I was struggling many years with my acne scars and did a lot of treatments here in uk the last five years . (fillers -subcision (hypothetically cause was not proper at all ) along with ppr ) I 've started to research what is best for me ,here in England -anywhere in england ,Greece and Istabul ,i wanted something real something understandable why it should work . Lasers weren't for me definitely ,my opinion for lasers is not good for acne scars treatments ,i think is a fancy ,comfortable way for the doctor and a money and hope hole for the patient . I wanted something really ablative to see a real difference in my mirror . I came to the conclusion that phenol peel was a 'something'for me and start to research. I found a protocol a Dr . doing in usa phenol peel along with dermabrasion but i said to myself 'ok that just a dream .go on ,find someone capable to do the phenol at least . ' I ve contacted many doctors ,London ,Scotland ,Istanbul , and a medical tourism company in athens who brought me i touch with two doctors . Seriously if i was to listen again in my life the answer ''lasers'' ....! I ve found Dr.Tzovaras in a google reasearch for phenol peels in Greece .I ve emailed him with my questions prepared to listen again the same word ,lasers ! He wrote back to me next day to tell me that we can combine phenol peel ,dermabrasion ,and subcision described so detailed every part of the procedure . For one month he had spend many many hours to explain every liitle peace of what we are going to do without even charge me a penny yet . I ve booked my tickets he booked the clinic the assistant the anaesthesiologist for the next day of my arrival and he had sent me a special retinol cream a fantastic cream he makes (secret formula) to prepare the skin for the procedure . Seriously i know many doctors through my job and through my struggling with my skin this Dr is one of the kind .Person centred care ,100 % knowledge in his field .My opinion is that money is the last for him ,success in what he really loves doing is his real earning . No kind of money is enough to pay the satisfaction he gave me . I ll be back to post pictures tomorrow before -after and during the procedure and all the details . Anyone has serious interest can sent me a personal message to help ,despite the fact my origins are from Greece it was a medical tourism trip for me as well and i would be happy to help anyone to feel this great satisfaction I feel . Updated on 4 Jan 2018: As I said before lasers is not for ME. This does not mean is not for everyone .The procedure I choose is not easy .You have to deal with burning , with pain - I have high pain tolerance-,to be a soldier with the instructions of your doctor before ,during and after the procedure .Phenol is underutilize and one of the reasons is in the wrong hands can cause damage . I was not an easy case ,the only dates I could take off work to do the procedure was June of 2017 . The doctor didn't agree at all to do this in the middle of the summer and told me to do just the dermabrasion and leave the phenol for 6 months later. I insisted ,I could stay home for a month after in England where the real summer is just a few hours :) I pressed things a lot we decided to do a light phenol ,when I asked the doctor he said was nearly to hetter all around solution . It was a ready made solution ,because of my pressure on the time schedule he didn't had the time to made a solution of his as he wish . That was the only thing I wish was different ,a slightly stronger solution and more amount ,the bottle in the package was just 4 ml .We decided to focus on cheeks and leave the eyes ,anyway on my 45 my next step is a blepharoplasty and maybe face lift . I arrived in Athens 29/5 on a Monday and the doctor immediately performed a Subcision...I supposed had another one but that was a thing! I could hear the fibrotic strands to brake and i was very happy .He did it to some scars not to all to which he thought need that before the 'surgery'.He did many passes to the scars he subcised I was really bruise there after ,I thing it was a 14 gauge needle .It is painful I think ,I was ok he explain to me that numbing and Subcision is not an option. Next morning I went to the clinic .I had a cardiogram and after the ok from the cardiologist we went into the surgery room the doctor ,his assistant and the anaesthesiologist who monitored my heart during the procedure ,I had no sedation we preferred to do it without . It was burning but for 10 minutes after that nothing ,just some pressure during the dermabration . I think it was all about an hour and something I was nervous I m not sure . They slathered me with comfort cream and a green power that it has to stay there and make a crust . He chose no tape for my case . They were all brilliant in that room ,all three of them ? will update the names of the assistant dermatologist and the anaesthesiologist . The clinic was http://www.ippokratis-hospital.gr/home.php ,excellent environment and care with no delays at all. He prescribed valtrex antibiotic and send me home ,he told me to sleep in semi-seated position ,I actually slept on a big armchair for the first days ,I m swirling around the bed so I wasn't trust myself .On the first day i had 2 paracetamols when i felt a burning pulse on cheeks after a hot cuppa of tea .On the second day the pulse on cheeks got worse and at the right side was kind of wet from the inside I think was started infections .The doctor was always available on the phone once I told him he came home replace some of the powder ,as well on the fifth day to check and replace . After the third day everything was easier and everything run smoothly .I could see new ,red but tight and healthy skin where the powder was cracked . On the seventh day was almost gone and i went to his practice for the last step to clean the face from what has left . I was really anxious and cried a lotttt when the 'mask' came off everything was different in that time everything was bigger the scars where shallower but all there! i cried and cried and cried i wasn t sure at all i did the right thing . ?he skin was tight and red I liked the tightness but the scars there ! the reconstruction has began that time though ,day by day everything has changed ,My skin has no cysts anymore the scars became shallower and shallower every day ,the damaged skin between them is new healthy skin now . 8 months after i m really well with myself ,ok l have a few scars but some few cute scars before i was feelling embarrassed and my face digged . I think the photos speak by themselves . I m considering of having the procedure once more in a year or so ,but i m not more anxious about that I m more than ok with the result,actually thrilled !! Updated on 5 Jan 2018: I forgot to say that 1 day before I fly back ,on the 12 of June 2017 Dr.Tzovaras performed one more subcision to the biggest scars and to where the skin was ready to accept . I wet back bruised ,red and happier ! Two more after photos I've found from November 2017
