well its about 80 hours since my first fraxel sr1500 @ 30MJ 8-10 passes level 8. Im starting to peel like crazy and the scabs are slowly coming off, i have avoided mosturizers and have only washed my face a 2-3 times in the 80 hours with water. i havent gotten any pimples, but i gotta admit im depressed from being indoors for 3+ days oh well, i have also been taking VitimC/MSM/Omega pills daily and drinking plenty of water.

here is a pic of how it looks on my right side

wow ur peeling like crazy mate. the new skin looks great though.

i don't think a gentle application of some cetaphil cream on the new skin will hurt.

vitamin c is essential in collagen synthesis, keep at it.

Annde, you put me on the spot. I believe that the pigment cells are close to surface, so I think that density/coverage is the biggest factor affecting hyperpigmentation risk, not depth. So, my inclination would be to go to 25 mjs, 125 density, and slightly fewer passes than before over scars. This presumes you have not seen good progress with fraxel to date on scars. If you have, then I would stick with current settings. Also, perhaps you could do 50% of the passes at 20 and the other 50% of passes at 25. That way you are making incremental increases in energy each time so you can evaluate hyper risk against efficacy. Making incremental jumps until you hit the maximum safety point seems wise. It seems like your settings have been relatively static. 14-17 mjs is fine for nonscarred areas to get an even look.

I can't really say for sure that you will get a way better result from SR 1500, but that seems to be the case intuitively. I asked to be treated at 40mjs, level 10 as that is high and I have easily tolerated the fraxel 1 procedures so far. However, the Fraxel nurse/rep seemed to think my scarring did not justiy level 10 coverage and used level 8. I recall her saying to my doc that Reliant was internally debating whether to advise docs to simply treat at 40 and vary the coverage level depending on the severity of the problem. This runs counter to the treatment protocols Relaint has put out so I may have misunderstood. That said, for acne scars I would go to 40 on the SR 1500, perhaps at level 6 or so if worried about hyper. There is certainly many people using these settings on these boards and I have seen no reported problems.

Again, I am an expert only to the extent of my own experience and from reading these boards, which is really not very expert. Perhaps Troubled Skin can weigh in.

Billyboy, L and Troubled Skin-

I have posted pictures of myself that best show my olive skin tone. Perhaps this will help with the setting suggestions advice for both Fraxel laser types. I appreciate your advice here and realize that most of us are not medical professionals. It just helps to get as much feedback as possible.

Here are two pictures that I believe show my skin tone fairly well.

I will definitely take into consideration all of you suggestions.

Annde

me1.bmp

me1.bmp

Aside from being drop dead gorgeous, I did not notice anything else.

well its about 80 hours since my first fraxel sr1500 @ 30MJ 8-10 passes level 8. Im starting to peel like crazy and the scabs are slowly coming off, i have avoided mosturizers and have only washed my face a 2-3 times in the 80 hours with water. i havent gotten any pimples, but i gotta admit im depressed from being indoors for 3+ days oh well, i have also been taking VitimC/MSM/Omega pills daily and drinking plenty of water.

here is a pic of how it looks on my right side

I think you might feel much better hoping in the shower and using a mild soap and getting some of the flaking off. That is the hardest part, being stuck in the house while waiting for the initial swelling and flaking to get under control. I found the aquafor too heavy and I was getting a little acne, so I switched to eucerin cream and it was soothing and more tolerable.

Has anyone tried fraxel on their neck,chest or hands? Also, has anyone had it done on upper eyelids or up to the lash line under the eyes?

Aside from being drop dead gorgeous, I did not notice anything else.

Thanks Billyboy :angel:

Billyboy, L and Troubled Skin-

I have posted pictures of myself that best show my olive skin tone. Perhaps this will help with the setting suggestions advice for both Fraxel laser types. I appreciate your advice here and realize that most of us are not medical professionals. It just helps to get as much feedback as possible.

Here are two pictures that I believe show my skin tone fairly well.

I will definitely take into consideration all of you suggestions.

Annde

you have type III skin (tone)

Billyboy, L and Troubled Skin-

I have posted pictures of myself that best show my olive skin tone. Perhaps this will help with the setting suggestions advice for both Fraxel laser types. I appreciate your advice here and realize that most of us are not medical professionals. It just helps to get as much feedback as possible.

