Hey Guys,

I read that people are having breakouts from fraxel. I had terrible breakouts and had to use biafine. It worked well and did not cause any pimples.

Also, post fraxel, my pores are smaller and look better than they have since I was a teenager. The permanent blackheads I had on my nose, surrounding area and chin are gone (I had tried everything to get rid of those with no success). My skin tone and texture is definately better. Bad news is that after the second treatment, only on my forehead, I developed several of those clogged looking pores that are not really pimples. Don't know what they are called. I never had them before and know they had to come from the fraxel. Of course the doc said no way, they are hereditary and it was just a coicidence that I got them after fraxel. This is the first thing she has said that made me question her honesty. What do you guys think?

No, those are milia most likely from the Fraxel especially if you have never had them before. Silly of the doc to say that. I have them now too but I would get them from time to time before but nothing like how many I have now.

Hey Guys,

I read that people are having breakouts from fraxel. I had terrible breakouts and had to use biafine. It worked well and did not cause any pimples.

Also, post fraxel, my pores are smaller and look better than they have since I was a teenager. The permanent blackheads I had on my nose, surrounding area and chin are gone (I had tried everything to get rid of those with no success). My skin tone and texture is definately better. Bad news is that after the second treatment, only on my forehead, I developed several of those clogged looking pores that are not really pimples. Don't know what they are called. I never had them before and know they had to come from the fraxel. Of course the doc said no way, they are hereditary and it was just a coicidence that I got them after fraxel. This is the first thing she has said that made me question her honesty. What do you guys think?

Nanty,

Fraxel leaves a lot of MTZ debris so that is certainly possible. After you have finished with ALL of your Fraxel treatments, I would recommend a trial with Retin A. That should clear up any residual impactions nicely. Also, if you are considering Retin A you should use the Retin A gel (Preferably Retin A Micro) not the cream as Retin A cream contains isopropyl myristate, which is an aggravator of acne and sometimes patients will get worse because the formulation of the Retin A cream. Per Reliant, you should never use Retin A 10-14 days prior to Fraxel as it has been found to interfere with healing post Fraxel and lessen results.

It has been two weeks since my Fraxel, and I have a bit of good news to report. I have a scar that has disappeared, and two more that look like they'll be gone after one more treatment. It has taken 10 treatments to accomplish this!! I can best describe the type of scars they are as boxcar. They look like ice picks, but a little wider. I only have three treatments left, and I've heard that my doctor will have the Fraxel 2 for my next visit in a week. I plan on asking him to go higher on the settings, and do more passes. Who says these scars can't be eliminated eventually?!?

Wow, that's fantastic!! I'm so glad you're seeing some REAL results. I only had the four fraxels, and my improvement is (6 months out) still a little hard to put my finger on. Nothing has disappeared. I think my scars are softer. A lot of them look more like enlarged pores than like scars, but they are still there in all their glory! Keep us posted on your progress!! There's something to be said for stick-to-it-ivness! Good for you!

Cubsfan, I am so happy to hear that you are doing well.

It motivates me to keep pushing forward with my treatments and you provide the

encouragement, via your experience that these will work, albeit with, perhaps, more treatments

than the usual five.

One quick question: would you recommend doing the ten Fraxels consecutively, or would you wait a few months between the first five before moving on to the next five?

Take care,

Annde

Cubsfan, I am so happy to hear that you are doing well.

It motivates me to keep pushing forward with my treatments and you provide the

encouragement, via your experience that these will work, albeit with, perhaps, more treatments

than the usual five.

One quick question: would you recommend doing the ten Fraxels consecutively, or would you wait a few months between the first five before moving on to the next five?

Take care,

Annde

Thanks Chrissy and Annde,

Mr previous doctor recommended waiting at least 6 months in between treatments. I'm glad I did it that way, because I got the summer off! :dance: Also, I'm seeing other small improvements. Unfortunately, it's things that only I notice. I definetely feel that he needs to be more aggressive. This is a new doctor I'm seeing now. I hope I don't have a hard time getting him to go higher on the settings. I'll keep in touch!

