating a smoothie too fast. Crazy.
I need to ask my doc if she has one of these. I had spot treatments at 20/1250 but it wasn't painful at all to me and she didn't use a Zimmer cooling machine. She had me apply lidocaine for an hour on face before the treatment though.
Hope this helps. Good luck to you all.
Thanks for all the great information!
so guys would it be considered a wasted treatment if my first session was at 11 and 12 mJs?
I wouldn't say so, FloridaGuy didn't go above 12 for at least four treatments, and was actually below 10 for his first two I think and he said he got 30-40% improvement on the deep ones (and 50% to gone on the mild to moderate scarring).
Birch - it's really great to hear that you've had such good results with the Fraxel. I had one done but now I'm doing the Portrait PSR3 treatment. I am curious about Dr. Roksar. I've heard great things about him. I've been on his website but it just shows that he does CO2 & Fraxel. Do you know if he does anything else in regards to scars? Did you have to pay for a consult with him? Are you going to his NYC office? If so, where in the city is it? I hate driving in NYC!!!
Hey electroscars,
How is the PSR3 coming along?
Dr. Rokhsar is located at 66th and 2nd Ave on the East side. Really easy to drive to and a bunch of garages nearby.
I think he also has an office in Garden City.
I'm not sure what other treatments he does for scars. There was a fee for consult. $150 I think, which was then subtracted from treatment fee.
You will get some good improvement if 11/12 Mj's is done at Full density and 4-6 passes
Prior to improvements in Pain Management I do not think I could of done more then 10Mjs
at full density but I was able to handle 12 last time no problem and I did notice the improvement from that treatment was more pronounced then the lower laser level treatments.
so guys would it be considered a wasted treatment if my first session was at 11 and 12 mJs?
Can someone post Dr. Rokhsar website if he infact has one?
Thank You
His website is.. http://www.nyaestheticcenter.com/index.html
Can someone post Dr. Rokhsar website if he infact has one?
Thank You
His website is.. http://www.nyaestheticcenter.com/index.html
Many Thanks HeadsUp.
anyone have mild to moderate rolling scars that were treated with fraxel? and if so, how are the results of the laser? many thanks in advance
has anyone had fraxel on back acne scars? today was the first I ever heard of it and i want to know if it will work on back acne scars. The local laser clinic i went to just got it in so the docter counldn't show me any before and after photo's as he has only had it since the end of august. The price he quoted me was $200.00 Canadian for the part of my back that was really scarred per treatment and he said I would need 5-6 treatments. As I am a student this is alot of money but if it works then it is worth it.
anyone have mild to moderate rolling scars that were treated with fraxel? and if so, how are the results of the laser? many thanks in advance
has anyone had fraxel on back acne scars? today was the first I ever heard of it and i want to know if it will work on back acne scars. The local laser clinic i went to just got it in so the docter counldn't show me any before and after photo's as he has only had it since the end of august. The price he quoted me was $200.00 Canadian for the part of my back that was really scarred per treatment and he said I would need 5-6 treatments. As I am a student this is alot of money but if it works then it is worth it.
They claimed fraxel can be used on literally any part of the body. So, yes your back scarring could be treated by fraxel, however none of those before and after pic of those "50 patients, 1 machine" demo showed an example of back scarring.
I don't know if this has been discussed already but I was wondering if anyone knows if Fraxel results are permanant or do they only last a few years, if that? I might try and call my DR and see what info he has on the subject. If anyone knows for sure, please let me know, Thanks.
I don't know if this has been discussed already but I was wondering if anyone knows if Fraxel results are permanant or do they only last a few years, if that? I might try and call my DR and see what info he has on the subject. If anyone knows for sure, please let me know, Thanks.
I asked the nurse if results were permanent and she immediatly answered yes. I'm still unsure about it because they know so little about the laser, but if not permanent the results are probably very long lasting at the very least.
I don't know if this has been discussed already but I was wondering if anyone knows if Fraxel results are permanant or do they only last a few years, if that? I might try and call my DR and see what info he has on the subject. If anyone knows for sure, please let me know, Thanks.
I asked the nurse if results were permanent and she immediatly answered yes. I'm still unsure about it because they know so little about the laser, but if not permanent the results are probably very long lasting at the very least.
Thanks for the info hadenough. Going for Fraxel on Nov 18. Hoping for the best ..see ya
Does anyone know if these treatments have to be repeated after you go through all the reccomended 5 or 6 sessions??????
I was told that you have to do a maintenance appointment every 4-5 months, and maybe repeat the treatment every 2 years... that sounds freaking expensive!!!!!!!!!! 2 grand a year... crap