Thanks, guys, for the input. Based on this, I've realized that I could do more to encourage better healing. I already eat whole healthy foods and exercise every day, but I'm going to add to that anti-oxidant multi-vitamins, something topical suited to healing, and cardio every day to get the oxygen-rich blood flowing even more.

Also, my fraxel settings were 16, 19, 20, and 24, which should be enough. I originally thought the 2nd one was 16, but it was 19.

 

What can I expect after my first treatment? I go for it on Tuesday. I am scared and excited. I dont have many ice pick scars. Many shallow ones. I hear of the good stories and yet the bad ones. So am I looking at a week of staying indoors?

Hi Board

I had my 3rd Fraxel today - finally. Due to work issues, I can only get a few days off every month 1/2 to 2 months or so. I don't know what the benefits of doing it every week or every other week are, but every 2 months is working out VERY WELL for me. To me this 3rd treatment seemed the best as far as intensity and passes go. I'm pretty sure we went a little stronger this time. I like my Doctor for many reasons but I especially liked how she asks 'What do YOU think are the problem areas.?". She then goes back and targets the problem spots - individually and at a more intense setting. I'm delighted with my progress so far. My skin 7 months ago, is not the skin I have today. For that alone - I am very very very very HAPPY. My skin tone, texture and scars are ALL improving. My skin is healthier, with very little break outs and I've really done nothing special. I am using a SHOWER FILTER by Aquasana (which is the best out there) and I wash my face with Neova cleanser. When I remember I use either TNS Recovery with its baby dna or Creme de la Mer. I take a multi vitamin daily and others when I don't forget.

I've been very realistic with my expectations of what Fraxel can do. I also think taking photos is very important. Sometimes we can be our worst critics and see nothing but problems yet expect miracles. Photos document the whole journey. What you may not see, someone else might. I'm not sure why I've seen some people experiencing brown spots - but I have NOT. A brief bit of sun at the wrong moment can hurt your tender skin. I am 100% anal about the sun when I come out of the Laser Center and while getting home. I'm stuck inside for 5 days and no sun will come near my face now. I'm very protective while driving to work the weeks following treatment and I don't let the sun touch my face at all. In general, the sun causes brown spots. Is it possible, some of the brown spot folks might have had a couple of minutes of unprotected sunshine?

I can say I am so pleasantly surprised that these FRAXEL treatments are doing exactly what they say they will do for me. SLOWLY but surely - they are. My skin is smoother - period. And so what if there are still scars? They will NEVER ALL go away I know that, but they sure have improved. Whether the edges are softer or the collagen raised them back up - who knows? I don't really care about the who, what and how's. If your skin looks smoother - be happy. I am content and will recommend it as working very well for me.

I just had my 6th fraxel and have had very positive results. This is a list of all the procedures I've had in the last 7- 8 years: CO2 laser (twice), chemical peels (3 times), microdermabrasion (4 times), Dermabrasion (2 times), collagen injections (once), treatments at the Laser Institute (incuding smoothbeam - 6 times) topical treatments (endless times), etc. with minimal results. (All my procedures were done with different doctors in Beverly Hills - all well-known). All these procedures took lots of time and money with little results. But with Fraxel, I think I'm finally getting good results. I don't know about anyone else but the only drawback for me (except the cost, of course) is how painful the procedure is. Even with the numbing cream, it is quite painful. But I'd rather have pain for 15 minutes, then have scars to look at everyday. I think everyone is different and will respond differently to any procedure. For me, I finally found one that works.

To be honest, I really noticed the difference with my 5th fraxel and only at that point decided to continue. With this latest one, I'm very glad I decided to continue. I will have one more next month.

Because of cost ($1,000 for full face), I didn't do the whole face. But almost the entire face. At $600, this includes the entire cheek and temple area (all the way down to the jawline) so it's pretty much the entire face. I only left out my forehead, nose and chin. But the cost may vary now because it's become more popular. I got started on fraxel in the summer of 2005. I had my first two about 1-2 wks apart but then they extended that to about 1 month apart. Then stopped due to work and travel. Just started again in April. (I think because I am Asian, they just wanted to make sure my skin responded well). Previously, (because my skintone is different) all my other procedures were done with precautions. Like I said, everyone is DIFFERENT so just make sure doctors cater to your needs.

