“Fraxel repair disaster on face and neck”
Fraxel Repair: NOT worth it
Pain: Severe
I had Fraxel Repair procedure done 13 days ago. I have just turned 40. Before the procedure I had a soft, beautiful, smooth, flawless skin. No scar, no acne, no acne spots/scars, no discoloration, redness, or any other possible flaws; only an extremely mild case of wrinkles which I've been treating for the past 6 or more years with Botox and lately have included fillers in the treatment.
Right after I turned 40, I thought about various facelift options but did not really intend to go with any of them, since I do not believe in the idea of having scars near my ears; however, it is nice to have a define Jowl lines again although mine were relatively ok.
My doctor suggested Fraxel repair on my neck and face. I have never regretted anything in my entire life. Now my entire face is full of scars, discoloration, acnes, redness, pigment changes...and NO FACELIFT results what so ever is observed, on the contrary my jowl lines seem quite saggy and have dropped.
I was promised to look 10 years younger. I am so disappointed to see a face that could have been a version of me during my 50s or 60s.
I had a huge argument with my doctor yesterday when I went to see him, and now we are in bad relation. The procedure cost me so far over 7000 dollars. In the past two weeks, he has sold me 700 dollars worth of skin care to use after the procedure...I have big scars on my face...he told me that they go away within 3 to 6 months, which after reading all the reviews I am starting to doubt.
In general I think that I was not a candidate for this procedure at all. I have been misled by my doctor just so they could make money off of me. Later after the procedure, I studied the Fraxel web site and learned that I do not fall within the category of the people who are good candidates for this procedure because I don't have any of the symptoms a good candidate has.
Yesterday my doctor and I had a major argument where I burst into tears; and I told him that I will seek legal advice. Now I am seeking recommendations for moisturizers or other skin care or suggestions to help. So far after the procedure, within the last 13 days my doctor has sold me Bionect creams, a bunch of makeup, Neova copper cream, face wash etc but no moisturizer as of yet... I have rashes on my skin and I need moisturizers as I am so dry all over my face and neck...Please help
Updated on Sep 17, 2009:
Sep 15, 2009Comments and replies (21)
1408 posts
16 Sep 2009
I'm sorry to hear about all that you've been through. Perhaps some of these related post-Fraxel questions might help?:
After Fraxel Repair
Best wishes,
--Sharon
136 posts
16 Sep 2009
your "scars" are redness or "hyperpigmentation". the dryness, acne, and rash: this is a side effect that a lot of people get after laser procedures. you should have been put on an antibiotic before, during, and after the procedure to avoid acne breakouts. you should also be using a good moisturizer that you know does not irritate your skin; not trying a new skin care regimen that is untested and may be irritating you. unfortunately fraxel doctors now supplement their income by hawking an entire skin care line. i think these creams and potions actually irritate a lot of people. they should have just stuck to whatever moisturizer they normally used before the procedure.
136 posts
16 Sep 2009
p.s. it also appears that you may have some hypopigmentation. this may have been there before. hard to tell from your fuzzy photos. the lines on your neck were certainly not caused by the fraxel. those are normal for a person your age. if anything they were probably diminished a little. you are surely just noticing them now because your skin is inflamed and you are looking at it a lot more closely.
2 posts
16 Sep 2009
Hi , Don,t worry so much ...I know fraxel is not a good treatment , I had it done 6months ago paid $6000 in Englewood NJ. My face was disaster for 3months but it went back to normal now after ton of cream. Fraxel It didn't make me beautiful and didn't make my wrinkles go away, I am still ugly and wrinkles but I am happy my face went back to normal...NEVER FRAXEL again. Trust me your face it will be back to normal in the next 5-6 months.
59 posts
16 Sep 2009
Hi I am in the same boat as you. I had beautiful skin too prior to this procedure.NO wrinkles on my cheeks or mouth area, no freckles and certainly no discolouration I had it done to remove some fine lines and wrinkles under my eyes and forehead, but while I was on the table my doctor convinced me to have my entire face done otherwise I would be a dual colour (his words).The entire procedure cost me double. I now have post inflammatory hyperpigmentation all over my face. i had been 12 months and it is still there. Hydroquinone does not work. Unfortunately we have both come across unethical doctors who do not take their oath "do no harm" seriously, and are only interested in how much money they can make from their patients. Hydroquinone does not work.has anyone else had any of these long term problems? Does anyone have any ideas about resolving this issue?
337 posts
17 Sep 2009
Hydroquinone should not be used long term because it can do more harm than good. Isn't it banned in some countries? Has anyone looked at Meladerm? It is supposed to be more gentle. It is made by Civant and is hydroquinone free.
7 posts
17 Sep 2009
Hi everyone. I know some body wrote that my pictures were blurry so I am posting some other BEFORE pictures, and maybe today I will get some AFTER pictures day 15. I am worst today. My face and neck feels itchier, dry, red and more acne. I am reading other people's comments and feel so hopeless that this gets better at all. Seems like 12 months post procedure are still having difficulties with this treatment. Thanks everyone for your support and kind words.
7 posts
17 Sep 2009
I also wanted to make myself clar and correct myself that the actual procedure cost exactly 6000 dollars, but the skin care and medications SO FAR just over a thousand dollars; which makes this cost me over 7000 so far.
1216 posts
17 Sep 2009
Hi nazgol, A lot of what you're describing sounds like side effects that sometimes happen after CO2 laser resurfacing and get better over time. I've got my fingers crossed for you that this is a case of your skin needing more time to heal, and not a permanent problem!
16 posts
26 Sep 2009
Nazgal, I too had fraxel repair & agree not worth the money & does not live up to the hype. But I agree with others who have said that it is too early to determine scarring. as for dryness & redness: try BIAFINE at night (a a wound healing medicine given to burn victims that your doctor can give you); and a lotion called PRYLATINE during the day before applying sun screen (many derms carry this). These two lotions really help reduce my redness & uneven discoloration. But 5 weeks post, I still get red unexpectedly after not being red for a few days. Hope this helps. really do try not to worry -- it really is too early to tell. I, too, had these worries early after the procedure.