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POSTED UNDER CO2 Laser REVIEWS

CO2 Laser Resurfacing with Fat Transfer to Under Eye Area - Chattanooga, TN

ORIGINAL POST

I am 7 days post op from full face CO2 laser...

Skin girl
WORTH IT$4,800

I am 7 days post op from full face CO2 laser resurfacing with fat transfer beneath my eyes. My chest was also lasered. My primary concern was to eliminate fine lines under the eyes as well as lines on either side of my mouth. Crows feet & creases in the forehead were secondary areas that I wanted to address. My chest area had sun damage from years of tanning that I wanted addressed as well. I also had Radiesse and Juvederm placed at the time of the laser surgery which accounts for some of the bruising noted on the chin area. The fat transfer definitely caused the swelling and bruising under the eyes. I am 53 yrs old and had considered a facelift, but wanted to try this as a way to combat skin laxity and loss of volume in my face.

This is NOT a procedure to be taken lightly! The recovery has been difficult and down time is significant. I still have not worn makeup or been out of the house in public. Not sure when my face will be "normal" but after day 6 with continued swelling & extreme redness, I contacted my doctor who immediately asked me to return to the office for evaluation. He thought I may have a reaction to the Aquafor and placed me on steroids and told me to use Gold Bond Ultimate Healing cream instead of Aquafor. My other aftercare included Keflex, Acyclovir, Arnica, Lortab, Ativan, vinegar + water, & Aquafor. (standard of care)

After care is SO important for this surgery. I have attached pictures beginning with day 1 through Day 6 and will continue to update as I continue to heal.

At this point, I am very hopeful that I will have fabulous results, just understanding that time is the best healer and I must be patient. I have been given Elta MD sunscreen samples and I look forward to using sunscreen and makeup to be able to go out.

This is very intense and it is a very personal revelation, but I think people must understand what this procedure is about and the downtime that it involves while healing.

Skin girl's provider

James E. White, MD

James E. White, MD

Board Certified General Surgeon

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Replies (5)

February 19, 2015
Awesome
August 16, 2015
Looks terrific. I think fat under eye had a great affect. I had same procedure but no fat under eye. Agree the healing is dramatic but worth it. After 9 months...my face needs more make up/blush to give it color... Thanks for sharing. What age range are u in?
September 28, 2015
Good on, you look wonderful. Hope it was worth it. Cheers from a gal in New Zealand who is researching this procedure . It looks rough and tough. Was it worth it??
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January 21, 2016
Hello Skin Girl, I'm on day 3 after have lazor around my eye's and the Dr. took little more skin off the outer edges. So I have a couple stitches in ea. eye. I've been extremely itchy mostly around the skin that touches the eye. I do have candida in my body and am sure this is the cause of most of it.
What I've noticed today is that the skin on the side of my face next to ea. eye us super puffy. Much more puffy than the last 2 days (today is day 3of recovery).
I've been using coconut oil and Aquafor and cold cucumbers to help with the itchiness.
I'm so itchy I can't even think straight.
My question is were you this itchy?
Thank you,
August 31, 2016
Thank you for sharing your experience. You look fantastic!
UPDATED FROM Skin girl

Day 8 dilute Vinegar & water compresses...

Skin girl

Day 8
dilute Vinegar & water compresses provide relief, but the redness persists. I have updated my daily picture I can see daily improvement with less swelling.
I would love to hear from others who have started post laser skin care regimens that have been successful in decreasing the redness. Anybody familiar with copper peptides and emu oil? I know about use of Vitamin C and Retin A, but not sure when that type of product can be used. I see my Dr. again in 2 days and this issue will be addressed.

