Hihi,
So left side is old, some pics maybe 12-18 months old, and right side I've taken this week.
I have not had any filler at this stage.
There's no miracle results here, my skin is far from flawless, however given my scarring is quite severe, I personally think the progress has been great. People far too often have unreasonable expectations or are very impatient.
Obviously I have some significant fat loss particularly a very large hole which is obviously going to be impossible to fix without filler, however even that has seen a great deal of improvement.
There are a lot of rolling scars that have all but vanished, as well as significant textural improvements. I can see the vestige of many old scars, and then of course can still see many of the same scars, albeit improved versions.
What's not pictured well are my temples, which saw very solid improvement. Also obviously not everything is going to match up in these pics, I just chose 6 old ones and tried to find 6 new ones to match.
Treatments
In terms of treatments, I had a lot of subcision locally as well as a few other random things like microneedling a bunch of times. This subcision was just performed by two different local derms who are not scar specialists, they used the old school method, but have to give them credit, it definitely helped quite a bit.
Usually I would get treatment around every 3 months.
I also saw Dr Lim twice in the past 10 months, and these were my last two treatments. He used subcision (canula, and was much more thorough), laser (Fraxel - mgiht have been 1550, can't remember exactly), and some punch excision. His results were really good, but obviously, no miracles until I get filler at some stage.
I haven't had any treatment for 7 months now, I'm itching to see Dr Lim again, but I can't afford the treatment + travelling to the other side of Australia. Very frustrating that I haven't been able to go, but hopefully I can soon, as I imagine with a few more treatments my skin will make even better progress.
I am also hoping to get filler from him at some stage as obviously I have quite a bit of fat loss.
Advice
I just wanted to quickly note a few things that seems to lead to a lot of unnecessary negativity on this forum.
Firstly, it will take months for you to actually see the true results from any treatment. Far too often people post here 1 week after seeing x doctor and trashing them. Its so idiotic, it takes months for the skin to reform, for collagen to form, and so on. My own personal experience I'd say its 2 months minimum to see results, but a lot of studies suggest for most treatments it can often take 6-12 months to see the true, end results.
Second, be patient, progress is slow, you will need numerous treatments no matter the scars. Try and keep at it consistently every 3 months. I wouldn't rush it by trying to get treatment every 1-2 months, I think that's just going to mess up your previous treatment. Given results take months to work, I think its foolish to rush and disrupt that healing + remodelling process. I've definitely read some literature around this (not to get too frequent) but I can't remember it exactly.
Also while I'm not a derm, I really do think the multi-modality form of treatment (aka multiple things at once) is best. I think just getting laser or subcision on their own will only do so much, but together they can increase the efficacy of each other and target different things.
Anyway in general just don't be negative, I've had the same thought process at times where I think 'this is impossible,' or 'nothing works' that a lot post here, but take pics regularly and you'll hopefully see some progress a few months after your treatment. Miracles don't exist, just keep at it, and bit by bit it will improve.
Obviously control acne too, I'm usually pretty good with this but occasionally I still get some pimples which is really bad. I've definitely had at least a couple tiny new scars in the last 12 months because of this. Dr Lim really reiterated this point to me and its certainly the best advice one could give (unless you don't get acne at all anymore).
I still have a way to go but so far its been going well. Looking forward to hopefully seeing Dr Lim this year. Also making this is a good reminder to shave lol.
39 minutes ago, catchingFeelings said:You look much better! How much did you pay davin lim for 2 sessions of treatment?
I don't think he has fixed prices, he quotes based on various factors. For me, Medicare covered a lot of it, as the Australian government helps cover a portion of the cost of scar treatment if performed by a derm. I probably paid around $600 aud each treatment because of this, as I am a student and had hit the Medicare threshold (which is much lower for students). But it was also costly flying from Perth and to get decent enough accomodation where I could heal for a few days before flying back.
It would be best you reach out to his reception for a better idea of costs as its going to be different for everyone.
Most of my pics were somewhat side on, here's another on a harsh angle that might give a bit more idea on depth. That central area I had targeted many times with subcision and it has raised up quite a bit and lots of new skin formed in many areas, obviously there is fat loss there but tbh I'm not sure if I've seen fat loss like that improved so much without filler.
