Jodie, thanks for input.

The bad scar on right cheek started as an incision of a cyst that had to be reexcised twice. I think you are right that it looks worse now, probably from failed punch floats. Dr Y did it once and then again on both top and bottom of scar. It is possible that Fraxel made it worse, but this is the one float area that probably turned out worse. I asked a derm about a filler and she said that it is right on my dimple when I smile so she would not inject it. That said, there is lost tissue here and I think a filler would be a nice solution. Anyone with thoughts on this? I would love to fix this sucker.

When you suggest floats, have you had personal success with them? My experience is that most floats did not work, so I gave up on them even though a few worked very nicely.

Although I am sensitive about posting photos, I am ok with my ears. I was trying to make the point that I have magnified the size of the scars by a factor of 2 or 3. Therefore, I am hoping it does not look this bad in real life. Becasue they are on the side, I can't tell what they look like from the mirror. The scar issue is about how people perceive me, call it insecurity.

Back from second fraxel. :dance:

I don't know the settings for the full face passes, I know she did additional passes (cheeks and chin) setting of 35 (level 8 I think).

I'll call tomorrow and get the settings.

Serious firey pain for about 6 hours. I'm bright red. Plus, I have some pinpoint bleeding on cheeks, chin and forehead. Not as much swelling as last time. Possibly due to use of a chilled green tea mask product immediately following the lasering? :think:

Two down, three to go. :clap:

 

Shyone - wow, 35? Maybe I'm confused about the settings. The highest I had was 22 and that hurt even tho I had the numbing cream and a vicodin in my system. I was really swollen from that, but not until the next day. Didn't the 35 hurt? btw, I had lots of pinpoint bleeding the last time. Good luck with your recovery!

oops, I meant to say left cheek, not right cheek.

Lastly, i did have restylane in that nasty scar once and it worked great for 6 months. Unfortuantely, it was expensive and I think the scar is slightly worse now from floats. I would really like a longer lasting filler, to which my new derm said she did not want to inject in dimple.

billyboy, i think your skin looks great. are the 2 last pictures before pictures? i see great improvement on your right cheek... your left cheek had some improvement too. how many treatements did you do so far?

Jodie, thanks for input.

The bad scar on right cheek started as an incision of a cyst that had to be reexcised twice. I think you are right that it looks worse now, probably from failed punch floats. Dr Y did it once and then again on both top and bottom of scar. It is possible that Fraxel made it worse, but this is the one float area that probably turned out worse. I asked a derm about a filler and she said that it is right on my dimple when I smile so she would not inject it. That said, there is lost tissue here and I think a filler would be a nice solution. Anyone with thoughts on this? I would love to fix this sucker.

When you suggest floats, have you had personal success with them? My experience is that most floats did not work, so I gave up on them even though a few worked very nicely.

Although I am sensitive about posting photos, I am ok with my ears. I was trying to make the point that I have magnified the size of the scars by a factor of 2 or 3. Therefore, I am hoping it does not look this bad in real life. Becasue they are on the side, I can't tell what they look like from the mirror. The scar issue is about how people perceive me, call it insecurity.

 

My punch hole grafting was left slightly raised, then lasered down to my skin level after about 2-3 weeks after they healed. They took the skin from behind the ear. You can't even tell where they were now.

I had a very good DR. My shallow scarring now in minor, but wish to have another laser and shall be thus fixed. If I can find a freaking Dr. to do it. Like they are so into fraxel now and I don't want it after haring things like this. I have went through sooo much work getting the scars down it makes me sick.

There is one area I have had restylin in and yes it was a cyst I had to have excised 5 times! Then when it finally never came back I had the scar cut out to kinda remodel it, then restylin injections. After about 4 of them 6 months apart, the last one is still plump, and it has been 18 months.

I have read on this board about silicone injections, you should look into it. I am allergic to it, but most are not. It is supposedly permanent and a guy like yourself, around your age, is very very happy now.

Let us all know what you do. I would certainly change derms, and get a few more opinions.

Restylin is not permanent, at least not until multiple injections it tends tolast longer each time, and they certainy could try it even if it is by a dimple. You as the patient should decide on the result.

