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Is it just me or does fraxel sound like a waste of time when dealing with acctual acne scarring?!?!?! It doesn't seem to be doing jack shit for anyones pitted scarring.Yeah. I think if you went only on people's results here you'd have to say it's a failure. In the beginning many of those were on the old Fraxel at lower settings. Does this make a significant difference? I dunno. While not spectacular Floridaguy and AnniefromMiami definitely showed improvement - I would say 25-30%. More recently there have been a reasonable number of positive verbal comments but some could be speaking too soon (microswelling) and no photos to back them up. True results aren't seen for 6 months. My derm says he has seen 40-50% improvement by his colleagues using Fraxel (he doesn't do Fraxel himself and has no reason to lie). Then are the photos published by Reliant. Some show excellent improvement, but can we believe these are real or consistent?
I agree there seems a big discrepancy between claims of 50% improvement and what people report here.
Like I mentioned in another thread, most people are not going to post pics. by definition, people getting fraxel are embarassed by their face, so it seems unlikely that people will post pictures. I know not being able to see pictures is frustrating, but I don't think it's a problem you're going to be able to overcome. At best, ask your derm to show you pictures of their patients.
The other thing to remember is that Fraxel 2 is relatively new. I don't think I've heard too many results yet from people who've had 4-6 treatments w/ Fraxel 2.
Like I mentioned in another thread, most people are not going to post pics. by definition, people getting fraxel are embarassed by their face, so it seems unlikely that people will post pictures. I know not being able to see pictures is frustrating, but I don't think it's a problem you're going to be able to overcome. At best, ask your derm to show you pictures of their patients.The other thing to remember is that Fraxel 2 is relatively new. I don't think I've heard too many results yet from people who've had 4-6 treatments w/ Fraxel 2.
I'm sure most people won't post photos, and they are often inaccurate/misleading too. But some people have posted excellent really helpful photos and I want to commend them and encourage others. They can be a purely anonymous patch of skin. Did your derm show you pics? How did they rate?
I agree too there are indications that Fraxel 2 at the higher settings/densities like you are getting might be the key to more consistent results. I'm basing my decision primarily on my derm's advice, the relatively cheap cost here, and that there seem very few complications. I hope primarily for some smoothing and texture improvement. I don't expect it to fill deep scars.
Is it just me or does fraxel sound like a waste of time when dealing with acctual acne scarring?!?!?! It doesn't seem to be doing jack shit for anyones pitted scarring.Yeah. I think if you went only on people's results here you'd have to say it's a failure. In the beginning many of those were on the old Fraxel at lower settings. Does this make a significant difference? I dunno. While not spectacular Floridaguy and AnniefromMiami definitely showed improvement - I would say 25-30%. More recently there have been a reasonable number of positive verbal comments but some could be speaking too soon (microswelling) and no photos to back them up. True results aren't seen for 6 months. My derm says he has seen 40-50% improvement by his colleagues using Fraxel (he doesn't do Fraxel himself and has no reason to lie). Then are the photos published by Reliant. Some show excellent improvement, but can we believe these are real or consistent?
I agree there seems a big discrepancy between claims of 50% improvement and what people report here.
Like I mentioned in another thread, most people are not going to post pics. by definition, people getting fraxel are embarassed by their face, so it seems unlikely that people will post pictures. I know not being able to see pictures is frustrating, but I don't think it's a problem you're going to be able to overcome. At best, ask your derm to show you pictures of their patients.
The other thing to remember is that Fraxel 2 is relatively new. I don't think I've heard too many results yet from people who've had 4-6 treatments w/ Fraxel 2.
I have posted before and afters from my excisions, but I have found that my improvement from these treatments has not been sufficient enough to show up in a before and after. Ive tried it myself and don't see any difference, and have had others agree with me here. In other words, I am not aware of anything that truly works well enough to come out in a before and after. As far as we all know, that's an impossibility in this day and age. Can't be done and I don't think anyone can prove me wrong here. Stem cell is the only thing that will ever work to make us all happy.
I am also wondering, I noticed many on here who have not noticed drmamatic, or only subtle improvement, only had settings at 20 to 40 mjs. My doc said with the pitting, they are finding they need to go at it invasively with high high settings, like mine was 70 mjs with 7 passes. Has anyone tried this 6 or 7 sessions on depressed scars with these consistently maxed out settings and what was the outcome?
