Fraxel Repair Reviews
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WORTH IT RATING
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126 Reviews
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Average Fraxel Repair Cost: $3,850

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“Intense - Johnson City, TN”

Worth It
Spent: $2,000 in Johnson City, TN

Comments (34)

Updated 31 Jan 2012

Posted 13 Jan 2012

Today is the second day and I haven't taken a picture yet, but will update as the days go by. I had my entire face done including my eyes. The procedure itself was very painful even though I had the numbing cream and numerous injections. My face is very swollen. I have taken a week and a half off from work and I hope it's enough time!



Updated on 13 Jan 2012:
If I hadn't seen the pictures on RealSelf of others who had had this procedure done I would have been really, really scared the first time I saw my face. I neglected to attach a before picture, which really doesn't show the issues that I was concerned about, but at least you can see I looked pretty normal before...lol...

Updated on 14 Jan 2012:
Day 3 - the swelling is much worse than I thought it would be. I iced my face three times yesterday and once so far today. It feels very fat and tight.

Updated on 16 Jan 2012:
Today is Monday, 1/16/12 and I saw my doctor today. He assured me that everything is the way that it should be - a big relief. I had a 20 minute LED light treatment which is supposed to help with healing and have additional LED appointments for Wednesday and Friday. I was told to continue the vinegar washes and Aquaphor but could switch to a lighter lotion if I wanted to. I want this to be over with!

Updated on 18 Jan 2012:
Today is Wednesday, 1/18, 2012. I had the second LED light treatment today. The swelling has gone down slightly. I'm attaching a picture taken right after I got home from my doctor's office. Very slow progress...

Updated on 20 Jan 2012:
Day 9, 1/20/12 - I had another LED light treatment today and am feeling so much better!I do have some 'break-outs' I am attributing to the Aquaphor but my doctor's office has emphasized that I don't want my skin to get dried out.

Updated on 25 Jan 2012:
Tomorrow will be two weeks since I had the Fraxel Repair. My doctor says I will continue to notice improvements.

Updated on 30 Jan 2012:
If I'm counting right (lol) I am 18 days post-Fraxel repair. I will change my rating to Worth It - it just keeps getting better and better.

This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.

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Comments (34)

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james 13 Jan 2012
Kudos on the pictures. Worth a thousand words. Keep documenting!
Megan P (Community Manager) 13 Jan 2012

Totally agree with James - thanks so much for posting the pictures.

SoozinCanada posted her review just a few days ago, and thankfully by day 5 she reported feeling better. Hoping the same will be your experience. Please keep us posted on how you are doing!

Teresad56 13 Jan 2012
Thanks, Megan, I will continue to post pictures of my 'recovery'. I hope others can learn from my experience.
Megan P (Community Manager) 13 Jan 2012

Thanks for posting the before picture, it does help to be able to compare. You are such a pretty lady! Hoping you will heal fast & feel much better soon!!

MaGuzzy 15 Jan 2012
Hi! I am scheduled to have the Fraxel Re:Pair done this coming Thursday. I have spent a lot of time researching it and found this site really helpful to get real people's experience. Seeing your pictures will definitely help me cope with the after look! Did you have sun damage that you were getting rid of? That is one of my concerns so as not to spend years ahead at getting spots removed as they come up. I am hoping to get a more youthful appearance going. I look forward to seeing more of your posts! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Teresad56 16 Jan 2012
I don't feel that my doctor prepared me for what to expect after. It's Monday, 1/16/12 and I had the procedure on Thursday, 1/12/12 and I still have a lot of swelling. I have had many bad sunburns over the years - never have tanned well - but this is 10 times worse. I have an appointment to see my doctor today and hopefully something can be done to alleviate that. I did have some sun damage - brown spots - but I had had some laser treatments over the last year that had gotten rid of a lot of that. One of my main concerns was that I was getting 'jowls' and I just wanted the texture of my face to be better. I had a lot of acne problems, but not really any scars. I will post again this afternoon after my appointment.
Megan P (Community Manager) 17 Jan 2012

Thanks so much for posting the update. You skin definitely looks less red, but you are right about the swelling - looks uncomfortable. :(

Do you mind me asking if they charged extra for the LED treatments, or did they give them to you complimentary?

Teresad56 17 Jan 2012
No, I don't mind answering your question. I believe the LED treatments are included because no mention was made when I checked out of a charge. I have two more treatments scheduled - one for tomorrow and one for Friday - and I do believe it made a difference. I am still very unsure about whether I will be able to return to work on Monday, 1/23/12, which is disappointing/frustrating. I will post more pics when there is noticable improvement. Thanks!
Megan P (Community Manager) 17 Jan 2012

That's pretty cool they offered that to you complimentary. Please let us know how you are feeling after your second LED treatment!