It has been two weeks since my Fraxel, and I have a bit of good news to report. I have a scar that has disappeared, and two more that look like they'll be gone after one more treatment. It has taken 10 treatments to accomplish this!! I can best describe the type of scars they are as boxcar. They look like ice picks, but a little wider. I only have three treatments left, and I've heard that my doctor will have the Fraxel 2 for my next visit in a week. I plan on asking him to go higher on the settings, and do more passes. Who says these scars can't be eliminated eventually?!? 😀

So let this be a lesson to all of us. Opt for the economy car next time you go car shopping and spend the savings on ten fraxels. Not even a Bentley is going to make us feel as good as having no scars so why not spend the money on it?

I am so glad to hear about positive results! I have definately had improvements, though subtle. One thing that is strange (maybe not strange, I don't know) is that from a distance, maybe a few feet and more, my scars are not visible. When I walk through the mall now, try on clothes, or catch my face in the mirror, I cannot see my scars unless I am closer, and then BAM, there they are as deep as ever it seems. Don't know if this makes sense, I think I saw something mentioned about this by Billy Boy.

Anyone here with dark skin have success with fraxel?

Congrats Cubs on success an perseverance. Your signature implies 8 fraxels, but your post says 10 - curious as to right #. I have not been lucky enough to see scars disappear but I do see sublte softening. Some scars are so shallow it would seem that fraxel would wipe em clean, but no such luck so far. Maybe I just need to go for more. I was planning on stopping at 8. # 7 is this Wed.

Cubs,

What doctor are you now seeing?

Thanks

Congrats Cubs on success an perseverance. Your signature implies 8 fraxels, but your post says 10 - curious as to right #. I have not been lucky enough to see scars disappear but I do see sublte softening. Some scars are so shallow it would seem that fraxel would wipe em clean, but no such luck so far. Maybe I just need to go for more. I was planning on stopping at 8. # 7 is this Wed.

Thanks for the info, billyboy. I had forgotten to add my 2 Polimar treatments. I updated my signature!

Cubs,

What doctor are you now seeing?

Thanks

I'm seeing Dr. Evan Manolis in Orland Park, Illinois.

Its been 12 days since my 3rd Fraxel treatment. I just get spot treatment on a few pitted and ice-pick scars.

The good news is that my scars are still barely visible. That means: either the micro-swelling is lasting longer than it did for my first two treatments... or, there is collagen remodelling taking place.

The bad news is that this time (unlike my first two treatments), I am getting tons of small little pustules and white-heads around the periphery of the treated areas (and some within the treated areas).

So, my down-time lasted much longer (2 weeks). It was much more embarrassing going to work this time. But, maybe it will all be worth it at the end...

-Ralphie

Ralphe,

I am finding that my microswelling seems to subside much more quicky with each subsequent treatment. Perhaps you are experiencing true collagen rebuilding. That's great.

Also, you might be breaking out from any of the creams they recommend as after treatment.

If there's anything new you're using or if you're applying it more often, that could be why you're

getting some break outs. At least they aren't cysts!

Good luck,

Annde

Ralphe,

I am finding that my microswelling seems to subside much more quicky with each subsequent treatment. Perhaps you are experiencing true collagen rebuilding. That's great.

Also, you might be breaking out from any of the creams they recommend as after treatment.

If there's anything new you're using or if you're applying it more often, that could be why you're

getting some break outs. At least they aren't cysts!

Good luck,

Annde

Are any of the fraxel 2 people having actual breakouts? jjp said he's got milia, which isn't a breakout, per se. i wonder if there's a difference...

I had 3 hypertrohic scars on legs form recent pimples/infections; Raised and hard and red. As experiment, I had fraxel at 25mjs, 4 passes with nose adaptor over 1 and it healed perfectly. The others were still there by next visit, so I had her zap them also. They turned out great. Maybe they would have turned out well with time, but it was remarkable at the difference between the zapped and unzapped lessions by the next visit 1 month later.

Hi all,

After endless diliberation, I scheduled my first 3 fraxels today after talking to my dermatologist. If anyone has any questions they want me to ask, my derm is affiliated with Harvard and did Fraxel clinical trials, so he should be knowledgeable (and the PA who actually does the Fraxels will be even more knowledgeable).

To answer some of the questions people pose about different risks/efficacy:

I'm Chinese with a history of hyperpigmentation from some of my deeper acne lesions. He prescribed me Lustra for use 1 week before, 1 week during/after, 2 weeks off, 1 week on, 1 week during, etc...Either way, they said they'd be very surprised with hyperpigmentation.