Check out the silicone filler thread though.......someone is very happy with it. You need a very skilled Dr. for it though. (some are sloppy) I have noticed this too........

billyboy, i think your skin looks great. are the 2 last pictures before pictures? i see great improvement on your right cheek... your left cheek had some improvement too. how many treatements did you do so far?

 

His skin is great! But I certainly even I would expect more improvement with the Fraxel. So much money, when laser and fillers would have done better. I am very glad for the pics. cause I wont do fraxel now.

I was wondering if someone could help me out,im planning on doing fraxel in a few months.This topic is too long to comepletely read through :S

would really appreciate it if someone could help

-did it help anyone with post acne red/purple marks

-help with ice pick scars

-Does it effect the facial fat

-can it make roscea worse or start it

-is it possible have sun exposure after the treatment & go to work without looking horrible (without make up)

-anyone experienced any long term side effects

hey billy boy

so here's my honest opinion on ur pics. i have to say, i was actually expecting you to have farrrr worse scars, but i was surprised at how minimal ur scarring truly is! you didnt even need fraxel in the first place, honestly. and at this point, i really dont think you need to get ANYTHING done either.. your skin looks fine to me .. and i dunno if it's just me and my weird skin obsession, but lately iv been noticeing that virtually EVERYONE has some sort of scarring on their face. dont sweat it. and btw, although it could possibly be a result of lighting, i did notice a minor difference in your post fraxel pics, mainly in your overall skin tone and textural appearance.

Shyone - wow, 35? Maybe I'm confused about the settings. The highest I had was 22 and that hurt even tho I had the numbing cream and a vicodin in my system. I was really swollen from that, but not until the next day. Didn't the 35 hurt? btw, I had lots of pinpoint bleeding the last time. Good luck with your recovery!

 

Okay, I called and confirmed the settings used:

Full face 17mjs at level 10.

Additional passes cheeks and chin 35mjs at level 7.

Toner, this doc is using the new fraxel machine and she's told me that the settings don't match up the same as with the old machine, but I haven't spent any time trying to figure out how/why, lol.

Yes, 35 hurt LIKE A BEAR and I wanted very much to quit BUT...this is the only thing I've ever done for these scars, so I forced myself to tolerate the pain. I am praying that I will be able to stand the next one (scheduled for October 10).

I had the numbing cream, darvocet and valium and STILL it was bad.

I'm bright red and more swollen today. Lots of pinpoint bleed spots.

The doc said slight improvements should start being noticeable after this one. I hope she's right...

They're logging my progress session by session, so they took more pics yesterday. When we looked at my "before" pics, we all agreed that there was no change to the acne scarring BUT - one forehead line is now GONE!

It was a small line, only about an inch long, above my right eyebrow, and it is not there anymore. If you look really close, you can see a shadow of where it was, but for all practical purposes, it's GONE. :clap:

I'll keep y'all up to date on how it goes.

 

Shyone - wow, 35? Maybe I'm confused about the settings. The highest I had was 22 and that hurt even tho I had the numbing cream and a vicodin in my system. I was really swollen from that, but not until the next day. Didn't the 35 hurt? btw, I had lots of pinpoint bleeding the last time. Good luck with your recovery!

 

Okay, I called and confirmed the settings used:

Full face 17mjs at level 10.

Additional passes cheeks and chin 35mjs at level 7.

Toner, this doc is using the new fraxel machine and she's told me that the settings don't match up the same as with the old machine, but I haven't spent any time trying to figure out how/why, lol.

Yes, 35 hurt LIKE A BEAR and I wanted very much to quit BUT...this is the only thing I've ever done for these scars, so I forced myself to tolerate the pain. I am praying that I will be able to stand the next one (scheduled for October 10).

I had the numbing cream, darvocet and valium and STILL it was bad.

I'm bright red and more swollen today. Lots of pinpoint bleed spots.

The doc said slight improvements should start being noticeable after this one. I hope she's right...

They're logging my progress session by session, so they took more pics yesterday. When we looked at my "before" pics, we all agreed that there was no change to the acne scarring BUT - one forehead line is now GONE!