Megan P (Community Manager) 18 Jan 2012

You look like you are smiling at least a tiny bit in today's picture. :) Still red, but looking so much better! Hope it is feeling that way too!

Teresad56 18 Jan 2012
I made a point of smiling just a little because it does make me look better! Thanks!
Dusty1234 19 Jan 2012
Thank you for posting those pictures. I am starting day three of the fraxel repair. I woke up extremely swollen and tight. I started crying because I was afraid I had done something terribly wrong and thought I would be scarred. I have a call into my doctor now. I saw him yesterday, day 2, and he said everything is looking right. But now I am so swollen that my eyes are barley open. I am terrified of the outcome.
Dusty1234 19 Jan 2012
Oh yes, I did not realize when I read this message it was from that(your) post. Yes, I had the bloody face then day three I am swollen beyond knowing. I posted a blog with my story and some pics but I don't think it has been released by realself yet. Thanks for sharing it makes others going through the same thing feel better knowing this is what supposed to happen.
Dusty1234 21 Jan 2012
that is great improvement for 9 days! It looks like you area healing fine.
Teresad56 21 Jan 2012
There are still some red streaks on my right cheek that you can't see, but yes, I am so thankful that I am looking somewhat 'normal' again. Hopefully when I go back to work on Monday I will be able to cover it up with makeup.
MaGuzzy 21 Jan 2012
Well I am officially on day 2! I think my experience is pretty normal after I have read many others' experience of the procedure. I have also had 2 laser treatments for healing - it was a yellow light and I'll have to ask them what they call it. They did it right after the procedure and yesterday at my one day post procedure visit. Thanks Teresa for being a good "poster" it helps us all!
Megan P (Community Manager) 23 Jan 2012

Alright Teresa, I know its back-to-work Monday for you. How did it go getting ready? Were you able to cover the remaining red with make-up ok? Also, if you did, did it feel ok to put make-up on??

 

Teresad56 23 Jan 2012
Hi, Megan, yes, I went back to work today. My face is slightly pink and still just a little bit swollen. I put on 50 SPF sunscreen and then I used Bare Minerals makeup and it looked okay. I didn't get any stares, anyway! I saw my dermatologist today and he says everything is great and I can go back to everything I used to do (color my hair, use Latisse on my eyelashes, work-out, etc.) I will post more pics soon. Thanks for asking!
Dusty1234 25 Jan 2012
Hi Teresa,
You skin looks gorgeous! I am amazed at the difference from day one of the procedure. I don’t know what your skin looked like before the procedure, but do you see improvement from before? It certainly looks great now.
I am on day 8 and finally just peeled. I still see my scars, so I am not sure if new skin growth will help diminish them or if ijust did not work for me. Thank you for showing your day-to-day pictures…it helps others get an idea of what to expect and not be shocked. Kudos! And you look fabulous!
Megan P (Community Manager) 26 Jan 2012

Agreed, you look great in that picture! Would love to know how your skin is feeling and if it is sensitive at all.

Teresad56 26 Jan 2012
Thanks, Dusty. I'm looking forward to seeing your pictures, too, and hope you are doing well.
Teresad56 26 Jan 2012
My skin is still a little red and feels hot sometimes, which my doctor says is normal. I still have some peeling and itching, too. It is a big relief to look normal again. I would say my skin is a lot more sensitive than it was before. The makeup I was wearing was 15 SPF and now I wear 50 SPF suncreen under the 15 SFP makeup, which is what my doctor recommends. I still haven't decided whether it was worth the pain, time off from work, and two grand..lol...
Megan P (Community Manager) 26 Jan 2012

Yeah, that is a lot of time & money...then all the discomfort you went through :( I'll be really interested to hear your thoughts when you decide one way or the other!

Megan P (Community Manager) 30 Jan 2012

Wow - looks great!! And love that big smile :)

Good point about the sun in the car...we all can use the reminder of how important sunblock is!

Mindydoo 10 Feb 2012
I am so nervous I am schedule for 02/23/2012 for the treatment. Do you really feel it took 5 + years off your face? I am 43 and just let my self go. I went to the dermatologist for my yearly skin exam and was going to just get some Triluma fade cream for my melesma and botox and my dermatologist told me about the new CO2 fraxel. I am scheduled but very very nervous.

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