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I could have waited till the red faded out totally, but opted for the Fraxels simply to treat thered and lines and mainly for minor scars that were too shallow and superficial to do anything with
as far as excision goes. The excisions only take about 2 weeks to heal and are easy to hide
wiht concealer or somethinglike that. Excision is a great choice I think if u want ot just cut out
thhe scars right now and be done with them.
For men excision is not a big deal. If u are cool with line scars (which look kinda rugged and not
real bad) then u will not need any further treatment. Light resurfacing of any kind should smooth
the little line scars right out thougha nd blend wiht the rest of the skin.
Hello everyone!
I have been reading this forum for several months now and just wanted to let you know my experience with c02/excisions and now fraxel. I am a white female, fair complexion and i am 46 years old. I have a full face CO2 laser surgery 8 years ago...it was a horrible procedure and with very little success. Last january i stared a series of excisions for my deeper/ice pick scars....about 25 to be exact...most of the fine scar lines have disappeared and it looks MUCH better....i am very happy with most of the excisions although one area on my chin still looks a little rough, but then again that is the most recent area that was excised.
I had my first Fraxel in November with a Dr in NYC who has quite a bit of experience with fraxel (sr750)...i do not know what my settings were but it was not painful at all...( a little discomfort) but not much... He does the procedure with an assistant following him closely with the zimmer....i had very little swelling...but was a very good patient the first night....ice pack, gel face pack, and loaded up on Ester C and various other vitamins/minerals before the procedure. BUT i suffer from cold sores and sure enough, after the third day I broke out with severe cold sores around my mouth and chin and cheek area....SO, if you suffer from cold sore, let your doctor know before you have your treatment and he/she should provide you with a prescription for VALTREX!
I had my 2nd fraxel on 12/8....settings were 22mj/12.5? (that's all i saw...still w/sr750)...again, several passes, no discomfort and this time spent one full day inside but not too swollen again! Yes, I looked like a had a tan w/racoon eyes but was able to put foundation on Monday morn and went to work! Was given a prescription for Valtrex and did not break out this time...thank god!
Anyway, my face looks good... I am extremely happy with everything so far...everytime i look in the mirror i am pleasently surprised...and that's good! I am planning on doing 3 to 4 more..will keep you up to date as my next on is early january...but all in all, i am seeing some very good results (Excision/fraxel.)
Hello everyone!I have been reading this forum for several months now and just wanted to let you know my experience with c02/excisions and now fraxel. I am a white female, fair complexion and i am 46 years old. I have a full face CO2 laser surgery 8 years ago...it was a horrible procedure and with very little success. Last january i stared a series of excisions for my deeper/ice pick scars....about 25 to be exact...most of the fine scar lines have disappeared and it looks MUCH better....i am very happy with most of the excisions although one area on my chin still looks a little rough, but then again that is the most recent area that was excised.
I had my first Fraxel in November with a Dr in NYC who has quite a bit of experience with fraxel (sr750)...i do not know what my settings were but it was not painful at all...( a little discomfort) but not much... He does the procedure with an assistant following him closely with the zimmer....i had very little swelling...but was a very good patient the first night....ice pack, gel face pack, and loaded up on Ester C and various other vitamins/minerals before the procedure. BUT i suffer from cold sores and sure enough, after the third day I broke out with severe cold sores around my mouth and chin and cheek area....SO, if you suffer from cold sore, let your doctor know before you have your treatment and he/she should provide you with a prescription for VALTREX!
I had my 2nd fraxel on 12/8....settings were 22mj/12.5? (that's all i saw...still w/sr750)...again, several passes, no discomfort and this time spent one full day inside but not too swollen again! Yes, I looked like a had a tan w/racoon eyes but was able to put foundation on Monday morn and went to work! Was given a prescription for Valtrex and did not break out this time...thank god!