It was a small line, only about an inch long, above my right eyebrow, and it is not there anymore. If you look really close, you can see a shadow of where it was, but for all practical purposes, it's GONE. :clap:

I'll keep y'all up to date on how it goes.

 

Could you tell me about the chilled green tea mask? I'm going in for my second round of Fraxel in a few weeks, and I had very bad swelling from those. I'll try anything that would help lessen the amount of swelling I get. Thanks!

 

 

Shyone - wow, 35? Maybe I'm confused about the settings. The highest I had was 22 and that hurt even tho I had the numbing cream and a vicodin in my system. I was really swollen from that, but not until the next day. Didn't the 35 hurt? btw, I had lots of pinpoint bleeding the last time. Good luck with your recovery!

 

Okay, I called and confirmed the settings used:

Full face 17mjs at level 10.

Additional passes cheeks and chin 35mjs at level 7.

Toner, this doc is using the new fraxel machine and she's told me that the settings don't match up the same as with the old machine, but I haven't spent any time trying to figure out how/why, lol.

Yes, 35 hurt LIKE A BEAR and I wanted very much to quit BUT...this is the only thing I've ever done for these scars, so I forced myself to tolerate the pain. I am praying that I will be able to stand the next one (scheduled for October 10).

I had the numbing cream, darvocet and valium and STILL it was bad.

I'm bright red and more swollen today. Lots of pinpoint bleed spots.

The doc said slight improvements should start being noticeable after this one. I hope she's right...

They're logging my progress session by session, so they took more pics yesterday. When we looked at my "before" pics, we all agreed that there was no change to the acne scarring BUT - one forehead line is now GONE!

It was a small line, only about an inch long, above my right eyebrow, and it is not there anymore. If you look really close, you can see a shadow of where it was, but for all practical purposes, it's GONE. :clap:

I'll keep y'all up to date on how it goes.

 

Could you tell me about the chilled green tea mask? I'm going in for my second round of Fraxel in a few weeks, and I had very bad swelling from those. I'll try anything that would help lessen the amount of swelling I get. Thanks!

 

Here's what I used (and still have, it's reuseable for about 10 or 12 times):

http://www.natragel.com/html/products/n102.html

The site says they don't sell direct to consumers. At my derm's office, the cost was just under $30.

Let me know via PM here if you can't find anyone in your area that sells the product.

Wasting, I had 4 and I have been told that it takes up to 6 months after the final to see final results. My pics were about 65 days after last session, so I am hoping for more improvement. Yes, the last two pictures are pre floats and pre fraxel. As noted earlier, due to lighting differences, etc. I am not sure if I got any improvement from fraxel - it is very hard to draw consculsions. I think I did, but it is so small it is hard to quantify and justify the cost ($2,800) . If it had not improved my skin color and softness, I would have been very disappointed by cost/benefit.

Someone asked about rosacea. I had a red sun burnt look pre fraxel that looks better now.

Cat, I'm super attracted to women, so I am not gay, but my facial scarring really bugs me. Maybe I am a perfectionist and would have an eating disorder if I were female, but I feel that my scarring is my only big flaw and I want to fix it. I have the time and money to do so. The problem is that in some cases, I have made it worse; 2 steps forward, 1 step back.

Jodie, I am intrigued by your grafting and filler success. Cooltouch was having this at the time I was going to NO to get my punch floats by Dr y, which did not work that great overall for me. I know she was really happy and used a doc in the Bay Area. I wish I had known of this before going to NO. I have been hesitant to try new things becasue of past failures and from reading this site. Also, as to that nasty scar, I was hoping it would respond to fraxel and revisit filler. When I smile it actually looks really nicer than the other side dimple becasue it has more definition. But, it looks bad when I don't smile. I have learned to smile a lot. many people think I am naturally happy and glad to see them, but I am really just hiding my scar. Ha, ha but actually true.

So fraxel vets, is it safe to say the downtime is slightly less than say a TCA peel??

Anyone have or know of where to get the new fraxel done in the NYC area? The new laser I believe is called the SR1500 laser.

