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It is almost 7 days since #2. I just bathed and my skin is unusally dry and tight, with very minor flaking and a pink/bronze tone. I'm also very excited because both my wife and I have been noticing a nice improvement this time. It is not swelling. I actually thought scars looked worse when my face was swollen the first couple days. I noticed no improvement after # 1.
I'm 55 and have a lot of sun damage from outdoor sports and being a beach guy. So, I have some big forehead wrinkles and a small, raised forehead growth that was probably sun related. The wrinkles have really tightened. And, the growth bled profusesly and has peel and healed and a couple times. It has virtually disappeared.
My worst scarring is along jaw, with some on cheeks, and scarred pores on nose and near nose. I notice a really nice improvement along jaw and lower part of cheeks, but no improvement on nose or near nose. There is 100% correlation between the areas that had significant improvement and the areas that peeled. I am not sure why my nose area did not peel, but this area is alwasy very oily, despite my old age. I also had bad results with punch floats in this area.
For me, going to 20 and the resulting peeling seems key to my perceived success. I hope I don't have to eat my words later, but I think this is really good treatment option.
Has anone else noticed the correlation with peeling and the lack of improvment in the nose area?
Has any body been to see Mary Lee Amerian in Santa Monica for the Fraxel laser? I am thinking of going, but I want to know if they are any good or not. Website
my first fraxel i didnt peel and stayed puffy for a while and the blue ink was hard to get off
2nd one i peeled soon and the blue ink came off almost instantly and puffiness went away faster , but the power was stronger i dont get it....
any ideas
no idea hun, but how are your results to your ice picks and so forth scars that you might have... progress update??? a lot of us dont want to go into this and lose money with out gettin the best results. thanks.
my first fraxel i didnt peel and stayed puffy for a while and the blue ink was hard to get off
2nd one i peeled soon and the blue ink came off almost instantly and puffiness went away faster , but the power was stronger i dont get it....
any ideas
no idea hun, but how are your results to your ice picks and so forth scars that you might have... progress update??? a lot of us dont want to go into this and lose money with out gettin the best results. thanks.
i'd advise getting other scar treatment options first to lift the scars up, and then getting fraxel to smoothen out the edges of those scars. maybe look into tca cross method, esp for ice pick scars. the posts on it have all been highly positive, so i'd do a lil research into it.
Hi, I haven't posted yet, but as a result of reading this site, I decided to see a Dr. who does the Fraxel. He was pretty excited about it being the best treatment for acne scarring that is available today. I bought 5 of them and had my first on April 27th. The proceedure was done by the Dr's nurse.
The night before they called in a prescription for a cold sore med and zanex. They had me take the cold sore med the night before (I have never had these from my knowledge but figured that I would follow the directions, but they were expensive and I would have liked to not spend the money. The next day the nurse seemed suprised that I took them, but it was on the proceedure page and it was called in so...). I took the zanex when I got to the office. The nurse put a numbing topical cream on my face. About an hour later she came in and injected a numbing agent like novicaine, maybe she said linacaine? into my face, but through the gum area and also in the eye brow area and then around the perimeter of my face. I was thinking no pain! The first pass didn't hurt at all, the second felt like it was taking the skin with it, but tolerable, because they were short passes. I think she used a 22 on the worse acne scar areas and a 15 on the wrinkles all at 125. The proceedure took about an hour.
Afterwards I was able to drive myself home. I was blue and my face burned a bit so I put the air conditioner on it full powered. That night I washed the blue die off with dawn foaming dish detergent (I am still not sure that is what she said to use, but it worked) and that burned, but otherwise I was just starting to get a little puffy, not much pain. They had me use an oil called Squalane to moisturize and I did, probably about 5 times a day!
Everything went pretty much like the other posts.
Day 2 a little swollen, and a red bronze, I iced at night, I also had developed these stripes down my face, the kids said I looked like I ran into a fence!
Day 3 more bronzed more obvious stripes!
Day 4 bronzed and peeling, stripes started to peel away.
Day 5 peeling, stripes gone (whew).
