Not Happy - cannot see any difference at all - Fresno, CA

It's now been close to 4 months since I had the Active FX. I am still dealing with the hyperpigmentation problems. I've been using Hydroquinone 2x daily for almost 3 months. The pigment has improved, but my skin still is not back to being as clear as it was before Active FX. For the first 2 weeks your skin looks like the wrinkles and marks are gone. Once the swelling went down everything came back on my face. I have a fair/med skin tone. I was told it was the perfect tone for the procedure. What I found out later was that almost 30% of the people who have Active FX will get hyperpigmentation. I had a very high power #9 and two passes. Plan on at least 3 weeks to look normal assuming you don't have any problems. The mental anquish of not knowing if your face will ever return to normal is not worth any benefits that you may experience from the procedure. I am supposedly at the point where you see the most benefit. Other than some slight tightening around the cheek area, I haven't seen much improvement. No matter how skilled your doctor is you just don't know how your skin will react. If you are going to try it, make sure you don't plan anything where you have to look good. The only people I know who have had Active FX and didn't have a very long recovery period are fair skinned and had a low power. The problem with that is they haven't experienced any lomg lasting improvement. I'll update again at 6 months to see if there is noticeable improvement.

Hi, Sorry to hear about your face. My situation right now is okay. I've had 3 IPL treatments and that has helped a lot. Right after the first treatment the hyperpig really was reduced. I've had two more since and they haven't helped as much as the first one. Most of mine is around the jawline, so it's easily covered with light makeup. Overall my skin looks nice, but not much nicer than before I did the Active FX. I'm very sensitive to most of the cremes I tried. I used a bleaching creme for about 3 months. It helped a little, but not as much as the IPL, which my doc did at no cost to me. I use tretinion every other night. I used to use it every night, but since the procedure, it irritates my skin too much. I'm going to have one or two more IPLs. It really is just a matter of time, so I wouldn't worry about it not going away or at least lightening up to where it can be easily covered. Of course, you have to use the sunscreen on a daily basis. I try and use Vaseline on my face everyday. I just put a very light layer on. It has helped with the dryness and made the texture really nice. My doc and his staff are terrific. They geniunely feel bad about the results I had, and are willing to do anything to correct it. Two months is still not that long into it. Try and use the bleaching creme for a few months and maybe get some IPL and you will hopefully be satisfied. Keep us posted and good luck.

hi maxine , thank you so much for your reply ! my doctor didn't offer me IPL . i concern the laser bring us the hyperpigmentation , if i try the IPL (it's also laser), then it'll bring me more hyperpigmentation . the doctor suggested me to do the diamontome wand for few times and use the hqra creme , but it seems nothing change . i'll see my doctor tomorrow and have the treatment . "patient" is the only thing that i can do . good luck to you and me !

I would ask your doctor to do a few IPL treatments. I don't think you can get hyperpigmentation from IPL treatments.

hi maxine ,i went to the doctor today and he offered me IPL this time , but i just tried in small area because he had same concern as mine (get hyperpigment from IPL). i'll see my doctor next month and wish IPL works on me . good luck to you and me again !