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POSTED UNDER Fraxel Laser Reviews

Do Not Do Fraxel, Ruined my Face.... VA

UPDATED FROM awalk

I felt a strong need to update this based on the...

awalkApril 2, 2009
$900

I felt a strong need to update this based on the positive reviews I am seeing 24 hours after the procedure...                                                                                                       I thought it was fine 24 hours after and was looking forward to the results..

It's impossible review a treatment 24 hours or even weeks after when the results are not visible for months...                                                                                               While helpful in describing what to expect during treatment they should in no way be taken as a positive result.......
If you read the negative reviews you will notice most are months or years after treatment and are not happy ..They say they look much older or it ruined their skin....At this point you can pretty much determine the final result..

I wanted to make sure people considering this treatment put the appropriate weight on the reviews they read...The length of time after treatment should be taken into consideration when making your decision...As results and complications do not present immediately

Note from RealSelf: Angela (awalk) passed away in 2009. Comments from "Cherry Lane," below, are from her mother.

awalk's provider

Ben Hugo, MD

Ben Hugo, MD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

0

Replies (5)

awalk
April 8, 2009
These are all forms of radiation exposure...How do we know what the wavelength is coming out of the tip unless they measure or test it and calibrate the laser in front of us... It seems like more people than not have delayed hyperpigmentation a Direct sign of DNA Damage and more wrinkling ect... Look at the quality of my forhead skin in the pics...No way the decline is related to UV exposure considering I didn't leave the house for two years after my fraxel except to go the doctor.... L ight A mplification S timulated E mission of R adiation Melanoma has increased 50% in WOMEN But not MEN since the 1980's.. The number 1 killer of women in their 20's Non melanoma has tripled in women under 40 it might not kill you but it is DISFIGURING they do cut off your nose and half your face in many cases Men used to have more than double the risk of women...They spend more time outdoors golfing, fishing ect... The blame it on tanning and UV exposure... Both of which we do and get less of than Men. Women wear more sunscreen than ever before, most of our makeup has sunscreen in it… The ones who do tan cover their faces for fear of wrinkles… The one thing that has changed in the last 30 years is the number of Laser Treatments… Do the Math and Follow the Money 7.4 million aesthetic laser treatments are estimated for 2010..How many of those are men?? 3%
awalk
April 10, 2009
It would be one thing if this laser was just ineffective but it causes damage where there was none…..It is downright negligible for Doctors to take a Sales Persons word with no research.. It is being sold based on unscientific peer reveiws without disclosure.To doctors who shouldn't be performing it.. I may not have medical knowledge, but common sense is all that’s needed to weigh the opinion of someone who has a financial incentive..
awalk
April 10, 2009
Fitness Lady No,, I did take a antiviral because I've had a cold sore before and laser can bring one on and leave a scar..I already had a prescription from my lip injections.. I asked for antibiotic but ended up getting one from my family doc... I don't usually go to a derm unless I'm getting a treatment and didn't want to scare everyone in the waiting room out...The girls at my family doctor are awesome..I called ahead and said I was a butta face and she ran it out to my car...LOVE THEM...
awalk
April 10, 2009
Yes I've heard of derma roller and wish I would have tried it first..I'm Scared to do anything until I know what happened gun shy right now but I'm going to ask if I can use it next time I go in... Thank you so much...It is the same concept but you can do it at home without laser energy.. I looked online and it goes 1mm deep...I bet that with the TNS serum would do wonders for people..Letting the larger molecules into your skin.. Did it make a big difference for you? Does it hurt?
awalk
April 10, 2009
I looked on ebay today and they had 9 fraxel restore lasers up for bid/sale...Never a good sign... How is a person to know what is being used on their face? Where it was purchased? ect ect And who training was provided by? .. Any one considering this treatment needs to ask very specific questions?? You can also request from the FDA information relating to saftey and effectivness from the FDA...The company has to respond in 30 days.......
UPDATED FROM awalk

Do not let anyone put this laser on your face...I...

awalkFebruary 8, 2009

Do not let anyone put this laser on your face...I was burned and haven't felt comfortable leaving my home in over a year......At first you may think its ok and you're healing...but the laser goes so deep the real results show later.....NOT PRETTY....

The B/After pics aren't that impressive and its very new...

Stick with tried and true I had better results with peels....

510k FDA is not FDA approved or safe......only says other lasers like it on market.....Don't fall for it....It's all marketing and hype....

WAIT till it's been around longer and they work out the kinks and know how to use it....