I am also wondering, I noticed many on here who have not noticed drmamatic, or only subtle improvement, only had settings at 20 to 40 mjs. My doc said with the pitting, they are finding they need to go at it invasively with high high settings, like mine was 70 mjs with 7 passes. Has anyone tried this 6 or 7 sessions on depressed scars with these consistently maxed out settings and what was the outcome?
nope.
hey, i've had 7 treatments with fraxel 1 and am scheduled for a fraxel 2 treatment on tuesday. I have seen consistent improvement which has been very subtle, like maybe 7 or 8 percent improvement each time...added up to maybe between 40 to 50 percent improvement, I guess. I mean, it's hard to judge because I look at myself and am maybe thinking I'm half way to where I would like to be... but... at the same time it seems my deepest scars have hardley done anything but I was thinking that fraxel 2 with deeper setting could improve them (which are ice picks btw). What sucks though is that I have a feeling I might be wasting my time and should get them either punched or excised, but I really haven't met a dr. who I would feel comfortable doing this...so, I guess, I will go ahead and have the treatment? I was wondering how many people here have been treated by both lasers or have a lot of knowlege on the differences could tell me whether fraxel 2 might be able to break up deeper ice picks. Also, what do yall think about the time between treatment and how it affects improvement, because I had 6 treatments done 4-6 weeks apart but waited three months to have the last one to let collagen remodel and had the 7th and noticed or seemed like I noticed less improvement.... sorry this is a longer post and I should have my treatments in my signature but I am obsessed with this website enough, lol, but I am also unsure of the exact settings for the first three. anyways, any advise or feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Zonk - what does the texture of your skin look like after Fraxel. I've had 3 tx so far and I think the texture is slightly grainy. Has anybody noticed that as well?Hi Mag.
Has this developed progressively, or are you seeing it only now? How long since your last Fraxel? Maybe you can post your skin type and treatment settings in your signature.
Shymisty's skin seemed to get more grainy and less pigment to me.... http://www.acne.org/messageboard/index.php...i&img=21755
I'm not sure if this lasted.
Hi TabulaRasa,
Thank you for the pictures of Shymisty's, I haven't seen them before. I'm caucasian and my skin type is very similar to Shymisty's - enlarged pores, little oily, shallow scaring. Is the pix on the left before ANY fraxels and the one on the right after the FIRST treatment? Maybe the camera wasn't able to give her justice, but to me her skin actually looks better in the December pix (except maybe the pore size). I don't know my settings but my doc is known for being agressive. I have noticed this slightly grainy texture after my skin peels. I think it's caused by fractional nature of the laser, which may lead to skin uneveness - ablated skin vs not blated skin. Sometimes I just don't know if my skin looks better or worse. The improvement I have no doubt about is the smaller pore size, less oily skin and NO blackheads ANY MORE (hope it lasts)!
I am also wondering, I noticed many on here who have not noticed drmamatic, or only subtle improvement, only had settings at 20 to 40 mjs. My doc said with the pitting, they are finding they need to go at it invasively with high high settings, like mine was 70 mjs with 7 passes. Has anyone tried this 6 or 7 sessions on depressed scars with these consistently maxed out settings and what was the outcome?nope.
Well, I am releagting myself to becoming the guinea pig on this one. I gonna blast these scars until I am bleeding and raw at 70 mjs with like 8 passses.
Out of curiousity, why hasn't anyone tried these settings?
I am also wondering, I noticed many on here who have not noticed drmamatic, or only subtle improvement, only had settings at 20 to 40 mjs. My doc said with the pitting, they are finding they need to go at it invasively with high high settings, like mine was 70 mjs with 7 passes. Has anyone tried this 6 or 7 sessions on depressed scars with these consistently maxed out settings and what was the outcome?nope.
Well, I am releagting myself to becoming the guinea pig on this one. I gonna blast these scars until I am bleeding and raw at 70 mjs with like 8 passses.
Out of curiousity, why hasn't anyone tried these settings?
because they're potentially harmful?
Zonk - what does the texture of your skin look like after Fraxel. I've had 3 tx so far and I think the texture is slightly grainy. Has anybody noticed that as well?Hi Mag.
Has this developed progressively, or are you seeing it only now? How long since your last Fraxel? Maybe you can post your skin type and treatment settings in your signature.
Shymisty's skin seemed to get more grainy and less pigment to me.... http://www.acne.org/messageboard/index.php...i&img=21755
I'm not sure if this lasted.
