Ablative Fractional Lasers
Results
Side Effects

Ablative fractional lasers shine an intense beam of light at the skin in a dot-matrix (imagine tiny polka dots) pattern. The light completely...

Ablative fractional lasers shine an intense beam of light at the skin in a dot-matrix (imagine tiny polka dots) pattern. The light completely removes (ablates) the epidermis in this dot-matrix pattern, leaving some of the skin intact. It also stimulates the underlying dermis to produce more collagen and elastin over time. Ablative fractional lasers attempt to approximate the efficacy of ablative lasers while not completely removing the entire surface of the skin, thus reducing side effects.

This procedure is normally repeated 3 times in 1-month intervals, and you should see gradual results with each session. And after your last session, your skin should continue to improve.

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3
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June 29, 2009

Pros:

Removed melasma (85% after the first treatment), smaller pores, plumped skin, more even skin tone, easily look 5 years younger.

Cons:

The pain while managable, is still very real! The downtime was way more than expected...easily 4 days. Very swollen for 2 days after I looked like balloon girl, followed by another 2 days of peeling, followed by another 2 or 3 days of acne.

Bottom line for ME is that it simply worked. I've been reading a lot of these reviews and felt I had to write one myself because the expression, "if somenone has a good experience they'll tell 2 people and if they have a bad one they'll tell 12" is probably true here. I was reluctant since it's not cheap and my busy schedule doesn't allow for a lot of downtime, but I am SO glad I did it. I also am a big fan of botox and fillers so have high expectation in terms of fast results and fraxel didn't dissapoint. My melasma (from 2 pregnancies) is almost completely gone, and I swear it has actually helped my moderate adult acne. My skin looks amazing. There is no doubt it has produced collegen since my face is more plump (now 4 weeks post treatment). I think I'll wait about 6 months and do another, the treatments are cumlative so they don't need to be done every month.
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June 21, 2009

Pros:

Skin now looks smoother but not totally free from scar

Cons:

1-2 weeks downtime.

After 5 treatments, I have yet to see any kind of good results. Skin texture looks pretty much the same..i am unhappy about the downtime...If you are considering taking this procedure be sure you have read and research a lot of information because you don't want to pay for expensive procedure ng minimal result... you can probably try see more here.... [link removed]
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June 17, 2009

Pros:

The Horror stories didn't apply to me.
• Worked surpringly well after just one treatment (but still require more.) I'm sure if I had 3-4, I'd have clear skin and an empty bank account.
• Flaking and peeling were gone after the 5th day.

Cons:

• The price. Three treatments for $1895 CAD? I could buy a nice Fender with that.
• The pain! See below.

This treatment is NOT for people with ACTIVE ACNE. Jamming the rolling laser into your face will no doubt cause more blockages and worsen existing paps/pusts. My acne has cleared up for the most part, (Panoxyl Aquagel 5% + Differin XP) but scars remain from my teen years (new ones fade with Differin XP). I walked into Bellair Laser and said, "Nine years is too damn long for these scars. Give me everything you got." The Price: Ouch. Too much. Plain and simple. The Pain: I'm the Master of Aches: Chronic migraines and I refuse freezing when I get my teeth drilled. Fraxel? That's a stinging pain. Either I'm weak to stinging pain, or Fraxel is actually Cerberus kissing your face. When they were doing my forehead I was an inch away from saying, "I need a break." The Aftercare: Fraxel had a schedule. Day 1: White burn marks. Day 2: Brown grains. Day 3: Tiny flakes peeling. Day 4: Grains came out. Day 5: All clear.
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June 10, 2009

Pros:

--

Cons:

painful time consuming costly

never improved, felt ugly before and after
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June 10, 2009

Pros:

Only a few days of downtime, texture and pigmentation improvements already after just one treatment, pain is tolerable

Cons:

Expensive, somewhat painful (but tolerable with meds and local anesthetic, in my opinion), swelling, downtime means not going out at all for a few days.