Anyway, my face looks good... I am extremely happy with everything so far...everytime i look in the mirror i am pleasently surprised...and that's good! I am planning on doing 3 to 4 more..will keep you up to date as my next on is early january...but all in all, i am seeing some very good results (Excision/fraxel.)
Nice to hear your story. How long did it take for the excision scars to fade? I still have my excision lines and it has been 3 months. I've had 3 fraxel treatments so far. You can view the settings on my signature.
Hello everyone!I have been reading this forum for several months now and just wanted to let you know my experience with c02/excisions and now fraxel. I am a white female, fair complexion and i am 46 years old. I have a full face CO2 laser surgery 8 years ago...it was a horrible procedure and with very little success. Last january i stared a series of excisions for my deeper/ice pick scars....about 25 to be exact...most of the fine scar lines have disappeared and it looks MUCH better....i am very happy with most of the excisions although one area on my chin still looks a little rough, but then again that is the most recent area that was excised.
I had my first Fraxel in November with a Dr in NYC who has quite a bit of experience with fraxel (sr750)...i do not know what my settings were but it was not painful at all...( a little discomfort) but not much... He does the procedure with an assistant following him closely with the zimmer....i had very little swelling...but was a very good patient the first night....ice pack, gel face pack, and loaded up on Ester C and various other vitamins/minerals before the procedure. BUT i suffer from cold sores and sure enough, after the third day I broke out with severe cold sores around my mouth and chin and cheek area....SO, if you suffer from cold sore, let your doctor know before you have your treatment and he/she should provide you with a prescription for VALTREX!
I had my 2nd fraxel on 12/8....settings were 22mj/12.5? (that's all i saw...still w/sr750)...again, several passes, no discomfort and this time spent one full day inside but not too swollen again! Yes, I looked like a had a tan w/racoon eyes but was able to put foundation on Monday morn and went to work! Was given a prescription for Valtrex and did not break out this time...thank god!
Anyway, my face looks good... I am extremely happy with everything so far...everytime i look in the mirror i am pleasently surprised...and that's good! I am planning on doing 3 to 4 more..will keep you up to date as my next on is early january...but all in all, i am seeing some very good results (Excision/fraxel.)
Nice to hear your story. How long did it take for the excision scars to fade? I still have my excision lines and it has been 3 months. I've had 3 fraxel treatments so far. You can view the settings on my signature.
not long 6 weeks at the most....
Hello everyone!I have been reading this forum for several months now and just wanted to let you know my experience with c02/excisions and now fraxel. I am a white female, fair complexion and i am 46 years old. I have a full face CO2 laser surgery 8 years ago...it was a horrible procedure and with very little success. Last january i stared a series of excisions for my deeper/ice pick scars....about 25 to be exact...most of the fine scar lines have disappeared and it looks MUCH better....i am very happy with most of the excisions although one area on my chin still looks a little rough, but then again that is the most recent area that was excised.
I had my first Fraxel in November with a Dr in NYC who has quite a bit of experience with fraxel (sr750)...i do not know what my settings were but it was not painful at all...( a little discomfort) but not much... He does the procedure with an assistant following him closely with the zimmer....i had very little swelling...but was a very good patient the first night....ice pack, gel face pack, and loaded up on Ester C and various other vitamins/minerals before the procedure. BUT i suffer from cold sores and sure enough, after the third day I broke out with severe cold sores around my mouth and chin and cheek area....SO, if you suffer from cold sore, let your doctor know before you have your treatment and he/she should provide you with a prescription for VALTREX!
I had my 2nd fraxel on 12/8....settings were 22mj/12.5? (that's all i saw...still w/sr750)...again, several passes, no discomfort and this time spent one full day inside but not too swollen again! Yes, I looked like a had a tan w/racoon eyes but was able to put foundation on Monday morn and went to work! Was given a prescription for Valtrex and did not break out this time...thank god!
Anyway, my face looks good... I am extremely happy with everything so far...everytime i look in the mirror i am pleasently surprised...and that's good! I am planning on doing 3 to 4 more..will keep you up to date as my next on is early january...but all in all, i am seeing some very good results (Excision/fraxel.)
