“Very pleased with fraxel repair”
Fraxel Repair: Worth it
Pain: Mild
I had Fraxel Repair done on January 5 for fine lines, precancerous spots, and pores. I’m 41 with fair skin and blue eyes. I wanted to share with you my experience with my treatment, my Doctor and his staff. I have read a lot of negative blogs about the damage it has done to people’s skin and for that I’m truly sorry, that is why I wanted to share with you how vital it is for you to take all the precautionary steps to choosing your physician carefully. Experience is crucial. Surgeons who do it often, do it better. Don’t accept anything but the best, it’s your face we are talking about. Ask for references, how many procedures have they done, before and after photos, are they experienced with the old C02, and how many of those did they do.
I was told that people with severe acne or deep wrinkles will most likely need 2 to 3 treatments,however you should still benefit from having 1.
There is also a much speedier recovery the 2nd and 3rd time around. Discuss with your Doctor your expectations and he/she will determine exactly how many you’ll need to achieve your desired results. I have also read that results are not lasting past 6 months, or people are reverting back to their pre-Fraxel state. The day that I went in for my Fraxel my doctor introduced me to Marta Waller she was filming her 7 month follow up, for those of you who don’t know her she is a journalist who had undergone Fraxel repair in June 08’ and had a day to day (10 days plus 2 day follow up) video diary done of her experience on You Tube, you must check it out. Anyway, she looked amazing. I believe she said she was 55 and not a stitch of foundation 7 months out. I asked her if she was happy with her results and she said that she couldn’t be happier-even her daughter chimed in to tell me that the difference was just incredible, but I too will let you know in 3-6 months. I was also told that people who continue to smoke or sunbathe, Fraxel is not for them.
(Start your prescriptions the night before)
Day of: I took my prescriptions-keflex, Valtrex, and steroid cream on my face along with Benadryl in the am. They put numbing cream on my face, neck, and chest (Bring your IPod if or books on tape because the cream remains on the treating area for an hour plus…(I was too drugged to read) they also gave me a pain pill and a shot in the behind with Demerol along with nerve blockers around face. I literally felt no pain until he got to my chest a level 6/7 out of a 10. He stopped to ask me if I need more pain reliever and I said no you get through it, it’s not that bad, besides I wanted it over with. The worst part was that they let my husband in to see me before they cleaned me up and let me look in the mirror myself. My husband said wow honey… wow…that was about all he could say. Can’t say I blame him, I just smile and asked him for some fava beans and a glass of Chianti.
Day1. Vinegar soaks every 2/3 hours followed by aquaphor-yes even in the middle of the night. Don’t let your face get crusty.
Day2. I’m a swollen, ugly, weepy mess. I don’t feel as though I looked as bad as some of his before and after photos but I’m ugly and swollen none the less. No more pin point bleeding.
Day3. Swollen and ugly, still doing the vinegar soaks every 4 hour now.
Day4. Swollen and ugly, getting tight and peeling a little around my nose, lip, and, chin. I’m breaking out, obvious from the Aquaphor. God- I love that stuff.
Day5. The swelling is going down a bit except for eye area. Still pretty red and of course, UGLY! I don’t look as good as Rebex from “2 weeks post” at her day 5. Still doing vinegar soaks; twice a day, washing with mild cleanser and have now switched from Aquaphor to cetaphil moisturizer-feels much better-Oh yea. This was my turning point. Also feeling very itchy…must be healing.
Day6. Healing seems to very gradual-even with all the healing vitamins(pre/post:help me heal vitamins) which I think are doing sqwat…and still swollen and ugly.
Day7. Not bad…A little better than day 6. What looked as though it was going to peel seems to have smoothed out. Still itchy and very pink.
17 day results
Well what seems to have been a long week of healing coupled with another week of redness, (just slightly pink now) Day 12 was the day I went back to work I got comments about looking like I was somewhere exotic, I just nodded. Today is day 17 I’m still pink, but presentable I’m very pleased with my results. My skin is smooth. The fine lines around my eyes have vanished (A little swollen under my right eye but hardly noticeable). The lines above my upper lip have softened…I may want to do a repair light, which he mentioned but I will wait at least 6 months. I felt my doctor was extremely well educated on the fraxel laser as well as my custom results. He has a 100% satisfaction thus far in all his fraxel clients. His staff felt more like family than a medical office. The atmosphere was very warm, yet professional. Would I recommend this Doctor? In a heartbeat!!!!!
