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POSTED UNDER Laser Resurfacing REVIEWS

Erbium Ablative Laser Review- London, UK

ORIGINAL POST

I had erbium laser resurfacing on the 7th of July...

kate84
WORTH IT$2,000
I had erbium laser resurfacing on the 7th of July 2014. I had a test area done first ( at the Doctors request) so the price includes that as well . I am 30 years old and have/had mild-moderate acne scars most of which are about 12 years old although I had a cystic acne flare up after my son was born ( August 2013) so had a few new scars as well. I had previously tried a total of 11 ( yes ELEVEN) fractional treatments. This gave me about a 10% improvement which wasn't really noticeable and I think this treatment made me more prone to cystic acne as prior to the treatments I was just getting normal spots .
Anyway back to this review....
I had numbing cream applied about an hour before the procedure and then local anaesthetic injections in the area that was going to be treated , the injections were very uncomfortable and painful . The doctor did three passes with the laser over the affected areas ( middle of both of my cheeks) and then a light pass on the surrounding areas to 'blend it in' . The first two passes were not painful at all but the third was slightly uncomfortable . A nurse applied some cream and a bandage and I went home. There was quite a bit of weeping and bleeding the first day . The second day my face was very swollen and my skin was still weeping but no longer bleeding . The swelling was gone after the first week but the weeping took nearly 10 days to stop . There was very little pain bar the first night but my skin did feel very itchy and irritated although some of this was the cream that had to applied several times a day until my skin healed. I had antibiotics to prevent an acne breakout ( I still have to take them for another week ) and anti virals to prevent cold sores . It is now day 14 and my left cheek has completely healed although my right cheek still has a small area that has not healed over . At the moment there does appear to be a reduction in my scars although this happened after a couple of my fractional treatments and my skin then went back to normal when it healed. I have included pictures from day 2, 5,7 and today . I will update this review a month and then three months after treatment as the Doctor did say it can take 3-6 to see the full results although I doubt there will be much improvement after three months .
If the look of my scars stay how they look today or improve then I would recommend the procedure but please keep in mine being housebound for over two weeks ( I still can't wear make up until my right cheek has fully healed) is very depressing especially in the summer! . This is a much bigger deal than you first think and keep in mind that most people can't cover the pinkness ( which can persist for months) until 2 weeks after the treatment . When I had the test area my skin did not return to a normal colour for about 2 months so that might be an issue for men . I normally wear make up every day so that is not a big deal to me but could be to some people.
Just to add, I personally do not have any before pictures as I never had pictures taken of me without make up and forgot to take some on the day but the Doctor did take some so if I can get hold of them I will post them when I update my progress :)

kate84's provider

Richard J. Barlow, MD

Richard J. Barlow, MD

Specialist Registered Dermatologist

kate84 rating for Dr. Barlow:

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Replies (5)

July 23, 2014
I would love to see how you improve. I had dot laser and I'm quite nervous I won't see great results. Although any small wrinkles I had are now gone.
October 29, 2014
Thanks for sharing. It gives you better idea from people's personal experiences than sometimes from a surgeon.
September 16, 2015
You are an absolutely beautiful young woman. Enjoy your beauty, your new baby and don't sweat small stuff, there is no such thing as a perfect complexion, but you come pretty close!
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January 1, 2016
I hope you get the results you dream of since you are going through so much! I wonder if this treatment is also good for the abundant fine and not so fine wrinkles around the mouth? You, or anyone, know? Thanx.
March 3, 2018
Hi there where did you go to have this done. not many people use the fully ablative Co2 laser now- I had it done 12 years ago with good results and would like to go again
UPDATED FROM kate84
1 month post

8 weeks from treatment

kate84
About 3-4 weeks after the treatment I was really happy with the results but now 8 weeks on my skin is pretty much back to how it looked pre treatment ... the left side especially . I'm really disappointed but apparently improvement can continue for up to six months . I will update again six months after treatment . I will also add to be aware of before and after photos showing dramatic improvement . My scars look a lot worse in certain lights and from certain angles . In good lighting and from a flattering angle they aren't that noticeable .

Replies (7)

September 1, 2014
Thank you so much for sharing you story. I feel your pain more than you will ever know as I have tried so many procedures and nothing ever seems to work. To this day, I have truly never seen legitimate before and after photos with someone with scarred and pitted pores and then the after showing a marked improvement. I have looked and looked and have seen not one. I wish the very best for you and I'm so sorry to hear your disappointments. I can't imagine the amount of time and money you have spent...but it sounds very similar to my story
September 19, 2014
Ditto. I'm trying fractional Co2 now but don't hold out much hope for massive improvement. The before and after pics on dr websites are so misleading!!
September 22, 2014
It is so frustrating and disappointing . I did find that my 'newer' scars were pretty much removed by the laser treatment but the others which are about 12 years old I haven't seen much improvement on . I think they are still improving a little but I know I will not end up with the 60% improvement I was told I would get .
September 22, 2014
Any before and after that shows someone with moderate acne scars and then flawless skin is fake in my opinion . Even if someone had 3 ablative laser treatments they would still have noticeable scarring . I think the best we can hope for is an improvement , ,doctors should be honest about that before charging people thousands of pounds and making false promises !
September 22, 2014
30?! you look like you are in your early 20's, at the most!
September 22, 2014
Thanks although I think I'd prefer to look my age and have no acne scars !
December 20, 2014
Regardless of the treatments, you are a very beautiful woman & when I saw your pics I thought you were 22! Thanks for your review - really honest and well written.
UPDATED FROM kate84
2 months post

Slight improvement

kate84
Just to update I'm now 2 and a half months on from having the procedure . I have noticed a slight improvement between 6 weeks after treatment and this last week and have included 2 photos taken in the same lighting . I did find that the newer scars I had from a cystic breakout in September 2013 - March 2014 were pretty much all removed by the laser treatment ( there were 4/5 scars ) . They were all on my right cheek ....So I think laser treatment works better for newer scars . I will update again if I see anymore progress and if I see the Dr again I will ask for my before photos and post them as well .

Replies (11)

November 16, 2014
Sorry just to ask was it the laser resurfacing that you had I have acne scarring and I'm researching the co2re laser and laser resurfacing thanks
November 17, 2014
I do not want to offend but your skin looks very nice. Frankly I have to concentrate looking at your pics to see scars.
December 9, 2014
I think your skin looks really good. I barely see any marks from scaring.
December 20, 2014
Looks good
December 22, 2014
I do not see any scars. I do not want to offend but maybe you see non existent scars. Regardless you are beautiful