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Killer post Annie very descriptive. I plan to go pretty high in the summer whebn I do fraxels just so I dont waste and dough. I hope your face feels better and I loved the Anna Nicole reference lol. Good luck to u.
Thanks Keith - I like your attitude. !! Oh and yeah I loved this SNL cartoon and just couldn't help but relate to it. I definitely got "Smurfed up"
As for high levels - go for what feels right. But as a heads up - from what I've read, I don't think the higher levels guarantee better results. I believe it all depends on what you are looking for. Surface changes or something deeper. Your doctor will advise you as to what they think is best for you. I said I wanted to see some changes and was willing to be aggressive to get them. I've got problems with everything from texture, elasticity, scarring, pigmentation and you name it. I don't have great expectations or unrealistic ideas about Fraxel. Everyone has different results and I read multiple treatments get it for you. If I get a 30% improvement - I 'll take that and if I get real lucky and get more - well heck I'll take that tooo! 😉
I debated whether or not I should post my before, after and current photos. I've seen other peoples photos and they helped me decide to do it and also understand what it's about. So here they are.
Just make sure you're sitting and try not to gag. Today is Day 3 and I'm very swollen. 🙁 My Fraxel Photos
Great pics! you are the first person to post real quality before/after pics on fraxel treatment.others before you just either didnt even bother posting pics, deleted their pics after awhile or just doesnt know how to take good quality pics.
i think your scars are very shallow to begin with. hopefully fraxel works out for you and the rest of us! keep updating aight!
cheers!
THANK YOU AnniefromMiami for posting not only your pics, but also a detailed account of your experience. So very brave and selfless of you to share so completely - you are still lovely even while donning the Anna Nicole Smurfett costume! Be assured of my well wishes and prayers for your success as I wait with baited breath for Chapter 2 of your Fraxel action-packed adventure! Cheers and MANY THANKS!
do you think its ok to try fraxel if you have been off accutane for 6 months , for rolling and box car
Definately if u have been off tane for 6 months. People keep posting that its safe on tane or very shortly after. Some have even been told by a doc that being fresh off accutane is a plus. I will be going in for Fraxel in about 6 months since I have only a couple weeks left on tane and am doing the Fraxel this summer.
i dont know, this is the first time i hear that its ok to do a procedure while on accutane. i was on it twice and they say you have to wait 12-18 months before doing any procedure, they even told me to wait to wax. i am also on retin a micro now. i have acne scarring from the past few years and i have an appt with a dermatologic surgeon next week to see what i can do for the acne scarring, but i still break out a little bit here and there. I also heard that if you have any active acne you cant get anything done. The doctor im meeting with, i dont think he does Fraxel, but from what i have seen on these sites, that is one of the best and safest procedures. If anyone has any info on this i would greatly appreciate it.
Say, is anyone here a little prone to keloid and is planning to do fraxel or wanting to consult?
I seem to get keloids sometimes from like acne, i would say 1 out of 10 times perhaps, the rest is like depressed or kind of healed completely.
So im thinking that any real damage to my skin could like trigger some keloids to form. does anyone know if it is possible to do any kind of revision such as fraxel laser?
It feels frustrated if I am not possible to do any kind of revision because of this..
I seem to have alot of bad luck anyways so 
BTW, can fraxel be done only on local area's instead of fullface?
ANNIEFROMMIAMI-
hi annie, i was going to ask you how you liked your fraxel treatment. I live in fort lauderdale, and was wondering what doctor you went to because the one i have a consultation with does not do fraxel, at least i dont think. Also what is the cost of this, and do you know if you can do this while still having a little bit of active acne?
i have similar scarring to yours, on my cheeks and chin and some on my forehead, theyre like rolling scars with maybe a few boxcar ones, im not sure?
any info will help alot
thanks
Had my second treatment today. 3rd one is scheduled for 2/16. Man I hate to wait!
Got some of the settings for this one and the last.
First treatment:
12/250/8 passes
14/125/6passes
Second treatment:
14/250/8 passes
18/125/6 passes
Didnt get the total energy though, but at least have these to compare with what yall have been getting.
