Acne.org Products
Nope. I never asked him about using topicals at the same time...But, using this 0.25% tretinoin cream every other day seems to really augment the effects of Fraxel.
-Ralphie
I have my first fraxel this friday. I will ask them what they think.
You really shouldn't be using any type of retinol cream during fraxel. I'm surprised your Dr. didn't advise you of this. Avoid any benzoil peroxide and alpha hydroxy acids as well.
of course my doctor told me not to use retinoids, but we're talking 12 days post-fraxel, which is well outside the bad range.
I think you mistook my response as being directed at you... it wasn't. Either way, I was using a retinol cream at night and I stopped that completely after Fraxel. My skin reacts strongly to the fraxel getting very red for an extended time.
I was told by 2 separate practitioners (nurses performing the procedure) to stop the topicals altogether. I have heard of people starting their regimen 14 days after their last fraxel but in between treatments, I just don't see the logic.. I guess it all depends on what your skin can tolerate. But for me, applying the retinol cream for a tiny window of say a week at best in between treatments just isn't worth it.. so i'm gonna suspend the creams altogether.
If you are breaking out during fraxel, I think antibiotics are your best bet.
I went out to dinner 3 days with friends after last fraxel. I think each reaction to succesive treatments tends to be less severe. Plus, this last one also had fewer KJs. Anyway, my skin is bronze and looks great but I still have my scars. Unfortunately, I know it will regress a bit as it tends to look best at week 1.
I don't have the best pre pictures to match with post (becasue these closeups were taken outside where it is hard to replicate the lighting and angle by my youngest daughter), but I am confident (as if my wife) that my scarring is better, but way less than 50%. Let's say 20% improvement. Does anyone think they have noticed a material difference between SR 750 and 1500 as to efficacy. It is too early to tell for me, but perhaps others have feelings on this.
I went out to dinner 3 days with friends after last fraxel. I think each reaction to succesive treatments tends to be less severe. Plus, this last one also had fewer KJs. Anyway, my skin is bronze and looks great but I still have my scars. Unfortunately, I know it will regress a bit as it tends to look best at week 1.I don't have the best pre pictures to match with post (becasue these closeups were taken outside where it is hard to replicate the lighting and angle by my youngest daughter), but I am confident (as if my wife) that my scarring is better, but way less than 50%. Let's say 20% improvement. Does anyone think they have noticed a material difference between SR 750 and 1500 as to efficacy. It is too early to tell for me, but perhaps others have feelings on this.
what type of scars do you feel responded the best and the worst?
Best responding scars are shallow rolling. I think my pores look better too. I can detect no real improvement to 3 incision scars (probably need filler) and to a few deeper scars. I also have several small, shallow scared pores which don't seem to respond very well even though shallow. But, myabe SR 1500 will make a difference on these.
Best responding scars are shallow rolling. I think my pores look better too. I can detect no real improvement to 3 incision scars (probably need filler) and to a few deeper scars. I also have several small, shallow scared pores which don't seem to respond very well even though shallow. But, myabe SR 1500 will make a difference on these.
How much improvement would you guess for the rolling? The incision scars -- did you mean excision?
My doctor says I should wait 2 weeks before getting another Fraxel. I was supposed to go this week. At least I'm grateful I didn't get it on my face. Anybody else ever get this? Yes, i meant to say excisions, but there was an incision. Well, I would say I have gotten close to 50% on superficial scars.
I had shingles about 15 years ago. Getting on valtrex or acyclovir right away will reduce severity. Looks really nasty on the affected side for several weeks. It is supposed to be painful, but I never really felt it as my spine pain sang louder
i didnt have time to read all 179 pages of this thread but soo far i think fraxel laser might work for me. i live in orange county california and i was wondering if any knew a place around here that offer this laser? and at what price? I only need treatment on my checks and maybe areas near the ear. i was wonder how much would that go for?
thanks
Yes, i meant to say excisions, but there was an incision. Well, I would say I have gotten close to 50% on superficial scars.I had shingles about 15 years ago. Getting on valtrex or acyclovir right away will reduce severity. Looks really nasty on the affected side for several weeks. It is supposed to be painful, but I never really felt it as my spine pain sang louder
speaking of viruses. do they sterilize the fraxel tips? im sure they are using it on people one right after the other . . .
