Dawn

Happy with the Results, Happy with the Experience

PS-- don't mean to be smart but you're a pretty lady and, even with the issues you have going on, you're still a pretty lady and others would want to look like you. I think you look in the mirror and find flaws where other people look at you and just see the person. I used to cover every blemish and pore with makeup. When I got the laser I took a break from makeup for awhile. The benefit was that I not only had continued clearer skin (which immediately cleared up during the laser), I learned to overlook a blemish here and there and lived with the redness rather than cover with makeup. I found out people were not staring at the little bump all the time because I wasn't fixated on it anymore. If I were you, I would cover up the patchiness with a powder (only recommended by your derm), treat exclusively with him/her and give your skin a break. I think after you take some of the competing issues out of the picture you may find your real laser results. The hyperpigmentation could be part of it--and sun damage. Were you ever a sun worshipper? Are you wearing sunscreen? I am afraid that you are using so many products you may be causing a chemical reaction. Send me your extra cash and I'll get the resty under the eyes (love to see your pics). You're still a young lady and you've had so many procedures. Some of what's going on is your age and weight loss. If you don't get off this cosmetic surgery fixation now you'll end up looking like that catwoman (or worse, Michael Jackson!). Quit when you're ahead--you're a pretty lady. I sincerely mean you well. I hope you can find a way to kick botox and fillers and appreciate the beauty that God gave you.

Awalk-- I don't know about getting the other procedures and the laser. You said you had a plastic surgeon and not a dermatologist and that makes me a little nervous. If the resty plumps the skin, I could see a conflict since the laser "zaps" liquid under the skin which is why I walked out without any acne though I had bumps when I went in. When I hit 40 I got an erruption around my jawline of acne. It still comes and goes a little but I was told that hormones at that age will do that (I know a lot of women with the same experience.) I don't know about the Botox--you are having something injected in your skin that shouldn't be there--aren't they having other problems with botox now? I think you're far too hard on yourself and looking for flaws for some reason. I do see the problems and wish you would go to a derm, take antibiotics and take a break from the plastic surgeon. You also seem to have lost weight which will tend to make your skin show its flaws and lines more. My unprofessional advice: quit being hard on your looks and yourself...eat a few bon bons....get some antibiotics and have your hormones checked out and send your plastic surgeon a card and tell him you'll miss him for awhile.

Awalk-- Vinegar soaks or anything other than mild soap and sunscreen is contraindicated after laser surgery. I had blue dots that had to surface after the laser. One of the hardest things to do is know they are there, see them and whiteheads emerging and yet NOT picking them. Antibiotics are recommended only. I did go to a dermatologist--please don't recommend putting anything on your skin after this procedure because I would hate to see someone damage their skin. As it happens, tomorrow I'm going to my dermatologist who did this treatment for me 2 years ago. I will ask him if he would recommend anything else.

Awalk-- I asked you a question on the last page. Perhaps you missed it but I would appreciate if you could fill us in. What year were your before photos taken and what year are your newest photos? Are you getting acne? I noticed that you have a bump on your neck that appears lower than the laser. Also, you seem to have acne where I got them when I turned in my 40's before my laser. Had you had botox or other cosmetic procedures prior to the treatment? Why did you get the treatment because your skin looks perfect before your procedure. What did you do immediately following your procedure(s)? (i.e., medications, soaks, skin treatments) I noticed on another thread you recommended vinegar soaks 6 days after someone had treatment. I know that anything harsh is not supposed to be used after treatment--I had to wait weeks to wax my upper lip after treatment because the skin underneath is still healing. If you want to read my review, please feel free to click my name. I had an absolutely positive experience and this procedure can help many people that had no hope before. I wish I didn't have to live my life the way I did before this treatment and wish I could have gotten it sooner. I'm sorry you're having problems now but I had such a different experience I want to know why. Thank you.

I just read a bad review. I looked at the "before" pic and couldn't find anything at all wrong with the skin of the lady who tried it. What I'm wondering is why she did it to begin with? This is a treatment like any other. If you don't have anything wrong to begin with, it's not practical to get it. It's like anything else--you wouldn't take a medication with side effects unless the condition you're treating makes them worth the risk. No, I would not recommend this treatment if you don't have problems with your skin. I was never a cosmetic surgery junkie, never had botox or anything else done to my skin. I absolutely love these results FOR ME because I know what my skin was like before. Any possible bad side effects (a little darkening of skin that has now faded) is more than countered by the deep HOLES I had in my skin before. I'll find out if my doctors office has my before pics. They haven't gotten some good after pics yet because I didn't go for my 4th treatment yet (which I would do in a heartbeat if I had the money on hand right now). Sorry, for someone who has been emotionally scarred by carrying acne scars my whole life, the fact that someone would do this treatment without having a problem before and then writing a scathing review is totally irritating to me. If you haven't had to live with that first, you don't know how to be grateful.