I asked Dr. Cothern why the last time I felt virtually zero pain, minimal swelling and why many report that they are in serious pain after theirs and are pretty swollen, he bascially said could be several factors, pain tolerance, how well the skin absorbs the topical cream and intensity. He told me most people dont that they treat there havent had to much problems with pain, but strangly enough one of the nurses who was putting the topical cream on my said that many of their patients do experience a lot of pain. So who knows....
I know that this time it did hurt more than the first time, but the first time I felt virtually nothing, so this was still not bad at all. A few times it hurt pretty good when he got near the border areas where it wasn't deadened, but overall still less painfull than when I had laser hair removal in the same areas.
Face is a little redder this time and a little more puffy, nurse said to sleep with my head elevated tonight, so we'll see how I look in the morning. But if needed I could go out in public tonight if I had to.
I guess maybe with just doing the cheeks instead of the whole face make is less tramatic to me as well.
The nurse also told me that they usually do 2 week intervals for skin coloration, blotchy type problems and then 4 for the scarring. She said they allow more time in between for scarring to allow for the colligen to rebuild.
Hopefully after the third treatment there will be some good results starting to show, so we'll see....
Had my second treatment today. 3rd one is scheduled for 2/16. Man I hate to wait!
Got some of the settings for this one and the last.
First treatment:
12/250/8 passes
14/125/6passes
Second treatment:
14/250/8 passes
18/125/6 passes
Didnt get the total energy though, but at least have these to compare with what yall have been getting.
I asked Dr. Cothern why the last time I felt virtually zero pain, minimal swelling and why many report that they are in serious pain after theirs and are pretty swollen, he bascially said could be several factors, pain tolerance, how well the skin absorbs the topical cream and intensity. He told me most people dont that they treat there havent had to much problems with pain, but strangly enough one of the nurses who was putting the topical cream on my said that many of their patients do experience a lot of pain. So who knows....
I know that this time it did hurt more than the first time, but the first time I felt virtually nothing, so this was still not bad at all. A few times it hurt pretty good when he got near the border areas where it wasn't deadened, but overall still less painfull than when I had laser hair removal in the same areas.
Face is a little redder this time and a little more puffy, nurse said to sleep with my head elevated tonight, so we'll see how I look in the morning. But if needed I could go out in public tonight if I had to.
I guess maybe with just doing the cheeks instead of the whole face make is less tramatic to me as well.
The nurse also told me that they usually do 2 week intervals for skin coloration, blotchy type problems and then 4 for the scarring. She said they allow more time in between for scarring to allow for the colligen to rebuild.
Hopefully after the third treatment there will be some good results starting to show, so we'll see....
Hi nsxlr8,
Thanks for the update. Do keep us update the progress and improvement of your treatment. 🙂
Cheers
i dont know, this is the first time i hear that its ok to do a procedure while on accutane. i was on it twice and they say you have to wait 12-18 months before doing any procedure, they even told me to wait to wax. i am also on retin a micro now. i have acne scarring from the past few years and i have an appt with a dermatologic surgeon next week to see what i can do for the acne scarring, but i still break out a little bit here and there. I also heard that if you have any active acne you cant get anything done. The doctor im meeting with, i dont think he does Fraxel, but from what i have seen on these sites, that is one of the best and safest procedures. If anyone has any info on this i would greatly appreciate it.
I think the Fraxel is a lot different than other skin resurfacing procedures in that it doesnt actually damage any skin. I do know that the skin is more fragile I guess would be the right word while on accutane. Maybe the ability to shed a lot of skin fresh off of accutane could contribute. I really hav not ask my doc about fraxel on or shortly after tane but he did say 2-3 months is adequate for ANY procedure.
[attachmentid=3239]I just had my 2nd treatment a few hours ago.. I had level 18, full face, although we skipped the upper lip as it hurts too much. The pain was a little bit more than my first treatment at level 16, but still tolerable.
Strangely, the swelling hasn't been bad at all this time, but I'm keeping myself well iced to prevent as much as possible. I barely notice any swelling at all. The redness is about the same as last time, so I should be presentable enough tomorrow to feel comfortable going out in public.