Best responding scars are shallow rolling. I think my pores look better too. I can detect no real improvement to 3 incision scars (probably need filler) and to a few deeper scars. I also have several small, shallow scared pores which don't seem to respond very well even though shallow. But, myabe SR 1500 will make a difference on these.
A month and a week after my 5th Fraxel I found this to be true as well but I have no excision/incision type scars but everything Billyboy said is how it has worked for my scars too.
just saw the 2 features listed for sr1500 from the reliant homepage:
1) eliminates the requirement for blue dye
2) FDA cleared to for 70mj
well i took the plunge had my first fraxel sr1500 laser today in canada.
since this was my first we decided to go with level 8, 30-35mj 8passes, and i think it was 6.9kj in the end i believe can anyone make sense of some of these numbers and tell me if im on the right path? next time its gonna be level 10 and 40mj for sure.
For those wondering about the Palomar and Fraxel 2, I stumbled across this paper:
http://www.hypatiaclinic.com/downloads/SR1...white-paper.pdf
OKAY, I'M VERY CONFUSED NOW...
HOW MANY TYPES OF FRAXEL LASER ARE THERE?
I KNOW THERE WAS THE ORIGINAL FRAXEL SR.
THEN THE FRAXEL SR1500 - ALSO KNOWN AS FRAXEL 2
NOW I'VE READ ABOUT ANOTHER FRAXEL LASER THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE BLUE DYE AND HAS A MAX SETTING OF 7OMJ!
SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN!
CHEERS
MARKS
OKAY, I'M VERY CONFUSED NOW...HOW MANY TYPES OF FRAXEL LASER ARE THERE?
I KNOW THERE WAS THE ORIGINAL FRAXEL SR.
THEN THE FRAXEL SR1500 - ALSO KNOWN AS FRAXEL 2
NOW I'VE READ ABOUT ANOTHER FRAXEL LASER THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE BLUE DYE AND HAS A MAX SETTING OF 7OMJ!
SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN!
CHEERS
MARKS
Fraxel SR750 = Fraxel 1
Fraxel SR1500 = Fraxel 2 and includes an updated tip that doesn't require a dye and max 70MJ setting
For those wondering about the Palomar and Fraxel 2, I stumbled across this paper:http://www.hypatiaclinic.com/downloads/SR1...white-paper.pdf
But do they show any data on the Fraxel I vs the Palomar Lux 1540. No because I am sure the Lux 1540 outperforms he original Fraxel.
Hey everyone,
I just had my first fraxel today (I'm about 2 hour post-treatment). My next fraxel will be in 2 months, because my derm is going to be doing excisions in 4 weeks, after my skin has fully recovered. I will try to give regular updates on my progress over the next few weeks. Maybe I'm being optimistic, but I have a feeling that I will have a very positive perspective on the process, and hopefully, the results.
So here is a quick log of how things went today:
9:00: Arrive and sign forms and pay for the treatment -- $750 for cheeks only
9:10: Called in and placed into fraxel room. Nurse takes picture of both cheeks and tells me I don't need fraxel (which, ironically, is one of the main reasons why I am doing fraxel -- I am expecting an excellent response due to the shallowness of my scars).
9:15: Physician's assistant, the person who does the actual procedure, comes in, and we discuss excisions and settings. We settle on 40/6 for my left cheek (where all my scarring is) and 20/6 on my right side for general rejuvenation and very minor scars. We both want to get more aggressive on my right side as well, because I have some superficial saucer scars that don't bother me at all, and we are both curious as to how those scars will respond. We're kind of doing a little experiment on my skin.
9:30: Topical lidocaine goes on, and I am bored for an hour.
10:20: PA and derm come in to discuss excisions some more. Derm doesn't want to do excisions until 4 weeks post-fraxel. Also makes a side comment to the PA that he thinks I will respond very well to fraxel.
10:30: Blue dye goes on with aquaphor over it (PA says it helps the tip glide better) and treatment starts.