Day 6 pretty much all peeled, still some around my jaw.
My skin looked fantastic for the next 2 days and then the swelling went down and it was not so extreme of an improvement, but there still is one! My husband and I notice it the most. I am 36 and I had noticed that my skin was starting to sag in the areas that were scarred badly, just a bit, like if I pulled my cheek back as if I were to get a face lift, it looked smoother. The fraxel seems to have tightened that area smoothing some of the scars out. My results are more from that then individual scar improvement. Also, around 3 years ago, I had some punch grafts and a proceedure that kind of burned the edges of the scar to smooth it out, I was supposed to follow with a co2 but didn't get the chance to finish. The skin was left a bit burned looking and that has been improved with the tightening.
One of my concerns with doing this now was sun exposer, I bought a hat with spf and they suggested using Neutrogena ultra sheer sun block. I bought the 45. It was inexpensive compared to most and goes on nicely.
One more thing. I am breaking out in my chin area. Very small white heads that come and go pretty quickly. Nothing with scarring ability, just annoying.
They want me to wait 3 weeks before going in for number two. They said longer was ok, but they didn't seem to want to do it any sooner.
I really was just going to post the results, but I got going! Maybe this will help someone, like so many of the posts have helped me!
Hey tickatocken! THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for posting such a detailed account. I look forward to following along with your subsequent 4 treatments. This is VERY hopeful and I appreciate your sharing. CONGRATULATIONS on your first fraxel - I pray the results keep getting better and better! Keep us posted!!!
Oh, do you mind revealing which doctor you go to?
Hey tickatocken! THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for posting such a detailed account. I look forward to following along with your subsequent 4 treatments. This is VERY hopeful and I appreciate your sharing. CONGRATULATIONS on your first fraxel - I pray the results keep getting better and better! Keep us posted!!!
Oh, do you mind revealing which doctor you go to?
I didn't mean to add a new topic! Can I move this to the existing fraxel topic? Does anyone know how?
I am in St. Louis and I saw Dr. Ridenour. He specializes in facial cosmetic surgery so I felt he would be able to focus on my problems alot better then someone who did full body work. He charges 900 if you go one at a time, or 700 if you purchase a packet of 5. I don't know if this is a temporary special or if it will stay at this price. The meds cost around 100 but will last for all 5 treatments. The squalene oil was around 30.00. I was suprised and pleased to not have to spend a couple hundred on a pre or post regimine!
. I really like Neutrogena's ultrasheer sunblock too.
Hi, I haven't posted yet, but as a result of reading this site, I decided to see a Dr. who does the Fraxel. He was pretty excited about it being the best treatment for acne scarring that is available today. I bought 5 of them and had my first on April 27th. The proceedure was done by the Dr's nurse.
The night before they called in a prescription for a cold sore med and zanex. They had me take the cold sore med the night before (I have never had these from my knowledge but figured that I would follow the directions, but they were expensive and I would have liked to not spend the money. The next day the nurse seemed suprised that I took them, but it was on the proceedure page and it was called in so...). I took the zanex when I got to the office. The nurse put a numbing topical cream on my face. About an hour later she came in and injected a numbing agent like novicaine, maybe she said linacaine? into my face, but through the gum area and also in the eye brow area and then around the perimeter of my face. I was thinking no pain! The first pass didn't hurt at all, the second felt like it was taking the skin with it, but tolerable, because they were short passes. I think she used a 22 on the worse acne scar areas and a 15 on the wrinkles all at 125. The proceedure took about an hour.
Afterwards I was able to drive myself home. I was blue and my face burned a bit so I put the air conditioner on it full powered. That night I washed the blue die off with dawn foaming dish detergent (I am still not sure that is what she said to use, but it worked) and that burned, but otherwise I was just starting to get a little puffy, not much pain. They had me use an oil called Squalane to moisturize and I did, probably about 5 times a day!
Everything went pretty much like the other posts.
Day 2 a little swollen, and a red bronze, I iced at night, I also had developed these stripes down my face, the kids said I looked like I ran into a fence!