You can go to the reliant website and get in touch with customer service. One of the sales reps actually called me. I'm in CT, and the nearest to me is in Greenwich (but not for another month). Also, in Chestnut Hill, MA. I'm sure there is someone in NYC. He didn't give me any names though - probably thought it was too far for me to go.

Hello again folks

Lost password and all that stuff so wasn't able to post anything until I regained it. I'm not a computer genious and cant spell worth a sh... either.

I just had my 3rd fraxel just hours ago but should comment about what the results were after my second. I am very pleased in that I have noticed a definate difference overall. The side benifits are a "bonus" the fine lines and improvement in skin tone are nice to see, I'm 42. My scars have improved just slightly but noticably. I'm encouraged with some of the things that I have read about some people seeing results months after their last treatments and sure hope that I see the same.

This 3rd treatment was very tollerable and I actually wished that he would have hit me a little higher setting or more passes. Not much/many tho. I was pretty much "done" but at the same time, I would have liked him to have "zapped" me with whatever I could have handled.

I'm really happy that some people are seeing results months after treatments, I was pesimistic about those claims of "rebuilding cologen" hmmmmm! We'll see

Hang in there folks

I think fraxel is junk. It seems to help rollings scars better than like icepicks or large pores.

Like very bad skin.

My Dr. here says it won't help my very few shallow scars. Yes they bother me as there are on my cheeks.

It was a piss ass appt. today. Now my Plastics guy does not wan't to do another erbium on me and like I am totally white skinned! I Will not lose pigment, I blush still and all. Nothing is wrong. Screw him.

Makes no fucken sence. ALL I need now is 1 lighter Erbium. Fixed. Done. But something more than 35 microns deep, like double that, and it is still not too deep! And just on certain areas, then blend in lightly so I am just well "blended".

Most of the people here Prof derms or Dr's ave given up their lasers. Like a city of over a million, they are going for the boomers who want less down time and mostly for wrinkles.

Well I don't have wrinkles, so I am out of it.

I am contacting Plastics guys from other cities who love the laser.

Now in like a popuation of like a million and a half I have to go elsewhere. Like out of provence or the states.

I am just so pissed! Noone wants to touch my skin, we'll they don't have the correct laser, and second my one guy does not wish me too have a 3rd treatment. (Erbium combined with a light C02.).

We'll I will travel and do searches and send pics, but maybe some closer I can make a long weekend out of it.

Thank you,

I got some of it off my chest.

The docs are so "phat" from other sutff here, they have given up on acne scarring.

Again screw them!!!!!!!

Hello again folks

Lost password and all that stuff so wasn't able to post anything until I regained it. I'm not a computer genious and cant spell worth a sh... :naughty: either.

I just had my 3rd fraxel just hours ago but should comment about what the results were after my second. I am very pleased in that I have noticed a definate difference overall. The side benifits are a "bonus" the fine lines and improvement in skin tone are nice to see, I'm 42. My scars have improved just slightly but noticably. I'm encouraged with some of the things that I have read about some people seeing results months after their last treatments and sure hope that I see the same.

This 3rd treatment was very tollerable and I actually wished that he would have hit me a little higher setting or more passes. Not much/many tho. I was pretty much "done" but at the same time, I would have liked him to have "zapped" me with whatever I could have handled.

I'm really happy that some people are seeing results months after treatments, I was pesimistic about those claims of "rebuilding cologen" hmmmmm! We'll see :think:

Hang in there folks :dance:

 

YAY! Sounds good, Seanski!

hi, will fraxel remove red spots, brown spots, and purple spots that are attache to scars?

I just wanted to drop a note about my fraxel experience. I am 3 weeks post my 5th fraxel treatment. It is only during the last week that I have been seeing a definite improvement. I did all 5 fraxels in the time period starting May 30 with my last one on August 31. I do not know treatment levels-- I am of Indian descent with skin type IV, so pigmentation was a concern. I would say for the first 3 fraxels, I had about 4 days of downtime; for the last 2-- one week of downtime.

I have moderate to shallow scarring on my cheeks and temples. I see improvement when I look at my skin in different lighting-- before I could see my scarring if I was a couple of feet from the mirror; now I see it if I am 6 inches or so from the mirror. The individual scars are still there-- they were not zapped away, but they look so much better. My skin looks thicker and the texture is definitely more even. I can tell when I wash my face that there is something going on with my skin-- before the soap would get caught in my scars-- now that still happens but to a much lesser extent. I did not take pictures personally so cannot post them.

