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April 20, 2007
Cons:
hurts like HELL!!
pricey ($300 per treatment)
i'll keep you posted...so far i've done 2 treatments in 3 week increments. my face looks great! ...not perfect...but a huge improvement...a lot less break outs and scars are smoothing out as well! friends, family, and co-workers have noticed...very exciting! some of these reviews really scared me but i guess i have the perfect skin scenario for this treatment...not stuck up girl: "oh my god, i got a zit" type....more like the infection/cystic type acne and mainly on the cheeks with mild scarring...but not crazy broken out all of the time and all over my face type either! i've had acne since my early-late teens...i've been on many medications and birth control has been the only thing that has worked. i researched many treatments before i booked my smoothbeam appt.! I think that I will do 2 more and let you know my final outcome!
October 9, 2006
Pros:
Pros: Effectively treats active ance lesions, yields marginal improvement in acne scarring, helps lighten post-inflammatory redness from acne, gives an overall 'smoother' appearance to the skin
Cons:
Cons: Very expensive, expect pain and discomfort during, and directly after, treatment, best results may take a couple months after the treatment is finished to appear, risk more scarring if done incorrectly
This laser is a very uneconomical and marginally effective treatment for acne scarring; however, if you have the money, it is an option -- for a small fortune. (I spent $900 USD for a series of four treatments, and the results I see so far are disappointing for the amount I paid.) Yet, it is excellent for clearing active acne and relatively "new" blemishes. I have 100% clearance of my acne post-treatment, except I still have the acne scarring as detailed above. Please, be realistic with your expectations of what this laser can and cannot do. Although I see some *slight* improvement in my scarring, I expected a greater reduction in its size and depth; it will NOT completely remove scarring (as is true for most procedures.) I have had tremedous success with at-home chemical peels with the scarring without breaking the bank, and I would recommend this first before doing laser.
July 16, 2008
Pros:
A year after the treatment I can see a slight flattening of my original scarring. It is no where near the 60-70% improvement as I was told by the dermatologist.
Cons:
My cystic acne returned after 5 sessions. I was told that I would be rid of all of those small little ones I would get each month and instead I got 3 huge breakouts that even after injections left deeper scars than the ones I started with.
I spent over $5000.00 on Smoothbeam treatments over a year in addition to 2 Vbeam sessions (absolutely did NOTHING!). I have to say if I could take it back I would. As I stated above I broke out horribly after a few treatments. I had not had cystic acne for years before the Smoothbeam treatments. Also, I have to say that the dermatologist who was very excited and positive in the beginning was basically shooing me out the door at the end of the treatments. He said that prior to me his success rate was 100%. I have a feeling I was not the first failure, nor would I be his last. I find that micro-dermabrasion 2xs a month keeps my acne at bay (along with Yaz birth control) and makes my skin look a bit smoother. I remain hopefully optimistic that one day there will be a better solution.
December 2, 2006
Pros:
Non-surgical help for my acne scars. It improves your skin gradually- remember that NOTHING will make your scars look like uninjured skin, only improve what your current problem.
Cons:
Hurts really bad, UNLESS you can get your doctor to give you pain meds before and after. They want your business, so ask for meds- it doesn't cost them anything to write a perscription for you.
Here's the trick to a pain-free Smoothbeam experience...without this method it was the most painful thing I have ever been thru.. 1 Tylenol 3 with Codeine- 1.5 hours before treatment, at this time apply Betacaine to face. 1 Tylenol 3 with Codeine- .5 hours before treatment, and apply more Betacaine to face. Put cotton balls in your ears, so you don't hear the gun. 4 hours after treatment, take one more Tylenol 3 with codiene and lay down with frozen peas on your face.
October 11, 2006
Pros:
Too early in the treatment to tell. So far, my skin seems a little smoother.
Cons:
Painful, expensive, and slow. Also, temporary side-effects can be emotionally debilitating.
I've had acne since my teens and am now in my 20s. I have hormonal breakouts, but they are never too bad. I had Candela's smoothbeam treatment for my scarring - moderately pitted scars and brownish-red spots.
