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SmartXide - Dot Therapy Experience?

By Allison37 on 09 Jun 2008

I had the SmartXide dot CO2 therapy this morning.  This treatment was a breeze compared to my experience with Fraxel (the blue dye non-CO2 laser version) two years ago. I will have to wait and see if SmartXide will give me the results I am looking for or if the saying "no pain no gain" applies.

Comments (211)

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sherrill 10 Sep 2008
Were you pleased with the outcome of the smartxide dot therapy. Was it worth the money? I am thinking of going on a consultation for the procedure as I want to do something non surgical. Did your skin darken and peel? Could you drive yourselve home?
sauby 17 Jan 2012
after having smartxide treatment to my face will i be able to drive home after.?
babygotmac 17 Jan 2012
You will be able to drive home. My drive was a short one and thank God because you will experience a burning sensation. As soon as I got home I immediately used the numbing spray and/or ice pack
NE FL lakegirl 17 Jan 2012
Unless you had a very deep treatment and had a lot
of swellling to block your vision, you should be able
to drive home because you are lucid and have no
reaction time problems. However, the sun is your
enemy so plan for a wide brim hat or what I did the
2nd time, a hat with a good veil (yep)! It worked.
If you have a moist bathcloth on an icepack, you can
lightly touch the skin for relief of burning if you
have some. Different people have different reactions
so "one size doesn't fit all." I loved my Dot Last,
but it took about 6 months to show and then one
morning I looked at my skin and WOW!
Bootsie 19 Jan 2012
I would not advice it for a couple of hours after the treatment unless it is a short distance and no traffic.The burning sensation would be very distracting.
binni 20 Jan 2012

3 days ago i had the same done only on my lower part of face!!.,.i was wanting my upper lip done and was told i needed my chin and neck,..,.,well it,s now 3days and i look like a red indian with a white upper face!!.,.,.,i,m seeing some improvement on my upper lip and around my lower lip and chin,..,.,i,m still reddish brown and hope that goes very soon ,..the pain has gone as with the slight oozing.,.,.my concern is that my neck is slightly swollen and looks like i have a goiter.,,i,m hoping it will go down,..,.i do have jowls but not like this!!.,,..,have you had your neck done?.,.,.,how does it look,..,.,.,.,thanks.,