Day 3 more bronzed more obvious stripes!
Day 4 bronzed and peeling, stripes started to peel away.
Day 5 peeling, stripes gone (whew).
Day 6 pretty much all peeled, still some around my jaw.
My skin looked fantastic for the next 2 days and then the swelling went down and it was not so extreme of an improvement, but there still is one! My husband and I notice it the most. I am 36 and I had noticed that my skin was starting to sag in the areas that were scarred badly, just a bit, like if I pulled my cheek back as if I were to get a face lift, it looked smoother. The fraxel seems to have tightened that area smoothing some of the scars out. My results are more from that then individual scar improvement. Also, around 3 years ago, I had some punch grafts and a proceedure that kind of burned the edges of the scar to smooth it out, I was supposed to follow with a co2 but didn't get the chance to finish. The skin was left a bit burned looking and that has been improved with the tightening.
One of my concerns with doing this now was sun exposer, I bought a hat with spf and they suggested using Neutrogena ultra sheer sun block. I bought the 45. It was inexpensive compared to most and goes on nicely.
One more thing. I am breaking out in my chin area. Very small white heads that come and go pretty quickly. Nothing with scarring ability, just annoying.
They want me to wait 3 weeks before going in for number two. They said longer was ok, but they didn't seem to want to do it any sooner.
I really was just going to post the results, but I got going! Maybe this will help someone, like so many of the posts have helped me!
Dongrats on your 1st Fraxel! I think you'll be happy with the results.
Hi Tickatocken!
Congratulations on the first fraxel and improvement. And thanks heaps for posting. Cant tell you how helpful all the information is. What medication did u use pre and post fraxel....what regime did u follow?
Thanks
M
Hi, I haven't posted yet, but as a result of reading this site, I decided to see a Dr. who does the Fraxel. He was pretty excited about it being the best treatment for acne scarring that is available today. I bought 5 of them and had my first on April 27th. The proceedure was done by the Dr's nurse.
The night before they called in a prescription for a cold sore med and zanex. They had me take the cold sore med the night before (I have never had these from my knowledge but figured that I would follow the directions, but they were expensive and I would have liked to not spend the money. The next day the nurse seemed suprised that I took them, but it was on the proceedure page and it was called in so...). I took the zanex when I got to the office. The nurse put a numbing topical cream on my face. About an hour later she came in and injected a numbing agent like novicaine, maybe she said linacaine? into my face, but through the gum area and also in the eye brow area and then around the perimeter of my face. I was thinking no pain! The first pass didn't hurt at all, the second felt like it was taking the skin with it, but tolerable, because they were short passes. I think she used a 22 on the worse acne scar areas and a 15 on the wrinkles all at 125. The proceedure took about an hour.
Afterwards I was able to drive myself home. I was blue and my face burned a bit so I put the air conditioner on it full powered. That night I washed the blue die off with dawn foaming dish detergent (I am still not sure that is what she said to use, but it worked) and that burned, but otherwise I was just starting to get a little puffy, not much pain. They had me use an oil called Squalane to moisturize and I did, probably about 5 times a day!
Everything went pretty much like the other posts.
Day 2 a little swollen, and a red bronze, I iced at night, I also had developed these stripes down my face, the kids said I looked like I ran into a fence!
Day 3 more bronzed more obvious stripes!
Day 4 bronzed and peeling, stripes started to peel away.
Day 5 peeling, stripes gone (whew).
Day 6 pretty much all peeled, still some around my jaw.
My skin looked fantastic for the next 2 days and then the swelling went down and it was not so extreme of an improvement, but there still is one! My husband and I notice it the most. I am 36 and I had noticed that my skin was starting to sag in the areas that were scarred badly, just a bit, like if I pulled my cheek back as if I were to get a face lift, it looked smoother. The fraxel seems to have tightened that area smoothing some of the scars out. My results are more from that then individual scar improvement. Also, around 3 years ago, I had some punch grafts and a proceedure that kind of burned the edges of the scar to smooth it out, I was supposed to follow with a co2 but didn't get the chance to finish. The skin was left a bit burned looking and that has been improved with the tightening.
