Fraxel Repair: Stories

Write a Review

Fraxel Re:pair for Scarring - La Jolla, CA

I had a fraxel repair session done for acne...

I had a fraxel repair session done for acne sacrring on my cheeks (went ahead and did my upper lip and chin to help it blend better once it's all healed).

Day One: Thursday 01/24 at 4:30p.m. Went in with no makeup they put numbing cream on my face for about an hour gave me valium and a shot of something else to relax. They followed with idocain ( I think) shots into my face to numb the areas. Because I had the laser right below my eyelids they had to put in metal contacts to protect my eyes, not uncomfortable at all but it did feel strange to not be able to see anything at all.

Pain on a scale of 1-10 was a 3 overall. There were tiny areas that I could feel more than others( right by my ears) but then some areas I really didn't feel at all ( my upper lip area). My doctor and his staff were amazing! One time near my ear I must have flinched or something so they stopped and injected more lidocain so that I couldn't feel the laser. My doctor did say that I had a fair amount of bleeding ( I do tend to bleed easily). Post pocedure NO PAIN at all of any kind. Very mild bleeding continued for a few hours after and I started with vinegar soaks as they instructed followed by aquaphor.

Day 2: still no pain what so ever. A LOT of swelling made it a lttle tough to eat things I had to open my mouth very widely for ( so maybe plan accordingly. I loaded up on tons of healthy foods and orange juice etc to help promote healing

Day 3: A LOT OF SWELLING, when I do the vinegar soaks I am using ice pack gently layed over the soaked gauze and that's helping. DRINKING A LOT OF WATER to help reduce swelling and promote healing.

Day 4: slept elevated last night and it made A BIG DIFFERENCE much less swelling but still swollen. Some of the dried blood is starting to come off on it's own. My doctor told me not to rub or wipe or anything like that.

The main reason I wanted to post on this site was to be able to show progressive pictures because that's what i wanted to see when I was researching so i will upload my photos now. Unfortunately I was a bit out of it immediately after the procedure so the first photo I took was about 5 hours post procedure. I will do my best to update as I go

Great review?

My Doctor: William Groff

My rating:

Doctor's Bedside Manner
Answered My Questions
After Care Follow-Up
Time Spent With Me
Phone or Email Responsiveness
Staff Professionalism & Courtesy
Payment Process
Wait Times

I had a Fraxel re:store session with Dr. Groff (who was referred to me by my doctor) in July 2012 and was thrilled with the results but I was eager to see more improvement faster so he suggested Fraxel Re:pair. I cannot say enough about how great Dr. Groff (and my results are). I have read so many reviews on here about below average results etc. and I think the largest factor is the Dr. you choose. I couldn't be happier with my choice of Dr. I would highly recommend him!

Comments (58)

Sort by
Office Lase 1 May 2013

Congrats on the results. I had the same procedure done by the same doctor four years ago. Over the years the results I had continue to decrease since my procedure but overall I am still happy with the outcome and glad I did it. Maybe 25% improvement as of today? Basically the area I had lasered resulted in tighter skin by creating very small holes in my skin. If you look really closely (2-3 inches inches from the mirror) you will see small holes in the area I had lasered. It's nothing to be concerned about as it's not noticable by others although I probably would not repeat the procedure due to the concern the small holes getting larger.