binni 20 Jan 2012
hi,.,.i made a couple of comments on here until i realised it was not this ''smartxide' i had .,,.it was ''dot co2 fractional',..,,.,.,.i have tried many but none as aggressive as this],.,.,..,my dots are going [ since wednesday] and i,m hoping my neck will improve,..,.,my lips i am pleased with.,., weather is minus 35 here so staying home couldn,t be a better time for recuperating,,..lol
NE FL lakegirl 20 Jan 2012
I was interested in the fact that the doctor recom-
mended the neck with SmartXide Dot Laser. My doctor
in St. Augustine said the neck area wasn't recommended when I asked him about it. However, I'm 73 and have thin skin so I'll let him make the professional decisions. I was very pleased with the
SmartXide Dot Laser on my face and things did clear
up about the 4th day so I could get out. Good luck
SoonerGirl 20 Jan 2012
Hi Binni,
I had the SmartXide DOT CO2 Fractional. The website shows before/after pics that include the neck.
http://www.dottherapy.com/
Wow...-35 degrees?! Staying home and healing sounds like a perfect plan! Brrr haha
binni 20 Jan 2012
thankyou ''soonergirl''.,,.i was not sure if it was the same!-0ne!!,.,..,i,m waiting for a reply from the dermatologist who lasered me to ask her about my swollen neck!!,..,.,i.,m sure it,s only that but we,ll see,..,.,i don,t have ;;dots;; anymore !.,.just redness which as i mentione earlier it,s towards the lower face so it looks like i have war paint on next to my untouched upper part,.,.hope it will even out,..,lol,.,..,
binni 20 Jan 2012
hi,..,it was the dermatologist who suggested it and as i,m 69 and am told i look 50ish i thought why not do it!!,.,..,,.i will see how it improves,..,.,
binni 20 Jan 2012
it was the dermatologist who suggested it,..,,.will see how it improves,..,,..i felt it was on a lower setting .,.,am not sure but i will be asking her when she calls as i,m concened about the swelling.,,.,.
binni 20 Jan 2012
this procedure on my lower face cost $1200 canadian!,..,i was told if i wanted it done later in 6months or so i will only be charge half this!!!,..,.,i,m sure here in western canada it,s more expensive than you all in the states!!
SoonerGirl 21 Jan 2012
It was a fairly new procedure when I had it performed in 2008 and my doctor was charging $2000-$2500 for full face and neck. I paid a discounted $1500 for full face and neck because I was a regular patient having had several other procedures previously AND I was one of her first patients having the CO2 procedure. The doctor did tell me at the time that if a touch up was necessary following the procedure, she would charge me approx $500 -$750 depending upon the area(s) requiring another pass. So, it sounds like with the exchange rate, the cost (without my discount) would be approximately the same. I hope that your swelling goes down and that you love the results, as I do. My face was extremely swollen following the procedure to the point that my eyes were tiny slits. I actually thought, "Holy heck! What have I done?!" It took several weeks to fully recover, but as I have said, it was worth it!
binni 21 Jan 2012
you had a good deal ,.., a full face is 2400 plus 5% tax.,.,,for particial face which had i paid 12oo plus tax,.,.,..,it,s looking better ,thanks.,,.still looks funny with the white coloured upper part.,.,.,the swelling has gone a bit.,.,feels ichy all the time and tight.,.,,.i,m sure by the time i go back for a re-visit next wednesday i will be able to camouflage it ,,..,,..,i glad you were pleased with your results.,,.,..,., in 20001 i had a chemical peel once in europe where i was living.,.,my god that was painful..,i looked like a waxing candle .,,.dripping and ozzing skin.,.,it was horrendous,..,my face was the size of a pumpkin and my eyes were slits like yours.,.,lol,.,.,. when i had to go out it was at night [ so not to be seen] wearing a hoodie to pick up more cream from the pharmacy as i was known working in radio and knew lots of people ,.,.,.,.,.,.,.the results were worth all that pain,!!!..,,..,now this procedure is tame to what i went through.,.,though bad enough!!,.,.,.i may have the eye area done at a later date.,,.,.was it successful with your eyes when you had a full face done?
Allison37 21 Sep 2008
Sherril, Three and a half months later I am happy with the outcome of my Smartxide or dot therapy laser treatment. Unlike what I have read about the ActiveFX, TotalFX or Fraxel CO2 fractional laser treatment, I experienced no pain during the Smartxide treatment. A slight pinch here and there and a cinged hair smell were the most unpleasant aspects. No dental block, no valium or other oral relaxant or pain killer. Just a cold numbing cream about 45 minutes before the actual treatment and eye drops (they place metal shields in your eyes to protect your vision). I drove myself back to my hotel room and was 100% lucide and without pain. I experienced no pain immediately after the treatment and my face swelled by evening, but nothing like when I had Fraxel two or three years ago. The dots turn dark brown and start flaking off two or three days later. I had no bloody or ozzing areas like people have reported with other CO2 fractional lasers. No vinegar and water treatments. I just washed with cool water and put on a non-greasy moisturizer the doctor's office provided. Looking back it was all very manageable. Keep in mind, you do not look pretty with a swollen face and brown crusty dots but it doesn't hurt and