Will upload pics later

Replies (5)

susyQ
January 13, 2009
omg! How many fraxel treatments did you get? $9000 is so expensive..I am so sorry that you had such a terrible experience..have you been back to the clinic who did the treatment to see what they have to say about the burns you experienced or can you get any of your money back?? What was the setting of the fraxel when they did the treatments?
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karine6717
January 8, 2011
how is your skin today . send a new pictute please my adresse is baby_karine_j@hotmail.com tanks you
t1156
April 12, 2011
This woman said she spent $900.00 NOT $9000.00
mbauman
August 15, 2011
fraxel ruined my face as well, doctor in denial. my life is ruined.
Fitness Lady
January 19, 2009
I'm so sorry you had to endure this both physically/mentally.How many treatments were you given and at what setting? It sounds like you should be looking into getting a refund or a lawsuit!
awalk
January 22, 2009
I'm sorry it was $900 for 1 not thousand...I tried to post pics..emailed to customer service try again later when I can get hubby to help me...
richG
January 22, 2009
When did you do your procedure exactly? 2 years ago? Some people mention 1 treatment (like yourself) while others say 4-5, which is what my doctor told me it will be, and I might not see any real results until the 2th or 3rd. Could it be that the people that got 1 treatment they used too much power? My doctor has been in the field for 20 years, I don't think he'll put in jeopardy his reputation, will he?
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Sharon at RealSelf
January 22, 2009
Hi richG, There are three types of Fraxel lasers: Restore, Refine and Repair. Fraxel Repair needs only one treatment, whereas the others usually require 4-5 treatments. This is why you see discrepancies in the number of treatments people get - in most cases it's down to the type of Fraxel they received. HTH, --Sharon
TRISTEN
March 17, 2012
I have hade four fraxel treatments. How do I know which one I had. I remember the power being in the twenties. Great results until recently, I have notice my skin getting a lot of wrinkles. I do not sun, I work in doors, exercise in the house and eat very healthy. Pores look like the top cut is off. I use organic products.
FSRB
March 17, 2012
Sounds like you had the re:fine. Did you go to a Medspa? How long are you out? If it has been several years, it could be the re:store? The settings were lower in the beginning. If you don't mind, how old are you? Skin changes drastically in your late 30s and 40s.
Fitness Lady
January 23, 2009
Awalk, do you mind sending me pics to my personal email?
UPDATED FROM awalk

To the company, executives and sales reps,...

awalkFebruary 4, 2009

To the company, executives and sales reps, who rushed this laser to market before they did correct and responsible studies. Exploited the system ..Your unscrupulous, irresponsible, marketing, advertising, and buying of doctors is inexcusable. <o:p></o:p>

You are the true criminals of society not drug addicts, burglars, adults abused as children or the mentally ill that fill our prisons… You have options yet choose to in danger others for personal gain…
<o:p></o:p>

You should know I cry everyday and every time I look in the mirror..Your greed, lack of integrity and irresponsibility has ruined life’s...My son is hurt when I hide in the car to watch his soccer games. My mother is sad when she watches me isolate myself from the things and people I love because I have sores and scars covering my face now...Knowing It hurts them is the worst feeling I've ever experienced....One you are obviously incapable of comprehending since you continue these practices today...It’s pure evil and you should be the ones crying or sitting in prisons.<o:p></o:p>

Today is my birthday..The second one I will spend sad and crying with sores and scars on my face, I feel like a caged animal, my phone is turned off and I wonder if I will ever look normal again…Enjoy a birthday dinner, Cheer on the field at my sons soccer game, Go to lunch with my Mom, Attend parties, Go on vacations, Visit my neighbors or Go out with my friends and family ect ect…..<o:p></o:p>

I hope you read this and I hope you think of us when you enjoy theses simple pleasures you have taken from me and my family…Maybe it will take you a few minutes longer to go to sleep tonight??? One can only wish..<o:p></o:p>

To the Doctors performing this procedure Please Take it seriously learn everything before you put it on a patients face...Start with the person you intend to delegate it to...You took an oath when you became a doctor..We count on you to protect and guide us thru the mish mosh of info and the corrupt FDA..
Everyone has a right to make a living especially after so much education...But never at the expense of another....Do your homework...

Do not listen to sales reps.. Or base your decision on delegating this and profit margins..They take no oath, have no education requirements. If you do you don't deserve the title,trust or respect we give you..

You will quickly become a commodity to greedy executives with half your education Please honor your oath and put pressure on peers to disclose..
If I wanted to get a sales reps opinion I’d talk to a sales rep Not my doctor….

Replies (5)