One of my concerns with doing this now was sun exposer, I bought a hat with spf and they suggested using Neutrogena ultra sheer sun block. I bought the 45. It was inexpensive compared to most and goes on nicely.
One more thing. I am breaking out in my chin area. Very small white heads that come and go pretty quickly. Nothing with scarring ability, just annoying.
They want me to wait 3 weeks before going in for number two. They said longer was ok, but they didn't seem to want to do it any sooner.
I really was just going to post the results, but I got going! Maybe this will help someone, like so many of the posts have helped me!
Good day fellow fraxelers.
Would all of you who have finished your fraxel treatment PLEASSSSSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE go to the acne.org rate a treatment page and RATE and perhaps add a comment on fraxel. I intend to do it at as soon as im done with my treatment. herez the link: Rate Fraxel
Thanks Guys 
MITey
PS as of now there are only 6 votes 
Hi Tickatocken!
Congratulations on the first fraxel and improvement. And thanks heaps for posting. Cant tell you how helpful all the information is. What medication did u use pre and post fraxel....what regime did u follow?
Thanks
M
Hi, I haven't posted yet, but as a result of reading this site, I decided to see a Dr. who does the Fraxel. He was pretty excited about it being the best treatment for acne scarring that is available today. I bought 5 of them and had my first on April 27th. The proceedure was done by the Dr's nurse.
The night before they called in a prescription for a cold sore med and zanex. They had me take the cold sore med the night before (I have never had these from my knowledge but figured that I would follow the directions, but they were expensive and I would have liked to not spend the money. The next day the nurse seemed suprised that I took them, but it was on the proceedure page and it was called in so...). I took the zanex when I got to the office. The nurse put a numbing topical cream on my face. About an hour later she came in and injected a numbing agent like novicaine, maybe she said linacaine? into my face, but through the gum area and also in the eye brow area and then around the perimeter of my face. I was thinking no pain! The first pass didn't hurt at all, the second felt like it was taking the skin with it, but tolerable, because they were short passes. I think she used a 22 on the worse acne scar areas and a 15 on the wrinkles all at 125. The proceedure took about an hour.
Afterwards I was able to drive myself home. I was blue and my face burned a bit so I put the air conditioner on it full powered. That night I washed the blue die off with dawn foaming dish detergent (I am still not sure that is what she said to use, but it worked) and that burned, but otherwise I was just starting to get a little puffy, not much pain. They had me use an oil called Squalane to moisturize and I did, probably about 5 times a day!
Everything went pretty much like the other posts.
Day 2 a little swollen, and a red bronze, I iced at night, I also had developed these stripes down my face, the kids said I looked like I ran into a fence!
Day 3 more bronzed more obvious stripes!
Day 4 bronzed and peeling, stripes started to peel away.
Day 5 peeling, stripes gone (whew).
Day 6 pretty much all peeled, still some around my jaw.
My skin looked fantastic for the next 2 days and then the swelling went down and it was not so extreme of an improvement, but there still is one! My husband and I notice it the most. I am 36 and I had noticed that my skin was starting to sag in the areas that were scarred badly, just a bit, like if I pulled my cheek back as if I were to get a face lift, it looked smoother. The fraxel seems to have tightened that area smoothing some of the scars out. My results are more from that then individual scar improvement. Also, around 3 years ago, I had some punch grafts and a proceedure that kind of burned the edges of the scar to smooth it out, I was supposed to follow with a co2 but didn't get the chance to finish. The skin was left a bit burned looking and that has been improved with the tightening.
One of my concerns with doing this now was sun exposer, I bought a hat with spf and they suggested using Neutrogena ultra sheer sun block. I bought the 45. It was inexpensive compared to most and goes on nicely.
One more thing. I am breaking out in my chin area. Very small white heads that come and go pretty quickly. Nothing with scarring ability, just annoying.
