CO2 Fractional Laser 12 weeks Out - HMA Rating: 0 (or how about -5)
My neck has always been older than my face. I've...
My neck has always been older than my face. I've tried every dermatologist recommended cream, ultherapy, matrix rf, fotofacial (the latter two helped the most I think ) until finally, after extensive research I decided to bite the bullet, suffer the downtime and skip onto the CO2 fractional ablative laser which vaporizes the outer layer of skin to promote the regrowth of more youthful elastic skin as well as the future production of collagen. This laser supposedly also helps with hyperpigmentation (which in my case wasn't such an issue since I'd addressed that in late September with excellent results.
Kim Ann's provider
Replies (32)
Ok. I'm assuming that you're being serious and am guessing that you must have severe acne scars, or perhaps your permanently enlarged pores? Or maybe a deep wrinkled neck and you've done your research and figure that CO2 is your only option. It cost me $2500 for neck and chest (friends discount) and $500 for the face but the face wasn't supposed to be anything like the neck and chest. It was supposed to be a 'walk out with sunscreen and slight tightening ' kind of thing. If I'd paid for my face to have the same treatment it would have been and extra $1500 or so so keep that in mind when considering the cost. :) www.carlotticosmeticsurgery.com . I've sent friends there and I highly recommend them! Plus Scottsdale's got to be an amazing place to visit this time of year (compared to frigid ohio!) :) good luck! Talk to Stephanie - she's super cool and runs the front desk.
xoxoxo
Dr. Michelle Carlotti will not be shy about turning that co2 up (safely) to see results and quite honestly, I've sent friends to here for lots of corrective surgery from other surgeons 'mishaps'. My boobs and a crazy orange peel lipo situation (that part's Dr. Albert's specialty). They like fixing things. May be worth a consult. :) Good luck to you!
Oh sorry for not explaining better. Dr. Albert Carlotti is Dr. Michelle Carlotti-Cabret's husband. They work together as a super team. ***removed third party link***/ Not sure if I'm allowed to put that link on here but since you asked...
Um, I'm not sure which you are looking at but O K. :) I've got a ways to go. I've never had to wear makeup on my face and now I use several products to cover the pigmentation. Yesterday I underwent my second series of IPL to correct the hyperpigmentation issues. I still have hope though (for my neck) - my face was fine to begin with!
CO2 is an ablative laser that vaporizes the top layers of your skin leaving it raw and open to infection. It was painful and high maintenance having to clean it twice a day but I knew this - for my neck though, I hadn't planned on it for my face which really threw me for a loop. CO2, in my opinion is a LAST RESORT option for deep wrinkles, scars or crepiness (my neck) but not for pigmentation. I can tell you that first hand as my pigment got darker after the C02 and they are blaming it on my cuban heritage even though I am very fair skinned and do IPL's on a regular basis. There are a lot of less painful, expensive and risky options out there depending on your skin type. I am not a doctor. I only have a blog based on all of my personal experiences and research on lasers, products and procedures but that is my opinion.
That's so funny - my best girlfriend is dealing with the same thing as you right now. She lives in NYC and is waiting a little longer for her facelift to recover before deciding on other treatment. She's 7 weeks out. Check out ***third party link removed*** when you have a chance because she's my muse and I do a LOT of research for her 'issues' like large pores, crepey eyelids, droopy mouth, etc. :)
Honey, I'm not even sure the CO2 has tightened anything up yet! I will let you know what I think in a couple of weeks when I know. Right now I can only see the pigment - got IPL yesterday again to try and get rid of it. I'm going to answer your question though, regarding any skin tightening laser treatment - it takes about 3- 6 months for the collagen to grow, they tell you that from the start. So by then how do you really know if it's worked or not worked - I guess it depends on our rate of aging right? For some people they have aging time warps that fall upon them unexpectedly (that happened to me at the beginning of 2014) but for others it is very gradual. There are lots of supplemental procedures though that can be done to offset the change though that don't rely on collagen reproduction and that can fill in the issues along the way like fillers or fat transfers. I tightened the look of my jowls with a tiny bit of fillers and some botox. The neck though is a whole other story. There are new less-viscous fillers out there though that may do the trick for necks. That will be my next option if this did not work. :)
Video Pre and 13 days Post CO2 Fractional laser
Replies (4)
Fantastic video! This really gives people a good sense of what to expect from this treatment. I really look forward to your updates, and hope to see another video. Take good care :)
Important for you to see the scary neck I had before CO2 - the whole reason I opted to do it.
Replies (18)
Oh my gosh girl! That is so sad. I think in 1998 they didn't yet have the fractional co2 which vaporizes only a portion of the skin as opposed to 100% of it under the assumption that when the effected skin heals it will also heal the skin around it. I hope so anyway because I'm ready to have a nervous breakdown as it is and after reading you post - well, thank god for valium. I made the decision to do co2 fractional laser on my Neck because I felt like it was the last resort. My face was never supposed to be a major casualty. It was supposed to be a 'touch up' to tighten the skin and I was promised/guaranteed by my very close personal friend and laser tech that I would walk out with just a bit of sunscreen on it (my face) so this whole ordeal is freaking me out on many levels. I'm super nervous now too because I slightly suspected I was going to forever have facial flushing issues and now you've confirmed you are someone who has! I feel so powerless. Terrible way to feel and I'm sorry that 17 years later you still even have to revisit the ordeal in your mind. I write hidemyage .com and this particular situation is making me rethink the value. With all we have to deal with in life is this really worth the risk? Much love to you!
I kind of dropped off the face of the earth for a while. I only just saw this now. Thank you for getting back to me. Very kind. xo
Came across this comment and got excited from your said results! Im also in Australia, who did you go see?
Thanks!
I don't have filler in my lips! I had a bad experience with silicone in my cheek area about 20 years ago and it migrated to my forehead. Not fun let me tell you! But no. Nothing in my lips.
I'm getting used to the fact that I have to wear makeup on my neck, chest and face if I want to look half decent in a public space but I also feel that when the Dr zapped me with the IPL then I had a dermaplane to remove all the congested layers of skin it did make a difference. Thanks for your support!!
If you are still in the research stage then I may be able to assist you in that. I'm trying to help you with some possible heartache. What are your skin issues that make you feel you need to go through C02 resurfacing?