Ablative Non-fractional Lasers
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Ablative lasers shine an intense beam of light at the skin. The light completely removes (ablates) the entire epidermis. It also stimulates the...

Ablative lasers shine an intense beam of light at the skin. The light completely removes (ablates) the entire epidermis. It also stimulates the underlying dermis to produce more collagen and elastin over time.

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4
18.2%
3
21.2%
2
18.2%
1
39.4%

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July 13, 2009

Pros:

NONE Much worse

Cons:

NONE

I had erbium resurfacing done in 07 for acne scars. After surgery I was left with rolling scars, dents, brown spot & redness for over a year. Skin is sooo sensitive, it changed dramatically. I've gone through so many ipl treatments for the broken blood vessels & redness. Now I'm going for laser for all the scars it left including the dent & brown spot on my cheek. Ruined my life. Extreamly painful, didn't sleep for 5 nites. I would never ever recomend anything that takes off a layer of your skin. Only lasers that work underneth.
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June 20, 2009

Pros:

I had some scaring from large pores on the bottom part of both cheeks. I had the erbium laser twice in the last 10 months and my face looks worse than it did to start with. I am scarred now on all of my face from the laser. I never had acne until now

Cons:

I am so depressed now because after going through the pain twice, it has made my face worse. I can't stand to look in the mirror now. I thought I was doing something to help me out but only made things worse.

If anyone knows anything I can do for scarring from the laser, please let me know. I am so sad about this and it's taking over my life. Thank you.
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May 22, 2009

Pros:

it works

Cons:

it's expensive, time consuming, and painful. It HAS to be done by a REALLY good doctor which makes it expensive.

DO NOT do this procedure if you have even the slightest doubt in your phsyician! It is not a mild procedure and it can make you look worse. The down time for this was a solid 5 days. You will be BEET red, hideous, and swollen, but if you follow the instructions EXACTLY you will like the results. I will post the day by day under the lasers forum.
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March 19, 2009

Pros:

Works like a charm, get knocked out with general anesthesia- so it's painless

Cons:

Expensive, 14+ days of downtime

I've got great results from Co2 laser resurfacing. I just got it done a 2nd time (1 year apart) and the results are better and better. Evened up the skin tone and smoothed out the pitted scars.
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March 6, 2009

Pros:

Skin looks younger, smoother, firmer. Wrinkles and brown spots gone.

Cons:

Not a lot of change in scars or pore size. Painful, lots of post-op maintenance, 1-2 weeks down time.

I would recommend this procedure for wrinkles and freckles/age spots, but not for scarring. My doctor gave good instructions to avoid infection. In some of the negative reviews, I wonder if those people got infections. My doctor warned me that infec. could cause scarring, so I was meticulous. Also I got realistic down-time estimates. Some negative reviews are from people who have not yet healed. It does look scary at first! Scary lasts a week to 10 days, then bright red for 1 week, then light red, and slowly fading. I think going to a VERY GOOD doctor is vital, which you may have to pay for. Looking at some of the prices people paid, I wonder if they went to a reputable place. Don't bargain-shop your face! A "cheap" skin treatment is likely to give "cheap" results.
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February 7, 2009

Pros:

The procedure hasn't shown any results yet. It has only been 1 month since CO2 laser resurfacing.

Cons:

downtime, pain, redness.

I don't think I am seeing the kind of result that I had expected. My face is now blistering (water filled and blood) and breaking out. Doctor told me to put some cortisone on the blisters, but not helping yet. I will need to have Restylene injections done for the deep scars, so maybe that will help.
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January 10, 2009

Pros:

I did see some improvement after my first co2 laser peel, six months later I had another and had horrible results. I started getting cystic ance, every pore on my faces was broken out and I have been battling acne ever since.

Cons:

Some results after the first co2 laser. It's been all downhill from there. I'm 32 and I still find myself taking antibiotics for acne. My skin was never this way before the laser peels.

I've had two co2 laser peels and 2 fraxel laser peels. After my second fraxel peel I've been continously fighting acne and my skin is blotchy. If you have ance scars try microdermabrasion first, I wish I would have.
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April 7, 2008

Pros:

I had the full face co2 laser resurfacing 3 weeks ago. My face looks great! No more fine lines, you could hardly notice a deep wrinkles, the whole face looks like I've done a face lift

Cons:

Readness and itching. A small scar, as a spot, I hope it fades away.

2 friends of mine did Erbium and Fraxel laser. My face looks much better! But recovery time is longer,and it hurts more.
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January 16, 2008

Pros:

Some shallow acne scars looks better, but some deep scars are still there.Laser also diminished my pores.

Cons:

expensive, terrible redness occured and hyperpigmentation.Luckilly hydrokinolone helped me to get rid of it.

I had cystic acne and there were many different kind of scars on my cheeks.I went for co2 laser treatment.I think the improvment is only 25%-30%, because laser shallowed some scars quite well, but my deepest scars are sill there like before and it makes me so unhappy.
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November 18, 2007

Pros:

No noticeable gains, definately not worth the cost. Scars are at the smile lines on the cheeks. Deep scarring from childhood acne.

Cons:

Long downtime, redness, swollen face for a week.

Was done (3) years ago. A lot of hoopla, a lot of money, and definately not worth it. Don't make your dematologist rich using this. The lasers are a scam. Consumer protection agency should look into this false advertising.
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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.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

Finding a Doctor

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:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • 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.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

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.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website