Yftran 13 May 2013
Hello! So over time the results will change? Are they drastically different over four years? Will it be worth te money? Thanks and congrats!
Heather5235 31 Mar 2013
How long were you pink... Did have a light brownish pink tone to your skin past 1 month ?
lauren2980 1 Apr 2013
I still have it and it's about 2 months after right now
faith2ndchances 26 Mar 2013
:) Thanks again... I will now check into the fraxel re:pair! Wow, I didn't realize the diff. in choice. Have you ever thought about derm-abrasion? not micro but the more severe treatment?
ClareK 23 Mar 2013
Nice update photo and info. Thanks! Keep 'em coming. Too few people post after the first few weeks ... and from doctor studies, supposedly wrinkles and other problems come back for a while after swelling goes down, but not a lot of info pics out there.
lauren2980 24 Mar 2013
Honestly, I did notice that about 5-6 weeks after my fraxel re:pair my scars did become more noticeable than they had been in the first 4 weeks. I would say after week 3 I saw about 90% improvement in my scarring and now it's about 50% better than it was prior to the fraxel re:pair. So I would definitely agree with the fact that when the "micro swelling" fades the results are quite diminidhed which is dissapointing but still 50% improvement is good
ClareK 24 Mar 2013
Well, you could go through it again down the road. I hear that each time = more improvement? A guy on Youtube (Hans Moore) has been through several types of fractional and erbium and describes them.
lauren2980 24 Mar 2013
Yeah, I've seen his as well. I will likely do another fraxel re:pair down the road because I am very pleased with the results.
faith2ndchances 22 Mar 2013
lauren2980 thank you so much for the reply: my doctor used the Fraxel SR1500 Re:store. Not sure what the diff is tho. I have a couple bad acne deeper scars and am concerned... I see no difference so far, as a matter of fact they seem to be more visable. I've read so may aweful things after this procedure now... starting to worry a bit.. How long has it been for you, how many treatments (sorry you may have said before) anything you can tell me is very appreciated. thanks again
lauren2980 23 Mar 2013
The fraxel re:store is a much less severe version of fraxel than the fraxel re:pair that I had done ( that this review and these pictures are referring to) I too had fraxel re:store done prior to doing this more severe (fraxel re:pair) and saw maybe 10% improvement form the fraxel re:store.
faith2ndchances 21 Mar 2013
thank you ClareK- I'm 1 week out, I didn't bleed and my peeling has pretty much stopped so I'm not sure I should still do that. But I was looking for long term result testimonys if that is possiable :) I'm a bit freaked out on some of the things I have read, and honestly most of the things I have read are very negative!!!! I'm hoping this is just because most people are not posting as much on the positive. :(
ClareK 21 Mar 2013
I think many come here to tell their not-nice experiences. But your deep healing continues for months. The aloe now can only help -- for a week or so anyway. Usually available in Chinese or other special stores.
faith2ndchances 22 Mar 2013
thanks again ClareK. all the best to you in your journey
faith2ndchances 21 Mar 2013
lauren2980 or anyone that has had the fraxel laser: I had the fraxel laser 1 week ago today, please if anone can update on the results that they have, how many treatments you have had, and the length of time it has been! I am now reading horror stories and am scared to death I made the wrong choice! Please help enlighten me, Thank you and God Bless you all
ClareK 21 Mar 2013
I think you should read the comments more. You'll learn the risks and the benefits. Don't forget to put aloe on (split a leaf, crush a bit in fingers, lie with it on for an hour 1ce a day). Most doctors don't suggest that.
lauren2980 22 Mar 2013
What type of fraxel treatment did you have (re:pair or re:store) the difference is huge in the two procedures and is often confused on this site I think.
ClareK 22 Mar 2013
I didn't yet.
Qtface 20 Mar 2013
Hi again ClareK, Boy, I am learning a lot here. I finally get it:) I found the new online spa site (the office moved into a new building recently) which does state both types they use.Smartskin CO2 and Pearl Laser. I think my Dr. zapped me a good wave length; he said he lowered the intensity on my neck. Though I didn't pay to have my neck done, he was going to do it for me so that both would be the same color coming out. That was real nice. I'm feeling better now, and am sorry I got all mixed up. The initial NR whom went over the procedure prior to the appt. said she loved having it done so much she does it once a year! I felt I could trust her. Thank you for your replies. You obviously understood better than I. If I had anything more drastic than I did, I'd probably go