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(@dragonfire)

Posted : 08/18/2013 9:48 am

Hello everyone. I have been browsing these forums for about a year looking at different treatment options etc. I have tried dermarolling, dermastamp and needling. I have to admit though that I never really got into a routine with any of it. My scars are SEVERELY effecting my life. I am almost to the point where I think I need a psychiatrist, not a dermatologist. I hate leaving my house. I always feel that people are staring at me. My family tells me I am crazy, "paranoid". Well maybe I am but I can't change the reality in my head that people ARE staring at me. I have never had perfect skin. Large pores (hereditary), chicken pox scars and 2 scars from a dog bite when I was 3 years old. I really never had an "acne" problem. I would get pimples here and there. It wasn't until 5 years ago maybe when I started really picking and obsessing over pimples that I got to this point. And even up until a year ago, even though I was sorta aware that my face wasn't perfect, it didn't bother me much. But last year I went to a doctor (a gyne!!) who looked at me (did a scan of my face) and told me he could see that I didn't take care of myself very well, didn't eat right. I cried when I left that office and it has been down hill ever since. As I said, I hate leaving the house. We have financial issues and I can't go get another job because of the stress I think it would put on me having to face more people. My husband is getting so frustrated with me over this. I went to a dermatologist because I have a cyst on my right cheek that has been there 3 years and it recently started getting more red and visible. He said nothing should be done with it as it would just cause more scarring. He told me the only thing that would work with my scars is dermabrasion and referred me to a plastic surgeon. I made an appt there and for some reason was sent directly to their "spa", never saw the doctor. They recommended laser and microdermabrasion I believe, to be done all at once at a cost of $1300. Said it would make my skin look better. That I might need a few treatments but would notice a difference right away. I scheduled my appt and went in to have it done. While putting the numbing gel on my face, the girl asked it I was naturally dark or tan. I told her it was a tan, she finished applying the gel and went and made a phone call. Returned and said she couldn't do the procedure because I was tan and the lasers might cause more damage because of it. I was so upset. No one ever told me to stop tanning before the procedure. Yes, I tan. I know once I get this fixed I will have to stop. I know my skin shows a LOT of sun damage. So anyway, next stop was to another plastic surgeon where I actually saw the doctor. He recommended subcision ? I believe at a cost of around $3000. Told me the lasers would have done nothing for me. I was convinced he was the real deal but decided to wait until after summer. Now I am thinking he is full of it too. That I really DO need dermabrasion to fix this. It isn't just the scarring that bothers me. It is the whole picture. Wrinkles are getting worse on my forehead and other places, I have major bags under my eyes, probably from stress, large pores and just an overall orange peel texture. I NEED to do something!!! This is ruining my life! Any thoughts on what might help? Attaching a few of my worst pics.

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MemberMember
81
(@dudleydoright)

Posted : 08/18/2013 11:01 am

I know you would be dissatisfied with dermabrasion because your scars are too deep for that to work. I would advise Re:pair at the maximum setting and it would require probably 5 Re:pairs. The one doctor you saw was not offering Re:pair but rather non-ablative CO2 for $1300. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON NON-ABLATIVE LASERS. Know the difference in lasers before you do anything. You are going to have to suck it up and get a 2nd job to proceed as this will get expensive. We are probably talking about 10k to take you to where you want to be. You can either take up arms against this or accept the scars. I am a little tougher on you than most on here because in many ways I was in the same position as you as far as scars go, and I know you must get aggressive. You will be happy once you go on the attack!

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MemberMember
28
(@freshstart2014)

Posted : 08/20/2013 1:32 pm

For the inside, go to therapy and think about getting on SSRI meds. It will help curb the obsession. Or at least it has for me.

For the outside, it looks like some of your scars could benefit from subsicion. You can get improvement but it will take time, money and likely more than one method.

Good luck!!

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