Here are two pictures that I believe show my skin tone fairly well.

I will definitely take into consideration all of you suggestions.

Annde

you have type III skin (tone)

 

Thanks Theycanbecured,

What does this mean? Do I need to

really be careful the te levels.

Anne

Billyboy, L and Troubled Skin-

I have posted pictures of myself that best show my olive skin tone. Perhaps this will help with the setting suggestions advice for both Fraxel laser types. I appreciate your advice here and realize that most of us are not medical professionals. It just helps to get as much feedback as possible.

Here are two pictures that I believe show my skin tone fairly well.

I will definitely take into consideration all of you suggestions.

Annde

you have type III skin (tone)

 

Thanks Theycanbecured,

What does this mean? Do I need to

really be careful the te levels.

Anne

 

If you can, I would try to find someone who does the fraxel 2. If you combine that w/ a few week preparation of hydroquinone, the likelihood that you'll hyperpigment is quite low. Even so, though, hyperpigmentation is temporary and treatable, so I'd rather get PIH and get better resolution on my scars than vice versa...

It is now 72 hours post-treatment for me. My right side, the side that got 20/6, is peeling like I had a bad sunburn. My left side (40/6) is still has the tiny scabs and is peeling just a little. My microswelling continues to diminish and my scars are coming back. I'm having a very minor breakout -- three tiny pimples that are barely pink) and a whitehead that had been around for a few months is slightly inflamed (don't know if this is because of fraxel or just a coincidence).

My skin definitely feels much healthier. Before fraxel, my face was always itchy and I always felt like I was about to breakout. Now, I feel like I did about a year ago, before I had any of my problems.

As far as my active acne, every single pimple has shrunk, but has not gone away yet. I expect, in a week, I should be pretty much clear.

Billyboy, L and Troubled Skin-

I have posted pictures of myself that best show my olive skin tone. Perhaps this will help with the setting suggestions advice for both Fraxel laser types. I appreciate your advice here and realize that most of us are not medical professionals. It just helps to get as much feedback as possible.

Here are two pictures that I believe show my skin tone fairly well.

I will definitely take into consideration all of you suggestions.

Annde

you have type III skin (tone)

 

Thanks Theycanbecured,

What does this mean? Do I need to

really be careful the te levels.

Anne

 

If you can, I would try to find someone who does the fraxel 2. If you combine that w/ a few week preparation of hydroquinone, the likelihood that you'll hyperpigment is quite low. Even so, though, hyperpigmentation is temporary and treatable, so I'd rather get PIH and get better resolution on my scars than the latter...

 

Thanks, what do you mean by PIH? Is that short for prepping with hydorquinine?

Also, how high do the skin level numbers go on the scale, just curious.

Billyboy, L and Troubled Skin-

I have posted pictures of myself that best show my olive skin tone. Perhaps this will help with the setting suggestions advice for both Fraxel laser types. I appreciate your advice here and realize that most of us are not medical professionals. It just helps to get as much feedback as possible.

Here are two pictures that I believe show my skin tone fairly well.

I will definitely take into consideration all of you suggestions.

Annde

you have type III skin (tone)

 

Thanks Theycanbecured,

What does this mean? Do I need to

really be careful the te levels.

Anne

 

If you can, I would try to find someone who does the fraxel 2. If you combine that w/ a few week preparation of hydroquinone, the likelihood that you'll hyperpigment is quite low. Even so, though, hyperpigmentation is temporary and treatable, so I'd rather get PIH and get better resolution on my scars than the latter...

 

Thanks, what do you mean by PIH? Is that short for prepping with hydorquinine?

Also, how high do the skin level numbers go on the scale, just curious.

 

PIH is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentaion.

The skin numbers go from I-VI. It's called the Fitzpatrick skin type. If you google it, there will be plenty of sites that describe it and some sites that have a short questionnaire you can fill out to determine your skin type. I can tell you that my skin type is slightly lighter than yours and I am a III/IV.

