POSTED UNDER Fraxel Laser REVIEWS
Fraxel - Bad Results - Bad Skin Texture
ORIGINAL POST
I "thought" I had really did my homework...
$800
I "thought" I had really did my homework on this before having it done. I saw all the amazing before and after pictures on this site and thought this would help with some fine lines on my face. I had 2 treatments done. It hurts really bad but I thought, no pain no gain. Well my skin has a very bad texture to it now. It's not like I look horribly disfigured from just looking at me, but photos and close up I can see the terrible affect it had on my skin. I'm just hoping I don't stay this way forever or get worse, but i'm assuming it will.
Now that I am reserching ways to help heal my skin I am reading all the horror stories and about what this really does to you. I thought it was "like a sunburn" but now I'm reading just how deep this goes. And it's obvious from my pics that this does more damage than that.
I know this has made a big difference for some people, as they have great pics. But I believe it depends on the person, and I wish I hadn't done it now. There is a chance you will regret this, and it's not worth taking like I did.
Jaylyn2414's provider
Replies (11)
September 4, 2015
I read what happened to you. I had CO2 laser resurfacing done 15 years ago for only some minor wrinkles. Supposedly, a well respected doctor and this was her recommendation. Above my lip and around my mouth had hyper pigmentation and turned my skin into a horrible texture. Prior to this procedure, my skin had been smooth and had no wrinkles. It's hard to look at close up and I'm still angry. Just as in your case, makeup makes it look worse. I haven't found anyway to correct this yet, but will continue to look. Sorry, for anyone this happened to. I had researched this also prior to and thought I did my homework. The doctor did not acknowledge that she did anything wrong and I had no recourse. Cost me a lot of money to end up unhappy.
April 6, 2017
I am a paramedical esthetician in Yorba Linda, CA. I've seen many botched laser procedures where the skin is damaged. I've had success in treating damaged skin. First thing is to get the skin healthy again both with in clinic treatments and home care products. It's a long road but the benefits are amazing.
April 7, 2017
What type of treatments do you recommend if you don't mind me asking. What type of home care products?
April 10, 2017
UPDATED FROM Jaylyn2414
I added pics of my skin now. It's still badly...
I added pics of my skin now. It's still badly damaged. Notice the surounding skin, above and below my eye, where the laser was not used, it's smooth.
Replies (15)
April 17, 2011
WOW!!! I have seen two people on here that have my same issues!!! This is what my skin looks like ALL OVER!! Plus Dee1016 with the dark eyes!!
Thanks for posting pictures!!
Thanks for posting pictures!!
April 18, 2011
I have looked at your pictures at least 10 times today!! I can't believe it - I just can't believe it!!! What would cause this?? Does anyone know if it resolves? There is a FDA complaint that says Fraxel caused dimpling from last year. I wonder if this is what he/she meant?
April 18, 2011
First off, I'm sorry this has happened to you. I was born with this type of skin and have lived my life trying to 'fix' it.
To my medically untrained opinion, it looks like the skin has 'thickened'. This is appearance of skin that is thick which occurs naturally for some of us. It appears it has enlarged the pores.
How these horrid device can take smooth, more porcelain like skin to a thicker texture (in a short period of time) is beyond me.
If this happened over the course of six months, it is possible to give somewhat of a plausible explanation, by the skin's reaction to the device in remodeling collagen (although that happens below the surface of the skin) and that remodeling (which is not the same as natural collagen, but is more like scar tissue) had a negative impact on the skin's texture (at the surface level) as well? This is a guess at best. For it to happen in a matter of a week or two seems nearly impossible but obviously it is not impossible as these pictures show.
Thank you for having the courage to post your pictures.
To my medically untrained opinion, it looks like the skin has 'thickened'. This is appearance of skin that is thick which occurs naturally for some of us. It appears it has enlarged the pores.
How these horrid device can take smooth, more porcelain like skin to a thicker texture (in a short period of time) is beyond me.