Personally, I am very happy with the results. I have scars pretty much on my entire face. I have mostly rolling scars and some icepick and enlarged pores, of course. I've suffered with acne and acne scars for more than 15 years. I would say, for me, I can see more than 60% improvement. Don't get me wrong, I'm not delusional (I've done too much research and procedures done), I know my scars won't completely be gone but it's a lot better. But like I said, I didn't see good results until my 5th treatment and at higher levels. (I'm at 15 now) even though I've read that others have theirs at 20 and higher. For me, it's the best decision I ever made (even with the pain). I do get swollen and red for a few days (but all bearable for the result I got). I just kept going until i found something that works for me.

Hope this helps. Good luck everyone.

P.S. No matter what anyone says, please do your research and choose your doctor wisely.

babeebell, that's good news. Was your 5th treatment in April? What made you start up again if you weren't seeing much difference after 4? It took you 9 months to finally see a difference?

Is anyone pink for post fraxel?! I am. And my skin is really sensitive all the sudden. If I rub my face I'm bright pink. What is the deal? I can't have this.

Pink skin is healing skin. It should occur with every Fraxel, unless at a low setting. It should return to normal color in 7 to 10 days.

Hi guys im 6 days post fraxel.....Cant believe I've been stuck it out in hibernation this long hehe.

All the dark brown/bronze skin has peeled off to reveal the raw red/pink skin that ChrissyC was talking abt and she's right it doesnt hurt or anything. But my skin is still peeling, it seems rather chaffed and i've been using sorbolene to help out with the dryness. Has this been the same with anyone else, the extreme dryness, it doesnt look very nice. If anybody else has had this, how long did it take for the peeling to stop and the original texture of the skin return?

Thanks,

M

I'm on level 25 With minimal results.

I go back to get another at level 25 or higher in a month.

I'm doing TCA cross in between which probably isn't good, but it's helping.

I"m so sick and tired of these scars, they make me feel so depressed. I feel like jumping out of my own body when i see the scars.

I'm going to continue getting fraxel once a month till the end of this year.

I'm going back for my SIXTH fraxel in a month, as i stated above.

Billyboy, my last fraxel was almost a month ago. My skin is still pink. Is anyone still pink this long after? Is something wrong? Do you think I should discontinue treatments?

so is pink skin on scars good?? does that mean the skin is healing?

so is pink skin on scars good?? does that mean the skin is healing?

 

Yes it does. When it's pink that mean it is deep healing so you can beat it's getting better. I know we don't want to be pink or red, but in this case it would be good for the long run.

Hi guys im 6 days post fraxel.....Cant believe I've been stuck it out in hibernation this long hehe.

All the dark brown/bronze skin has peeled off to reveal the raw red/pink skin that ChrissyC was talking abt and she's right it doesnt hurt or anything. But my skin is still peeling, it seems rather chaffed and i've been using sorbolene to help out with the dryness. Has this been the same with anyone else, the extreme dryness, it doesnt look very nice. If anybody else has had this, how long did it take for the peeling to stop and the original texture of the skin return?

Thanks,

M

 

I'm on day 6 as well and my skin still feels like sandpaper and is very dry. No pain, but still some pinkness and I also got a small cold sore a few days ago despite being on medication. My skin is not peeling exactly, just flaking and if I gently run a wash cloth over my just washed face (no scrubbing!) some flakies do come off. My, I feel pretty! 😉 My face itches too... I just think that this phase varies for all of us. I am supposed to get my next treatment on Tuesday and I wonder if it's ok to do it when I am still flaky from the first one.

But I do think that it's normal to still be like this after 6 days. Someone else mentioned, and I agree, that the no downtime claim of Fraxel is a little exaggerated. That might happen at super low settings but I think the rest of us need to be prepared for days of the 'uglies'.

I'm on day 6 as well and my skin still feels like sandpaper and is very dry. No pain, but still some pinkness and I also got a small cold sore a few days ago despite being on medication. My skin is not peeling exactly, just flaking and if I gently run a wash cloth over my just washed face (no scrubbing!) some flakies do come off. My, I feel pretty! 😉 My face itches too... I just think that this phase varies for all of us. I am supposed to get my next treatment on Tuesday and I wonder if it's ok to do it when I am still flaky from the first one.