They want me to wait 3 weeks before going in for number two. They said longer was ok, but they didn't seem to want to do it any sooner.
I really was just going to post the results, but I got going! Maybe this will help someone, like so many of the posts have helped me!
i was wondering how would you rate your scars, like as in ice picks, boxcars, and wrinkles and fine lines, we just want a starting description so we can help you further your finalization state. best wishes sweety!!
It's been 4 weeks since my 4th treatment, and I still have pink skin and demarcation lines. I had all 4 treatments in about a 1 month time span though. It should go away, but you never know. Two years after my CO2 laser resurfacing, I could still see a very very slight demarcation line under my eyes.
It's been 4 weeks since my 4th treatment, and I still have pink skin and demarcation lines. I had all 4 treatments in about a 1 month time span though. It should go away, but you never know. Two years after my CO2 laser resurfacing, I could still see a very very slight demarcation line under my eyes.
Faye and Cameron, I had a pink line under my lip all the way across. It has been about 5 or 6 weeks since my 6th Fraxel. It is almost completely gone. Don't worry, it will go away soon!
Hi Tickatocken!
Congratulations on the first fraxel and improvement. And thanks heaps for posting. Cant tell you how helpful all the information is. What medication did u use pre and post fraxel....what regime did u follow?
Thanks
M
I took this info from the papers that the Dr. gave me. I summarized were I could so if I have info wrong please feel free to correct me, but used their writing where it seemed appropriate, so we means them. I hope there is info here for someone.
Prior treatment
No retinoids or glycolics for one week
no recently tanned skin
no accutane for 6 months
no systemic steroids for 3 months (?)
patients with melasma require pre treatment with hydroquinone for 4-6 weeks prior treatment. May continue use up to day of bu discontinue for one week following and then resume again until next treatment.
Any treatment around the mouth requires anti-viral treatment with Valtrex 500mg 2x daily beginning one day before and going 7 days after.
Post treatment
You will need a gentle cleanser, gentle moisturizer and broad-spectrum sunscreen to care for your skin after treatment. I am using generic cetaphil for wash, squalane oil, which they sold me, neutrogena ultra sheer sun block, which they suggested, and a big hat!
Immediately after the treatment your skin will feel like it is sunburned. This "acute discomfort" lasts for approximately 2 hours. You can take advil or tylenol and use cold compresses for 10 minutes every hour till bedtime.
You will have erythema(red skin) immediately after treatment. You may also have crusting, This is normal and the skin will heal without scarring. Redness can last 1 to 3 weeks. After 2 to 3 days bronzing of the skin will occur. This occurs as the injured tissue moves towards the surface of the skin. You may apply mineral makeup to camo anytime after treatment.
swelling will vary from patient to patient but is most noticeable the day after. You can take benadryl 25 to 50 mg the evening of your treatment. Ice as above. Swelling is usually gone by day 2 or 3
The same product info above for post skin regimine. You can continue your original regimine two weeks after. Shower as usual. No excercise for 24 hours.
Healing time varies from person to person. Try to be patient. We are confident that you will see improvement in your skin texture and pigment soon after the very first treatment. Wrinkles will improve but will take more time. The fibroblasts in the dermis layer of the skin will begin to build new collagen over the next 30 to 180 days.
Schedule appointments 2 to 3 weeks, some people should wait 4 to 6. Spacing treatments for conveneince will not diminish the results.
I've had some really good results with fraxel. I've had about 5 treatments so far and have one more to go. My scarring wasn't too bad, mainly superficial, some really tiny icepick scars, and one deeper crater like scar left from a cyst. It's improved the crater a lot...however I'm a perfectionist and it still does bother me some. Overall it has smoothed out my skin a lot though. This is the first scarring procedure I've ever had and I'm really happy with the results thus far. I was told this is pretty much the best laser out there for acne scarring right now. I payed $600 because I only needed to have my cheeks done, otherwise it would've been $1,000 per treatment. It's pretty painless, I was red for a couple days and flaked/peeled (which actually evened out some hyperpigmentation). It's expensive, but well worth the money.