POSTED UNDER Fraxel Laser REVIEWS
Fraxel II: Before and After
ORIGINAL POST
Had one procedure and not sure yet if its worth it...
WORTH IT$600
Had one procedure and not sure yet if its worth it yet but my pores are smaller and the swelling has subsided...
That said, here is the progression so far. I had the procedure done in Rancho Bernardo ($600) The procedure was administered by a nurse and they recommened a series of 3 treatments but there was NO pressure to buy a package up front which was great. The procedure was Thursday morning. I arrived one hour early so they could numb my face with cream for one hour. My face was very numb but it still was uncomfortable and it felt like getting a hot match tattoo all over my face. The pain was only when the laser was active - once it passed the area it didn't hurt. She did 6 passes.
On Friday night, the skin around my mouth and chin broke out in tiny pimples. I called them and the said that this is normal, particularly for those who have had acne or if this is their first procedure. They advised me to use my regular acne products. I bought some Neutrogena Rapid Clear gel that that helped subside the breakout and reduce the redness overnight - it wasn't completely gone but it was much better in the morning.
I am taking pictures every day to see the progression and will update about each week or so.
thatCAgirl's provider
UPDATED FROM thatCAgirl
Had one procedure and not sure yet if its worth it...
Had one procedure and not sure yet if its worth it yet but my pores are smaller and the swelling has subsided...
That said, here is the progression so far. I had the procedure done in Rancho Bernardo ($600) The procedure was administered by a nurse. Procedure was Thursday morning and felt like getting a hot match tattoo all over your face.
Saturday the skin around my mouth and chin broke out in tiny pimples. I called them but haven't been able to get a hold of them to find out what can be done.
I read a lot of the reviews and wanted to comment on a few things:
- I noticed is that many of you are referring to Fraxel II but I noticed that in one guy's video it's not even a Fraxel machine. It's a Palomar machine which is different.
- Esthetician (at least in California) is not licensed to prick the skin - that is go beneath the first layer. Shame on that gum-chewing broad for suggesting that is even a HINT of being okay...
- If you got burned there is something seriously wrong -like the person was not trained or they are using an inferior machine. Go to a doctor's office for serious laser procedures - not an esthetician.
Replies (14)
January 19, 2009
Do keep us updated! I was given pain meds, so my first procedure went very well. The only time I felt a little discomfort was around my mouth. As far as the pimples, I was warned about them, nothing you can really do about them, they will go away in a week or so. I'm having my 2nd treatment this week.
January 20, 2009
I was never told by any doc. including my dermatologist about scarring afterwards! I guess I'm willing to take that chance!
January 21, 2009
Hmmmm... delayed onset scarring is a phenomenon I have never heard of. If you have medical substantiation of this, please send a link.
January 21, 2009
ThatCAGirl delayed onset scarring is far from a phenomenon all scarring is delayed.. As far as medical substantiation You only need to google radiation ulcer they develop years after Radiation..
This is infrared radiation....But please if you can find a study that shows the 1550 pulsed wavelength is safe from someone who isn't financially biased I would love to see it..
I have nothing to gain other than an clear conscience in sharing my experience maybe another will be spared.
Isn't that why we are here to share unbiased reviews that a doctor or company who has a financial interest simply cannot do....
(unregistered guest)
January 23, 2009
There is something very suspicious about the postings from "awalk". Perhaps he/she is a disgruntled former employee of the company that developed the Fraxel lasers?? Her rants just don't make any sense.
Two days ago I had a Re:pair treatment with the new 600 micron Fraxel laser. It requires just one treatment. A numbing gel was placed on my face for 2 hours. I had no other medication.
The treatment was a breeze. Mostly I felt nothing, but in some places I was a pain level 2 (out of a scale of 10) and in a few places I felt the pain was a 4. No big deal, the device passes over the skin so quickly and there was no pain afterwards.
My face is very red/brown and is somewhat swollen. I can see the little pin holes on my skin which looks so funny! My face feels tight, but there is no pain. I am looking forward to a few days from now when I expect my new beautiful skin will emerge!
January 21, 2009
My intent is not to be confrontational only to make sure that others had the opportunity to be fully informed...I could not find info online before my Fraxel and had the best Plastic surgeon whom I trust and have seen for 8 years for botox and resty.