But I do think that it's normal to still be like this after 6 days. Someone else mentioned, and I agree, that the no downtime claim of Fraxel is a little exaggerated. That might happen at super low settings but I think the rest of us need to be prepared for days of the 'uglies'.

 

Hi Widgie,

I'm on Day 3 and was just wondering if you have kept your face wet with oils? The reason its recommended is to speed up the exfoliation and keep your skin comfortable. :think: I usually peel completely by Day 4 or 5, without any dryness. My doctor gave me a kit called the Fraxamin kit which included a balm, lotions and squalane oil. I also have a bottle of Emu Oil and Creme de la Mer. The dry dead skin literally slips off your face when you keep it wet for days.. :wavey:

Annie

Hi Widgie,

I'm on Day 3 and was just wondering if you have kept your face wet with oils? The reason its recommended is to speed up the exfoliation and keep your skin comfortable. :think: I usually peel completely by Day 4 or 5, without any dryness. My doctor gave me a kit called the Fraxamin kit which included a balm, lotions and squalane oil. I also have a bottle of Emu Oil and Creme de la Mer. The dry dead skin literally slips off your face when you keep it wet for days.. :wavey:

Annie

 

Hi Annie,

The day of the treatment and the day afterwards I tried to keep my face moist by using emu oil, Atopalm cream and a small amount of copper peptide cream. However, then it was back to work and I couldn't moisturize except in the morning and at night. I do have some squalane oil somewhere, I think I will try that after my next treatment. My skin is so intensely dry even without the Fraxel that I will really need to make sure I keep up with the moisturizing. Thanks for the advice! And also thanks for posting your experiences and pictures. It really helps many of us get through the tough parts when we hear about positive results. 🙂

Hi guys. It's been awhile since I've posted here. I've been looking into options for treating my acne scars. I don't break out now, except for 1 or 2 pimples per month. I'm 24 and had moderate cystic acne since I was 12 and my scars are mostly on my forehead. I'm not sure how to classify them, rolling/boxcar I guess. Anyway, I was planning on doing a series of Fraxels and have had consultations with Dr. Parker in Colorado as well as Dr. Rokshar in N.Y. The reason why I want to wait a little bit more is because of the cost issue. I'm giving TCA cross a shot to see how much improvement I get from that. Has anyone else out there had anymore experiences with either of these doctors? Do you guys think as Fraxel gets more popular, prices will go up or down? Also, since 95% of my scars are on my forehead, I was wondering if anyone out there has had a forehead lift? Is that too extreme? I just feel like I'm gonna be dealing with these scars for the rest of my life!

HEllo All,

How long does the sandpaper phase last?

Thanks

M

Has anyone else out there had anymore experiences with either of these doctors?

 

I had my fraxels done at Dr. Parker's by one of the assistants (Tina). She does a thorough job, as the whole ordeal lasts about 1 hour. But, it's too early to judge the effectiveness of it since I'm still healing. At first, I thought, Dr. Parker was a little strange, but she turned out to be pretty cool. And if you want the fraxel machine cranked up to a high intensity, she'll do it.

Annie,

Thanks for pictures!

I see a sharp demarcation line on the side of your face.

Does the redness go away and color blend in eventually??

I'd like only to get my upper cheeks and nose done; I was told they can feather the treatments to better blend, but I'm scared.

Annie,

Thanks for pictures!

I see a sharp demarcation line on the side of your face.

Does the redness go away and color blend in eventually??

I'd like only to get my upper cheeks and nose done; I was told they can feather the treatments to better blend, but I'm scared.

 

I saw that too. She always goes under my chin and under my jaw line so the brown and the brown line is temporary. Yes the redness does go away. I'll be red Day4, pink Day5 and pinkish Day 6. In the past I look like I got a couple of minutes of sun. Nothing extreme. I'm sure I'll be a little pink this week but I have great GREEN tint coverup to mask the color. I know I'll look normal soon :pray: I like to do it on a Friday since it gives me more healing time and lets me oil up for days.

I've kept my skin WET with oil and creams since Day 1 and that helps speed up the process. I have a very brown face today (day 4) and the skin is starting to slip off naturally. Hopefully it will all come off in the shower and I can relax. It's back to work for me on Wednesday so I have to be normal by then.