Replies (3)

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November 7, 2014
I have only done a 50 micron mirco laser peel.. but I do use emu oil daily!! Even when I don't do a peel. My esthetician is the one who told me about it. I love it!! I also use retin A, hydroquinone 4%, Skin print 3D biopeptie and latisse. I have a review on my last peel with pictures. No where as intense as yours. You are a tough lady! Mine was 10/17 and I am still looking a tiny bit read but it's looking good.
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November 7, 2014
Oh I also use a Vitamin C serum by Obaji.
March 21, 2018
My experience was that after the CEO to my face was bright red for weeks. Finally, during a check up visit with my doctor he said you’re still to read let’s use an IPL. Honestly, my face wasn’t read at all after this! It really worked! I know the thought of having another laser sounds horrible but The IPL didn’t really hurt at all and the results were fantastic. Using a lot of creams anointment’s wasn’t getting rid of the red so my suggestion is ask about the IPL. Good luck and I think you look great!
UPDATED FROM Skin girl

10 days post op and I had a follow up visit with...

Skin girl
10 days post op and I had a follow up visit with my surgeon who started me on hydroquinolone with cortisone to combat the redness on my chest.

Had first makeup application with Jane Iredale products and the makeup artist was so helpful with countering the redness and being gentle. I loved the make up products which all contain spf protection. I am starting to see light at the end of the tunnel.
See attached pic

Replies (17)

November 21, 2011

Hi skin, 

Oh my, your one day post picture looks so painful, but I and the community so appreciate you posting your picture timeline, it helps others going through the same thing. Your 10 day out picture with makeup is awesome, you look great. How is your chest is it still red? 

Thanks so much,

-Britt

November 22, 2011
Thanks, Britt for the comment. It is important for others to realize the intensity of CO2 laser procedures, so they are prepared for the healing stages. I am still red, and I think my face is somewhat swollen, but every day is better, the chest is very delicate skin and I fully anticipate redness for up to 8 weeks. Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!
November 30, 2011

Yes Skin you are so right about realizing intensity of procedures, I think sometimes that is forgotten. I'm glad you are getting better everyday. I have heard the chest takes longer to heal, but just think how fantastic everything will look in the end. 

Thanks for being such an awesome part of the community. :) 

-Britt

November 26, 2011
i cant wait my skin looks like that
November 26, 2011
i had my co2 laser 4 days ago and i am very red and brown. i m washing my face with vinager and putting oitment. Besides, im taking pills for infection. But i am not patient to see my final resuls. i did the laser for very bad acne scars, and after the laser, i was like a monster. My face was red and bleeding. doctor told me that ii was bleeding because he used deeper laser there. it stopped bledding the next day. But my face is red, and i m still like a monster
November 26, 2011
Hi Florecita, Yes, it is hard to have all the redness and swelling that comes with the laser procedure. But let me encourage you to be patient and diligent in your aftercare as that is so very important. My face continues to be red, especially after taking showers. And I still have the "track marks" on my forehead & cheeks, so I think it will require a minimum of 6-8 weeks for the redness to be pink. I am on Day 18 and MUST use the Jane Iredale makeup to be able to go out at all. I also am researching Skin Biology products and have decided to use Copper Peptide Serum and Emu oil which is very calming and has an anti-inflammatory effect, but I discussed this with my M.D. before applying anything else but the Aquafor. I kept waiting for my skin to peel after this treatment, but another plastic surgeon answered my question on this site and said it may not peel at all, which I never did. Is it looking like your skin is going to peel?? I hope you get the beautiful results you want and hang in there, healing comes with time. Ramp up the protein in your diet or with supplements and I also really loaded up on oral Vitamin C 1500 mg/day for facial healing. Keep drinking lots of water also. Good luck, Rhonda
November 27, 2011

HI Skin girl,

Thanks so much for passing along info about your experience to florecita and helping them have an easier healing road. It's community members like you who made the community such a useful informative place. 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

