Fraxel Laser: Stories

I am so sorry for what happened to you...the same thing happened to me too...tiny holes that connect and make lines on treated areas...when I pointed them out to my Dr he said he couln't see them but at the end contradicted himself and said that my skin will eventually heal and improve! He never mentioned this as a possible side-effect only hyper pigmentation in case of sun exposure and minimal results. I am now 8 weeks post fraxel one and only procedure and praying that my skin will eventually go back to normal... Could you tell me how your skin is doing now? Are things better? What products did you use? I have very sensitive skin so can't use retin-a, vitamin C...so my options are limited. I am only 34 and so worried that my skin will look that way for ever!!

i don't trust any doctors anymore after what happened to me with Fraxel.

they all have god-complexes and don't care about their patients. they just want money.

they aren't doctors anymore. they're just greedy business people in doctor coats.

Seattlite: Please give an update? Are you seeing improvement in the pattern or texture?

I have pin pricks- gives my skin almost an orange peel appearance from where the laser destroys little columns of tissue. Fraxel also made old scars reappear- a reality which doctors repeatedly deny is possible, but I have chicken pox scars that have resurfaced on my forehead from when I was a kid that had previously been gone for many years. Stick with the Retin-A. You need to use it consistently for 6-12 months to see improvement.

I had Fraxel 1 year ago. I am having complications. My skin looks awful in certain lighting and is scarring. I am trying to find a doctor that knows about Fraxel laser damage or just damage from lasers in general. I want to know if there is something to do to stop the scarring. I am using Retin-a, but that doesn't seem to help. Is there a way to look at the dermis, like a VISIA that would determine what damage I have to the dermis. Is there anyone else on here that has experienced scarring from Fraxel?

By the way, Seattlite, what I said was meant to be supportive of you, and in return I feel you attacked me (and were inaccurate in doing so). I am very wary of a doctor who offers no actual information but tries to sell something with a "free" consultation. To be frank, I came to his site because I thought it was for patient support and information, and not for doctors to try to sell things. And now I'm done with the site. Good luck!

Correction: I shouldn't say I worked "alongside" practicing surgeons; that overstates my role. I worked with them in an academic setting on their written clinical studies, case reports, articles, i.e., helped them in publishing their articles/research results. We were employed by the same hospital.

Seattlite17, I wish you well. I am not out to argue with you because I think you have suffered enough. If you found Dr. Rand's comments helpful, that's great. However, please know I was not out of line in suggesting that a plastic surgeon publish a report. I worked for 10 years as a medical editor (with researchers, surgeons -- including plastic surgeons -- and physicians). And what you say is not correct. Clinical studies are written by physicians who direct the studies and seeing the patient outcomes; case reports, likewise, are written by physicians about individual patients who come to their offices for clinical visits. Rightly or wrongly, objectivity is presumed. Basic science research is done in a lab; that is a different career path. Those who would publish studies on Fraxel would be those who are observing the effects, be they case studies on individual patients or based on data only. Physicians/surgeons also do literature reviews. You should see my plastic surgeon's list of 20 articles! Particularly in academic settings, such as teaching hospitals like the one I worked at in Houston, a practicing surgeon must publish, and as I'm sure you know, many plastic surgeons also do Fraxel. With regard to your condition, the important thing is that you feel that Dr. Rand is helping you, and that's great. Sorry I misinterpreted. I do wish you well, but I feel compelled to correct your error because I worked hard in the area of academic publishing alongside practicing surgeons for many years.

Dr. Rand was not out of line to suggest I see him for a consultation--he's trying to be helpful. Dr. Rand wouldn't publish research on Fraxel because, first, Fraxel is not his specialty and second, he is not a researcher. Instead, he's a practicing surgeon. This is like expecting a sculptor to conduct research on American portrait artists. In any credible study, researchers (who usually have an MD plus a Phd) ideally evaluate a large sample of patients that they have not personally treated. This preserves objectivity. Conducting rigorous studies of healthcare outcomes is a different job entirely that normally involves a different career path than Dr. Rand's. No, I don't know Dr. Rand. Yes, I am anxiously waiting for my skin to improve after Fraxel, and to some extent, it is.

I am sure many people on this site will relate to my feeling that it doesn't matter if it's "few and far between" if you are one of the unlucky few. I honestly think that only you can answer the question you have asked. At least you know the risks, though. Better to be informed before making the decision because that way you can research and find the best possible person if you decide to go for it. Good luck.

I am considering having one treatment of fraxel repair laser. I've seen the before and after results on a patient at the dermatologist I'll be going to and the results were tremendous. Are these "bad" cases few and far between or should I run now?

I know a hand-ful of us that could benefit from plastic surgery after Fraxel. I can't believe "they" are letting this happen to more and more people!

And what I am saying is that if you think that there's a possibility that Fraxel causes a problem so extreme that surgery is the answer, that needs to be in the medical literature. My reading comprehension skills are just fine.

Pardon but I clearly didn't say that surgery was the answer or that "you need a facelift" to solve your problems. Please just re-read the post. What I am saying is that the "hawking" of services is mostly done by the non-plastic surgeons out there who will tempt unsuspecting patients into thinking they don't need surgery when actually they do, and that the non-surgical options they can offer will substitute for well done surgery when they won't.

Sorry about the problems you are having. If you want an honest estimate of what a facelift can do for you, please call my office and I would be pleased to spend an hour discussing your options for free.

I really don't understand all of this; I feel as though I'm reading about an alternative universe. As I read these posts, I'm thinking, How on earth does the industry get away with this? These things carry risks that are just enormous. I don't have a clue why the FDA isn't stepping in to ban any of this.