If this happened over the course of six months, it is possible to give somewhat of a plausible explanation, by the skin's reaction to the device in remodeling collagen (although that happens below the surface of the skin) and that remodeling (which is not the same as natural collagen, but is more like scar tissue) had a negative impact on the skin's texture (at the surface level) as well? This is a guess at best. For it to happen in a matter of a week or two seems nearly impossible but obviously it is not impossible as these pictures show.
Thank you for having the courage to post your pictures.
April 18, 2011
Pulling back on your skin does not always approximate what a facelift will do for you. My facelift did not do nearly what I thought it would. Go on three consults and be sure you understand what can and what cannot be addressed with a facelift.
April 18, 2011
I think what is happening is that, instead of building collagen like they claim it does, it's building scar tissue.
UPDATED FROM Jaylyn2414
I thought I should add, that this is not really...
I thought I should add, that this is not really noticable by just looking at me. It's mostly visable close up and in pics. However, when I put on my makeup, it shows it alot more, so I pretty much stopped wearing face makeup. It settles into the "texture" making it move visable.
Replies (13)
May 25, 2011
my skin looks exactly like yours. horrible horrible fraxel.
May 25, 2011
it's the same for me, when i wear makeup, it settles into the pores and lines and wrinkles that i actually look better without makeup
but for me, i have redness and hyperpigmentation so i have to wear makeup so that it blends in with my neck and to cover the redness as much as possible
the redness still shows through the makeup though.
i hate that this happened. it's been 16 months for me... i can't believe i have to live the rest of my life with this damaged face. i'm only 26 T.T
but for me, i have redness and hyperpigmentation so i have to wear makeup so that it blends in with my neck and to cover the redness as much as possible
the redness still shows through the makeup though.
i hate that this happened. it's been 16 months for me... i can't believe i have to live the rest of my life with this damaged face. i'm only 26 T.T
May 25, 2011
Hi-
I never had Fraxel but IPL, and with that I ended up with the same issues or worse, as I had svere burns on my cheeks, just after 1 session. I have extremely sensitive skin.
There are two moisturizers that I have used that completely resolved my skin problems, that I attribute, whether correctly or not, to moisture loss in the skin. Anyway- it helped me, reversed all damage and thus may be worth trying.
One is called BIAFINE, for which you will need a prescription- don't get any generic version. The other is called HYDROLATUM, which you get in a 1 lbd tub from Amazon for about $12, or in a pharmacy, but you will have to ask for it.
These two do their job better than anything else- I tried it all. Very nice skin these days I am happy to say!
Could it also be that fraxel and other lasers actually melt subcutaneous fat? It can melt restylane so why not cause fat atrophy.
I never had Fraxel but IPL, and with that I ended up with the same issues or worse, as I had svere burns on my cheeks, just after 1 session. I have extremely sensitive skin.
There are two moisturizers that I have used that completely resolved my skin problems, that I attribute, whether correctly or not, to moisture loss in the skin. Anyway- it helped me, reversed all damage and thus may be worth trying.
One is called BIAFINE, for which you will need a prescription- don't get any generic version. The other is called HYDROLATUM, which you get in a 1 lbd tub from Amazon for about $12, or in a pharmacy, but you will have to ask for it.
These two do their job better than anything else- I tried it all. Very nice skin these days I am happy to say!
Could it also be that fraxel and other lasers actually melt subcutaneous fat? It can melt restylane so why not cause fat atrophy.
June 3, 2011
Did you use these 2 products at the same time? What type of products are they? Nothing has worked so far, but I'm still trying!
June 4, 2011
I used Biafine for the burns right away ( and antibiotics as they were infected)and on the whole face which made the skin normal again. Please Google Biafine- you will find that it is specifically for post laser and other extreme burn and injury traumas.There is a lot of medical evidence as to how it helps skin recover.