into a flare. (I had bad Lupus for 14 years). It hurt, must say. The products I was given to use were good. My hubby says he thinks it looks so far that there is improvement of my skin, and says if I need another go at it, I can do. But give it some time. I understand collagen improves on going up to 6 months or more.The staff and Dr. are wonderful. It seems hard to know where to go for what~we all want the most experienced, and not break the bank. I have had filler and botox a few times from another Dr.; was done super and I got lots of complements, no one knew I did it. But I didn't want to keep having filler for my scar areas. Lots of $$. That's why I did the CO2. For me the effects of botox and filler lasted longer than the norm. I understand fillers also generate collagen. And the gal whom did my botox, was really good at doing so. I could still smile, and it looked natural. My face always looked refreshed. She also used it. She said the more you use it, the longer it starts to last. I found that to be true for both the filler and botox. It's the collagen thing. It's been five years from doing those.
lauren2980 22 Mar 2013
Wow, so it sounds like you didn't get a fraxel treatment at all then, correct? Fraxel is a brand of laser
Qtface 20 Mar 2013
Hi Gals, Wow, I guess I may have to go over this with my Dr. (I'm in a smaller city, usually I go to Seattle or Spokane for Dr. related thing). I'm in Wa State. The sheet I got says care for Fraxel Co2, supposedly, it was the best treatment for me. As the pinkness goes out of my face, and peeling almost done, I am now thinking , what did I pay for? I do remember, at the time of prep, the nurse said they were going to be having a special in a week or so, and I should have a retexturing lazer treatment. I was thinking, Huh? So, I just googled fraxel Co2 verses other ttypes. I also brought up my Dr.'s page and there was no mention of Fraxel Co2, rather, Pearl Lazer, and the other re texturing kind. I am going to talk with them tomorrow when I go in for a follow up. It would appear now, I didn't get the Fraxel I thought I paid for. Ahead of myself,guess I should retract the comment I think the Dr. did a good job. Really, how could I tell. I apologize. It won't show til I'm healed more. Thank you for replying.
ClareK 20 Mar 2013
They're both Fraxel CO2. One is ablative and one is not. One is deep the other less so (usually).
ClareK 18 Mar 2013
How is it going now?
Qtface 19 Mar 2013
Hi ClareK, Well, I am SO very itchy, to say the least, but am progressing. My hubby says, oh, you sure look pink! I will admit, being self controlled not to 'rub' or 'peel' for me has been difficult. I did both today, so I'm hoping that giving in on day 5 will be forgiving. The pilling was of pretty much ready flake off. I think rubbing my skin which is a at the moment fill good, is what causes me more irritation. Workin at being better about this. Each day does get better.Even though, I think my skin looks pretty good. I am curious about the vinegar soak thing. I am thinking the procedures in CA are more advanced. Pretty nice site for info. Thank you to you and the other gals who cared to post. Boy, Lauren's face was sure bloody, but the result was AMAZING. Mine wasn't like that at any time of my procedure, but then again, it matters on the strength the Dr. uses. Something I researched to find why some people were having to have 2 sessions . Depending on the strength of the fraxel C02 used, one could have to have more than one session. Have you done this yet?
ClareK 19 Mar 2013
No, I haven't done this. Nice to meet you! You think California is better for it? I know Dr G of this post has some good photos I've seen but their office wouldn't give me simple answers without a consultation and I'm in Toronto! Riches, I think, make one flippant sometimes. If you didn't get the high strength treatment but you think it's working, it may be the swelling all over; the real healing result will take time and it can look a bit worse first, depending what you need it for. I am worried about being permanently pinky. I have a nice skin colour right now. But I am getting lines. I like your comments ... but why can you tell the doctor did a good job with you?

Welcome Back

Sign in with Facebook

Your information remains private and will not be posted without your permission.

Forgot your password?

Don't have an account? Create one now.

Join RealSelf

Join with Facebook

Your information remains private and will not be posted without your permission.

Please enter a valid email address
 Did you mean ?

By creating an account, you are indicating that you have read and accept the RealSelf Terms of Use.

Already a member? Sign In.

Retrieve your password

Enter your username or email address and we will send you a link to login.

Check your email

Check your email. We've sent you a link to reset your password.

Ok