Fraxel Re:Pair results?

Cristine, My opinions are as follws: If you plan to file legal action, please don't wait so long as to let the statute of time limitation run its course. It's usually 2 yrs in many states, but it's only 1 yr in some states. Also, did you file a complaint about the doctor with your state medical board. Regardless of his "niceness" and willingness to help (he was probably too scared not to help, in my opinion), he burned you deeply enough to cause visible scarring and mottled skin color - just like anyone else who suffers 3rd degree, full-thickness burns, it scars visibly. This guy, in my opinion, had NO business wielding that laser on anyone if he didn't know how to do it correctly. They guy should have had enough medical knowledge to know what effect those settings and duration would have on your skin. In my opinion, the laser company, your doctor, and the doctors who are posting on this board defending this modality should be ASHAMED. (The latter strike me as vultures playing "good guy" looking to drum up business.) Moreover, I certainly hope you gain at least some monetary satisfaction in addition to maybe stopping the people in their tracks (pardon the pun). It won't wipe out the scars, but it's better than nothing, and you might even help someone else from this kind of maiming. Oh, but the money these doctors and laser companies make...

Hi, I have been reading all of your posts regarding Fraxel, which I also have had 3 times. I am also familiar with 'needling' which I did not do, because it seemed like a very crude, almost archaic way of trying to rebuild collagen in the skin. I recommend Total FX, which is a combination of Deep FX for scars, and Active FX for fine lines and pigmentation. I had Fraxel 3 times for these problems last year, and they did not improve my skin at all. Last week I had Total FX in Los Angeles at Dr. Ava Shamban's office (she is the Extreme Makeover dermatologist), and the results were AMAZING. You can see pics of before and after, here: http://www.realself.com/review/july-24-2008-just-had-total-fx-have-had-3-past-fraxel-treatments

Hi Nancy, You are completely correct. Occaisionally the needle from the nerve block can temporarily cause parasthesia (weird nerve sensation). With time the nerve will usually return to normal. Good luck with a rapid recovery from your Fraxel repair laser treatment. Be well. Dr. P

Deanna, I agree with Carla concerning the "prickly" feeling. I had my 7 day followup doc appt yesterday and was told I will feel this burning/pin-sticking pain after applying any kind of product for a few more days. Around day 12-14 after the fraxel repair treatment this feeling will be gone and makeup can then be applied. I was told that I will know when I'm ready to apply the makeup. I also have a numb spot on my check and I'm guessing that's due to the nerve block given. Hopefully it will return to normal soon. My face and neck are finally showing signs of normalcy and I think I'm going to be very pleased with the results of fraxel re:pair. Everyday is a little better than the day before. Good luck with your progress. Nancy

Neil - So glad to hear you are still happy with your post-FR eyes... yay! Thanks for the update. ~allie

Hi Everybody, I am one month post fraxel re:pair results and I am still extreemely happy. If you remember I had my eye area done - for under eye crepyness and lines around my eyes. If I get a chance - I will be taking some photos. My doc is Geronomous in NYC. Neil

Thank you all so much for all the wonderful information you share here! I am 9 days post Fraxel Repair. I have had many of the same issues as everyone else to this point. I am still very pink with the splotches and streaks of whiter skin. I have the itching that I have used steroid cream and benadryl on successfully. My neck has been the worst area of all as I have had quite a bit of pain there. The creases were raw and much redder. The neck area is starting to finally feel better today so I have hope. My one issue I have not seen addressed is that I have prickly spots all over my face and neck. It feels like I have slivers of fiberglass under my skin. It is painful and not itchy when I rub the creams over my face. Also, my forehead has a 'numbed' feeling and I don't really understand why. Has anyone else experienced this? Thanks for any help. Deanna

Thanks for the recommendations. I'll try the steroid cream for the itching. On day 4 following the Re:Pair I started using Aveeno Ultra Calming foaming cleanser and Neocutis Bio-restorative Hydrogel followed by SkinMedica hydrating moisturizer. Still using distilled water when washing face and neck. I think I'm going to try a different moisterizer cause my skin is so dry. I'm to start using a lightening cream next week. I didn't know there were settings as discussed in some of the earlier posts but I think I had intense treatment. The corners of my mouth crack and bleed when I brush teeth or eat. I'm going to ask about the settings tomorrow at my appt. After 6 days still feels like cellophane wrap pulled tightly across my face. I'm sure some day I'll be glad with the results - it certainly beats surgery. To CMC - yes, I really think this website is very informative and glad to hear about follow-ups and recommendations from others.

It does sound confusing, now that you mention it. Another way to say it is: If you go too high on the settings when the lower eyelid has a lot of laxity, you can risk pulling the eyelid down. All the more reason to go an experienced laser physician, who can recognize this, and adjust the settings appropriately (or not even do the lower lids as I have done in a couple cases).

I would have to say that under the eyes are one of the areas most improved with the Re:pair. I don't think that any other technology is better. Typically, lower settings are used around the eye and it's common to see differences in redness there. If you have lax lower eyelids, you can't go too high in the settings because you can pull the lower lid down even more, and then end up with ectropian. the area should continue to improve over several weeks. If not to your satisfaction, doing just the lower eye area has very little downtime and I would do that prior to any other technologies. Steve Weiner, MD Facial Plastic Surgeon Destin, Florida

Dr. Persky and/or Dr.Weiner, I had the Fraxel Re:pair done on my face and neck about 4 weeks ago. I'm particularly pleased with the results around the eyes (perioorbital area); however, I don't think the doctor treated the area under my eyes (or it wasn't a very aggressive treatment there) because my face was red but the skin directly under my eys was white. At any rate, I want to address the lax skin directly under my eyes. Can the Fraxel Re:pair treat this area? Is there another laser that is more effective in this area? Since the skin under the eye is very thin and close to the eye, how is this procedure done safely? Right now, I don't want a lot of down time since I just had the Fraxel Re:pair 4 weeks ago. What do you think of the N-lite or Titan for under the eyes and other less agressive treatments? Thanks! Del

I'm on day 5 and having itching problems too. It's awful! I had my first follow-up yesterday with my doctor and it was the first time I had put on sunscreen because I had not left my house. I did not want to introduce a product to my face that I had not used before, so I put on my Sun Damage Prevention SPF 30 by Nia 24. The Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide kind of made my face look a little purple (temporary), but it was very soothing and seemed to really calm my skin. My skin did not itch again until after I soaked and went back to the lovely aquaphor. My doctor really likes the NIA 24 line, but had never used it with Repair, but he said if it calmed the skin that much, he did not know if any reasons why I shouldn't use it. I've used it today too and while it's not pretty, it feels really good. Does anyone know of any reasons why it would be contraindicated with re:pair? Carla

Try a topical steroid cream for the itching.

I want to thank all of you for your comments. I wished I would have located this website before having Fraxel Re:Pair on June 25th - all of face and neck area. I was not prepared for the post healing process. The swelling has subsided, thanks to Arnica Montana, but the itching is almost unbearable. Benydryl not helping and I awake during the night rubbing my face and neck. My 1-week post doc visit is in 2 days so hoping he can prescribe something. Again, thanks for the input and hope all are doing well.