Some people on here have SPOT treated but I can't remember them mentioning a demarcation line. If those are your only problem areas, then it shouldn't be obvious but I'd still be careful with that. I have seen a change in my face that woudl have been obvious had I chosen let's say just my cheeks. I had problem skin all over like a rough texture, scars, elasticty loss, breakouts, wrinkling and just looking and feeling like sandpaper. So for me it wasn't an option. Good Luck with whatever you choose..

Hi M Lite: My period of very dry skin and peeling, which occurred only on Fraxel #2 at 20, laste 1 week.

Hi Jamesjoyce: My red line became a tan line and lasted about 2 to 3 weeks. There are others (Coolbreeze) who are doing partial face, but her treatments are much lower energy because she has darker pigment and because her doc has strict protocols. It is probably safe unless you have a darker skin type. Ask Coolbreeze.

Hi Annie: My nurse advised that leaving the scale/flaking on would aid healing. So, she advised me to put on vaseline and not wash the scale off. I am retired so this is no problem and may not be critical step for you, but I thought I should mention this to you.

A question to all the fraxelers out there. How long did it take for the original texture of your skin to return. Right now there is still swelling and althought the scars are almost level with the rest of the skin, they seem seem worse (not sure how to explain that one) and pores seem larger too. YIKES!!! I'm leaving abt 3 weeks to month between fraxels. I just need to work out how long it takes for skin to truely recover. I know the pink is here to stay for awhile...dont mind that too much tho. I HATE SCARS!!

Good luck to all of you. Hope we all get rid of them for ever!!

M

One week.

I have been giving it a lot of thought and I'm reluctant to spend $4500 more dollars this year on something that I'm not even sure will help my scarring all that much. (Where I go, it's $900 for each session and, although I'm only scheduled for two more, everyone here says you have to do at least 6, which would be 5 more for me since I've only done one).

I've been considering waiting six months to see if there really will be any difference down the line before I sign up for more, instead of going into it somewhat blindly.

It's kind of hard battling the scars when the treatment for the scars is aggravating the acne that causes the scars in the first place. In the two weeks since my fraxel, I've broken out more around my chin and mouth area more than I have in a very, very long time. I look and feel hideous because of my new crop of 20-30 zits in just about the most obvious place on my face.

So, if it takes 6 months for the collagen to kick in, then I won't know until around November if it did actually do any good or not. Maybe then, at that time, I'll re-assess if all that money was worth it. Right now, I'm thinking that blowing our family vacation fund wasn't worth it.

One week.

I have been giving it a lot of thought and I'm reluctant to spend $4500 more dollars this year on something that I'm not even sure will help my scarring all that much. (Where I go, it's $900 for each session and, although I'm only scheduled for two more, everyone here says you have to do at least 6, which would be 5 more for me since I've only done one).

I've been considering waiting six months to see if there really will be any difference down the line before I sign up for more, instead of going into it somewhat blindly.

It's kind of hard battling the scars when the treatment for the scars is aggravating the acne that causes the scars in the first place. In the two weeks since my fraxel, I've broken out more around my chin and mouth area more than I have in a very, very long time. I look and feel hideous because of my new crop of 20-30 zits in just about the most obvious place on my face.

So, if it takes 6 months for the collagen to kick in, then I won't know until around November if it did actually do any good or not. Maybe then, at that time, I'll re-assess if all that money was worth it. Right now, I'm thinking that blowing our family vacation fund wasn't worth it.

 

I completely understand your position. But I would hang in there if you can. I have been feeling a little down since my first treatment as well. I broke out a bit and also got a cold sore. That plus the flaking and redness has been tough. From every source that I've seen, you won't see results after one treatment. I think the average is about 3 treatments. Maybe you can stick it out for three and then reassess the results?

Also, I've been taking B5 vitamin powder and it has helped to control my breakouts a lot. Not a miracle by any means but it really works for some people.

This is a very difficult thing to go through, but there are lots of us doing it and that provides me with a small measure of comfort. I really hope things start to improve for you. 🙂

Would someone ask their doctor how they sterilize the fraxel laser head?

I was shocked when I asked this of my laser hair removal tech. All they did was wipe it off!

Would someone ask their doctor how they sterilize the fraxel laser head?

I was shocked when I asked this of my laser hair removal tech. All they did was wipe it off!

 

I found this quote on the reliant website:

"The laser hand piece features two unique disposable tips to facilitate treatment."

So I think they are one use only.....but I'll ask when I have my treatment this afternoon.