I have a demarcation line around my eyes still (the fraxel wasn't used near my eyes-- it hurt too much and I do not have any wrinkles yet (I am a youthful looking 30)), but as time goes by, it is becoming less and less. I do not have any other pigmentation problems. I am using products from [Removed]. The products were made to aid in the recovery of laser treatments-- they are really gentle and do not contain anything that would break you out. I highly recommend them (they have a prescription only bleaching cream which I really like-- it doesn't feel too chemical). I got them from a doctor who I had my 1st fraxel consultation with (I didn't end up going to her because she had no experience with acne scars but her products are good). I didn't use any heavy creams or anything during the recovery process.

Since fraxel doesn't really fix anything (like mole removal) but instead stimulates collagen growth, it makes sense that it takes so long to see an improvement and that it would vary with person to person depending on age and health. After my 4th fraxel, I thought it was a waste of time. But know I am beginning to see improvement and cannot wait to see what I look like in 6 months. If money is a concern and you are expecting 100% improvement from the laser, I would pass on the laser-- I am not expecting 100% improvement, I just wanted my overall skin appearance to look better, which it does. I suspect that I will get more improvement in the actual scars as time goes by.

The more i read this thread the more I realize I would rather have 5 lasers, see improvement, and have 10 days "down", 1 year apart.

Long time but well worth it as the tx. results is for sure.

(Just getting down, noone has had real exciting improvement with fraxel, and I am getting depressed cause I really wanted to try it.)

The more i read this thread the more I realize I would rather have 5 lasers, see improvement, and have 10 days "down", 1 year apart.

Long time but well worth it as the tx. results is for sure.

(Just getting down, noone has had real exciting improvement with fraxel, and I am getting depressed cause I really wanted to try it.) :wall:

 

Same here.

I just had my first fraxel a week and a half ago. I am just curious because everyone talks about how smooth their skin was a few days after the procedure. Has anyone experienced having rough skin with small bumps all over?? Thats how my face still looks and I went back to the doctor who did it and he said that this was normal and it was because he was really aggressive. I feel like I am the only one who this has happend to! My skin looks worse than it did before I went and got the fraxel! I am hoping that it will get better!

I just had my first fraxel a week and a half ago. I am just curious because everyone talks about how smooth their skin was a few days after the procedure. Has anyone experienced having rough skin with small bumps all over?? Thats how my face still looks and I went back to the doctor who did it and he said that this was normal and it was because he was really aggressive. I feel like I am the only one who this has happend to! My skin looks worse than it did before I went and got the fraxel! I am hoping that it will get better!

 

With the first fraxel, the doc went extremely aggressive on my chin area. It was so swollen that it was weeping, and that crusted and so it was really icky for a while. I remember also having a rash of little bumps in that area, but they were minor and resolved very quickly. The crusty icky part resolved within about a week and a half.

Are you using any topicals?

I just had my first fraxel a week and a half ago. I am just curious because everyone talks about how smooth their skin was a few days after the procedure. Has anyone experienced having rough skin with small bumps all over?? Thats how my face still looks and I went back to the doctor who did it and he said that this was normal and it was because he was really aggressive. I feel like I am the only one who this has happend to! My skin looks worse than it did before I went and got the fraxel! I am hoping that it will get better!

 

No one has smooth skin a few days after a Fraxel.....;) Even in the best case scenerio, you'll have dry flaky skin... You aren't alone, I've had 8 Fraxels and my face was a mess for weeks after every one. Irritated and bumpy w/some tiny breakouts. It did take awhile to clear up, but then I did have soft, smoother skin.

I think some people are just more sensitive to the procedure. It'll get better though....

Thanks Shyone and Widgie for replying to my post! Not that I am glad to hear that anyone else has to deal with looking like crap after fraxel, but its reassuring to hear I am not alone!! I have been using this CU3 post laser lotion I got from the doctors office. Is there anything anyone has used that made the bumps and irritation go away quicker??