The treatment itself surprised me. The PA handled the laser and a nurse handled the Zimmer. Overall, I would say the pain was a lot less than I expected from reports on this board. Maybe it's because I have a high pain threshold, maybe it's the slightly lower settings, maybe it's the Zimmer, or maybe it's the fraxel 2 but I didn't find myself gritting my teeth or bracing myself at all. Interestingly, my right cheek, that got the lower setting, actually hurt more than my left cheek. The PA did 1 horizontal and 1 vertical pass per side and would then switch sides. She covered both cheeks twice, for a total of 2 horizontal and 2 vertical passes per side. I don't know if this counts as 2 or 4 total passes -- does anyone know?
10:45: Blue dye got washed off w/ a Reliant-sold blue dye wash. My face is not blue at all, and only some of my pitted scars retained some of the blue. The PA applied some sunscreen, gave me some ice packs and biafine and sent me on my way.
At this point, I've been icing on and off. I'm not noticeably swollen and only a little red. My roommate noticed I was red, but not swollen. Ice definitely makes the windburn feeling better, but the feeling has gradually faded.
My active acne looks a little better after the treatment, and I will report back about that as the days go by.
Not that it is entirely relevant at the moment, but my scars look both better and worse. As expected, my rolling scars are leveled by the swelling, and my pitted scars look like they've been pushed upward and are slightly bigger. Nothing that I can't attribute to swelling, so I am not worried.
OKAY, I'M VERY CONFUSED NOW...HOW MANY TYPES OF FRAXEL LASER ARE THERE?
I KNOW THERE WAS THE ORIGINAL FRAXEL SR.
THEN THE FRAXEL SR1500 - ALSO KNOWN AS FRAXEL 2
NOW I'VE READ ABOUT ANOTHER FRAXEL LASER THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE BLUE DYE AND HAS A MAX SETTING OF 7OMJ!
SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN!
CHEERS
MARKS
Fraxel SR750 = Fraxel 1
Fraxel SR1500 = Fraxel 2 and includes an updated tip that doesn't require a dye and max 70MJ setting
But you had blue dye ZONK? So the dye-less tip another update to fraxel SR1500?
I think the 70 MJ update is not out yet either (except a few places that were in trials).
OKAY, I'M VERY CONFUSED NOW...HOW MANY TYPES OF FRAXEL LASER ARE THERE?
I KNOW THERE WAS THE ORIGINAL FRAXEL SR.
THEN THE FRAXEL SR1500 - ALSO KNOWN AS FRAXEL 2
NOW I'VE READ ABOUT ANOTHER FRAXEL LASER THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE BLUE DYE AND HAS A MAX SETTING OF 7OMJ!
SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN!
CHEERS
MARKS
Fraxel SR750 = Fraxel 1
Fraxel SR1500 = Fraxel 2 and includes an updated tip that doesn't require a dye and max 70MJ setting
But you had blue dye ZONK? So the dye-less tip another update to fraxel SR1500?
I think the 70 MJ update is not out yet either (except a few places that were in trials).
Yes, I had the blue dye. And, yes, the dye-less tip is an update. The PA said they have the tip on order and by the time my next treatment rolls around, they should be doing dyeless treatments.
OKAY, I'M VERY CONFUSED NOW...HOW MANY TYPES OF FRAXEL LASER ARE THERE?
I KNOW THERE WAS THE ORIGINAL FRAXEL SR.
THEN THE FRAXEL SR1500 - ALSO KNOWN AS FRAXEL 2
NOW I'VE READ ABOUT ANOTHER FRAXEL LASER THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE BLUE DYE AND HAS A MAX SETTING OF 7OMJ!
SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN!
CHEERS
MARKS
Fraxel SR750 = Fraxel 1
Fraxel SR1500 = Fraxel 2 and includes an updated tip that doesn't require a dye and max 70MJ setting
But you had blue dye ZONK? So the dye-less tip another update to fraxel SR1500?
I think the 70 MJ update is not out yet either (except a few places that were in trials).
Yes, I had the blue dye. And, yes, the dye-less tip is an update. The PA said they have the tip on order and by the time my next treatment rolls around, they should be doing dyeless treatments.
Zonk, just want to encourage you to try sleeping sitting up. I had virtually no swelling the day of the treatment, so was a little too confident and just slept normally and didn't ice during the day. Noticeably swollen the next couples days, and I think if I had iced and slept upright I might have been a little better off. Anyone else notice if its better to sleep upright, or does it not make that much difference?