Fairfax Fraxel Laser doctors
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Brenda Dintiman, MD
Fairfax Dermatologic Surgeon
3700 Joseph Siewick Dr Suite 403, Fairfax |
7 answers | |
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Christopher L. Hess, MD
Fairfax Plastic Surgeon
3930 Pender Drive Suite 120, Fairfax |
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1 answer |
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Marwan R. Khalifeh, MD
Chevy Chase Plastic Surgeon
5454 Wisconsin Ave Suite 1710, Chevy Chase |
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George Bitar, MD
Fairfax Plastic Surgeon
8501 Arlington Boulevard Suite 500, Fairfax |
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Mary K. Mather, MD
Fairfax Dermatologist
3700 Joseph Siewick Drive #403, Fairfax |
Recent Answers
Recently, I had Botox for frown lines between eyes, lines on my nose, and crow's feet. I also had Juvederm in cheeks. Seven days later, I had Fraxel on face. Two hours later, my smile was crooked. It improved 3 weeks later, but right side around my mouth is still not normal. Could the Fraxel have caused the Botox to diffuse down to my mouth? I had Bell's palsy 30 years ago, but I'm sure it is not related because only my mouth is affected. I am having another Fraxel next week, and am scared that it will happen again.
Botox is injected within the muscle sheath and diffuses minimally after it is injected. After injection the toxin finds it's way to the nerves and enters within a short period of time.
Fraxel works by penetrating the dermis only and stimulating collagen production. This is significantly more superficial than the muscle. In addition your treatments were separated by a week.
I suspect the smile difference has come from different tightness in the skin secondary to the Fraxel.
I had a consult with a dermatologist about Fraxel Laser treatments. She said that I would not see any results until after the second treatment. Do you agree with this statement. I wonder if she doesn't plan to go deep enough the first time. Thanks in advance.
Since Fraxel is used for a variety of conditions including acne scars, enlarged pores, melasma or pigmentation, sun damaged skin and wrinkles, it really depends on what conditions are being treated.
The depth of treatment desired determines what the settings are especially with respect to the joules. For example, pigmentation is a more superficial process, therefore, lower joules are used. Acne scarring is a deeper process involving the collagen and requires higher joules to penetrate to the appropriate laser.
Remember that the nature of Fraxel is that a "fraction" of the skin is being treated at a time to decrease the amount of downtime and side effects. Therefore, only about 20-23% of the skin is being treated each visit. Although many patients feel some softening of the skin after one treatment and brightening, the true effects of fraxel are not realized until you reach 3,4 5 treatments, again depending on the condition that is being treated. Hope this helps.
I had Fraxel last week and am now experiencing some bad acne flareups, but I suppose this makes sense if there were flare-ups waiting to happen under the skin and the laser released them... just wondering if this is common and if it will go away.
Yes, we do see acne flares in patient's who get Fraxel treatment. We often put patients on doxycycline orally and try to use petrolatum free products on the skin.
Your acne should calm down fairly quickly and you will be able to have further Fraxel treatments. Don't worry.
