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POSTED UNDER Fraxel Repair REVIEWS

I had the fraxel re:pair laser treatment on my face. - Disappointed - Sydney, Australia

ORIGINAL POST

I had the fraxel re:pair laser treatment on my...

reddyOctober 4, 2008
$4,900

I had the fraxel re:pair laser treatment on my face three weeks ago and not only am I still very red, but I now have acne all over my chin area. My skin looks worse than before I had the treatment and regret having it done. No web site I have visited provides the real! recovery time for such a procedure.

Replies (20)

crb101169
October 4, 2008
I'm 13 weeks post fraxel and I agree with your statement. I'm sure some of the paperwork I signed explained "what could" happen, but the advertising by Reliant sure makes it sound like a walk in the park, NOT!. The good news is it will get better, at least mine is. This site is great for answering questions. Other than being red, can you tell if you have other pigment issues?
reddy
October 9, 2008
Yes! I now have small discolouration spots (brown) on my cheek and temple regions and I think these are permanant. If so I will be having words with my doctor.
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Dr. Steven Weiner
October 5, 2008
A steroid cream can often improve redness quickly.
crb101169
October 5, 2008
Dr. Weiner, What's the downside to using a steroid cream? My derm keeps telling me if mine does not improve, then we will use it...I'm 13 weeks out. Is their a reason you can think of to wait? Which one do you give your patients? Thanks! CB
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Dr. Steven Weiner
October 5, 2008
Short term use, like 2-3 weeks, no real side effects. Long term, you can get thinning of the skin.
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james
October 5, 2008
steroid creams shouldn't be used on the face, especially in such a patient. remember they already have skin problems which is why they had fraxel. why make it potentially worse with steroids (which reduce inflammation by stopping dna synthesis). lead to problems like teleangectsia and skin atrophy. i've even seen patients with stretch marks on their face from steroid creams.
crb101169
October 6, 2008
Thanks Dr. Weiner. Is prolonged use of hydrocortisone (.5 or 1%) safe for long term use? Can it thin the skin? CB
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james
October 6, 2008
its not just about how long you use it. but about the potency class of the steroid, as well as how much you are applying. patients typically apply way to much topical steroids. for instance the amount that covers the tip of your finger should be the max you would use on an entire arm. topical steroids are therefore much abused and overused by patients seeking quick relief from inflammation. i think its bad doctoring to prescribe it at all. even recommending over the counter hydrocortisone is questionable.
crb101169
October 6, 2008
James, I'm 13 weeks post fraxel repair. I have not used a seriod yet as my doctor will not give me one (other than triluma which I could not tolerate). I was seen by another doctor that gave me a compounded Epidermal Repair that contains the following: 7% hydroquinone .05% hydrocortisone .05% Retinoic Acid and kojic acid Do you think this is ok? I have been using it for about a week. I agree with you on the using too much. It's hard to get a pea size amount of anything to spread over your entire face. I have been mixing a very small pea size amount with Cerave moisturizer and I have tolerated it fine. Now I'm worried about the steroid cause lord only knows I don't need more issues....grrrrr.
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james
October 7, 2008
well here is the thing. you got fraxel to induce collagen growth in the skin. steroids prevent this! they inhibit your skins ability to repair itself (no pun intended). that's how they stop inflammation. they stop all cell metabolism and dna synthesis. so you a steroid cream is working against everything you are trying to do right now! supposedly OTC hydrocortisone is the safest steroid cream. its not very potent, but can still stop inflammation. however its still inhibiting your fraxel results at the same time. get rid of it! there's no reason to use it if you are moisturizing morning and evening. as well as taking it easy on your face with cold, wind, soft pillow cases, clothes, etc.
circuscat
October 6, 2008
I am now 3 months post-fraxel repair and my skin is so smooth. Since I had my eyes and neck done, there has also been some tightening around the eyelids an jawline. I am a 57 year old woman and did not think it was possible to have such smooth skin. To preserve the results, I now follow a stringent skin care regimen. This was definitely worth it.
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james
October 7, 2008
P.s. this time of year people get very dry skin and inflammation. its usually due to dry indoor air. the furnace heat makes it literally drier than the sahara desert in your house. the sahara is average 15 percent humidity. the average indoor house in winter is 0-5 percent. get a humidifier in every room! especially if you have ever had problems with eczema or psoriasis.
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