For efficacy, I have superficial indents (so superficial, I can't see them without the proper light) on my cheeks, light boxcars right below my temples, scarred pores, and hyperpigmentation. My derm was very clear that they do not claim pore improvement whatsoever (and said neither does Reliant) and would recommend IPL for pores. He said, however, that some people do think they have better pores post-Fraxel. First treatment of Fraxel 2 will be at 40/6. May not need to go any higher. Cost is $1500 full face and $750 partial.

Finally, depending on the person, results may not become apparent until 6 months after the first fraxel.

Hope this helps answer some people's questions.

 

Hi everyone,

I had a dermatologist appt today and there were advertisements hung in the office for fraxel from the company itself that makes fraxel. One poster stated something to the extent that fraxel improves

"PORES, texture, and ...." I forgot the rest. Maybe this is a new advertisement but reliant is claiming that fraxel improves pores.

Congrats Cubs on success an perseverance. Your signature implies 8 fraxels, but your post says 10 - curious as to right #. I have not been lucky enough to see scars disappear but I do see sublte softening. Some scars are so shallow it would seem that fraxel would wipe em clean, but no such luck so far. Maybe I just need to go for more. I was planning on stopping at 8. # 7 is this Wed.

BB, you should try fraxel 2 or the more ablative one maybe. Why still doing fraxel 1?

I had 3 hypertrohic scars on legs form recent pimples/infections; Raised and hard and red. As experiment, I had fraxel at 25mjs, 4 passes with nose adaptor over 1 and it healed perfectly. The others were still there by next visit, so I had her zap them also. They turned out great. Maybe they would have turned out well with time, but it was remarkable at the difference between the zapped and unzapped lessions by the next visit 1 month later.

Hi all,

After endless diliberation, I scheduled my first 3 fraxels today after talking to my dermatologist. If anyone has any questions they want me to ask, my derm is affiliated with Harvard and did Fraxel clinical trials, so he should be knowledgeable (and the PA who actually does the Fraxels will be even more knowledgeable).

To answer some of the questions people pose about different risks/efficacy:

I'm Chinese with a history of hyperpigmentation from some of my deeper acne lesions. He prescribed me Lustra for use 1 week before, 1 week during/after, 2 weeks off, 1 week on, 1 week during, etc...Either way, they said they'd be very surprised with hyperpigmentation.

For efficacy, I have superficial indents (so superficial, I can't see them without the proper light) on my cheeks, light boxcars right below my temples, scarred pores, and hyperpigmentation. My derm was very clear that they do not claim pore improvement whatsoever (and said neither does Reliant) and would recommend IPL for pores. He said, however, that some people do think they have better pores post-Fraxel. First treatment of Fraxel 2 will be at 40/6. May not need to go any higher. Cost is $1500 full face and $750 partial.

Finally, depending on the person, results may not become apparent until 6 months after the first fraxel.

Hope this helps answer some people's questions.

 

Hi everyone,

I had a dermatologist appt today and there were advertisements hung in the office for fraxel from the company itself that makes fraxel. One poster stated something to the extent that fraxel improves

"PORES, texture, and ...." I forgot the rest. Maybe this is a new advertisement but reliant is claiming that fraxel improves pores.

 

They don't have anything but anecdotal info to back up pore size. It's something most doctors say they see in fraxeled skin, but no studies specifically on it.

some on here say it helps, some say it stayed the same, like two people said it made it worse.

i emailed reliant and they wouldnt comment on it nor if they are researching that specifically with a special fraxel or study. although their website does site pores are "under investigation."

IPL is a waste of time and money. it made my skin much worse. dont do it. everything that ipl works on (pigment, rejuvenation, telangiecstasia, capillaries) can all be treated better by fraxel, and you may get some pore improvement as a side effect.

I am so glad to hear about positive results! I have definately had improvements, though subtle. One thing that is strange (maybe not strange, I don't know) is that from a distance, maybe a few feet and more, my scars are not visible. When I walk through the mall now, try on clothes, or catch my face in the mirror, I cannot see my scars unless I am closer, and then BAM, there they are as deep as ever it seems. Don't know if this makes sense, I think I saw something mentioned about this by Billy Boy.

this is why i think people need to take BEFORE photos in a bunch of different light,angles,distances. otherwise you forget the depth and it becomes impossible to gauge improvement.

billyboy did mention this. fraxel works like filling up a pothole with a handful of sand at a time. a treatment series is like one shovel full. the hole still looks just as defined and has depth even though it might be 50 percent filled up.

i think the problem is also how critical we are. everyone go to fraxel.com and really look at the pictures.

if you really look at them you can see where some doctors are getting their 50 percent figures from. the people look about half as bad as they did. i'd say its more like 30-40 percent, but i can see how a doctor would say 50 percent.

but i can also see how that patient would look at their pictures and say its only 10 percent or nothing because they "can still see all their scars."