Nice to hear your story. How long did it take for the excision scars to fade? I still have my excision lines and it has been 3 months. I've had 3 fraxel treatments so far. You can view the settings on my signature.
not long 6 weeks at the most....
I've already pass that period but I still have the scars.
Hello everyone!I have been reading this forum for several months now and just wanted to let you know my experience with c02/excisions and now fraxel. I am a white female, fair complexion and i am 46 years old. I have a full face CO2 laser surgery 8 years ago...it was a horrible procedure and with very little success. Last january i stared a series of excisions for my deeper/ice pick scars....about 25 to be exact...most of the fine scar lines have disappeared and it looks MUCH better....i am very happy with most of the excisions although one area on my chin still looks a little rough, but then again that is the most recent area that was excised.
I had my first Fraxel in November with a Dr in NYC who has quite a bit of experience with fraxel (sr750)...i do not know what my settings were but it was not painful at all...( a little discomfort) but not much... He does the procedure with an assistant following him closely with the zimmer....i had very little swelling...but was a very good patient the first night....ice pack, gel face pack, and loaded up on Ester C and various other vitamins/minerals before the procedure. BUT i suffer from cold sores and sure enough, after the third day I broke out with severe cold sores around my mouth and chin and cheek area....SO, if you suffer from cold sore, let your doctor know before you have your treatment and he/she should provide you with a prescription for VALTREX!
I had my 2nd fraxel on 12/8....settings were 22mj/12.5? (that's all i saw...still w/sr750)...again, several passes, no discomfort and this time spent one full day inside but not too swollen again! Yes, I looked like a had a tan w/racoon eyes but was able to put foundation on Monday morn and went to work! Was given a prescription for Valtrex and did not break out this time...thank god!
Anyway, my face looks good... I am extremely happy with everything so far...everytime i look in the mirror i am pleasently surprised...and that's good! I am planning on doing 3 to 4 more..will keep you up to date as my next on is early january...but all in all, i am seeing some very good results (Excision/fraxel.)
thanks for sharing your experience! Glad to hear you are doing well. Did you have the excisions in NY as well?
I'm surprised that the doctor didn't ask you if you get cold sores before the treatment. That was the first thing they asked me before mine. It's good that the Valtrex helped this time!
Buco: Great story that offers hope to many. I know it is early and you have a pale complexion, but did you notice Fraxel helping to change the color of scar lines to your more normal pigment? I have a tan but some whiteness in 3 excisions. Hoping fraxel will fix this, as well as depressions. My guess is that you had a better surgeon than I given your success with excisions. Congrats.
Mz: Are you asking about color of scar or depression? My pinkness diappeared very quickly and became whitish compared to my tan, however the lost tissue left a depressed scar. If depressed, it may need a filler
Buco: Great story that offers hope to many. I know it is early and you have a pale complexion, but did you notice Fraxel helping to change the color of scar lines to your more normal pigment? I have a tan but some whiteness in 3 excisions. Hoping fraxel will fix this, as well as depressions. My guess is that you had a better surgeon than I given your success with excisions. Congrats.Mz: Are you asking about color of scar or depression? My pinkness diappeared very quickly and became whitish compared to my tan, however the lost tissue left a depressed scar. If depressed, it may need a filler
My excision scars are still red. The largest one is still indented/depressed. I did ask my doctor about it during my last treatment but she told me that she is expecting the fraxel to help that scar and that I should wait and not be discouraged. I really will regret doing the excision if those scars don't heal.
Buco: Great story that offers hope to many. I know it is early and you have a pale complexion, but did you notice Fraxel helping to change the color of scar lines to your more normal pigment? I have a tan but some whiteness in 3 excisions. Hoping fraxel will fix this, as well as depressions. My guess is that you had a better surgeon than I given your success with excisions. Congrats.Mz: Are you asking about color of scar or depression? My pinkness diappeared very quickly and became whitish compared to my tan, however the lost tissue left a depressed scar. If depressed, it may need a filler
BB....