Stephen Erickson
February 8, 2009
You should think about putting pure aloe vera on ur face and that will help alot wit the skin..i did this with my skin and it cured all the acne, redness and some scars...it really is helpfull and u should try it..
awalk
February 8, 2009
Plast Reconstr Surg. 2008 Dec;122(6):1660-8. Links TUNEL assay for histopathologic evaluation of irreversible chromosomal damage following nonablative fractional photothermolysis. Farkas JP, Richardson JA, Hoopman JE, Brown SA, Kenkel JM. Department of Plastic Surgery, Clinical Center for Cosmetic Laser Treatment, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Texas 75390-9163, USA. BACKGROUN: Fractional photothermolysis is extremely popular in skin rejuvenation and remodeling procedures. However, the extent of thermal cellular injury beyond the borders of the coagulated microcolumns produced with fractional phototherapy is undefined. METHODS: Six abdominoplasty patients were pretreated with the Lux1540 Fractional Erbium device (Palomar, Inc., Burlington, Mass.) at various clinical laser settings. After tissue excision, the panni were immediately biopsied. Biopsy specimens were fixed in formalin, embedded in paraffin, sectioned, and evaluated with the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) procedure for cellular necrosis/apoptosis. Tissue was sectioned horizontally and longitudinally to help define the depth and distribution of the microcolumns of injury in a three-dimensional plane. RESULTS: The extent of cellular necrosis/apoptosis at variable depths within the epidermis and dermis was demonstrated successfully with the TUNEL technique. After the Lux1540 treatment, TUNEL-positive nuclei were identified in a vertically oriented fashion that extended from the epidermis into the papillary and reticular dermis, highlighting the areas of injury. The TUNEL-positive nuclei defined lesions that were approximately 175 to 225 microm in diameter and penetrated to variable depths (200 to 900 microm), depending on the fluence used for treatment (18 to 100 mJ). CONCLUSIONS: TUNEL immunofluorescent labeling provided an accurate assessment of cellular damage within and surrounding the microthermal zones of coagulated collagen with respect to column depth and width. Because of its specificity, the TUNEL assay can be a useful adjunct to other histologic stains used to characterize cellular damage and matrix denaturation in skin treated with any fractional ablative or nonablative laser device.
(unregistered guest)
February 9, 2009
As someone who herself recently went through a cosmetological disaster recently - mine was an acid treatment gone awry (performed by one my state's most renowned dermatologist, who apparently is just driven by money), I can totally relate to your pain. And the heartbreaking dissapointment from having a procedure you expected to improve your appearance, turn on you. Now, I applaud you courage to share you photos with the rest of us. Looking at them, I still think you are beautiful. However, what first struck me about them, is the difference in lighting, focus and facial expression between the pre- and post procedure photos. The darkness of the latter ones accentuate the problems you are experiencing. Being how the before pictures are heavily blurred, while the after ones are perfectly crisp, it is hard to tell the concrete impact of the laser on the skin. And finally, you are smiling in the earlier images, which contrasts the sullen look in the later. Put it all together, and you got a great discrepancy in appearance. (I work with photography, hence the nitpicking) Having written that, I am not, by any means, trying to refute your experience, but merely pointing out that, perhaps, you are making it worse in your head. There is no doubt that you are suffering from sores, but a good dermatoligist should be able to clear that up for you (even though a good one is hard to come by). Omnilux is supposed to be an excellent non-invasive treatment. Being how the white lines you mention are raised, that should make you eligible for dermabrasion - not to be confused with microdermabrasion. There are ways of getting your skin back to normal, be sure of it. And you have to stay positive. After my own botched procedure, I also thought I would die. It is devestating to undergo something that effects your appearance so profoundly. I found myself a therapist, who has helped me a lot. Staying at home, closing the door on the world, is not an option - quite the contrary. You hang in there, work on it, and you will see thing are going to get better. After all, you are still a young, healthy and very beautiful woman, who deserves a birght future. :)
corinnebrown
February 9, 2009
Angelalight,I think Awalk was smiling in the before pics because she was excited about getting this procedure done and took the pictures before she left for the doctor's office. She looks 'sullen' now, because of the trauma that was done to her face-she's depressed by it! It looks like she took the "before" pictures herself, hence the blurriness. Another point Awalk is making by posting pictures -I think- is that most doctors' accounts on this website state that there is a "<1%" chance of scarring from Fraxel. This is a vague number, meaning that somewhere between 1- 3,950 people will be/ have been scarred ( 1% of Fraxel website's claim of 395,000 Fraxel procedures done) My point: I cancelled my Fraxel because why should I think I won't be one of the unlucky ones? Awalk was.
Dawn
February 9, 2009
Why did you get the treatment? I don't see any blemishes or scarring before your fraxel. Also, are you getting acne now? How old are you? The marks at the chinline look like the acne I got when I went into my 40's.
richG
February 9, 2009
Awalk I don't doubt any of your claims nor the negative results that you had, but what I don't understand is why you would be reluctant of not disclosing the name of the center and Doctor that performed your treatment? Myself and another person has asked you for this, which I think is far more important than anything else but you have not responded. This is not really a confidential matter as you can even denounce malpractice in your state and the doctor's name will be posted online if found guilty. Everytime I read the links that you post on this board, they make no sense to me. They are very technical but they are not specific to the fraxel treatment. How does the 12 year old pic that you show above relate to fraxel? I have read so many things about your case that I think I want to get the actual company that makes Fraxel involved. If Fraxel truly degenerates skin tissue, it should be investigated and stopped. But if your case was an isolated case due to malpractice, it should also be corrected on all your posts, and I am saying this as a person that is looking for useful information about the treatment before getting it.
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