I'm getting a series of three Fraxel treatments for acne scarring (sloped, soft, but deep scars -- not pockmarks) and rosacea. Performed by an RN, but the doctor is always involved and often present. Staff is courteous and kind. RN who performed procedure gave me her personal cell # in case I had any problems. Just had my second procedure, which was more aggressive than the first. Took 2 doses each of percoset and valium. It was painful, but tolerable. I notified the RN whenever I needed a break. Two weeks after the 1st procedure, I could see dramatic improvement in my rosacea and pigmentation. Advice: Be sure to ask lots of questions and that your expectations are realistic. Choose a place that makes you feel comfortable with a staff that can answer your questions. Make sure you are a good candidate for this -- your skin should be fair or light, and you absolutely must follow their pre-and post- procedure instructions. I'll post more after my 3rd treatment.
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May 16, 2009

Pros:

You can go back to work, But....people will notice the swelling in the area you have done...

Cons:

I stay swollen for about a week. The procedure it self is painful even with pain meds and numbing cream .

I just had my 4th treatment, and so far myself as well as others have seen improvement! I feel so much better about myself, I now just wear a little bit of makeup...as now I really feel that I don't need it to much anymore.. I am 41 and have/had severe acne scars...I would recommend this to those who suffer from acne scars! It is spendy...but to me well worth it!
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May 13, 2009

Pros:

I went through two fraxel treatments spaced 4 wks apart for mild acne scarring. It's been over a year since i had the treatments, and the results were disapointing. My skin looked marginally better for the first two weeks.

Cons:

After two weeks, my skin looked about the same- my Dr. told me the second treatment would be much more noticeable- again, looked good for about two weeks. Plan on 4-5 days where you can't leave the house, as your face looks like a crusty scab.

Don't do it! Not worth the time, pain or money to see very very minimal results.
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May 3, 2009

Pros:

Recovery time was reasonable. Well worth the money. I will do it again soon. Only treatment was Jan 01. Results are awesome.

Cons:

Looked like I had been in a wreck at first.

I have taken 2 rounds of accutane. I believe the laser helped prevent the severity of future breakouts. It has been explained to me that darker skinned people may have different results. I am as pale as anyone comes, so that may play a role in the success in my resurfacing.
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March 5, 2009

Pros:

Not sure yet. I've just had fraxel co2 done...for moderate acne scars on my cheeks.....

Cons:

So far you are homebound for at least 4 days. Red face, not socialising....Itchy face, constant application of post laser gel to keep the face moist....A bit of pain during treatment, my doctor used nerve blockers which helped alot.

Well, the bottom line... I have had 4 fraxel restore treatments done resulting in less down time then fraxel re:pair...After the 4 treatments I have seen minor results with my scars, maybe softening my scars a bit but nothing major...This is my second Fraxel Re:pair co2. The first one was on a coverage of 25% and the results were good but not fanastic. Alot more down time, get nerve blockers for this treatment...My second one which I got done 4 days ago was on a coverage of around 65%. This will be my final attempt to minimise my acne scars and hopefully with the more aggressive coverage the results will match..I'll keep you updated in a couple of weeks...Hope this helped...I paid $800 for this final treatment...
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March 3, 2009

Pros:

It's only been a week, very happy so far! I didn't take any anti-inflammatory meds on purpose. Swollen for 4 days, every AM eyes swollen shut, but that resolved after drinking and a few hours up.

Cons:

NOT for dark skin. Expect to not look presentable for almost a week. Don't take anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin, advil, motrin, steriods, etc.before or after.No help for headache! Try to stay indoors, moisturize,sunblock, do not scratch.

Very happy w/ 1st treatment. Think my face different than most. I'm 39, hardly ever in sun. Tons blotchy freckles,some green + some Rosacea. Pores so large, small amounts makeup look caked. Cheeks w/white-puffy scars+cottage-cheese skin texture, no clue?(Had mild/mod acne,BUTusually NOT that area) After 1 treat: 4 days dry/swollen/itchy.Looked like Miss Piggy or the Mumps) Daily small puss filled pimples, mostly on chin, popped, neosporin applied. (Think were future pimples on the way) Day 5, rubbed about half of the freckles off w/ dead skin ! White puffy scars look half as noticable. Day 6, cottage-cheese skin almost looks normal and smooth! Don't have any eye wrinkles... so, no info there. 4 forehead wrinkles & laugh lines about the same.Hoping next 3 treatments will help + , remove the remaining freckles + totally fix cottage cheese area. VERY HAPPY - BUT: no life all week - feel run-down, tired. 4 days skin looked scary, super itchy. $2600 sale price 4 treatmen
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Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
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Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

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  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
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Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.
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