Then below it you see many rolling scars and other textural issues either completely removed or become very shallow.
The facial hair really doesn't help illustrate it though lol, but the lower cheek improved so much. First pic must have been taken in summer too.
1 hour ago, Acnescarssuck123 said:Nice, I like you™re perspective towards scar treatments. How do you handle social life? Do they bother you enough to where you don™t feel comfortable and stop yourself from doing things or do you not care and enjoy your life regardless?
No of course not, its never stopped me from doing anything and I'm a relatively social person. Obviously its had its difficult moments, but that generally would just be from me sitting in my room over-analyzing them too much.
Also these sets of pictures are intentionally taken at bad angles and in harsh lighting to make the scars more visible to better picture/document them. Here are three I've taken just now at 1am, and even with my eyes drooping at this hour they look fine in decent lighting and at a normal angle (took my jacket off after 1st one). Your scars never look as bad to others.
As long as you are always doing something about it, e.g. getting something done every 3~ months or however long you/your derm decide is best for you, then you're doing all you can, and everything else is largely out of your control. Just get regular treatment from the best doctor you can and improve it bit by bit. Similarly there's many other things in your control you can do for looks (e.g. exercise) if self conscious about appearance to others.
I've actually been feeling a bit more down about them recently simply because I haven't got treatment in 7 months now. But it's also been motivating me to sort some shit out in my life and get back to it. Like I said, if you're doing all you can, then you will feel better, and results will come.
Also I think being able to ignore them and live your life normally, be it go out, meet people, give presentations, do interviews and so forth with scars just makes you feel more confident, and also appear more confident to others.
edit: added 3rd pic with direct light too.
I don't really think even doctors appreciate or understand how scars vastly look differently depending on the lighting and angle. Example is your last picture of your whole face is like no scars at all, but once you angle them and throw on the harshest sun you can see them clearly.
Progress is amazing to be honest. To me it looks 50% improved. I think some angles looks 40% others 60%. That's another good case of subcision most likely the biggest benefit.
Question did you get subcision + filler or just subcision?
I think you should continue doing what you're doing as often as possible frankly.
3 minutes ago, harmlessboy1441 said:I don't really think even doctors appreciate or understand how scars vastly look differently depending on the lighting and angle. Example is your last picture of your whole face is like no scars at all, but once you angle them and throw on the harshest sun you can see them clearly.
Progress is amazing to be honest. To me it looks 50% improved. I think some angles looks 40% others 60%. That's another good case of subcision most likely the biggest benefit.
Question did you get subcision + filler or just subcision?
I think you should continue doing what you're doing as often as possible frankly.
0 filler to date, and I know that's what will be needed to treat the large atrophy, so I'm very optimistic about the future when I eventually get some + more treatment in general.
Also yeah I agree about the doctor thing, I think any future appointments I might literally just print out a picture of my face in harsh lighting and circle/highlight all the areas I'm most concerned about, or little things that might get missed. Because yeah your skin never looks as bad in a bright appointment room, nor do derms have time to spend hours thoroughly checking for every little scar like we can at home.
21 minutes ago, Flooressence said:No of course not, its never stopped me from doing anything and I'm a relatively social person. Obviously its had its difficult moments, but that generally would just be from me sitting in my room over-analyzing them too much.
Also these sets of pictures are intentionally taken at bad angles and in harsh lighting to make the scars more visible to better picture/document them. Here are two I've taken just now at 1am, and even with my eyes drooping at this hour they look fine in decent lighting and at a normal angle (took my jacket off after 1st one). Your scars never look as bad to others.
As long as you are always doing something about it, e.g. getting something done every 3~ months or however long you/your derm decide is best for you, then you're doing all you can, and everything else is largely out of your control. Just get regular treatment from the best doctor you can and improve it bit by bit. Similarly there's many other things in your control you can do for looks (e.g. exercise) if self conscious about appearance to others.
I've actually been feeling a bit more down about them recently simply because I haven't got treatment in 7 months now. But it's also been motivating me to sort some shit out in my life and get back to it. Like I said, if you're doing all you can, then you will feel better, and results will come.