-Britt

November 27, 2011
Thanks skin girl. i was feeling so depressed. I don't have patient. I hate the mirrors because my face is ugly..but today i saw some pink pretty areas in my face. But my cheeks are still bruise...i don't know of they are red or purple. I m scared they stay there forever. I taking care with the pills and creams. Tomorrow is my appointment with the doctor after 5 days. I had to work tomorrow but i am not going. I don't know which make up wear. Where can i buy the make up -jane iredale?
i am a math teacher in high school and teenagers tell you any thing they see in you.
November 28, 2011
Wow, going to work is hard, but the key to covering the redness is to use a YELLOW tinted base. My skin is fair and the makeup artist used the liquid minerals as a base in the color warm sienna, which was very yellow, byt really helped cut the deep redness in my face. Then she sprayed my face with hydration spray and let it dry before pressing and rolling bisque powder. I know this sounds like a lot, but she was working very hard just to get the redness toned down. Ten she continued with another layer of the hydration spray and finally applied golden glow with the flat brush in a single downward motion. Then we did light cheek color & eyes.

If you don't have time to work with someone to get started, definitely use a great moisturizer first as a primer and try an all over yellow tinted base before applying mineral based powder. Jane ire dale makeup has SPF in each layer that is zinc and titanium based. Sunscreen is a must. I am using eltaMD 46 clear sunscreen under the makeup too.

My last piece of advice.....forget the teenager comments, they have no clue what you have just been through. My favorite comeback when someone makes an offensive or stupid comment is " why would you say that?"..... Usually stops 'me dead in their tracks. Have a great day no matter what! Good luck, girlie!
November 28, 2011
jaja now you made me laugh.. i decided not to work tomorrow but on Tuesday..i like the make up you worebut you mentioned that "she did it" , who is she (doctor or???) where can i buy that make up. it sounds good.Artist make upwowww i dont care the price but i would like to try that make up...i dont know too much about make up because of my acne scars, but after the co2 i would like to try to wear make up...i anxious to see my doctor tomorrow but also scared to tell me that my red spots will be there forever.........thanks again your words made me feel better...
November 28, 2011
Hey Florecita,
I bought some Jane Iredale makeup at The Cosmetic Market in Nashville so I was a little familiar with it. I googled in Chattanooga and the Center for Facial Rejuvenation actually sells the products and has a trained esthecian on site who was very comfortable with working on my post lasered skin. My doctors office recommended Bare Minerals but I wasn't ready to go to the mall and I wasn't sure they would do me as I was VERY red. Check out the Jane Iredale website too. The pressed powder is $ 48 which I thought was very expensive but I really needed the yellow tinted base, it's the key. Glad youre not going to work til tues, girly.

Are you taking arnica? See what products your Dr. Recommends also. He may have someone in the office that does makeup, my dr sells sunscreen and another skin are line called Vivite which is supposed to be nice,but I didn't buy it . I am still researching all the options.

Hang in there!
November 28, 2011
what is arnica? and for what?...i just washed my face again before going to bed, i dont have the brown color but i dont know if my face is red? it is red if different parts of my face more in my cheeks. but i dont like that red or burned color. i am really scared and sad again. This is only my5th day after co2 laser. I waited for this longggggg but now i dont like the recovery process...my face is like a burned ,,very horrible...i feel like crying when i see it in the mirror jaja. i am worry only about my cheeks. they looked like if somebody hit me in my face and it is bruised.......i am taking pictures of every day, but im very fear to stay like that-worse than before..im sorry to talk like that, i dont want to be negative. i just live with my mother, and she is worry too. hope to see a little improvement tomorrow..thanks skin girl
November 28, 2011
You are only on post op day 5! You have to give yourself plenty of time to heal and I am talking about weeks, not days. Are you using aquafor to keep it moist? sounds like your healing is right on track if you see less of the brown after gentle cleansing. That's good, keep cleansing with mild dove and clear water and keep it moist as it heals best when moist.

Arnica is a homeopathic option that reduces bruising and helps healing commonly used for facelifts, with facial fillers, and laser procedures. I think it was helpful as I was bruised from the fat transfer. I keep it on hand. You get it at organic health stores. Ask your dr.

Every day gets a little better but yes we will be red for 6 weeks or longer, that's my plan anyway!