My dermatologist advised me that this process is one of the slowest on the market - taking up to 6 months for results.
I had my first session 1 wk ago, and it was painful! For 5 days I looked as if a cat had been tossed at my face - I had red track marks everywhere. Worse, I broke out with cystic acne for the first time in my life along my jawline, and small pimples formed around my mouth.
It has been 1 wk since the procedure and my skin has mostly returned to it's normal appearance. My skin is a little smoother now. I am going to continue the procedure b/c the side effects went away. I am hoping to see improvements in the next months and will repost then. In the meantime, I would advise others to have patience w/this procedure - and be forewarned of the side effec
July 16, 2007
Pros:
Quick, very little downtime
Cons:
It hurt! And I was not expecting the swelling as none of the literature mentioned that. I looked lika I had been snapped with 10 rubber bands for a day. From what I can see what everyone else paid I think I overpaid-$800 forVbeam/Smoothbeam combo
I am VERY fair so I was worried about redness as a side effect and decided to try my DRs recommendation of v eam/smoothbeam combo to get rid of my old acne scarring (divets) and new acne and purple scars, etc. Mr DR always does these as a combo so I signed up (the fraxel seemed so much more of a "commitment"). It hurt more than I expected (some areas were on a higher setting) but I did feel firmer afterward and didnt look too bad afterward. The rednnes disappeared within 2 hours but then I saw all these lumps on my face that I was not expecting. The RN had given me bionect gel to take the swelling down and it worked. I had this done Friday at noon and my Sat morning I was almost 100% back to normal. It is now Sunday and I feel that my skin is less greasy and a little firmer and more even. But did I overpay? Everyone is saying $300 but I paid $800 (though I had a combo of v-beam and smoothbeam).
December 15, 2006
Pros:
after 1 treatment my skin texture was improved but i have only had 1 treatment so far
Cons:
it costs a lot $300 for smooth beam and v beam for redness of scars. my strees level went up because I am using all of the money i have in savings and all i am doing is stressing about if i am wasting my money.
i will post after my 2nd treatment in january!
November 1, 2006
*Paid $1,050 for six treatments.
*Got hyperpigmentation after the first treatment. ( The doctor tole me that it would take several weeks for this new hyperpigmentation caused by the laser to go away.)
*No another hyperpigmentation after the second treatment.
*Have not obtained the third treatment yet.
*Red marks/scars caused by acne seem to disappear.
*Overall skin condition seems to improve.
May 11, 2007
Pros:
First time had it today. Numbing cream is working but i could tolerate it in some sensetives areas. Skin was red and swalen for about 2-3 hours, now it is fine and smooth.
Cons:
kind of expensive.most of my issue was that my doctor was cute - funny part. i even didn't concentrate on the pain so much, just wanted to dissapear.
I tried everithing, acsept accutane, but will never go for that one.I had CO2 laser done like 8 years ago, helped with scars, but every stress would make me brake out again. Finally i got it under controll with Differin gel(evening) and clindagel morning for the last two years, all this treatments made my eyes so dry, that it made me wrinkle. Nobody in my family have that kind of wrinkles even though they are older. So now i guess i have to do something about it too.. I purchased HI-Frequency current, it smothes my skin, and helped somehow before my my smoothbeam.and stoped using toothpaste with tartar protection, my doc said it can make me brake out around mouth, using toothpaste with baking soda now, kind of helping. I never new about that. Maybe some of you can use it.
The question is for thouse of you that did the smoothbeam- Did you stoped using your regular medicine after the treatment? If yes how long after the treatment or treatments. Do you feel confident without medicine?
January 31, 2007
Pros:
Smoother Skin is all i notice right now, No downtime
Cons:
Expensive
Just had first treatment earlier in the morning, not really expecting anything but gonna post after every treatment (which is once a month) Even though, it was only the first..I noticed my small pitted scars (very small around cheeks) got 50% better and up, was surprised to see anything at all. I really look forward to the other 3 because from what everyone keeps saying, it only gets better
Pros:
skin is instantly smoother after each treatment
great results seen after 2 visits (in my case)