TotalFX = Painful!

June 21st, 2009 - it's now been five weeks since my treatment and while I'm noticing some results in terms of texture, I can't say it was worth the cost and aggravation.  The redness has yet to fade completely and my face is definitely darker right now than my neck.  I was on vacation for a week and used an SPF 60 sunblock to protect because I am that paranoid about hyperpigmentation.  What really bothered me though is that I had to use foundation just to cover up the dark areas and even out my skintone.  When I got home I immediately invested $90 in Obagi's Blender with hydroquinone so I can bleach out the discoloration as I'm not totally convinced it will fade on its own.  If anything, the summer months just threaten to make things worse.  After shelling out $3K, I'm not too pleased to have to spend another $100 on a bleaching cream.  What's the point of the laser treatment?  I would advise anybody seeking this treatment to do so in the winter months or a time when they won't be spending much time outdoors.   I only did it in May because my doctor was offering a special promotion.  As I said, I do notice my skin has a smoother, tighter texture and my pores do look noticeably smaller, but for $3200 one should expect dramatic and immediate results.  Just to put it in context, I spent $5k on eyelid surgery six years ago and it was worth every penny.   I still love my doctor and my review is more a comment on the limitations of the technology than his technique.  I just think there are too many variables to be able to predict a satisfying result and one shouldn't have to set their expectations low when spending thousands of dollars. 

Update:  Here's an overview of my healing process the past few days since having Total FX last Thursday.  I am now on Day 6. Day 2-3:   Very red and crusty.   I soaked with saline gauze 3-4 times a day and washed with Cetaphil followed by Biafine.   For meds, I took Sinnutech (anti-infammatory) 3X a day and Zovirax (anti-viral) morning and evenings. I also had percocets for pain and discomfort.  The swelling was really bad these first few days, but the pain wasn't too terrible.  The percs helped with the discomfort.  I also take a multi-vitamins with Vitamin C to promote faster healing.  Day 4:  Still very red but the peeling began and my skin slowly shed the the crusty brown layer throught out the day.  It was itchy, but taking a benadryl definitely helped. Still takign the Sinnutech and Zovirak and washing with the Cetaphil 3X a day.  Instead of the Biafine, I was switched to a high SPF moisturizer during the day and an emollient antioxidant cream at night.  Still swollen in the morning, but it quickly subsided throughout the day.  Day 5:  Still peeling, but I had a follow-up appt. and it turns out I wasn't being aggressive enough when I was washing my face.  After a good soaking and an enzyme cleaner, almost all of it came off.  No swelling today, but my face looked raw and red and I'm still uncomfortable leaving the house.  (The bruise around my eye doesn't help.)  Major cabin fever.  I'm hoping by tomorrow I can at least cover with make-up and go outside.  Day 6:   Some of the redness has gone down and my face has been breaking out around my mouth, but I was told that was normal.  I have this patch of red dots on my nose and I can't tell if it's dead skin that will flake off or if it's a wound that will heal and resolve itself.  It's annoying to say the least.   Still washing with Cetaphil and following with the SPF 36 during the day and the antioxidant cream at night.  Today is my last day on the Zovirax.   I have a third follow-up on Day 8 and by then I should be able to give an objective opinion on the results.  The healing is taking longer than it should for a laser treatment (I would expect this from surgery) so I'm glad I don't have any place I need to be, but it is still frustrating.  My eyes and skin look refreshed, though and my new skin looks fresh and glowing.  I am now on Day 6 since getting Total FX last Thursday.   Almost all the crustiness has peeled off leaving fresh pink skin.  There's some residual blotchy redness in certain areas that I hope will fade in the next few days.  I also have patches of red dots on my nose, which is annoying to say the least.  I can't tell whether it's dead skin that just needs to come off or if it will just heal and resolve on its own.  I also have had some breakouts around my mouth, which I was told was  normal. 

This is my second day after having Total FX performed yesterday. It was excruciating! I always thought I had a high tolerance for pain, but I'm one of the ones that didn't tolerate this procedure well. I am under the care of a wonderful and highly respected plastic surgeon and I was given percocets and a valium beforehand as well as the topical anesthetic and a numbing block. Even with all that I cried and whimpered through the whole thing! Some possible reasons for this... I was hormonal so extra sensitive to pain (day before my cycle) and I take an SSRI, which I know from past experience with my dentist can lessen the effect of novocain so it's possible that might have happened here. Just some things to be aware of if you are considering this procedure. As far as the results, it's too soon to tell but I have total confidence that it'll be worth it, though I highly doubt I'll ever do it again so I'll compensate by taking superlative care of my skin to maintain. I look like hell this morning, but whatever! It's part of the process. Yesterday was uncomfortable and I felt like I had a bad sunburn. I applied the saline gauzes every hour followed by Biafine, which is thinner and not as occlusive as aquaphor so therefore better for oily skin like mine that's prone to the occasional breakout. I'm going in for a follow-up this morning to get my protocol for the next few days. I'll write again in a few days when I have something new to report.