On my way to my dermatologist to have my fully ablative co2 laser done on my almost 51 year old face (my birthday is tomorrow). Have been planning for a couple months and wanted to wait till after the holidays! Up until now, the only work I've had done to my face is fillers and botox with some IPL. But have decided that I'd like the resurfacing to get better skin tone, take care of some lingering brown spots and hopefully tighten things up a bit. Have been using the same dermatologist for several years and have seen before and after shots of her work, so I am optimistic that I will have excellent results! Updated on 12 Jan 2017: Didn't get much sleep. Slept sitting up in the recliner, so mostly cat naps. Extremely swollen and lots of heat coming from my face. Have been doing cold vinegar soaks with ice and tons of aquafor. Some relief, but the ativan doesn't really take the edge off. Am using some Vicodin from a different procedure. Going to try a shower this evening! Fingers crossed! Updated on 12 Jan 2017: These were taken immediately after we left the Dr office Updated on 12 Jan 2017: Rough, painful morning, but working thru... Taking shower later to get old aquafor off and start fresh! Hoping to sleep tonight! Updated on 13 Jan 2017: Had first post procedure appt today. She said everything looks as expected.... Red, swollen, oozing. Just keep on the meds, rest, shower once a day, lightly slough off during shower and loads of aquaphor! Next appt is Day 7. But I'll post pics every day! Updated on 14 Jan 2017: Roughest day so far. Still sleeping in recliner but more to avoid getting my bed all greasy. Pretty crusty and oozy when I woke up. And on top of all this, I've caught a nasty cold lol. During my shower, I gently rubbed my face under the water, as my Dr instructed, and I have to say I was in agony afterward. Face felt like it was literally on fire. Overall, swelling is subsiding and I think it's healing. Practicing patience today! Updated on 15 Jan 2017: Not much to report today.... Very red and itchy tho! After my showers seems the worst. I cried a little in the shower, just the pressure of the water on my raw skin. Less swelling today as well. Battling this cold and terrible cough is not helping for sure! My hubby thinks I need a good night's sleep, so going to try our bed tonight! Maybe that'll help! Updated on 16 Jan 2017: Spent whole day in bed, healing and working on getting over this cold. It's a yucky Ohio winter day, so it made it easier to stay put. Lots of flaking and sloughing dead skin and less overall redness today! Updated on 17 Jan 2017: More of the same. Still VERY red. No pain, just itching like crazy. Tomorrow is my one week check up. Can't wait to hear my doctor's thoughts! Updated on 18 Jan 2017: Had my one week check up today and she says I'm right on target. I did get her to prescribe an ointment for the itching. It's much worse at night. I also got my skin care products so that when I'm back in court on Monday, I can look pretty human. Overall, my Dr is very satisfied with my progress. Don't go back for a couple of weeks now! The hardest part is over. Now you just keep healing. I'm still not ready for anyone to see me, but hopefully these next few days, the rest of the swelling subsides and the red starts fading! Fingers crossed! Updated on 19 Jan 2017: Much better today!! Updated on 20 Jan 2017: Feeling great, no pain, but still itching and red. Have a couple scratches from during the night. Ugh! But otherwise doing very well! Updated on 24 Jan 2017: Out of the house and wearing make-up the last two days. I'm still very red under the make-up and my skin feels really "thick", almost textured. The green concealer doesn't really last all day and I'm pretty red by the time I leave the office, but we're getting there! Updated on 31 Jan 2017: Tomorrow will be my 3rd week post procedure and I'm feeling really good. Still VERY red and some spots are redder than others. My skin still feels thick and by the end of the day, I can't wait to come home and wash of my makeup and put on a coat of aquaphor. Words I never thought I'd say LOL. I don't know if it's just the dryness or the harsh winter cold, but it does feel better to get the makeup off for the evening. Have a post appt with my Dr on Thursday and am excited to see what she thinks! Updated on 14 Feb 2017: Yesterday, I had my one month post procedure check up. Dr Dickerson is very satisfied with my progress and I am to keep using the hyaluronic gel, moisturizer and sunscreen every day. I'm still pink but the makeup helps and I still use a coat of aquaphor for overnight. Especially with the cold winter wind. I'm red after my shower but it lightens up. I'm also using some brightening pads she gave me to keep any brown, hyper pigmentation at bay. I go back in May for my next check up, but will likely be back sooner for some botox and filler to go w my new skin! Updated on 16 Feb 2017: For those of you asking, here are two before and after shots, side by side. Keep in mind, these are only ONE month post procedure! Updated on 9 Mar 2017: It's been almost two months since my procedure and I feel great. My skin tone is much improved and I'm only red for short periods of time, when I exercise and after washing my face. My husband says he sees a big difference and I'm excited to see how much better it gets!