Hi TabulaRasa,
Thank you for the pictures of Shymisty's, I haven't seen them before. I'm caucasian and my skin type is very similar to Shymisty's - enlarged pores, little oily, shallow scaring. Is the pix on the left before ANY fraxels and the one on the right after the FIRST treatment? Maybe the camera wasn't able to give her justice, but to me her skin actually looks better in the December pix (except maybe the pore size). I don't know my settings but my doc is known for being agressive. I have noticed this slightly grainy texture after my skin peels. I think it's caused by fractional nature of the laser, which may lead to skin uneveness - ablated skin vs not blated skin. Sometimes I just don't know if my skin looks better or worse. The improvement I have no doubt about is the smaller pore size, less oily skin and NO blackheads ANY MORE (hope it lasts)!
She posted her pics earlier in this thread, saying that fraxel made her skin worse.
how about fraxel for pigment issues like hyper pigmentation and melasma how much u think would clear up with 5 treatments 10,20,30 percent? , and i am dark skinned also.please answer my response thnx.
i read a study that showed 95 percent clearance of melasma.
fraxel was made for melasma. thats what it does best. look at the slideshow on www.reliant-tech.com
what about redness due to acne or red marks.
heh seems like nobody wants to respond to this, either cuz they never had problems with red marks or fraxel doesnt really help the problem. oh well.
It didn't help my red marks. They are all still there and I still have to cover them with makeup.
I am also wondering, I noticed many on here who have not noticed drmamatic, or only subtle improvement, only had settings at 20 to 40 mjs. My doc said with the pitting, they are finding they need to go at it invasively with high high settings, like mine was 70 mjs with 7 passes. Has anyone tried this 6 or 7 sessions on depressed scars with these consistently maxed out settings and what was the outcome?
wow. good luck dear! please let us know how you do. 70 mj is the max!
Is it just me or does fraxel sound like a waste of time when dealing with acctual acne scarring?!?!?! It doesn't seem to be doing jack shit for anyones pitted scarring.Yeah. I think if you went only on people's results here you'd have to say it's a failure. In the beginning many of those were on the old Fraxel at lower settings. Does this make a significant difference? I dunno. While not spectacular Floridaguy and AnniefromMiami definitely showed improvement - I would say 25-30%. More recently there have been a reasonable number of positive verbal comments but some could be speaking too soon (microswelling) and no photos to back them up. True results aren't seen for 6 months. My derm says he has seen 40-50% improvement by his colleagues using Fraxel (he doesn't do Fraxel himself and has no reason to lie). Then are the photos published by Reliant. Some show excellent improvement, but can we believe these are real or consistent?
I agree there seems a big discrepancy between claims of 50% improvement and what people report here.
Like I mentioned in another thread, most people are not going to post pics. by definition, people getting fraxel are embarassed by their face, so it seems unlikely that people will post pictures. I know not being able to see pictures is frustrating, but I don't think it's a problem you're going to be able to overcome. At best, ask your derm to show you pictures of their patients.
The other thing to remember is that Fraxel 2 is relatively new. I don't think I've heard too many results yet from people who've had 4-6 treatments w/ Fraxel 2.
I have posted before and afters from my excisions, but I have found that my improvement from these treatments has not been sufficient enough to show up in a before and after. Ive tried it myself and don't see any difference, and have had others agree with me here. In other words, I am not aware of anything that truly works well enough to come out in a before and after. As far as we all know, that's an impossibility in this day and age. Can't be done and I don't think anyone can prove me wrong here. Stem cell is the only thing that will ever work to make us all happy.
i think the whole 50-60% improvement (reported by reliant) vs. the 10-30% (reported on acne.org) is really the same amount of improvement. we are just harsher critics. if you look at the fraxel slideshow with a less critical eye, it's easy to see how a doctor would rate those improvements as 75% but most of us would say 30%. it's a matter of being emotionally involved . . .
Zonk - what does the texture of your skin look like after Fraxel. I've had 3 tx so far and I think the texture is slightly grainy. Has anybody noticed that as well?
Tabs - thanks for that info, ill touch base with them.. my next frax is on the 13th of next month.....i have a feeling the time between is going to fly by.
Unfortunatly for 25 of the time ill be red!