Here are the levels I've had so far:
1st Treatment: Level 16mj, 1160 MTZ p/cm2, 9.5Kj of energy
2nd Treatment: Level 18mj, 1000 MTZ p/cm2, 7.6Kj of energy
I've attached a pic I just took a little bit ago.. it's exactly 2 hours after my 2nd treatment so you can get an idea of how red I am...
BTW... I'm a fitzpatrick II to III.. although I'm very pale in the winter time..
Sean
[attachmentid=3239]I just had my 2nd treatment a few hours ago.. I had level 18, full face, although we skipped the upper lip as it hurts too much. The pain was a little bit more than my first treatment at level 16, but still tolerable.
Strangely, the swelling hasn't been bad at all this time, but I'm keeping myself well iced to prevent as much as possible. I barely notice any swelling at all. The redness is about the same as last time, so I should be presentable enough tomorrow to feel comfortable going out in public.
Here are the levels I've had so far:
1st Treatment: Level 16mj, 1160 MTZ p/cm2, 9.5Kj of energy
2nd Treatment: Level 18mj, 1000 MTZ p/cm2, 7.6Kj of energy
I've attached a pic I just took a little bit ago.. it's exactly 2 hours after my 2nd treatment so you can get an idea of how red I am...
BTW... I'm a fitzpatrick II to III.. although I'm very pale in the winter time..
Sean
have you noticed any change at all, and what did the doc say you can expect with the outcome, did he say any specific percentage of improvement? also, hos much do the fraxels cost?
I paid $3400 for 4 full face treatments.. I'm then probably going to do 2 or 3 more treatments just on my cheeks, depending on the results after the first 4. The spot treatments are only $400 each.
As far as any changes, it's a bit early for that, it takes a while for collagen to start building. I have noticed that my skin feels softer.. 
)
He didn't give me a percentage improvement as that's entirely up to my body, the number of treatments, the level of the treatments.. too many factors for a doctor to be able to accurately gauge results..
Sean..
I paid $3400 for 4 full face treatments.. I'm then probably going to do 2 or 3 more treatments just on my cheeks, depending on the results after the first 4. The spot treatments are only $400 each.
As far as any changes, it's a bit early for that, it takes a while for collagen to start building. I have noticed that my skin feels softer.. 🙂
He didn't give me a percentage improvement as that's entirely up to my body, the number of treatments, the level of the treatments.. too many factors for a doctor to be able to accurately gauge results..
Sean..
cool thanks for the info.
i have a dermatologic surgeon appt on tuesday but i dont think he does fraxel... i need to find a really good one in this area- south fla.
Annie, your posts are appreciatedl. I had been set on a course to have a couple punch floats and then a dermabrasion. But, Kooky has helped me reach the conclusion that a series of Fraxels has a lower risk/downtime with potentially as much efficacy. So, I'm looking into Fraxel instead. I was surprised at your swelling and redness - ouch. It seems to approach dermabrasion levels, but I guess you went aggressive and I understand the partial resurfacing lends to a much faster healing process compared to a derm.
Were you able to drive home? How long must you wear sunblock? I know the pigment risks are less than with derm, but they are not 0? Keep us posted on your progress. Best wishes
Hi Coolbreeze
I'm excited about your posts. I live in SF East Bay and just had punch floats on Wednesday by Dr Y in NO. Too early to tell. I am looking for SF Bay Area doc for series of Fraxels. Who would you recommend? Is it the same doc who did dermal grafting? Any other advice?
Best wishes
I did dermal grafts with Dr. Dhawan. ( East Bay dermatology www.centerforderm.com ) He is very skilled at it but doesn't offer fraxel yet.
Regarding Fraxel, these are the doctors I talked with, in SF-South Bay ( Mountain view, Palo Alto, Stanford )
1. Dr. Bar at Drs. Menkes / Morganroth. I am doing with her.
First one I did full face. Cost was $1000. Second I did only cheeks and nose where I have scars ( it's 500$ ) I am going to do 2 more like that. We started with setting of 9 and then 12. 'Cause of my skin type, she suggested to ramp up a bit slowly.