Also I think being able to ignore them and live your life normally, be it go out, meet people, give presentations, do interviews and so forth with scars just makes you feel more confident, and also appear more confident to others.
That™s great ! I need to adapt your mindset because the one I have currently has driven be crazy and depressed! Lol but thanks for your input it really means a lot to me.
1 hour ago, Flooressence said:0 filler to date, and I know that's what will be needed to treat the large atrophy, so I'm very optimistic about the future when I eventually get some + more treatment in general.
Also yeah I agree about the doctor thing, I think any future appointments I might literally just print out a picture of my face in harsh lighting and circle/highlight all the areas I'm most concerned about, or little things that might get missed. Because yeah your skin never looks as bad in a bright appointment room, nor do derms have time to spend hours thoroughly checking for every little scar like we can at home.
This is good have you thought about doing taylor Subcison. As for widespread maybe the risk might be worth it.
Just looking at left vs right it's pretty inspiring how it's filled up that much already without any fillers keeping the tethers detached. I think it's just an example of how subcision seems to be the only real viable thing out there to attempt to snowball an attempt at healing certain scars that have caused atrophy or fat loss.
Whatever you do don't stop lol.
Would you attribute most progress to the "local docs" that did the "regular subcision"?
I think throwing in filler may not even be necessary yet if it's healing well on it's own it might just mask the progress frankly but it wouldn't hurt either.
2 hours ago, Gelko said:Very good results, with filler its gonna even better for rolling scars.
Yep I love progress like this especially since he was able to capture a literal side by side in the same position, same light, various angles. You can literally see the exact build up of material and where. Definitely 40-60% depending on the angle and scar. That's pretty damn good from subcision and it should technically improve more. I'd probably suggest filler too if only just to see if it increases the progress or not. But what filler? HA? Or something like sculptra?
It's also crazy how he looks like he has 15% of the scars in the normal lighting pics. That aspect to me basically gives me extreme anxiety I don't know about you. It's not that my scars are terrible they are superficial like lots of nicks, it's just when I hit the wrong light and see the reflection I get major anxiety and ptsd I guess. I never know how I look in any given light or place. So I can totally relate to that.
I also try to avoid to avoid the sun because I look freakish I checked the other day in a mirror in daylight, all weird looking imo. I remember funny stories like I was being flirted with by this really gorgeous girl at my college a while back (god knows why) and I was thinking oh god when I get outside I'm going to turn into f'ing quasi modo because we were literally all exiting at the same time. Stuff like that doctors can't seem to grasp they can't grasp the lighting/shadows variation, anxiety etc, or don't care.
5 hours ago, harmlessboy1441 said:Yep I love progress like this especially since he was able to capture a literal side by side in the same position, same light, various angles. You can literally see the exact build up of material and where. Definitely 40-60% depending on the angle and scar. That's pretty damn good from subcision and it should technically improve more. I'd probably suggest filler too if only just to see if it increases the progress or not. But what filler? HA? Or something like sculptra?
It's also crazy how he looks like he has 15% of the scars in the normal lighting pics. That aspect to me basically gives me extreme anxiety I don't know about you. It's not that my scars are terrible they are superficial like lots of nicks, it's just when I hit the wrong light and see the reflection I get major anxiety and ptsd I guess. I never know how I look in any given light or place. So I can totally relate to that.
I also try to avoid to avoid the sun because I look freakish I checked the other day in a mirror in daylight, all weird looking imo. I remember funny stories like I was being flirted with by this really gorgeous girl at my college a while back (god knows why) and I was thinking oh god when I get outside I'm going to turn into f'ing quasi modo because we were literally all exiting at the same time. Stuff like that doctors can't seem to grasp they can't grasp the lighting/shadows variation, anxiety etc, or don't care.
