POSTED UNDER Laser Resurfacing REVIEWS
Candela Quadralase C02 - Troy, OH
ORIGINAL POST
Just yesterday I had my second treatment with this...
BuggahrooMay 6, 2012
WORTH IT$600
Just yesterday I had my second treatment with this laser. The Dermatologist said I would probably need 3 treatments to be happy with the results......as you can see, the scars are pretty bad!! I'm having a treatment done every 2 months. I was happy with the results of the first session, I definitely saw an improvement of probably 20-30%. And the thing that really gets my hopes up is that it continues to get better for 6 months after the procedure!
I took this picture today about 24 hours after I had the laser treatment done. So there might be some swelling making it look better than it will after the swelling goes down, but I will update with new pictures in about a month.
Replies (6)
March 14, 2018
Just something to consider, you don’t see full results for 6 months so do you really want to go back in 2 months for another treatment? In my opinion it is too early. I had light Mixto and still had small veins visible at 2 months post and skin was sensitive to pressure which leads me to believe that the skin has not fully thickened and could result in problems from over treatment. I am no doctor but based on my experience I am waiting 10-12 months before a second treatment. Wish you the best!
UPDATED FROM Buggahroo
It's been about a week since I had my 2nd laser...
BuggahrooMay 14, 2012
It's been about a week since I had my 2nd laser treatment, and I took some new pictures today. I gotta say I am really happy with the way this treatment is working. I thought I was always gonna be insecure about my scars...but with the way it's going, after my next treatment they may not even be noticeable anymore!!!! Thank God for technology!!!! :)
Replies (8)
May 14, 2012
Oh my gosh, I'm so happy to read your update!! I hate to even mention this, because I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer, but I have read where other community members have had some residual swelling that has made their scars look better, then when the swelling goes away completely they can still see their scars, so you may want to ask your doctor how long swelling will stick around. That way you can know if this is the permanent change, or if it might regress a bit.
Keep updating us - we want to know how you are doing! :)
May 15, 2012
I did tons of research before doing any of the laser sessions and I did read a bunch of reviews about people saying they were disappointed with the results after the swelling went down. I was totally prepared to be disappointed also, but after my 1st treatment...about 2 months later I took pictures and compared them to my pre-op pictures and was very pleasantly surprised. Also, the doctor said swelling typically lasts 3-10 days. My swelling from my first and second treatment lasted about 4-5 days. I guess this procedure is kind of a risk...it works for some and not for others. I'll definitely keep updating with pictures and things to show my progress. :-)
May 16, 2012
That is awesome to hear that these are results you saw after the swelling was gone - yay!! Looking forward to hearing how the other treatments go!
May 17, 2012
Hi Buggahroo, witch CO2 laser did you have done? And when was your first treatment done? I had the SmartXide Dot laser done 3 1/2 weeks ago, my first treatment and still have mixed feeling about it. At first i was over the moon now i can still see the dots on my skin and when i wear make up have to keep a check on it as the day does on as i can see are the dots. At times l look like ive walked into a fly screen door. i too have very bad acne scarring very, and have lived with it long enough. I think it is a little better it did look alot better last week this week looking a bit like i started( i hope not) im counting on the 6month mark i do go for my next treatment in july so im praying it helps!!
