“3 months since the fraxel:repair”
Fraxel Repair: NOT worth it
Pain: Uncomfortable
I did the Fraxel:Repair 3 months ago for minor wrinkles and mild acne scarring. I am a 34 year old female.
I was told I would be able to go back out in public after 5-7 days, it took two weeks before I would even see friends. It was six weeks before the redness could be covered by make-up and at 3 months my skin is still pretty red and you can still see a few "track marks".
At 3 weeks, even though I was still very red and dry, the wrinkles around my eyes disappeared and my skin seemed smoother. I was very excited. Now at 3 months the wrinkles are back and my skin texture seems to have gone back also. Everyone I ask says they cannot see a difference except of course the people at my doctors office. The only thing that seems to be different is my make-up goes on a little smoother.
They are trying to convince me to get another one at half price saying the second one will yield more dramatic results because the skin has already been treated. Has anyone experienced this? It is another $2000.00 and six weeks not wanting to be around anyone because I am so red and dry.
If you have done a second Fraxel:Repair please let me know how it went, thanks!
Jan 2, 2009Comments and replies (7)
23 posts
3 Jan 2009
Lori -Did you and/or your Doctor take close up digital photo's? I ask because about 20 days into my healing I thought, "ok somewhat better, not huge." THEN I compared the digital close up pics I took before my procedure to one that I took that day. Then I saw a big difference. I think we get so accustom to looking at ourselves in the mirror that we can miss some change and/or we truly forget what it really looked like in the past. There is a question posting area in this blog that the doctor's respond to. You should post the question about multiple Fraxel repairs and see what advice they have regarding timing, risks and so forth. I'm so sorry to hear that it isn't what you hoped for because it is an expensive treatment.
28 posts
3 Jan 2009
How about your scars? Have they returned? Did you look at any before and afters? Tract marks?? Your Doctor should be doing you for free. I was also told that a second treatment would yield better results and that the downtime would be much quicker. It would definitely be hard to fork out another $2k if the $5k didn't do much. Goodluck to you. If you do have a second treatment please do keep us posted.
9 posts
15 Jan 2009
Lori, I just read your response to the Fraxel Repair and your disappointment.. I must agree with you. I had mine on November 17,2008. My recuperation period was long... almost 4 weeks before I could put makeup on that would look acceptable.... I was very red! Now that the swelling had gone down and the redness has subsided, I feel my skin looks like it did before the procedure.. if not worse. My skin is blotchy.... and the imperfections that were present before REPAIR are returning. ie broken blood vessels and 'fine wrinkles'. Considering the cost and the down time of REPAIR, I would say it is NOT worth it. The results are so minimal.
75 posts
25 Jan 2009
If you aren't getting a good result at the young age of 34 (with all of that collagen-producing capacity), that doesn't give older patients like me much hope. I'm two months post-Fraxel, and I'm feeling that my skin has a bumpier texture than it did before the procedure. The wrinkles around my eyes are returning. I know that I am not considered to be fully "repaired" at this stage, but I feel that I am not just reverting to pre-treatment mode, but that I have actually harmed my skin.
1393 posts
26 Jan 2009
Hi All, Fraxel re:pair does work, sometimes it may take a second treatment. Ask your physician if they will perform the second treatment at their cost (about $1000 for full face and neck). I have seen remarkable improvement in two of patients who had a second "lite" treatment after their first full re:pair. The Lite treatment is done at very low settings (5-10mj, 10-20%) so that the down time is much less. Patients may also have a full 2'nd re:pair treatment if they wish. As for make up, patients can use a quality mineral make up like Jane Iredale after 6 to 7 days and look very good. We began to carry Jane Iredale for this purpose, and patients are very pleased. Lastly, the Fraxel re:pair is not a commodity, but requires both the technology and a skilled physician. If patients are not healing as expected, then the laser should be checked to make sure that it is not over heating the patient's skin. See my full answer here on RealSelf.com at (http://www.realself.com/review/fraxel-laser-horrible?page=9). Good luck and be well. Dr. P
465 posts
20 May 2009
Thank you for sharing and letting us ALL know that this is not a laser you pull out of a box pick a setting and just start putting on people’s faces... Certain companies rushed it to market at the expense of women who are suffering severe problems and should have their privates fraxeled They took an exciting technology prostituted the doctors and scientist so they could cash out and collect licensing checks…. It’s wrong and responsible doctors and scientist should be weary and speak out against the greedy business men and companies who are corrupting the world of science and medicine… Taking someone’s money for something that may prove ineffective is one thing.. Destroying a women’s face is another..Those men need to be on 20/20 or 60 minutes…I’m sure a lot of women and their families would like to face them… We have only seen the beginning of this.. the worst is yet to come…
59 posts
19 May 2009
You are absolutely right! I am 8months post fraxel repair and still cry daily because of the damage the laser did. My face is ruined. Dr schlessinger being a dermatologist is spot on about all the comments he has made with regards to this laser. This laser should not be on the market it is not safe.