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Thanks troubled, I think I understand. What I don't understand is why some seem to see an immediate benefit and others don't. With aquaphor and a red color, I think my scars/pores seem more evident right now. I know it gets better with time for me. Patience is key. I just hope I get a better result this time.
Nurse suggests 4 to 6 weeks between Fraxels. Any thoughts given my aggressive settings?
Thanks troubled, I think I understand. What I don't understand is why some seem to see an immediate benefit and others don't. With aquaphor and a red color, I think my scars/pores seem more evident right now. I know it gets better with time for me. Patience is key. I just hope I get a better result this time.Nurse suggests 4 to 6 weeks between Fraxels. Any thoughts given my aggressive settings?
I would try to space them as close together as healing allows. Research suggests that there is a shock protein involved with Fraxel that induces healing response and subsequent collagen growth.
Unlike others, I have never seen an immediate benefit or even a quick benefit. To me, it evolves very slowly. One concern is whether the next treatment burns some of the newly induced collagen. Time will tell.
Interesting point. From what I understand, each treatment hits only 20% of the issue so how will the doctor be able to precisely aviod the issue has already been treated previously? Maybe the same tissue is treated over and over again which is why some people see little or no improvement, like one step forward two steps back.
Maybe I'm wrong but just a thought.
is it safe to take retin-a before fraxelI had to sign a release that I had not been on retin-a or accutane before fraxel. 6 mos to 1 year I think.
Wow, really? Retin A even? Accutane I can understand but my doctor told me to stop all retenoids two weeks before Fraxel tretments.
You can safely use Retin A up to 2 weeks before Fraxel treatments. Accutane is contradicted 6 months to 1 year before Fraxel depending on individual Dr. preferences. The chemical name for Acutane is (Isotretinoin) & Retin A is (Tretinoin). They are often confused as one of the same.
Just had my second Fraxel 2 at 50 mj's, 4 passes (I don't know the rest of the settings. I just remember seeing that one). That was intense. It's not that painful when she is doing it, but it's really intense now 45 minutes later! My first one was November 22 and since then I have seen moderate changes. Mostly in skin tightening, and smoothing of shallower scars and lines. The deeper lines and scars from years ago aren't yet responding as much, other than taking on a rounded appearance. But given the modest improvement I have seen with the shallower scars over the last month I am hopeful. The rounding of the deeper scars has made them seem less noticeable, as well. I know it's going to be many months before the benefits are there, so I am just going to ignore my face for a while and see if I am surprised down the road.
One more treatment next month, then a break. The intense "sunburn" feeling is already fading. Good riddance. Now the swelling, that's another thing. I wish that would stay all the time.
Hope everyone is well.
DreamersRage
Troubled is right as to Retin A, as it apparently interferes with reepithelization. I was told to stop 10 days in advance.
Males, how long before you start shaving afer Fraxel?
I think it would be a good idea for each person to ask their settings and put them in their sig. It will help you to know your settings and willl help others to see how others are being treated.
In light of Troubled's comment on research, I think I will try to go every 4 weeks so I get this done sooner. I was concerned that I might damage some of the newer collagen if spaced too closely. I am in good shape at 4 weeks. I had to stop swimming due to torn rotator cuff anyway.
My doctor suggested 2 to 3 weeks. She has found better results this way. I trust her as they do they do testing directly for Reliant. They are doing a test right now (not on me) for another new Fraxel machine. She says that this one requires more downtime though. I'm not sure if this new laser is from Reliant or a different laser using Fraxel technology.
hi,
i have made my first fraxel appointment for fraxel for this wednesday. i just want to get partial face but the doctor is trying to talk me in to the full face becaue they think there is a chance of pigmentation problems, however i'm very pale caucasion. i'm not sure what to believe. i think they just want to charge me full price what do you all think?
When I get full face, I have white skin tone around eyes and my reddest area is just below that. It looks like I got a bad sunburn with sunglasses. If you don't get full face, I am guessing it will be farily obvious for awhile that you had something done. So consider that as well as cost and long term risk, which is probably small. Personally, I prefer full face but there are pros and cons.
When I get full face, I have white skin tone around eyes and my reddest area is just below that. It looks like I got a bad sunburn with sunglasses. If you don't get full face, I am guessing it will be farily obvious for awhile that you had something done. So consider that as well as cost and long term risk, which is probably small. Personally, I prefer full face but there are pros and cons.
I was going to say the same thing as Billy Boy. The demarcation lines for an aggressive treatment on fair skin would be very noticeable. Also, I went for full face when I first started because I figured I might as well get rid of any wrinkles while I am at it, especially if it does not work on the scars. I have the treatment as close to under my eyes as possible. They get swollen, but worth it. The treatment is not as aggressive on that thin skin, so it is still much lighter in that area (barely pink) and looks like I have racoon eyes. BTW, I have definately seen improvement in skin tone and pore size as well as overall softening of scars after two treatments. I say if you are going to do it, and you can afford it, go for full face for overall satisfaction. Just my opinion.
When I get full face, I have white skin tone around eyes and my reddest area is just below that. It looks like I got a bad sunburn with sunglasses. If you don't get full face, I am guessing it will be farily obvious for awhile that you had something done. So consider that as well as cost and long term risk, which is probably small. Personally, I prefer full face but there are pros and cons.
Billyboy, i just had my fourth full face quite intense. I just wanted to know how long did it take for the demarcation line to disappear and when your face returned to a more natural and even tone. I had a three month gap between my second and third and i rememeber, till that point there was still a difference in my skin tone.
Hells- Like Nanty, I have a bit of a racoon look right now, just short of 3 days. It is gradually turning bronze. Pre fraxel, I used to get seb derm redness under eyes and around nose, so I would occasionally get the racoon look pre fraxel. This seb derm condition has seemingly gone away, thank God, perhasp because it shrank my overactive oil glands. However, the bronzer color just below eyes remained after I stopped first set of treatments in July, so it may be permanetn although it fades with time. I am ok with it becasue the demarcation is not theat great and it loks like a mild tan line, perhasp from sun glasses. Sorry that I can't answer your question, toher than I think it will get better once you are done irritting your skin. By the way, I detect no dmercation lines elsewhere, just under eyes, once skin fades back to normal.
How long before you shave? I am waiting to shave and trying to avoid washing face; and keep it greasy with aqauphor to keep from peeling, but mabye I am overdoing it.
MasterkWould you provide your treatment data in your signature? Thanks
Well I will try and put everything there. I had Fraxels done when they were very new and really dont know
what the levels and all of that were. i had nbot even found this site or knew their signif until after I had them
done.
12 punch excisions to the apples of my cheeks to remove a combination of small groups of ice picks and moderate
ones, nothign really deep.
Healed for a month or so.
went in monthly for 6 Fraxel treatments afterward to remove minor scars and to remove the light lines and redness from the
excisions.
About 96% or more of the scars are history. It was all expensive as hell but well worth it.
where are all the pictures? so many people in here claiming that they're doing fraxel yet nobody is posting any before/after pics! um hello?
There were a few posters earlier in this thread who posted pictures but have since taken them down. I am only on treatment 3 of 5 and I won't be posting any pictures until around 3 or 4 months post final Fraxel 2 treatment. I am even goign to try and get copies of the pictures the doctors office is taking. They use a table wtih a camera on a dolly type machine that takes pictures from the same angle every month I come in.