I would say, I have seen 10-12 % improvement till now. I also realized that I have to insist on more agressive settings.
website : www.menkesmorganroth.com Ph # : 650-969-5600
2. I did talk with Dr. Berman. Consultation was okay and he gave good info. Rate is standard ( 1000$ for full face, 3800 $ for 4 ). Only reason to choose Dr. Bar was Dr. Gladstone of Stanford Medical Center, referred me to her and Mountain View is convenient distance-wise.
website : http://www.bermanmd.com
3. Dr. Samuel Pearl. I did a dermabrasion patch with him. He is experienced, thorough and quite caring. When I was initially looking for Fraxel, he didn't have it. But now he has. His assistant called me last week. But I have already paid for 4 now at Dr. Menkes/Morganroth.
webSite : www.pearlmd.com Ph # : (650) 964-6600
( by the way, he and Dr. Menkes/Morganroth are in the same building ! )
4. Dr. Zakia Rehman. I didn't talk to her but I think, acne scar before and after photographs on reliant web site are from her patients. So, I assume, she must be having more experience with it. I came to know about her just 3-4 days back but it would be definitely worthwhile talking to her.
Her contact info ;
260 Sheridan Avenue, Suite 300
Palo Alto CA 94306
Phone # 650-543-1403
Hope, this helps.
Hi Coolbreze
Thanks so much. I sent you a PM. Would you be willing to talk by phone so I could take advantage of your insight? PM me back if so and I can call you or vice versa as you prefer.
Dr Y recommends that abrasion be done 4 to 8 weeks following my floats, so I have time, but I want to know as much as possible before selecting a Doc. In particular, I would really like to work with someone who has had success with acne scars. Perhaps the last Dr on your list fits that bill. On the other hand if you had great results maybe I should consider Dr Bar. 10-15% seems good for one procedure. How long ago?
Thanks again
Thanks again
Hi Coolbreze
Thanks so much. I sent you a PM. Would you be willing to talk by phone so I could take advantage of your insight? PM me back if so and I can call you or vice versa as you prefer.
Dr Y recommends that abrasion be done 4 to 8 weeks following my floats, so I have time, but I want to know as much as possible before selecting a Doc. In particular, I would really like to work with someone who has had success with acne scars. Perhaps the last Dr on your list fits that bill. On the other hand if you had great results maybe I should consider Dr Bar. 10-15% seems good for one procedure. How long ago?
Thanks again
Thanks again
A small correction :)....it's around 10-12 % after 2 treatments.
At this stage, I am not extremely happy about it but am not unhappy either.
It's a cautious wait and watch. My guess is, after 4 ( and higher settings ), I might see 30-40 % and might need to do more for further improvement. Let's see.
Yes, I'll send you PM sometime and we can talk on phone.
Howdy folks. Just a note, but Ive had smoothbeam, needling, hard micro, etc done on my nose scars. I also have had 4 fraxel treatments. My conclusion: this isnt a panacea, but it is pretty useful. As you may know, nose scars are very difficult to treat. Overall, the 4 treatments have probably improved my scars 20%. Most of the improvement has come from the outside edges, not from the deepest part of the scars. It seems to encourage growth into the scar area, but that also means that the time it takes to completely eliminate a scar will be longer, as you will have the indentation for a while, but the surface area that is scarred reduces. In order to create dramatic improvements, I would think that you would need about 10 treatments, and that will probably yield a smaller, less red, but still indented scar. At that point, I think microderm, retin A or something else would be a better option. Thats just speculation, but the results on my scars so far and some intuition about how skin and scars work, lead me to that conclusion. Additionally, the deeper the scars, the more you still have to contend with the scar being smaller, but equally deep.
Ive got some time to develop collagen still, but the effects have been noteworthy for their reduction of redness too. In my opinion, this is currently the best treatment for scarring on the face. Downtime: figure 5 days, if they go aggressively enough to make a difference. If your healing time is less than that, they werent aggressive enough. After that, the skin is plumped from being irritated, and you honestly need about 4 weeks before you can evaluate the long term results, with the knowlege that collagen formation will provide some minimal amount of additional filling in of the scar. Again, this is just my experience with my caucasian skin and some small, though deep, scars on my nose. CHECK AROUND FOR PRICES, THEY VARY WIDELY. 4 spot treatments only cost me $300 at a doc in AZ. Unless you had some negative effects, each treatment should be more aggressive, within reasonable limits of course. But, the first few should establish a baseline for what your skin can handle. Good luck!