I had very little redness after the excisions...the scar lines are barely visible at all...except for one....no whiteness...the PS was awesome!
After reading several of the 155 pages on this topic-titled -Fraxel, any success stories...I'm not clear if there has been success...failure, or perhaps partial success??? Such as with all treatments, I know. I was wondering if all you experienced fraxel posters, wouldn't mind answering a few questions in the poll about fraxel. 
(another topic posted). MANY of us would be most grateful! 
Hello! Thought I should drop by and give an update...
It's been two weeks since my fifth and final fraxel (fraxel 2).
The most dramatic improvements I've seen so far are to the lines around my eyes (the lines are either gone or much MUCH softer), to two relatively shallow saucer shaped scars (these have filled in quite a bit already), and to a quarter sized depressed area (this area has raised up). Overall, my skin is much smoother.
I tried to prep pictures to post here and somehow managed to screw up my originals. 
Hubby said when he gets time, he'll check it out and try to figure out how to get them back, then help me with them so I can post them here.
Overall, I'm VERY happy with the results so far, and I expect to continue to get improvement over the next few months.
Hope all is going well for everyone...and to those who celebrate something at this time of year, happy holidays!
Shyone
Hello! Thought I should drop by and give an update...It's been two weeks since my fifth and final fraxel (fraxel 2).
The most dramatic improvements I've seen so far are to the lines around my eyes (the lines are either gone or much MUCH softer), to two relatively shallow saucer shaped scars (these have filled in quite a bit already), and to a quarter sized depressed area (this area has raised up). Overall, my skin is much smoother.
I tried to prep pictures to post here and somehow managed to screw up my originals. 😡 :rolleyes: Hubby said when he gets time, he'll check it out and try to figure out how to get them back, then help me with them so I can post them here.
Overall, I'm VERY happy with the results so far, and I expect to continue to get improvement over the next few months.
Hope all is going well for everyone...and to those who celebrate something at this time of year, happy holidays!
Shyone
I'm so happy for your success! I read your other post on the Fraxel poll, and you sound just like me. I'm starting my second round of Fraxel Jan.5th. I'm hoping to get a lot more improvement from the second round, also. Believe me, you will see improvement in the next few months. Happy holidays to you too!
I did not take written notes so I am going from memory, but am curiosu if anyone else noticed the same thing as to fraxel flaking. First, I never flaked/peeled on nose or in area adjacent to nose. Second, my flaking seem to diminsh with each subsequent treatment, and it normally started around day 6 or 7. This time, I have the feeling that I will not flake at all. After the prior treatments ( first 4) I used vaseline to moisturize. This time I am using aquaphor, which is just as greasy. Anyway, has anyone else notice this declining proclivity to flake or am I just posting too soon? Any idea what this means?
Being an optimist, I am going to presume that this means I will get a better result!
Billy, I usually peel/flake on my nose and the whole middle of my face. It's the outer area of the face that doesn't really peel a lot for me. My chin and around the mouth are the worst. I usually begin the grainy peeling on day 3 or 4 and are done by day 5. I wished I peeled a bit more but I believe with the higher settings the less peeling you get.
My doctor went over my nose over and over again to help with blocked pores this last time and I peeled a LOT but my pores look a lot better and not filled with blackheads. This is the best result I have gotten so far. I'm having a bad skin day today and feeling hopeless but I remember this happened when I did my Smoothbeam treatments. I can't wait until my next treatment. I tried to get in a week early (3 weeks in between treatments) but my doctor is out of town for the holidays. So I go in for my 4th on Jan 3!
Thanks for checking in Shyone! Glad to hear you are happy with your results!!