I can agree on that, for rolling scars mostly some HA filler, Sculptra could be also good (widespread scars). I'm also dealing with same type of acne scarring, mostly rolling with quite alot of fat loss. In normal light my scars are visible but really not bad. My anxiety and also PSTD starts to flare up when i check myself in direct sunlight / tinted car windows / overhead lights / rear view mirror/ ELEVATORS. So i know the struggle really, lighting can be our friend or enemy when we have acne scars. Acne scarring should be taken more seriously, because its like a mental prison for us. I've had an appointment with my plastic surgeon 1 week ago, he inspected my scars in normal lightning and said "it's not that bad, couple sessions of microneedling and it will be mostly unoticable". Yeah right, with that amount of fat loss is not possible 
My 2nd consult with a derm told me to do subcision with Ellanse filler. I'm so scared of dating seriously. So we must try to improve our other aspects of life like hitting the gym, have a good haircut/clothing etc. Damn it's really a struggle.
20 hours ago, getsmart121 said:This is good have you thought about doing taylor Subcison. As for widespread maybe the risk might be worth it.
I'm in one of the most isolated cities in the world (Perth) so in terms of locally, I'm almost certain nobody offers that. I'm going to largely focus on getting treatment from Dr Lim when I can afford to do so, and I will simply let him do his thing and what he feels is best. Plus I have access to basic subcision locally, but not really much else besidesTCA cross but I'm not sure I want this (I did actually have it before like 2 years ago but I'm not really sure it will help with much at the moment besides a few sharp little shallow scars). Otherwise my other options areneedling, or 'rejuvination' type lasers that I'm not sure would do anything.
18 hours ago, harmlessboy1441 said:Would you attribute most progress to the "local docs" that did the "regular subcision"?
I think throwing in filler may not even be necessary yet if it's healing well on it's own it might just mask the progress frankly but it wouldn't hurt either.
They have both been great, and its difficult to compare. I had a lot more treatments locally, but they weren't as thorough, more just subcising a few sections of my cheek / targeting the most obvious scars. But it helped a lot. Dr Lim was a lot more thorough and targeting scars all over my face, and also the laser seemed to help a lot with texture. For example local doctors never did my jawline or temples (besides microneedling), only Dr Lim, and both of those areas saw significant improvement.
Like I've said I've only managed to see Dr Lim twice but I am quite happy with the results.
Yeah I'm not in a rush to get fillers I'll let derm do his thing and decide when.
18 hours ago, harmlessboy1441 said:I think it's just an example of how subcision seems to be the only real viable thing out there to attempt to snowball an attempt at healing certain scars that have caused atrophy or fat loss.
Yeah pretty much how I feel. Just get sub over and over and get improvement bit by bit imo, even if there may be diminishing returns (and even better if can get laser with it). Not really too fussed seeking out 'miracle' treatments that don't really exist, just find access to people who can do trusted treatments and get them consistently.
2 hours ago, Flooressence said:Yeah pretty much how I feel. Just get sub over and over and get improvement bit by bit imo, even if there may be diminishing returns (and even better if can get laser with it). Not really too fussed seeking out 'miracle' treatments that don't really exist, just find access to people who can do trusted treatments and get them consistently.
I wish I could see Dr. Lim because I have major textural problems that no doctor seems to be able to identify, help with or suggest any treatments. I have practically no deep scarring or gaps but there's coloration and problems in the upper layer that seem unsolvable. I've been searching my area for potential doctors but one I saw a few weeks ago just brushed me aside and told me to live with it. So I don't know.
If I could I'd see Lim but I doubt it's an option and even if it was there's no guarantee he'd be able to help me. And I'd send pics or something to see but I hear he gets like 200 or something letters a day. I have no hope of getting through from the states. And my scars are very hard to pick up on anything other than a HD camera up close which makes snapping smartphone pics harder.
I am going to follow your lead though I have one larger scar from a botched excision that I'm going to have subcised as soon as possible in a normal way, just picking the doctor and I'll probably throw in some juvederm I guess. The other stuff seems unsolvable. To describe mine there's like dozens and dozens of tiny tears (rips) and dots leftover from dermabrasion the icepicks. It's almost a textural problem now where aging is compounding it or something. I'm trying to lose weight to see if it counterbalances the texture but who knows.
You're really lucky to be able to see Lim and get great progress, keep at it and share, well done.