Billyboy, L and Troubled Skin-

I have posted pictures of myself that best show my olive skin tone. Perhaps this will help with the setting suggestions advice for both Fraxel laser types. I appreciate your advice here and realize that most of us are not medical professionals. It just helps to get as much feedback as possible.

Here are two pictures that I believe show my skin tone fairly well.

I will definitely take into consideration all of you suggestions.

Annde

you have type III skin (tone)

 

Thanks Theycanbecured,

What does this mean? Do I need to

really be careful the te levels.

Anne

 

If you can, I would try to find someone who does the fraxel 2. If you combine that w/ a few week preparation of hydroquinone, the likelihood that you'll hyperpigment is quite low. Even so, though, hyperpigmentation is temporary and treatable, so I'd rather get PIH and get better resolution on my scars than the latter...

 

Thanks, what do you mean by PIH? Is that short for prepping with hydorquinine?

Also, how high do the skin level numbers go on the scale, just curious.

 

Hi Annde,

I second Billyboy's advice about treatment settings and wouldn't be too concerned about hyperpigmentation issues with your skin tone. The risk with Fraxel is among the lowest of all lasers even for Fitzpatrick VI and asian skin. Aside from post Fraxel breakouts it seems that you have tolerated your treatments well. I see no reason why your doctor shouldn't be willing to take your treatments to the next level.

Billyboy, L and Troubled Skin-

I have posted pictures of myself that best show my olive skin tone. Perhaps this will help with the setting suggestions advice for both Fraxel laser types. I appreciate your advice here and realize that most of us are not medical professionals. It just helps to get as much feedback as possible.

Here are two pictures that I believe show my skin tone fairly well.

I will definitely take into consideration all of you suggestions.

Annde

you have type III skin (tone)

 

Thanks Theycanbecured,

What does this mean? Do I need to

really be careful the te levels.

Anne

 

If you can, I would try to find someone who does the fraxel 2. If you combine that w/ a few week preparation of hydroquinone, the likelihood that you'll hyperpigment is quite low. Even so, though, hyperpigmentation is temporary and treatable, so I'd rather get PIH and get better resolution on my scars than the latter...

 

Thanks, what do you mean by PIH? Is that short for prepping with hydorquinine?

Also, how high do the skin level numbers go on the scale, just curious.

 

Hi Annde,

I second Billyboy's advice about treatment settings and wouldn't be too concerned about hyperpigmentation issues with your skin tone. The risk with Fraxel is among the lowest of all lasers even for Fitzpatrick VI and asian skin. Aside from post Fraxel breakouts it seems that you have tolerated your treatments well. I see no reason why your doctor shouldn't be willing to take your treatments to the next level.

 

Thanks Troubled ~

Thank you. It is always a pleasure to see photos of pretty ladies.

As to Fitzpatrick II, I always thought I was type II because I am blond/blue, but I have very tan skin. When I saw Dr. Y for consult he thought I was more of a III, with olive skin. Anyway, I have had no pigment problems. Good luck.

Aside from being drop dead gorgeous, I did not notice anything else.

Thanks Billyboy

Billyboy, L and Troubled Skin-

I have posted pictures of myself that best show my olive skin tone. Perhaps this will help with the setting suggestions advice for both Fraxel laser types. I appreciate your advice here and realize that most of us are not medical professionals. It just helps to get as much feedback as possible.

Here are two pictures that I believe show my skin tone fairly well.

I will definitely take into consideration all of you suggestions.

Annde

I don't see any acne scarring in these pics at all. If I looked half as good as you do I would be very happy.

I think I need to go for something more dramatic (dermabrasion I guess) if this is the problems that are being treated by Fraxel. My skin is a million times worse then yours. Why did I do Fraxel again???

Billyboy, L and Troubled Skin-

I have posted pictures of myself that best show my olive skin tone. Perhaps this will help with the setting suggestions advice for both Fraxel laser types. I appreciate your advice here and realize that most of us are not medical professionals. It just helps to get as much feedback as possible.

Here are two pictures that I believe show my skin tone fairly well.

I will definitely take into consideration all of you suggestions.