I highly recommend BEFORE having your face injected with an expensive filler that you make sure the injector is a plastic surgeon who is familiar with the characteristics and anatomy of the face and has extensive experience with injections of this nature. Don't get fooled into special discounts being offered as you get what you pay for as I found out the hard way. The initial slight swelling after the injections my face looked better, however, after the swelling was gone over a matter of a few days, I was left with visible bumps on my cheeks at the injection sites and smaller ones under the rim of upper cheek/eye orbit area. When I smile the bumps are especially pronounced. I was told by the nurse and Dr after being injected that I may have some bumps but don't mess with them and that I will have my final results in 2 months when more collagen builds where I was injected???...Voluma is for immediate results no where if you read the product insert does it say allow 2 months for Collagen to build up. I wasted my hard earned money for a poorly injected/placed product. To be honest I don't see any improvement from my BEFORE picture. I will have to go see a board certified plastic surgeon who is proficient with theses types of injections for correction. It takes an artistic eye in knowing who to and where to place the product. Do your research when it comes to doing ANYTHING to your face and if your looking for a filler for your facial volume loss, see a board certified plastic facial surgeon who is highly trained as a injector.

I was SO afraid to do it but was alarmed to see that the face I had gotten used to hearing was so "pretty" wasn't anymore. I looked tired. It was that simple. I was a year over 35 and looked plain old tired. I tried all the wrinkle creams, bought a Suzzane S. machine, a dermawand, a sonic facial brush system, and all the exfoliators I could stand and guess what? They don't have a chance against gravity. I'm poor as a churchmouse and could just weep at the cost but I feel so much BETTER about how I look everyday. I still look like me but rested. People kept telling me how much younger I looked... A backhanded compliment but I did understand it. Tired, on me, looks older. It hurts like crazy, I just take the ice. The first time I had it done, I couldn't move my face very much; it was funny as my lips were a bit duck like and stiff since she went into the corners of my mouth for filling. Mine lasted for a solid 8-9 months before I was looking at myself with one eye again. I waited until month 12 to go back, but I still didn't look as haggard as I had when I first walked in that first time. The price I quoted was for two syringes. I'm having a bit of surgery soon and know that will show some stress on the ole mug so will be going in for a "top-up" in a month or two, just to look fresh for summer. My Derm is careful, fast and experienced. I couldn't ask for more (unless it were for the price to drop just a bit. Seems very expensive after one considers even just the perscription cost).

Decided to have a combination of juvaderm, collagen and a smidge of botox in the area in and around my upper lip along with a tiny amount in the lower lip. The dental block is a must and a topical before that really helps. My doc recommended a combination of collagen and juvaderm, along wiht a little botox at the corners (this is really nice for that little upturned "smile" it produced)of the mouth. My "smoker's lines" were not that deep so collagen was a good filler for addig volume, the juvaderm filled a couple of the deeper creases. Unfortunately, the left side of my dental block did not completely work and those shots were painful, but tolerable. I was not prepared for the swelling or bruising that followed though and will never plan to return to work following this procedure. It is best to schedule this on a Friday so you have the weekend for the swelling and bruising to subside. It is now 3 days post and the results are looking beautiful. I still have a large purple bruise on the side where the block did not take but the other side looks great. As always, the skill of the doctor is paramount to good results. I am 42 and between botox and my recent lip procedure, I think I have reasonably shaved 5-10 years off my looks. Woo hoo! Will definitely do this again.

I was very nervous during my first treatment, but I wanted to get rid of the hideous lines between my eyes, vertical lines on the forehead and crow's feet. The experience was no bid deal - minimal pain and no swelling or bruising. The pain is like a sharp pinch, but it doesn;t last long enough to be a problem.Be sure to shoose your dermatologist or plastic surgeon carefully. I truly believe the results are 90% dependent on the skill of the injector and placement of injections. The first time 80 units used and this was too much. There was minor assymetry and a temporary brow droop. This self-corrected after a few weeks. The next time I only took 50 units. The results are nothing short of amazing. People notice I look better an younger but they donl;t know why! Love it. The lines are virtually gone and they are not the first thing I see anymore when I look at myself. I look younger, less and angry and less tired. I recently has my thrid treatment along with juvaderm/collagen in the upper lip. I couldn;t be ahppier with the results.