If you want to move forward and your doctor told you no risk of scarring ask him to guarantee it in writing or give you a percentage of time it occurs… Does he know…What are the long term implications results??
What did your consent say????Did they give it to you at your consult so you could take it home and read it...Or wait till you had taken pain meds or are on the table??
The fact is there is not enough research..The Air Force ect. is doing studies to determine the effects of this wavelength because there aren’t any….Just read the other posts..I'm not the only one....
http://www.stormingmedia.us/14/1460/A146074.html?searchTerms=infrared~laser~~damage~
http://www.stormingmedia.us/search.html?q=infrared+laser+dna+damage+&search.x=10&search.y=5
UPDATED FROM thatCAgirl
Results are not super significant but the...
Results are not super significant but the orange-peely texture and fine lines are reduced after one treatment. It takes a few months to see the results. I have my second treatment first week of April.
Replies (3)
March 18, 2009
ThatCaGirl I have seen your pictures and they show me exactly what I want to see. You were pretty before and you look even more beautiful now. I have seen Awalks pictures and read her story and it terrifies me. Messing with a pretty face is scary business. My husband had read part of Awalk's story and saw the photos and he looked at me today as we were making the bed and he said, "Go look in the mirror and ask yourself if you want to risk ruining that face?" He sounded heartbroken. I called my doctor and postponed my procedure.
I gave the patient coordinator this site and told her that is why I am spooked. I wondered if Awalk ever asked a dermatologist if he didn't know anything about her what he would assume was wrong. Please forgive me but it looks to me like the skin of a meth addict. Please don't think that I am at all implying that you take drugs. My heart is broken for you and I know that is not the problem. I just wonder if how they would treat you if they just based it on what it looks like. I wonder if meth skin is somehow like yours in a way that could lead to a treatment. Stranger things have been connected for medical advancement. ThatCaGirl, your pictures are beautiful and you got the results that I am seeking. I am so torn because like both ThatCaGirl and Awalk, my before pictures are good.
March 20, 2009
Kathy your husband is right this is new if your skin is already nice..Please don't mess with it on a device that hasn't been around long....
Think of all the drugs that are recalled after they go thru years of trials....
Medical devices don't receive any scrutiny....
Just google FDA medical Device Obamas transition team to understand the corruption that is involved with the approval and manufacturing of these devices thru the FDA it is severly corrupt.....
If you need a refresher retin a microderm or peels are the best thing you can do for your skin...
Please don't risk your face on this procedure...
I would do anything to have my old face back and I have seen other doctors they are upset and see the damage..But the laser goes so deep no one knows how to repair it...My next stop is Johns Hopkins....
My only hope at this point is some sort of stem cell fat grafting to repair the DNA Damage and mild resurfacing that ablates the top layer as opposed to going so deep.....
Deeper is not safer because it affects the cells below....Non ablative is not worth the risk....Or reduced downtime...It is misleading and false...
If the top layer is removed you still have healthy cells below to repair....
You will have a few days or week down time not much more than fraxel..But it's better than a lifetime....
I agree my face does resemble a meth addicts...My friends will get a kick out the statement because... I rarely even drink achohol and never smoked a joint in college..
I'm not a party pooper just never needed it...If it agrees with you have at it....I have met many people who I wish would smoke or drink....To improve their personality..LOL
Listen to your husband and use the credit to apply towards another course of skin care...
This is not the answer...Trust me..I have done my homework...
The risk may be worth it for severe acne scarring but not a refresher mild scarring or wrinkles....
The before afters are not as impressive as other procedures....It's all marketing hype and doctors make big money of prescribing it...Thats why they push it...And they want the practice...
Find something else
If the Retin a is irritating at first alternate it with TNS Recovery serum(The BEST)and Revale coffee berry night cream during the day..The results will blow Fraxel out of the water and no risk....It has improved my skin and I am starting to venture out again....After two years..But my skin will never be the same....
March 21, 2009
Retinoids wrecked my face once and I swear if I had any pictures of how badly it tore up my skin you would be impressed. I looked like I had rosesea for years after I quit using it. That memory is what makes me give pause and listen. No one knows why this happened to you but until they know, I am afraid to do it. I am going to use the money to redo my master bath and my closet. When they iron out the kinks in the patient selection process and/or whatever else is going wrong, I will jump on board. Plus I can't put my husband through it. He is so sad and worried. I have never seen him like this about anything else. I am out.
Replies (0)