Jan 22, 2009Comments and replies (31)
135 posts
23 Jan 2009
Aquaphor is mostly Vaseline (white petroleum). Isn't there a better moisturizer? Or do doctors like it because it's inert. And just used as a skin barrier. Not actually to moisturize. Just skin protectant?
28 posts
23 Jan 2009
Moisturizers tend to dry out. I believe they want you to use the Aquaphor or vaseline as a skin protectant. Nothing goes out, and nothing comes in. Better healing.
23 posts
24 Jan 2009
During my fraxel consult I asked the doctor if he ever recommended using silver sulfadiazine during the healing process. He said he never had a fraxel patient use it and it was probably overkill for fraxel. I didn't use, listened to my doctor. But still wonder if it might be a good thing
314 posts
25 Jan 2009
When the skin has just been resurfaced, it is much more likely to react to topicals than prior. Even if you didn't have any problems with a certain topical, you can. Therefore, the aquaphor is used because it causes very little reaction and keeps the skin covered and moist for a prolonged period of time. The only other thing I've used is Biafine. However this tends to dry out, drip off, and need frequent applications. It has healing elements in it. I use it for redness and certain areas which are slow to heal. Steve Weiner, MD
36 posts
25 Jan 2009
Good for you! Great post. I am really interested to hear your honest opinion of what you see different in the mirror at the 1 & 3 month mark after your proceedure on 01/05/09. Do you think you look many years younger? This is my biggest concern after reading all the info on fraxel repair and the huge costs involoved with this procedure.
4 posts
25 Jan 2009
I had mine on 12-9-08 so it has been around a month and half. I am happy with my results!! My complextion feels better, the brown spots are gone, and my eye wrinkles are at least 50 % better (I am 44) and blonde and fair skin--yet I tan easy). I think my skin has a more youthful glow. Let me know how you feel as the months go on as well...
75 posts
25 Jan 2009
Would anyone really have this done two to three times? My doctor did say that some acne scars might not improve as much as I would like with one treatment, and that the procedure could be redone (no, thank you). But nowhere else have I seen three times even mentioned as a possibility. I can't imagine it. What is the "repair light" you mentioned?
76 posts
26 Jan 2009
How many treatments do you have to have with Repair??? I think I've been getting the Fraxel Re-store, because I've had 2 treatments and have at least 2-3 more to go for my acne scarring! Is there a difference in price with the Restore than the Repair! You look great by the way!
76 posts
26 Jan 2009
You look great! I'm getting Fraxel Re-store for my acne scarring. I was told it was Repair but I paid for 4-5 treatments and have had 2 successful treatments thus far. I've seen on this forum that you only need one Repair treatment! How many will you be getting and is there a difference in pricing??? Keep us updated.
28 posts
26 Jan 2009
California crooked teeth, I mentioned 2 to 3 treatments for "deeper" wrinkles and scars. One should sit down with their Doctor and ask him those questions. Dr. ... how many treatments will eradicate my issues?? If I do need more than one, what will the cost be. I know Dr. was willing to work with me and if I needed another treatment, above my lip he was willing to work out a much better price. At least I knew what to expect before I had it done so there were no surprises. I had asked my Doctor a few hypothetical questions and those were the answers I got. He mentioned since the skin was already treated that the downtime would be nil the 2nd possible 3rd time. I think if you can eliminate deep scars and deeper wrinkles without going under the knife. Ya woo! Are you happy with your results? BTW: The Repair light is the same laser done lightly. In on a Thursday, back to work on a Monday. The day I had my fraxel Dr. did a repair lite on a girl, she emerged from the room I thought her skin was pink from having a numbing cream on her face and she said she just had the repair lite. It's more like a refresher but if focused in a particular area should further your results as well.