Question
With Fraxel, what are the recovery steps?
before i decide on fraxel laser treatment i want to know what recover will REALLY be like...no b.s.
Asked by: Kendra99
Answers (1)
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May 10, 2008
Painless after Fraxel, swelling lasts under 5 days
Universally, nobody complains of pain after the procedure. Swelling is the worst on the second day after the procedure and gets better by day 5 or so. Seeing streaking is common and will go away. Redness lasts up to 3 months, but usually about 3 or 4 weeks.
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5/12/08
CMC: Might you share with me a bit about your daily post-care regimen at this point, i.e. what products you are using, how often, etc.?
I hope your recovery progresses well, and the final results will exceed your expectations! Keep me posted on your progress if you have time! -Allie
5/12/08
At day 6, flaking is normal. I rec Eucerin or Cetaphil for moisturizer. A thin coat of Aquaphor is ok if the Eucerin doesn't keep the skin moist enough. Itching is normal and can be improved with a steroid cream and/or benadryl.
5/12/08
Did you see these comments from others on the fraxel re:pair? Maybe they will help!
My face is still red and my doctor has prescribed me an anti-redness cream that i need to pick up from the pharmacist today. I found that my skin is itching and it appears to be peeling again.
The "anti-Redness" cream is Biafin. I've been applying it once a day and it seems to be helping.
Some else wrote this
I don't know if there is a connection, but seems there might be. After the first few days of vinegar water and aquafur gel, the Dr. told me to start using the cetaphil cleanser and the cetaphil moisturizing cream. Everytime I used it, my face would turn a brilliant red which didn't leave and if fact got worse everyday, and the bumps seemed to get more raised. Then I started to notice this burnt look on my eyelids and around my chin. I tried everything I could think of as I began to realize that I might be allergic to the cetaphil. I finally cooked some rolled oats up but not too solid and strained them through a strainer. I took the oatmeal juice and after it cooled, plastered it all over my face. Instantly I felt some relief and suprisingly when I washed it away my face looked tons better.
5/12/08
Chrisitne - I had indeed seen the comment from the lady who used rolled oats, (and progressed to the Aveeno Calming line, I believe?). I have a call in to Dr. Clemons already this morning, but he was in a procedure and I was told he'd return my call sometime before lunch. *fingers crossed*
So your skin has peeled more than once already? Might I inquire how many days post-procedure you are? Thanks for your help, and have a speedy, minimally-itchy recovery! -allie
5/13/08
Ali, Was wondering how you are doing today. I am getting worse. Saw doctor, and he said come back tomorrow, don't think he knew how to react. What did the doctor say about other things to help the redness? Is your redness subsiding.?
5/13/08
Christine - Getting worse how, sweetie? Did he give you any additional products/instructions? I spoke with my doc yesterday, and he said some redness was still perfectly normal at this point (this is day 8 for me, I guess). Today has been MUCH better for me; the redness does pretty much look like a sunburn, save for a few random streaks here and there.
I compressed with Bioidentical Hyaluronic Protein for about 20 minutes this afternoon, and that made a HUGE difference in look AND feel. I also still have a bit of bruising above and below my left eye, but it seems to be lessening each day, so I guess that's no biggie, either. My follow-up visit is Thursday.
Hang in there... it really should get better with each day. :-)
5/14/08
My face is so swollen and white tiny spots are forming on the skin, I saw the doctor today and requested a steroid cream. He said he did an aggresive treatment and that the steroid cream could minimize the effects, and that I should hang in there. There is a chance I have a yeast thing on my face, so he did prescribe another drug.
How long did you vineager soak, he also suggests that I do 20 min soaks. I am on day 5 and the doc still doesn't think I am ready for anything other then the aquafor.
I wish the swelling would go away, not to mention the redness.
5/15/08
Christine, Do you see the tiny white spots primarily after your vinegar soaks? That happened to me, and I was told by my doc's PA that they are called "exudates" (? I believe that is the correct term, anyway), and they are a perfectly normal part of the healing process.
I was instructed to do vinegar soaks every 3-4 hours; 10 minutes overall, 20 minutes on any spots that appeared "crusty".
I really saw a difference in the redness, texture, and overall healing once I started using SkinCeuticals Epidermal Repair in conjunction with my moisturizer. It may be worth asking your doc if he thinks it would be ok/helpful for you to try that product.
Take care, and heal well (and quickly!)... allie
5/24/08
Wow, those are high settings! I'd expect you will have more swelling than usual. The second day after the procedure you will have more swelling than the 1st day after. Sleep with you head elevated as high as you can. As I have said before, there is absolutely no pain, when you are done with the procedure. Keep us informed.
Steve Weiner, MD
Facial Plastics
Destin, Florida
5/25/08
Hi. I received an email from you. Here are my settings:
face m.l 30 TL 7
eyelids m.l 15 TL 6
neck m.l 30 TL 6
still don't have my smile- sides of face seem to operate differently, upper lip has rolled in, maybe the cheeks aren't rising. I could forward photo's privately
if that's possible?
I had an eyelift about 9 years ago and botox between the eyebrows and outside of eyes July 2007, also collagan ( around jowls) in around March 2007.
Regards,
A
5/10/08
i saw swelling last just under 4 days. but my trtmt wasnt too agressive
5/12/08
Dr. Weiner: My Fraxel Re:Pair was May 6th, and yesterday & today, I am experiencing a LOT of flaking; no crusting (except one tiny spot mid-chin. I suspect this is due to the application of Altabax - as prescribed my my doc - on that small spot?) or scabbing. Is the flaking "normal" at this juncture, or does it mean I am not keeping my face hydrated enough?
Also, I have read in some of your other posts that you recommend a "bland moisturizer or Aquaphor"... Is there a particular 'bland moisturizer' you recommend? I was instructed to use Aquaphor for only 3 days post, then switch to the post-care kit I was given following the procedure. The kit is a 5-product one from PCA Skin. After washing with the cleanser from that kit, my face is ok... but once I apply the mixture of steps 2 & 3, my face becomes WAY inflamed and itchier than ever. Then, the moisturizer plus (for daytime) and the silkcoat balm (for night) actually further exacerbate both the inflammation and the itching. I plan on calling my doc's office about this today, but I would LOVE to know YOUR thoughts/recommendations. Thanks in advance for your time & consideration. -Allie
5/24/08
Dr Weiner
Thanks for that comment. This is my 2nd day after Re:pair and it looks like I put on 100 lbs. My Re:pair was rather aggressive 70 mj, 60% and 4 passes. I have had no problem with pain, and all of the oozing has stopped. I am very red, but except for the swelling I could pass that off as a bad sunburn.
5/11/08
AliGrace-You and I are in the exact same place in our recovery-
I had mine done on Tues also. Swelling has definetly subsided but the redness is awful. I am supposed to be returning to work tomorrow and honestly I don't see that happening. I have some areas of tannish color showing through so I guess thats a good thing but I look AWFUL. I actually have been a little depressed about the whole thing as my skin looked awesome before procedure, no dark spots or acne scars- I mainly did this procedure for sagging skin on my neck area and my Dr. (who I absolutely love and trust) said I would get some tightening in the jowl area and would get rid of fine lines around my lower eyes. but tightening of skin comes over a period of time so I don't see one bit of difference in my neck
as far as tightening but the skin does look a lot smoother.
best of luck in your recovery. Keep the posts coming
P.S I also saw the track lines on day 2 and 3 but those are definetly diminishing