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POSTED UNDER Fraxel Laser Reviews

Fraxel Damage = Residual Inflammation/swelling?

ORIGINAL POST

I was talked into Fraxel 7 years ago and have been...

I was talked into Fraxel 7 years ago and have been living with the effects ever since: orange-peel texture, enlarged pores, sagging, weathered-appearance, etc. It's as if Fraxel does the opposite of everything that we are told it does.

I was wondering if anyone suspects or has been told that this is residual inflammation/swelling? My face has been pink ever since the procedure. I have not seen other people talking about this effect, but my skin is naturally very light and the pinkness is probably more visible than most. Also, the awful doctor that Fraxeled my face missed most of my upper lip, so you can actually see how the skin puffs out around the upper lip. I just wonder if the sagging, enlarged pores, and stretched skin are the result of excess fluid/blood?

I have gone to numerous dermatologists, and several thought it was rosacea (which, of course, I strangely do not have in the upper lip area). They prescribed numerous rosacea treatments, including antibiotics, metrogel, and desonide lotion. I also got what I think was some kind of steroid shot in the butt. None of these treatments had any effect at all. I also tried one IPL, but I think it made the texture slightly worse; at this point, I will never again do another laser!

Anyway, I was wondering if there is anything else that might be tried to resolve potential swelling/fluid accumulation? Sometimes I think the Fraxel damage is permanent. Other times, I think that there may be a very simple solution to help all of us, but no one has yet thought to use it. As in, maybe the inflammatory/swelling response to the laser just never shut off for some reason, and maybe there is some kind of drug/lotion out there to shut off the inflammatory/swelling response?

Oh, and the skin on my face (except for the upper lip) no longer sweats after Fraxel. But, the skin gets very red after exercising and lasts that way for over an hour. Anyone else have this response?

This is my first time writing in. Is there any advice that the dermatologists that write into this site can give? And, please do not let the doctor say that there is no way that Fraxel can cause these effects or that I should "enjoy my results." The effects that we are having from this laser are real. They do not happen to everyone (or else Fraxel would have been pulled from the market years ago), but they happen frequently enough that these doctors should take the time to figure out what is causing this and how to fix it.

Replies (1)

I’m so sorry this happened to you. I received fraxel dual a month ago and immediately noticed issues with texture (orange peel) and large pores/dots. It hasn’t gotten better and the doctor is telling me it’s inflammation and that everyone heals at a different pace (even though in the consultation she find me it’s be 1-2 weeks.) The only side effects she mentions was temporary redness and sensitivity. Never orange peel but suddenly she’s saying it’s normal (after the fact, of course.) I’m having trouble finding a second opinion because most doctors are insisting I’m still in the healing process. Have you found anything to help?