its only for about three days. The fourth morning when I woke up I was really happy with how my face looked - totally public ready with a bit of make-up. The improvement I received to my skin as a result of the Smartxide laser treatment was well worth the downtime of three days and the expense. For the first time in my entire life I am comfortable without make-up on. Some of my acne scars are gone but not 100% where I would like it to be. Its enough of an improvement that my friends and clients notice and comment that my skin looks better. Some have out and out asked what I did to improve my acne scars because it looks so much better (humbling but I appreciate why they are asking). My skin tone is now even. Redness caused by the Fraxel treatments I had years earlier is no longer a concern - totally resolved. I suppose minor surface wrinkles and such have also been improved but they were not my focus - acne scars is why I wanted to try the Dot Therapy. I am planning on undergoing a second Smartxide treatment. I strongly believe a second treatment will eliminate most of my acne scars all together or at least get it to a point where it is a non-issue for me. My girlfriend says the only person who sees my acne scars anymore is me. It may be true, but I still want to do it a second time. To date its the best thing I have ever done for my self. Good-luck, Allison
Sharon at RealSelf (Community Manager) 22 Sep 2008
Hi Allison, Thanks for keeping us updated with your experiences. Would you consider sharing your thoughts in a review of the different laser treatments you've had? These would be grouped with other reviews and will be easier for our readers to find. Thanks! --Sharon
Lauri46 (unregistered guest) 17 Mar 2009
I had DOT therapy on 1/22/09 and again on 3/10/09 - as of this date, I can honestly say that I have not seen a significant improvement - did you have to wait the 3 1/2 months until you saw a change? I am so frustrated after having spent quite a bit of money and not seeing any kind of improvement. I am not quite sure I can say I would recommend this procedure to anyone else. I feel like I just threw my money away. Lauri
lracalriley 21 Mar 2009
Dear Lauri46--I had a second DOT done on 3/6/09; the first was 11/20/08. I think the first one firmed my skin a little, but who knows? On the second one, the doc went much deeper and used a stronger setting. Since I am still healing from the second one it is hard to tell if it was worth it. I have been told by my doc and the DOT marketing rep that it takes 6 months to see the real results. Even tho my skin is PINK it is very smooth, but I can tell that it is still swollen. We'll see. I have tried a few things-IPL photofacial laser, Refirme laser & now this. The IPL & Refirme possibly firmed my skin but I'm not really sure. However I know people that have had IPL & they got amazing results. I think it just depends on the person & the doc's skills. I am expecting to see improvements in my skin with this second round of DOT because of the more aggressive treatment. I'll keep you posted.
2814anon 5 May 2010
I had Dot Therapy done 1 month ago and still have brown square line on my face, is that normal? Is your healing process the same with my? Thank you!
binni 21 Jan 2012
it was the smell of burning flesh and hair .,.,.,when i had mine done as with other lasers i would ask what is it i,m smelling is it hair?.,.,i was told it was the shin ,..,.,[ sorry not burning flesh as i just mentioned lol]
Kelly G 22 Oct 2008
Im planning to do the DOT procedure. My main concern is the uneven skin tone with dark spots, and wrinkles of the undereye lid. Will this take care of this? Thanks, Kelly
Allison37 27 Oct 2008
Kelly, Each person is unique in their skin texture, health, and ability to heal. For me, the Smartxide dot laser treatment really cleaned up pigment problems I had from Fraxel two years earlier. I wasn't expecting that at all. It also cleared up lingering redness that I had to my skin from the earlier Frazel treatments. My concern was not really wrinkles and I can't comment whether it will help you or not with that problem. I do know that Smartxide dot laser will not help with any broken blood vessels you may have. You have to use a different laser to address those. The SmartXide laser may be gentler than the ActiveFX, Fraxel and MixTo lasers. I am not sure if that is right or not. The reason why I am saying that is that people on this board seem to have had extreme swelling, pain, redness and long healing times compared to my SmartXide laser experience. I had no pain during or after the treatment. I had minor swelling, my face turned red and the dark dots covered my face and by the morning of day four I had totally normal fresh skin. Good-luck with your treatment Kelly. I hope it goes well for you. Allison
tacobellfreak 29 Oct 2008
Who did your SmartXide Dot? I am going to have Dr. Johnson in Dallas do mine. Did it help with large pores at all or rough skin?
rose p 5 Feb 2009
Be concerened with scarring if you have any pigmentation problems. I had dot therapy and it hurt like hell and i look worse now its at least 7months later, If you get acne it magnifies it in my case. I had been pretty clear for a year so i thought i would get this 7mths later im still battling the breakouts and i have about 8 scars i did not have before, if i had a chance to do it again i would have never done this.

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