Ralphe,

I am finding that my microswelling seems to subside much more quicky with each subsequent treatment. Perhaps you are experiencing true collagen rebuilding. That's great.

Also, you might be breaking out from any of the creams they recommend as after treatment.

If there's anything new you're using or if you're applying it more often, that could be why you're

getting some break outs. At least they aren't cysts!

Good luck,

Annde

Are any of the fraxel 2 people having actual breakouts? jjp said he's got milia, which isn't a breakout, per se. i wonder if there's a difference...

 

I'm a she 😉 and yes I have gotten milia and small white heads after my Fraxel treatments. I hardly broke out before. I'm now using a combination of Fincea, Klaron and Differn once or twice a week. The Finacea and the Klaron seem to be helping with the breakouts.

They can be cured

I'm sticking with SR 750 for cost and continuity reasons. Plus, I prepaid for 2 more.

It has been fantastic for pigment, rejuvenation, telangiecstasia, but not very good for scarring. All in all, it has been worthwhile so far, but I am disappointed by mild improvement in depressed scarring. I was expecting much more improvement.

I am going to call a long time out when I am done, but plan to moniitor posts for fillers and efficacy of the newer fraxels.

Got lucky today. I'm as excited as I've been since first fraxel, but I will try to be objective now and in later posts.

A Reliant rep/training nurse did my treatment with SR 1500. She mentioned that an upgrade will soon eliminate need for blue due (no biggie for me) and that a new machine will soon be released that goes to 70 mjs. She was awesome.

My doc has resisted buying the 1500 because Dr Tina Alster said at an ASDS meeting that she saw no clinical difference, so I am his guinea pig for him making a buy decision and he wants me to report what differences I notice, which I am happy to do. So far, I notice that it is way less painful and I have less burning and swelling. Before, I would shake and grit my teeth with SR 750 and I would have to wait after treatment for 1 hour with Zimmer cooling before I felt ready to drive 70 miles home. Today, I left right away. The total energy per my sig is way down even though she went into my neck and she did extra passes at my request on 2 areas on my left cheek. This is not huge for me as I can tolerate pain, but it is nicer. Also, the SR 1500 enables faster treatment.

I asked rep what differences they see in efficacy between machines, noting my disappointment with scarring efficacy of SR 750 (say 15-20% so far), while noting how happy I am with rejuvenation. She said that SR 1500 is way better for acne scars because of deeper dermal remodeling (1160 microns) at 40 and that they use a rule of thumb of 50% improvment for a treamtnet series. I really think she was being honest about this.

She said my scars are shallow, except for the depression from a failed excision, and that fraxel is a god treatment for someone like me with shallow depth but moderate quantity. Normaly, they would not treat me this high, but did so at my request becasue I have tolerated previous treatments jsut fine, and have lighter but tan skin (ie., nondark).

I am really hopeful that this machine will amke the difference I have been seeking.

Has anyone else been treated by both machines? If so, have you noticed an improved efficacy?

Ralphe,

I am finding that my microswelling seems to subside much more quicky with each subsequent treatment. Perhaps you are experiencing true collagen rebuilding. That's great.

Also, you might be breaking out from any of the creams they recommend as after treatment.

If there's anything new you're using or if you're applying it more often, that could be why you're

getting some break outs. At least they aren't cysts!

Good luck,

Annde

Are any of the fraxel 2 people having actual breakouts? jjp said he's got milia, which isn't a breakout, per se. i wonder if there's a difference...

 

I'm a she 😉 and yes I have gotten milia and small white heads after my Fraxel treatments. I hardly broke out before. I'm now using a combination of Fincea, Klaron and Differn once or twice a week. The Finacea and the Klaron seem to be helping with the breakouts.

I was getting giant cystic type acne all around my mouth and nose from the creams they gave me. When I switched to the Biafine the problem stopped. I also went on minocycline as recommended by members of this forum just to be safe and no more pimples. The things on my forehead look like little clogged pores, but no blackheads. Are those milia?