I've tried both.
I assume you're talking about the fractional co2 laser? I did two of them (total fx).
The improvement was minimal, I'd say 5-10% as well on the first, the second gave none at all.
I've also done microneedling, I don't know exactly how many and can't give an exact % of improvement, but i'd say it works equally well if not better than the fractional co2, without the cost or downtime.
Just make sure you have the right scartypewith whatever treatment you choose, otherwise you'll be wasting your time.
On 8/29/2017 at 0:59 AM, arte90 said:I've tried both.
I assume you're talking about the fractional co2 laser? I did two of them (total fx).
The improvement was minimal, I'd say 5-10% as well on the first, the second gave none at all.
I've also done microneedling, I don't know exactly how many and can't give an exact % of improvement, but i'd say it works equally well if not better than the fractional co2, without the cost or downtime.Just make sure you have the right scartypewith whatever treatment you choose, otherwise you'll be wasting your time.
On 8/29/2017 at 1:12 AM, dazzed said:Agreed. If you don't have the right scar types lasers are a complete waste of time (brutally honest truth). I have also done co2 laser and it did not help, but made my skin texture worse. If you have ethnic skin be prepared for prolonged hyperpigmentation.
I had pyoderma faciale and according to docs have every type of scar type in different combinations, most are boxcar or rolling with some ice pick and 2 hypertrophic. What are your thoughts on treatments working for these?
There is some misinformation in this topic. Various scar types have various treatments, there is no one treatment that is the best. You really need to tell us the type of scars you have or post a pic closeup of your scars, otherwise were simply guessing. If you want a general overview of the scar types and treatments goto the faq, top of the scar sub (first post).
Microneedling / laser will do nothing for the wrong scar types, scar treatments are never one and done, takes multiple treatments over 2-3 years period of time, you get some improvement with each treatment. Microneedling is a upkeep (collagen production) procedure, not for pitting, texture, or icepicks. It's great to use on fibrotic scarring to break it up, it will not make new skin reappear.Doing it a few times and saying it does nothing is like slapping some moisturizer on a few times and saying, I am done. It works for some people / scar types as a anti-aging procedure and not for others. Same with peels you can do one tca and say I am done, ... people do a few peels yearly for upkeep and they have perfect skin.
As beautiful ambition says, find a method for the scar type. Ice pick scars, TCA CROSS or punch excision. Broad box car, surgical elevation, tethered scars, subcsion, atrophic scars filler or fat transfer. Most patients will have a mixture of scars, hence best to target scars than go for a treatment. To answer your question directly- if you are talking about microneedling without energy, and Co2 fractional with a good laser, there are lots of difference. The main one is collagen remodelling with the generation of controlled heating and cytokine release- generation of HSP or heat shock protein 70 and 90 with lasers, and not with non energy based microneedling. Fractional lasers with Co2 have their role, though often they are over rated. A classic example is Fraxel Re:Pair at 70 mj energy - only good for mild and superficial scars and a good specialist with a needle can outperform this laser if your scar type is predominately rolling, anchored, or tethered. TCA can out perform even good lasers like the Ultrapulse, Mixto, Deka, Youlaser and CORE if your scar type is primarily ice pick or narrow box car scars. Its the method, not the device that gives the best results.