I used Hydrolatum together with Biafine after a while(which is a cream used by Pediatricians- very simple all moisture and no allergens, specifically for excema dermatitis sufferers) which is extremely rich, and only use it like once a week. I think I could also have used it in conjunction with Biofine initially. Hydrolatum I can use around my eyes with great results when the skin there is dry,(otherwise i use Shiseido and la prairie, but this actually moisturizes better) and on the forhead but is a bit too rich for my cheeks these days.
There is also another cream called Revale Night cream with coffee berry, that is great for achieving a smooth young texture, but the skin needs to be healed before you can use that. I hope that it is just moisture loss for you, but even if that is not the case, your best bet to renormalize the skin would be the Biafine cream ( in my opinion).
I used Hydrolatum together with Biafine after a while(which is a cream used by Pediatricians- very simple all moisture and no allergens, specifically for excema dermatitis sufferers) which is extremely rich, and only use it like once a week. I think I could also have used it in conjunction with Biofine initially. Hydrolatum I can use around my eyes with great results when the skin there is dry,(otherwise i use Shiseido and la prairie, but this actually moisturizes better) and on the forhead but is a bit too rich for my cheeks these days.
There is also another cream called Revale Night cream with coffee berry, that is great for achieving a smooth young texture, but the skin needs to be healed before you can use that. I hope that it is just moisture loss for you, but even if that is not the case, your best bet to renormalize the skin would be the Biafine cream ( in my opinion).
June 10, 2011
Thank you for the info. I will bring this up with my derm on my next visit. Thank you again!
April 6, 2017
Also a good clean diet. Read clean skin from within by dr Trevor cates
May 26, 2011
Did you have REPAIR or RESTORE? And what were the settings each time?
June 17, 2011
@BKB: I had an IPL treatment too that messed with teh texture of my skin. I'm inclined to agree with you that is happens because of drying the skin out. I've noticed on nights when I go to bed with Cetaphil moisturizer with RestoraDerm that my skin looks A LOT better the next day.
The psychological scars of having the skin on your face messed up is very bad, I know. I got so bad at one poitn that I was washing my face probably 40 times a day, hoping to "wash away some of the problems." Please make sure you arent guilty of this too and drying your skin out! Ive started washing before bed with Cetaphil, pat drying my face and living quite a bit of water behind. And then I put Cetaphil Restoraderm on. It seems to help.
The psychological scars of having the skin on your face messed up is very bad, I know. I got so bad at one poitn that I was washing my face probably 40 times a day, hoping to "wash away some of the problems." Please make sure you arent guilty of this too and drying your skin out! Ive started washing before bed with Cetaphil, pat drying my face and living quite a bit of water behind. And then I put Cetaphil Restoraderm on. It seems to help.
June 19, 2011
Did you get scaly dry feel with enlarged pores, or welts, or both? Redness? Is the skin more or less sensitive? I think it will go away for you over time. Have you been to see a dermatologist? You may need a prescription cream, or some slight exfoliator (which they would recommend) Could be that Refissa (viamin A 0.05% for texture) would work well for you. And washing your face more than once per day is most likely not a good idea- . Best
September 1, 2011
BKB....did you have the enlarged pores and weird lines? Did they go away? About how long after your treatment?
Thanks for coming back and sharing your information!!
Thanks for coming back and sharing your information!!
September 16, 2011
I had welts, and scales. The texture felt very dry and rough. In the end they, the welts disappeared as did the rough texture, but with the aid of antibiotics and several heavy duty creams under a derms supervision. I have however less tolerance to different skin products ever since. Make up and moisturizers are a challenge.I can only use a couple of things now.
How is your skin now, 7 months later? I had a fraxel exactly 3 weeks ago and feel that is ruin the texture of my skin too. Everyone keeps saying it's only been 3 weeks, but something is NOT right. I am devastated. Would love to hear back to see how your skin is doing now. I'm terrified!