Annde

you have type III skin (tone)

 

Just to chime in, there is a questionnaire that you can take that will indicate which skin type you are. It has to do with how quickly you burn/tan and how your skin responds to certain factors, as well as your coloring. I am half asian half Portuguese with brown hair and brown eyes. I assumed I'd be a III, but after taking the questionnaire, turns out I'm a Type II. You might be able to find it if you google it...

Thanks Zonk, ChrissyC Billyboy, Troubled and jjp007, your thoughts here and advice help a lot.

jjp, don't feel that way. These treatments have to be making a difference in your skin. Keep moving forward and know what you are doing to improve yourself is not in vain.

It is difficult to tell from the picture posted, as it isn't a close-up, that I have scars. I just thought it was a good shot that accurately shows my skin color/tone. While my scars, to many, are mild, they are very bothersome to me.

Annde

I had my first Fraxel treatment today. Or at least I thought I did. Cause after looking up what was written on the side of the machine (which is Palomar LUX1540 Fractional) I'm not so sure anymore. Now I'm reading this isn't the real thing. Is it true that this laser is less effective? Or is reliant just criticising its competition?

Its strange cause when I went there for consultation they told me about the Fraxel laser using the OptiGuide Blue cream like the "real" Fraxel. And I also found there address on the www.fraxel.com site. They just got the new machine (LUX1540). And at the time of my consultation they didn't have this laser yet. So I guess they did have the "real" Fraxel laser but now they use the Palomar laser. But I still payed the same price.

So my question is did I get fooled? Or is this laser really better or just as good as the "real" thing?

My derm is a well known bitter trained doctor and a hardvard graduate so I would think she knows what is best but the things I read on this forum about Palomar concern me.

I had my first Fraxel treatment today. Or at least I thought I did. Cause after looking up what was written on the side of the machine (which is Palomar LUX1540 Fractional) I'm not so sure anymore. Now I'm reading this isn't the real thing. Is it true that this laser is less effective? Or is reliant just criticising its competition?

Its strange cause when I went there for consultation they told me about the Fraxel laser using the OptiGuide Blue cream like the "real" Fraxel. And I also found there address on the www.fraxel.com site. They just got the new machine (LUX1540). And at the time of my consultation they didn't have this laser yet. So I guess they did have the "real" Fraxel laser but now they use the Palomar laser. But I still payed the same price.

So my question is did I get fooled? Or is this laser really better or just as good as the "real" thing?

My derm is a well known bitter trained doctor and a hardvard graduate so I would think she knows what is best but the things I read on this forum about Palomar concern me.

It is definitely not the fraxel. I don't think anyone knows which one is more effective.

I had my first Fraxel treatment today. Or at least I thought I did. Cause after looking up what was written on the side of the machine (which is Palomar LUX1540 Fractional) I'm not so sure anymore. Now I'm reading this isn't the real thing. Is it true that this laser is less effective? Or is reliant just criticising its competition?

Its strange cause when I went there for consultation they told me about the Fraxel laser using the OptiGuide Blue cream like the "real" Fraxel. And I also found there address on the www.fraxel.com site. They just got the new machine (LUX1540). And at the time of my consultation they didn't have this laser yet. So I guess they did have the "real" Fraxel laser but now they use the Palomar laser. But I still payed the same price.

So my question is did I get fooled? Or is this laser really better or just as good as the "real" thing?

My derm is a well known bitter trained doctor and a hardvard graduate so I would think she knows what is best but the things I read on this forum about Palomar concern me.

In September, my doctor did the same thing to me. I thought I was getting my 2nd round of Fraxel with him, but he had changed to the Palomar and didn't tell me about it. I went through 2 treatments before I found out. I was questioning it because I was getting a lot of pin point bleeding on my face, which I didn't have with the Fraxel. Someone on this board informed me my doctor probably wasn't using the real thing anymore. When I questioned him about it, he admitted it was the Palomar, but said it was just as good. I proceeded to get my money back, and changed doctors.

In September, my doctor did the same thing to me. I thought I was getting my 2nd round of Fraxel with him, but he had changed to the Palomar and didn't tell me about it. I went through 2 treatments before I found out. I was questioning it because I was getting a lot of pin point bleeding on my face, which I didn't have with the Fraxel. Someone on this board informed me my doctor probably wasn't using the real thing anymore. When I questioned him about it, he admitted it was the Palomar, but said it was just as good. I proceeded to get my money back, and changed doctors.