The treatment level is important as well. I have very superficial scarring, and you can see that my derm started out very aggressively w/ the MJ settings and less aggressively on the treatment level. If your scars are shallow, you may not need 40 MJ, but make sure the treatment level is at least 8. At least one of the two should be aggressive, in my opinion.
it's been 4 days post first fraxel.without having to read over 200 pages i would like to find out when does the sandpaper texture feeling go away? i just had my forehead done with some swelling and redness but nothing i couldn't handle. and went to work the next day.
this texture is driving crazy.
anybody please help
about a week.
the grainy texture is something i've noticed in a lot of the pictures in the slide show. it only seems to occur for deep resurfacing. i wonder is it permanent or just a temporary effect from peeling? it does look rather odd in photos, maybe just the way a flash catches in it?
I am also wondering, I noticed many on here who have not noticed drmamatic, or only subtle improvement, only had settings at 20 to 40 mjs. My doc said with the pitting, they are finding they need to go at it invasively with high high settings, like mine was 70 mjs with 7 passes. Has anyone tried this 6 or 7 sessions on depressed scars with these consistently maxed out settings and what was the outcome?wow. good luck dear! please let us know how you do. 70 mj is the max!
Is it just me or does fraxel sound like a waste of time when dealing with acctual acne scarring?!?!?! It doesn't seem to be doing jack shit for anyones pitted scarring.Yeah. I think if you went only on people's results here you'd have to say it's a failure. In the beginning many of those were on the old Fraxel at lower settings. Does this make a significant difference? I dunno. While not spectacular Floridaguy and AnniefromMiami definitely showed improvement - I would say 25-30%. More recently there have been a reasonable number of positive verbal comments but some could be speaking too soon (microswelling) and no photos to back them up. True results aren't seen for 6 months. My derm says he has seen 40-50% improvement by his colleagues using Fraxel (he doesn't do Fraxel himself and has no reason to lie). Then are the photos published by Reliant. Some show excellent improvement, but can we believe these are real or consistent?
I agree there seems a big discrepancy between claims of 50% improvement and what people report here.
Like I mentioned in another thread, most people are not going to post pics. by definition, people getting fraxel are embarassed by their face, so it seems unlikely that people will post pictures. I know not being able to see pictures is frustrating, but I don't think it's a problem you're going to be able to overcome. At best, ask your derm to show you pictures of their patients.
The other thing to remember is that Fraxel 2 is relatively new. I don't think I've heard too many results yet from people who've had 4-6 treatments w/ Fraxel 2.
I have posted before and afters from my excisions, but I have found that my improvement from these treatments has not been sufficient enough to show up in a before and after. Ive tried it myself and don't see any difference, and have had others agree with me here. In other words, I am not aware of anything that truly works well enough to come out in a before and after. As far as we all know, that's an impossibility in this day and age. Can't be done and I don't think anyone can prove me wrong here. Stem cell is the only thing that will ever work to make us all happy.
i think the whole 50-60% improvement (reported by reliant) vs. the 10-30% (reported on acne.org) is really the same amount of improvement. we are just harsher critics. if you look at the fraxel slideshow with a less critical eye, it's easy to see how a doctor would rate those improvements as 75% but most of us would say 30%. it's a matter of being emotionally involved . . .
Actually, this just in. Spoke with Reliant on Fri and they just had FDA clearance to go even higher than 70 mjs.
What I don't understand is why no one has gone higher than 40 mjs on pitting!!?? It seems like the ones who had mediocre to no results with Fraxel 2 only had 40 mjs/8 passes. May seem far-fetched, but what if it actually worked better, especially on areas of thin skin. You know, there may be a "skill" the doc using the Fraxel might need to have when treating pitting.
Can anyone explain whether 'passing' the laser each time should be done slowly or quickly, to achieve good technique?
There is a range of speeds that the machine can handle. Within that range, it won't make a difference. It's difficult to describe, unless you've already had treatments, but the machine presents a pretty foolproof interface to protect against going too fast. It has a speedometer (for lack of a better word) on the machine as well as a clicking sound that repeats faster or slower depending on the technician's speed. It's pretty much impossible to screw up.
While I'm here (and forgive my ignorance, and impatience to search/read through this thread to get answers!), is there anything one must take orally/topically - post-fraxel - to help induce collagen production. Cheers. :angel:
There is a topical lotion (TNS Recovery -- a couple of people have posted about it) that some derms sell. I recall mixed reviews, at best, but don't quote me on that. If you do a search in this thread, you should be able to find those posts.