May 17, 2012
Hey blueblue,
I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling disappointed with the results from your first laser. I kinda felt the same way about my first treatment a few weeks later but I still saw an improvement so that's what drove me to get my second one done. Plus they told me I might need 3 or more treatments to get good results. The laser I had was the Candela Quadralase Fractional C02. I too noticed those tiny dots on my face a couple days after my 2nd treatment and was worried bc I hadn't seen them after my 1st...I called them "grid marks" from the laser. Idk if you are supposed to do this, but I took a cold wet rag and gently scrubbed on those spots once a day...but this may or may not cause scarring so don't do it unless you are willing to risk that..... and I also kept a lot of moisturizer on 24/7. They eventually faded away. I was going to call my derm to see what she'd say about them if they didn't... Maybe you should call your derm and ask him/her about that and see what he/she tells you to do about it if they don't fade away soon. If you haven't already, you should take pictures so that maybe in a few months from now you can compare those pictures to how you look and really see if you notice an improvement. If you're anything like me I look in the mirror every day and study my face to look for changes.......so it's hard to actually notice how much they really have changed if you have no old pics to compare them to! I know it's really upsetting when you feel like nothing is happening but just don't read and negative reviews about the laser and hang in there a few more months to really decide whether you see a change or not. I have faith that we will both see our desired results at the end of all this!!!! :)
I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling disappointed with the results from your first laser. I kinda felt the same way about my first treatment a few weeks later but I still saw an improvement so that's what drove me to get my second one done. Plus they told me I might need 3 or more treatments to get good results. The laser I had was the Candela Quadralase Fractional C02. I too noticed those tiny dots on my face a couple days after my 2nd treatment and was worried bc I hadn't seen them after my 1st...I called them "grid marks" from the laser. Idk if you are supposed to do this, but I took a cold wet rag and gently scrubbed on those spots once a day...but this may or may not cause scarring so don't do it unless you are willing to risk that..... and I also kept a lot of moisturizer on 24/7. They eventually faded away. I was going to call my derm to see what she'd say about them if they didn't... Maybe you should call your derm and ask him/her about that and see what he/she tells you to do about it if they don't fade away soon. If you haven't already, you should take pictures so that maybe in a few months from now you can compare those pictures to how you look and really see if you notice an improvement. If you're anything like me I look in the mirror every day and study my face to look for changes.......so it's hard to actually notice how much they really have changed if you have no old pics to compare them to! I know it's really upsetting when you feel like nothing is happening but just don't read and negative reviews about the laser and hang in there a few more months to really decide whether you see a change or not. I have faith that we will both see our desired results at the end of all this!!!! :)
May 17, 2012
Thank you some much Buddahroo for your positive advice, i will take that on bored as sometime reading all the reviews you start to doubt what you have done. Dont get me wrong i do see an improvement but as you said im up close in the mirror everyday looking at my face, days i think it looks good and others i think there is no change. I ask my husband and he tells me every day that he can definitely see a change. He said he didnt even notice my scares before,( thats because he loves me, hes a good man) he said my scares are still there, but not as bad, more to the surface not so deep. he said he wouldnt tell me that it worked if it didnt as it costs alot of money, and to lock myself up for a week, alot if you see not results. He is encouraging me to go back for number 2! My dermo said i'd need 3 shots of laser to get the results. How long did you wait between treatments. So glad your seeing results i can see your results from your photos and they look fantastic!! Will you post some more a few weeks after this treatment? I have taken some photos but it depends on the lighting at the time, sometimes i cant even see my scares in photos (love those shots) but that is not the case, when i take them too close the flash must be too strong it whitens out my face makes me scare free!! Thank you again : ))
May 17, 2012
I'm so glad your husband helps keep you positive!! It's really nice to have someone around who is always encouraging you and telling you they see a change! My derm told me to wait 2 months in between lasers....My next one will be in July like yours. Thank you so much for your comment on seeing results on my scars..I really hope you see great results when your sessions are complete (I'm SURE you will!!) I will definitely post more photos probably in about a month from the last photos I uploaded. Btw I know what you mean about taking pictures and the lighting being just right to where you look like you have no scars......I love those shots also!!!! lol..One day we will be able to take pictures in any lighting and have no scars in them and in real life! :)
March 14, 2018
I had light Mixto and actually thought the initial results made my scars look worse. I actually felt ill at the thought of it but 1 month in and I could see an improvement which continued into month 2 (I am in month 3 now). There is supposed to be improvement up to 6 month post but if it stops now, I would be thrilled for one round of light Mixto.
Hope you have improvement.
Hope you have improvement.
UPDATED FROM Buggahroo
It's been a month and 2 days since my 2nd...
BuggahrooJune 6, 2012
It's been a month and 2 days since my 2nd treatment.....Just updating with new pics. :)
Replies (9)
June 6, 2012
WOW!!!! That is HUGE change in your scarring!! Did the doctor say if all the swelling was for sure gone?? Please keep us update if things stay the same or if you see any changes over the next few weeks - so excited for you!!
June 8, 2012
Thanks!! Yes, the swelling lasts for up to two weeks but it's been over a month so there is no swelling. I will be updating again after my 3rd treatment. :-)
June 18, 2012
Iam happy for you Buggahroo =) thank you for sharing your experience with so many details. How agressive was your treament? I have read comments of people saying that their doctor kept a too high setting for too long, not sure how you checked this before you did your treatment.
