josephine

Just Had Fraxel and IPL

Hi,
It was 14 years ago... and yes wait until the end of September, you do not want to miss the summer... and yes, if you have an experienced reputable doctor, I suggest the CO2... you do not have time to waist with partial treatments... and yes, you should get the whole picture... hypo or hyper pigmentation can result from these procedures... but at 65, your skin texture will be revived... and thicker... the glow... you will be happy... but consult your doctor... do you have extensive sun damage? Let me know what you decide... the best after the procedure... is to stay home for 4 to 6 weeks... avoid the sun completely... rest... take pain killers if you need to... in the first 2 to 3 weeks... it will be very itchy... so be prepared to take benadryl or any other medication which will help... after 4 weeks, you will be very red...
I would use cicaplast after the 3 to 4 weeks (under your doctor advise)...
The redness will completely vanish after 5 to 6 months.. but you will not like to go out until the first 6 weeks have passed... it is better you prepare... for this... and after 6 weeks, with some make-up... you will be okay... little outings... after 10 to 12 weeks you will be used to it... and X-mas... will be the mark of your 3 months benchmark... January/February will pass quickly... and by next March... you will be done... but keep in mind... no sun after this treatment... no sun exposure... at least for the first couple years... sunscreen and you are okay... but no lying down under the sun... I was 35 when I did this... and believe me... it was difficult... the procedure is a breeze because you are under anestisia... but the downtime is real...
Josephine

Hi, If we had a magic wand...
The best laser... is the CO2... it is rarely used... but really... it improves thickness, texture, imperfections... it is a controlled burn... hence the healing time... the industry has come up with all kinds of new alternatives, but let's face it... if you are serious about improvements, wrinkle or acne free skin, improved texture in time... well... the CO2 for me was the only intelligent choice... even today, I have concluded that it is the best laser... and the frills and ornate alternatives do not seem to bring results like it did... you will need serious healing time compared to the alternatives... if you want results... nothing comes easily... I am thinking of doing my neck and around the eyes... but I am worried about healing time... I wish I would have done those area 14 years ago all at once... and not to have to worry about it now...
I have not done the Erbium, it was CO2... I wish I could help more...

I am back to reiterate... becareful with Juvederm... we do not have access to the data which uncovers complications... I do know, that at doctors'office... if you were to watch all the clients who get this procedure, and talk to them... I am quite sure we would find a lot more stories like ours... My lips are not paralysed... but I was scared to have long term complications... everything about Juvederm or other cosmetic procedures... data relevant to post-op are not available for us to consult... prior to these procedures... that is not right... for the consummer... we have to go on the hunt to try to get information... we were just fine before these injections... and the medical community washes their hands... of any responsabilities... while what we are after is reassurance, information and remedial actions... I hope these complications, the statistical data should be readily available to the consummer... the companies behind these products are not forthcoming... only the FDA has the power to regulate this industry...

Dear Ventaris,

I feel really bad for you as I going through right now... the exact same thing... here are my symptoms:
Friday morning 9:30 am - Injection of Juvederm in upper and lower lips
Friday 10:00... my doctor is rubbing and rubbing and applying Nitrocream... asking for an empty serige... she is mentionning to the assistant to get her warm compresses...
She spent an extra hour with me... rubbing... the freezing disappeared... and I suffered from the rubbing... however I had to go to another appointment... she asked me to return...
I had no idea... what was happening...
I returned for 16:30... more rubbing... more nitrocream...
The doctor mentionned vascular spasm...
The pain was not too bad after the excrutiating rubbing session... that lasted until 17:00 Friday...
Saturday... excrutiating pain on my lower lip... bruising on my chin, cheek and on my skin on my upper lip on the right side of my face... the pinching pain and swelling was bad... called the doctor (she had given me her number at home- making me puzzled even more about what was going on after a simple filling procedure)...
She prescribed oxycocet... under my expressed demand (the pain was making me feel quite sick) and also cortisone pills... which I took on Saturday night...
Sunday... pain as I woke up... as soon as I talked... had to take more painkillers and started to worry... called the pharmacist to get antibiotic to avoid infection...
I do feel my lip... it is raw.. sensitive to the touch, taking coffee with a straw... extremely raw inside my mouth...
The doctor wants to see me on Monday... I will refuse any rubbing or further needles...
I am traumatised... by what has occured during such a simple procedure... It was Juvederm Ultra Plus... my reaction seems rare however... I was not aware of such complication... I have two kids... and many activities... this is not right...
Please advise... if you can guide me... the doctor said that my artery in my lower lip on the right side went in spasm... I doubt that spasm bleeds internally like this... I think it was ruptured... will it come back... there is a hard cord inside the area... beside being scared... I think women should know about Juvederm... and its side effect... I do think it might happen more often... as we have no place to complain or get together about this...
Let me know...

I am going through the same thing as you but in my lower lip on my right side... huge bruising... enormous pain... raw skin inside my mouth... I am on percocet... taking cortisone for two days to no avail... the spasm and the sentivities is extreme... I got also some antibiotics... just in case... but I am worried about tissue dying... and further injuries and suffering in case more rubbing is done by the doctor tomorrow... I am really scared... this is not normal... I am mad... that this was not explained... this is serious... please advise... your experience is scarring me however your input might guide me... I just had a terrible spasm... it hurts... what to do... I will not go the get it rubbed... again... I had this injection done on Friday... and in the afternoon I went back for excrutiating rubbing... I almost past out... and the pain on Saturday was unbelievable... and today as well... ???