While I'm here (and forgive my ignorance, and impatience to search/read through this thread to get answers!), is there anything one must take orally/topically - post-fraxel - to help induce collagen production. Cheers. :angel:
well topically i dont use anything but im sure there are. orally i take 1000MG vit c daily + MSM & Omega 3-6-9 while im on fraxel
I am also wondering, I noticed many on here who have not noticed drmamatic, or only subtle improvement, only had settings at 20 to 40 mjs. My doc said with the pitting, they are finding they need to go at it invasively with high high settings, like mine was 70 mjs with 7 passes. Has anyone tried this 6 or 7 sessions on depressed scars with these consistently maxed out settings and what was the outcome?nope.
Well, I am releagting myself to becoming the guinea pig on this one. I gonna blast these scars until I am bleeding and raw at 70 mjs with like 8 passses.
Out of curiousity, why hasn't anyone tried these settings?
Ylem
The nurse performing my fraxels said that she has gone to 70mjs on deep scars. She has posted on here before. I put her user name back on one of my previous posts. She's really nice and knowledgeable, I'm sure she would respond to your questions.
I am also wondering, I noticed many on here who have not noticed drmamatic, or only subtle improvement, only had settings at 20 to 40 mjs. My doc said with the pitting, they are finding they need to go at it invasively with high high settings, like mine was 70 mjs with 7 passes. Has anyone tried this 6 or 7 sessions on depressed scars with these consistently maxed out settings and what was the outcome?wow. good luck dear! please let us know how you do. 70 mj is the max!
Is it just me or does fraxel sound like a waste of time when dealing with acctual acne scarring?!?!?! It doesn't seem to be doing jack shit for anyones pitted scarring.Yeah. I think if you went only on people's results here you'd have to say it's a failure. In the beginning many of those were on the old Fraxel at lower settings. Does this make a significant difference? I dunno. While not spectacular Floridaguy and AnniefromMiami definitely showed improvement - I would say 25-30%. More recently there have been a reasonable number of positive verbal comments but some could be speaking too soon (microswelling) and no photos to back them up. True results aren't seen for 6 months. My derm says he has seen 40-50% improvement by his colleagues using Fraxel (he doesn't do Fraxel himself and has no reason to lie). Then are the photos published by Reliant. Some show excellent improvement, but can we believe these are real or consistent?
I agree there seems a big discrepancy between claims of 50% improvement and what people report here.
Like I mentioned in another thread, most people are not going to post pics. by definition, people getting fraxel are embarassed by their face, so it seems unlikely that people will post pictures. I know not being able to see pictures is frustrating, but I don't think it's a problem you're going to be able to overcome. At best, ask your derm to show you pictures of their patients.
The other thing to remember is that Fraxel 2 is relatively new. I don't think I've heard too many results yet from people who've had 4-6 treatments w/ Fraxel 2.
I have posted before and afters from my excisions, but I have found that my improvement from these treatments has not been sufficient enough to show up in a before and after. Ive tried it myself and don't see any difference, and have had others agree with me here. In other words, I am not aware of anything that truly works well enough to come out in a before and after. As far as we all know, that's an impossibility in this day and age. Can't be done and I don't think anyone can prove me wrong here. Stem cell is the only thing that will ever work to make us all happy.
i think the whole 50-60% improvement (reported by reliant) vs. the 10-30% (reported on acne.org) is really the same amount of improvement. we are just harsher critics. if you look at the fraxel slideshow with a less critical eye, it's easy to see how a doctor would rate those improvements as 75% but most of us would say 30%. it's a matter of being emotionally involved . . .
Actually, this just in. Spoke with Reliant on Fri and they just had FDA clearance to go even higher than 70 mjs.
What I don't understand is why no one has gone higher than 40 mjs on pitting!!?? It seems like the ones who had mediocre to no results with Fraxel 2 only had 40 mjs/8 passes. May seem far-fetched, but what if it actually worked better, especially on areas of thin skin. You know, there may be a "skill" the doc using the Fraxel might need to have when treating pitting.
at least part of the problem is delivering the pulse into the scar. if the pit is deep then when the tip passes over it there will be a gap between skin and tip so the laser doesn't fire. even if they press firmly there will still be a gap, especially if its a nasty ice pick or boxcar.
this explains why rolling scars are easier and more predictably improved than tiny pores and ice picks.
While I'm here (and forgive my ignorance, and impatience to search/read through this thread to get answers!), is there anything one must take orally/topically - post-fraxel - to help induce collagen production. Cheers. :angel:
two most important things are vitamin C (collagen production catalyst) and protein (preferably from red meat).