June 25, 2012
Thank you Laura! I didn't check with my doctor about the settings...but maybe the next time I go I will ask her what settings she used and post it on here. I've read those same comments about it being set too high and bad things happening....I guess you just have to find a dermatologist who knows what they're doing
July 18, 2012
Hi Buggahroo, how are you going after your second session on you acne scarring? I did my second round of smart dot on the 29th of june so been 19 days and have to say im really not happy!!! Showed the doctor the grid marks i had from the last one so he didnt go as hard on my face... about 3 days alot of the swelling went down. On the 7th day i started to cry as my skin looked so good acne scarring still there but slowly flatting out...no grid lines, all gone! But now my face looks terrible it even looks like there is more scarring in places i didnt have them... i know he didnt do it as strong because i could't really feel it, the time before i thought i was going to jump off the bed!! i have even more wrinkles than before even though i hadnt gone there for that... dont know if the more you swell and when it goes down you wrinkle... I am booked back in for round 3 in late september though i am really unsure what to do now!!!! i dont know if i should just have a face lift stretch out all that scared skin so at least the scarring if flat .. Oh but sooo much pain and money... and i still want to look like me! Acne scarring is the worst thing EVER!! hope your having far better results : )
August 6, 2012
Hey blueblue...Sorry I hadn't replied to you sooner, I've just been having a pretty busy life lately. But anywho.... I think that if you are not seeing good things after your second session you should either reconsider your doctor, or reconsider the treatments. I only say that because after every session I've had I only see good things happening to my skin. Maybe you could consult with a different doctor to talk about more options....I know you might have been joking when you said something about a face lift to stretch out your skin but what if that really is an option for you that could give you your desired results! Like I said before, laser resurfacing may not work for everyone....so maybe it's time for you to look on to a plan B. I'm really sorry that it hasn't worked out for you........But I know there has to be another option for you!!
July 25, 2012
Hi Buggahroo ,
I have a lot of similer type of scarring like you.Now My derm has prescribed me for Deep ablative fractional Co2 laser.I know there is risk of hyperpigmentation as I have Indian skin.THis is because of there will be a lot of scabbing,peeling of the burned skin.Did you see same type of peeling.how long did your redness last?How long was your down time.My down time would be 10+days.Do you thing this going to improve the type of scarring we have.Thankssssss..
I have a lot of similer type of scarring like you.Now My derm has prescribed me for Deep ablative fractional Co2 laser.I know there is risk of hyperpigmentation as I have Indian skin.THis is because of there will be a lot of scabbing,peeling of the burned skin.Did you see same type of peeling.how long did your redness last?How long was your down time.My down time would be 10+days.Do you thing this going to improve the type of scarring we have.Thankssssss..
August 6, 2012
After my treatments my skin feels like sandpaper for about 2-3 days then on the 3rd-4th day it starts peeling.....pretty much looks like peeling you would get from a sunburn...white, flaky skin. And as far as the redness goes, it has been a month since my 3rd session and I am still a little pink. But it is a common thing and make-up covers it up. It takes about 5-6 days for me to be able to put make-up back on and actually go in public....but if you research it, it tells you that down-time is anywhere from 4 days to two weeks. So I guess that part just depends on you and how quickly your skin heals. I really have seen a noticeable improvement in my scarring. I haven't updated with new pics yet from my last treatment because I've been pretty busy lately but I will post some soon. But yes, I do believe that for the type of scarring we have it can most definitely improve them bc I've seen it on myself. But you have to realize that not the same results always occur for everyone....but I do believe there is something out there that can help scarring if one thing can't! But give it a shot and make sure you are patient bc it can take up to 9 months to see the final results from these laser treatments. April of 2013 is my 9 month mark....so don't just expect to go in there and get the treatment and a week later to have your results!! It takes time. :) Good luck!!!!
Thank you so much for posting pictures & sharing the name of the laser you used. That is very helpful info!!
Did you find the treatment to pretty uncomfortable, or was it no big deal?
I do think the treatment is a little painful. It kind of feels like a torch is going across my face...even with the numbing cream. But it only takes about 20 minutes for the procedure so it's not totally intolerable.