SmartXide - Dot Therapy Experience?
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.
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1 post
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?
34 posts
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
1 post
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
7 posts
29 Oct 2008
What doctor did you go to? I am gonna have smartxide dot done by Dr. Johnson in Dallas, just wondering if he is pretty good. Did this help with large pores or rough skin at all? Thanks
3 posts
11 Nov 2008
Hello - I had the DOT SmartXide performed on Saturday and it is now Tuesday (4 days) - my face is beginning to crust and peel, but my neck area is still very red and raw due to the laser procedure being performed beyond the border of area numbed (VERY PAINFUL during and post-procedure). My procedure experience was very similar to Allison's: arrived, numbing cream applied for 60 mins, washed off, inserted metal eye blocks, lasered neck and then lasered face. The first pass was not painful, just some pinching in the more sensitive areas (eyes, mouth, nose). The second pass on my face was more uncomfortable, but tolerable. The strip of my lower neck that had not been numbed burned like crazy! This area was covered with cold rags and I was given a hose to hold which blew cold air (CO2?). I was instructed to direct the hose towards the burned area of my neck. The hose opening rested on my chest and helped with the pain while the second pass on my face was completed. It was discovered that the hose opening had burnt my chest - frostbite maybe? The red and blotchy, crusty and flaky areas on my face really don't burn too bad today, but what is still very painful is my lower neck area that is still very raw with welts. The round burned area from the hose is now turning from blue to black. I am a 39 y/o female that had the procedure performed to reduce sun damage and small amounts of scarring from a car accident. I had Fraxel performed about a year ago and although painful, LOVED the results....but still had some areas of dark pigmentation that I wanted improved along with skin tightening. I am looking forward to the end result and will give an update at a later time to let you know if it was all worth it! :)
3 posts
28 Nov 2008
Hello Folks! Wanted to give an update on my treatment: my skin is DEFINITELY improved! There is still a slight, brown pigment area in front of each ear but other than that, the brown, sun damage areas are gone (on cheeks, forehead, etc). The doctor suggested possible follow-up, spot treatment on the areas in front of my ears - we are going to wait to see if they lighten more (she also gave me some skin-lightening cream to use). My face also had red, splotchy areas that are now also gone along with the areas of scarring from a car accident (glass in face/neck). The area on my neck that was not numbed prior to the procedure is STILL red and looks "scratched", but it looks better each day. My skin is noticeably tighter on my face and neck, but i did notice the "stretched" skin areas on my eyelids that Allison mentioned - looking forward to that tightening up! I would definitely do it again, but would make sure that all areas to be treated were numbed first - this was the only area (neck) that was excrutiatingly painful and still healing today. The area of my neck that WAS numbed prior to procedure did take a couple more days to heal :)
6 posts
14 Jan 2009
Is Smartxide fractional CO2 Dot laser treatment goood for deep Acne Scars? and if so is this laser better than Mixto co2 fractional laser or Fraxel repair? Right now im getting different answers from everyone...
1 post
14 Jan 2009
I am expecting to have my Smartxide procedure done in the near future. My concern is the eye area. Has anyone had problems where the skin has not tightened back in this area? I am over 50 and most of the comments are from women around 35 years of age. Also, does anyone know if there is a possibility of damage to one's vision even though the eyes are covered?
1 post
15 Jan 2009
I have my own DOT therapy scheduled for next Wednesday. I was wondering if anyone else had this procedure and if they were happy with the results? I have had a chemical peel done and dermabrasion around my chin area based on the doctors recommendation. I decided to take his advice and had them both done. The doctor somehow let some of the acid from the chemical peel into the open area where he had done the dermabrassion around my mouth, which left me with a burn. Once it healed, it looked as though I had been scratched from the bottom of my nose to the side of my face almost in the frown line area. The doctor decided it was best to cut the burn out to leave me with a fine line instead. After having that happen to me, it left me feeling even worse than before having the procedure done. I am hoping this DOT resurfacing will even my skin tone, soften my scar, reduce the fine lines and wrinkles around my eyes and mouth. I figure since my husband is five years younger, it surely can't hurt to improve my complextion. lol I am having this done without him knowing. He works in Afghanistan and will be home the end of Feb. I hope this will give me enough time to heal and to see if he notices an improvement on my skin! :) I will keep you updated. Sandra
4 posts
4 Feb 2009
I had the SmartXide on February 2. I am 52 and wanted it to improve skin texture, appearance, and tightening. It was very painful but I wonder if they didn't put enough numbing cream on as I, prior to this experience, prided myself on my high pain tolerance. They also gave me one pain pill and a valium prior to the procedure. It is Day 3 and my skin is extremely red and dry. Although they instruct you to not let the skin dry, I have put moisterizer on continually but it is still very dry and feels like sand paper. I also have white blotchy spots on my neck and some on my face. Not sure if any of this is normal or not. I can not visually see any "dots" unless I use a magnifying glass. Any input and/or suggestion for type of cream to use?