I did not take written notes so I am going from memory, but am curiosu if anyone else noticed the same thing as to fraxel flaking. First, I never flaked/peeled on nose or in area adjacent to nose. Second, my flaking seem to diminsh with each subsequent treatment, and it normally started around day 6 or 7. This time, I have the feeling that I will not flake at all. After the prior treatments ( first 4) I used vaseline to moisturize. This time I am using aquaphor, which is just as greasy. Anyway, has anyone else notice this declining proclivity to flake or am I just posting too soon? Any idea what this means?Being an optimist, I am going to presume that this means I will get a better result!
Males tend to have thicker, more sebaceous skin with larger pores and differences in skin elasticity then females at the same age. With these differences in mind it is possible that a males skin could heal somewhat differently then a females post Fraxel.
Day 14 since my 1st Fraxel treatment... (Energy = 20, Density = 125, Passes = 9)
My skin is still slightly pink and dry in the areas that have been treated. It is difficult to notice though, and continues to fade gradually every day.
Unfortunately, my scars have become visible again. For the first 5 days, all of my scars were totally invisible. Then after the flaking, they were visible - but difficult to notice because the edges were so smooth. Now they are almost back to where they were before treatment. I would say they are maybe 10% less visible (10% improvement).
I guess I was fooled by the micro-swelling.
I am a little depressed, but my doc warned me about this. He said that that it takes months for collagen growth to become noticable.
-Ralphie
Day 14 since my 1st Fraxel treatment... (Energy = 20, Density = 125, Passes = 9)I am a little depressed, but my doc warned me about this. He said that that it takes months for collagen growth to become noticable.
i wonder if retin-a would hinder the healing process. like if one were to go on retin-a after a month from their last fraxel treatment.
Day 14 since my 1st Fraxel treatment... (Energy = 20, Density = 125, Passes = 9)My skin is still slightly pink and dry in the areas that have been treated. It is difficult to notice though, and continues to fade gradually every day.
Unfortunately, my scars have become visible again. For the first 5 days, all of my scars were totally invisible. Then after the flaking, they were visible - but difficult to notice because the edges were so smooth. Now they are almost back to where they were before treatment. I would say they are maybe 10% less visible (10% improvement).
I guess I was fooled by the micro-swelling.
I am a little depressed, but my doc warned me about this. He said that that it takes months for collagen growth to become noticable.
-Ralphie
It's totally normal Ralphie. I feel the same way. You get a little taste of unscarred skin for a few days and then bam, the swelling goes down and it seems like you are back where you started but don't give up hope. It takes time and patience with this treatment. I had to tell myself that over and over again yesterday. You are just on your first treatment so you have a ways to go. Try not to focus som much and I try not to look in the mirror to much and over analyze my skin. It's hard I know!
Wow it's a miracle, I'm 7 hours after my first fraxel treatment and i'm PERFECT... haha just kidding.
So went for my first treatment today. I arrived at 10, they applied the numbing cream and let it sit for one hour. The doctor that was performing the treatment had only done this 3-5 times, so they invited a Reliant rep to come and assist with my first treatment. The rep from reliant has been with the company from the beginning and he was the first person who had the fraxel done, actually i could be wrong on the first person, but he did mention that he had it done with out the cooling air... poor thing. oh an he was so nice!
Anyway, i had a vicoden and an anxiety pill prior. They started on my forehead, and it really really hurt. It was definately bearable, but that was the worst part of it all. The rest went really really well. It really didn't hurt. It felt exactly like everyone on this board said it would. Like a hot knife rolling across your face.
about 5 hours later, there is a very very faint blue tint on my face. I washed it when i came home and have applied moisturizer to it about three times, well that's after i woke up from my 4 hour nap, those pain killers knocked me out. My face is still puffy and red. I can still see my scars, but my skin texture in the non scared areas looks amazing maybe it was all the goo they put on. Here are my settings, i will re-post tomorrow! Let me know what you all think about my settings, i will be home all day tomorrow and will be so bored!
15 MJ- 125 MTZ/ CM2-- KJ total=7.3