SuzyAv8trix

One to the Face, So Far, and Now I Want to Do my Chest, Too!

I got a very good deal on all 3 areas (face, neck, chest) at once for $300. Don't know if they'd offer it again! LOL! I'm also getting laser hair removal on my lower legs and I tried the fractional laser on a small part of my cheek where I have an acne scar -- I think they know I'm "hooked" and will keep coming to try new things and for maintenance! My hands? I can't really tell that anything changed - maybe a little lightening of the age spots -- but really, they're not that bad to start with and I'm not as vigilant about applying sunblock to them, either.

Dr P - Wow. I usually like your answers and find them helpful and informative. However, in this forum, you seem to be defending the Fraxel brand name by implying that many commenters do not know the difference between the Fraxel laser and other fractional laser brands. Frankly, you seem to be implying that if the patient did not seek out Fraxel by Reliant -- by name -- that they have made some kind of mistake. If you're not getting paid by Reliant for you comments -- you should be -- because you come across as a spokesperson. Your condescending implication that there is something "wrong" with Fraxel's competitors -- I don't think this forum is intended for that discussion. However, if you have objective, clinical evidence that one type of fractional laser treatment is better than any other, please provide the links, here. I'm sure we'd all be extremely interested due to the confusion, marketing, and hype that currently exists. Should we know what is actually being done to our skin, to our face, and by what manufacturer? Probably. But, do you go to the dentist and ask who made his tools -- his drill, for example? You probably don't -- unless something goes wrong! And really, aren't all dental drills the same? LOL! And I'm sure Kimberly-Clarke would like me to make sure that when I think the Kleenex is too rough that it's really a Kleenex and not just a tissue... Anyway, I think you get my point. That said, please continue to give HELPFUL advice and information. In my personal experience, the biggest contributing factor to any negative side effect with any type of laser or light treatment is failure to stay out of the sun and failure to use sunscreen, faithfully. Now, I wear a hat, use SPF 30 moisturizer - daily, and reapply SPF 30 mineral sunscreen throughout the day -- and have had very good results -- so far!

Should I be concerned if my doctor wants to treat only a part of my face with fractional laser? I have been on a course of hydroquinone 4% and retinoids for 6 months and have also had 4 IPL treatments. I have been pleased with the results -- except for a few stubborn age spots. The fractional would be to attempt to resolve the stubborn age spots and plump up minor acne scarring... I've asked if that will make just that part of my skin "look different" and he said "no" -- that this is the part of my face where I really need it done. I'm nervous and have not scheduled the treatment. My burning question I have is why NOT treat my entire face? I have had confidence in this doc and have been pleased with my treatment -- until now... Help. What other questions should I ask? I have to wonder if he's doing this on the "cheap" to save "tips" as you have described previously... Am I being overly cautious? I'm scared. I'm 46 and have decent skin -- with a few minor imperfections -- I just don't want to make it worse... Thanks!

Michelle -- if you "log in" you'll see the name of the place I go to in north Scottsdale...and my tech there is "Debbie". So far, I've gotten 4 IPL to my face and 3 to my chest/neck. All of my redness is gone, freckles and small age spots are gone -- really, really noticeable to me on my now smooth, clear chest! My skin shows a lot of improvement -- not sure how much more additional IPL could do. So, next week, I'm having my resistant broken capillaries (under my right eye, on my chin, and around my left nostril) "zapped" by a different kind of laser; a real laser that should clear these right up...I forget what it is called (Nd Yag or pulse-dye or something like that! LOL!). Yes, one of the reasons I like my provider is the no pressure and no "package" sales tactics. I'm also going to get IPL on my hands, next week, and hopefully make them clearer (I have "golfer's" age spots!) and younger looking, too! My only regret is not having taken "before" pictures...but my husband says, "Oh, yes. Oh, yes!" when I ask if he's noticed improvement -- So, I'm pretty happy! :-)

I had the same issue. I had had 4 IPL treatments and it seemed that some of my broken capillaries were just not going to respond to it. So, I opted for another kind of treatment. Find a doctor or nurse practitioner (NP) that can spot treat your specific broken capillaries with a "pulse dye laser". My NP wore magnifying goggles when she used it and zeroed in on the broken capillaries around my nose and on my chin and under my left eye. From a lay-person's perspective, it seems that this laser is much stronger than IPL -- but the "spot" is much tinier and exact. It hurt (like a sting or snap of a rubber band) at the moment of zapping, and I was red for a few minutes, but almost all the broken capillaries were gone within 10 days. It took all of about 15 minutes to have done. I went back 4 weeks later and she zapped the most stubborn ones -- and they are now all gone. She also changed some settings and then zapped a few of my more stubborn age spots, too, which are now almost all gone and definitely lighter than they were! I look 6-10 years younger than I am!!!! There was no "down time" and the 2 treatments cost a total of $450 here in Phoenix / Scottsdale, Arizona. Good luck!