Hi #1clubsfan. Thnx for your response. I read your story about the Palomar laser. Even though it gave you pin point bleeding do you think the Palomar laser was effective? I had the laser about 9 hours ago and my face is just a bit swollen and red but nothing shocking. I don't have any pin point bleeding at all. I only had my cheeks done and the setting she used was 40mj (I have no idea how many passes). I have rolling scars, scared pores and discoloration because of a C02 laser spot treatment :rolleyes: (a year after a full face C02 resurfacing).

I read the pdf where the Palomar gets compared to the SR1500 SR1...white-paper.pdf . But this comparisement was done by reliant, so the bad palomar results aren't very surprising.

Anyway I will definitely confront her with this (although she probably has me convinced that this laser is better within minutes right now). And I will post my progress/results here.

In September, my doctor did the same thing to me. I thought I was getting my 2nd round of Fraxel with him, but he had changed to the Palomar and didn't tell me about it. I went through 2 treatments before I found out. I was questioning it because I was getting a lot of pin point bleeding on my face, which I didn't have with the Fraxel. Someone on this board informed me my doctor probably wasn't using the real thing anymore. When I questioned him about it, he admitted it was the Palomar, but said it was just as good. I proceeded to get my money back, and changed doctors.

Hi #1clubsfan. Thnx for your response. I read your story about the Palomar laser. Even though it gave you pin point bleeding do you think the Palomar laser was effective? I had the laser about 9 hours ago and my face is just a bit swollen and red but nothing shocking. I don't have any pin point bleeding at all. I only had my cheeks done and the setting she used was 40mj (I have no idea how many passes). I have rolling scars, scared pores and discoloration because of a C02 laser spot treatment :rolleyes: (a year after a full face C02 resurfacing).

I read the pdf where the Palomar gets compared to the SR1500 SR1...white-paper.pdf . But this comparisement was done by reliant, so the bad palomar results aren't very surprising.

Anyway I will definitely confront her with this (although she probably has me convinced that this laser is better within minutes right now). And I will post my progress/results here.

 

One thing that you might consider about the Palomar/Fraxel difference...It will be difficult to compare treatment levels w/ other users here because we really don't know what the comparable settings. Personally, I would try to get money back, if only to get a free treatment out of the whole thing. Your doctor was dishonest with you, regardless of whether the laser is better or worse, that's something that your doctor really should have spoken to you about,

In September, my doctor did the same thing to me. I thought I was getting my 2nd round of Fraxel with him, but he had changed to the Palomar and didn't tell me about it. I went through 2 treatments before I found out. I was questioning it because I was getting a lot of pin point bleeding on my face, which I didn't have with the Fraxel. Someone on this board informed me my doctor probably wasn't using the real thing anymore. When I questioned him about it, he admitted it was the Palomar, but said it was just as good. I proceeded to get my money back, and changed doctors.

Hi #1clubsfan. Thnx for your response. I read your story about the Palomar laser. Even though it gave you pin point bleeding do you think the Palomar laser was effective? I had the laser about 9 hours ago and my face is just a bit swollen and red but nothing shocking. I don't have any pin point bleeding at all. I only had my cheeks done and the setting she used was 40mj (I have no idea how many passes). I have rolling scars, scared pores and discoloration because of a C02 laser spot treatment :rolleyes: (a year after a full face C02 resurfacing).

I read the pdf where the Palomar gets compared to the SR1500 SR1...white-paper.pdf . But this comparisement was done by reliant, so the bad palomar results aren't very surprising.

Anyway I will definitely confront her with this (although she probably has me convinced that this laser is better within minutes right now). And I will post my progress/results here.

 

Hi Loginnick,

You wouldn't happen to be in Illinois, would you? There was another doctor that worked with mine, and she was female too. Anyway, I don't know what my settings were from the Palomar. I didn't notice a difference for the first 2 months after the Palomar. In fact, there were a couple of new small scars. But I did notice an improvement after the 3rd month, and the newer scars were gone also. I can't say which laser is better, but in my experience with it, the Palomar just took longer to see positive results. Good luck to you, it probably will help you.