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POSTED UNDER Fraxel Laser REVIEWS

Fraxel Restore Dual- Pigmentation Extreme Dry Skin Problems STAY AWAY

ORIGINAL POST

I went to a very nice plastic surgeon to see about...

clonakitty
$1,500

I went to a very nice plastic surgeon to see about having my skin tightened. Since I had gone to this doctor before for fillers, I thought nothing of it that the office manager told me by email that I should consider fraxel. When they ran a special months later, I thought I could try it out. This plastic surgeon is the fraxel expert, and answers many questions on this board regarding the laser. I went in, talked with the plastic surgeon, and he said fraxel restore "could" help with the tightening. Reading the reviews on here sort of scared me, but he said "they didn't really have fraxel...it was another laser...don't let it scare you." So went in, had the treatment on my face and neck...when they told me it's a couple of days down time, my face was bright pink for almost two weeks. The laser was extremely painful, I would compare the pain to a burn, in between the worst sunburn you ever had, and a burn from a hot stove. This pain lasted a couple of hours. As I healed,and the skin started to flake off, i was left with extremely pink skin. (which thankfully has resided). At the same time, I was left with a line of demarcation around my eyes and dryer skin. I emailed the office, no one contacted me. I emailed the office manager who was always chummy with me, no response. I emailed the doctor, he did not answer my email. I finally went in for an appointment, showed him my line of demarcation, and he said "I never seen this before, I don't know what it is". Instead of telling me it is the result of the fraxel. I also told him I had dry skin and he said he NEVER had anyone tell him that before. He actually took out a picture where my face was completely flushed (mind you not the ones that I took previously, just the one on the day of the appointment) and he said "look fraxel helped your skin", it looks much better." He was very annoyed with me, and told me there was nothing he could do to help with the pigment issues. I also said my skin is dryer (which he told me would be temporary, and it's 10 months later). He said one fraxel treatment would not do that to my skin. He did tell me that I can use skinmedica to help the redness, and then offered me a 10% discount on the next purchase...in his office. The doctor is very nice and skilled, I trusted him more than the ladies who had it on realself. This is a very dangerous machine. Please, please please, don't have this laser unless you are well aware of the side effects (which the doctor or his staff will not tell you). Even in the most skilled hands, you are risking life long pigmentation issues.

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I hate to give these ratings. He is a nice man and does good work, but I had to say I wanted another fraxel to have an appointment to see him because his office manager or him wouldn't return my emails. He was almost annoyed that I came in with complaints, and looking for help. Everything is great until you have complications.

Replies (6)

January 24, 2012

What an unfortunate experience. :( I'm so sorry to hear. Have you considered consulting with another doctor just to see if there is something that can be done to help with the line you describe and the dryness?

January 24, 2012
I was told that this most likely is a burn (possibly with brown pigmentation). I was advised by a nurse to put a combination of retin-a and hydroquinone, which would help lighten the area. Thankfully, it is really only noticeable around one eye. But to go from having no problems, to pigmentation issues is disheartening. At the same time, I feel betrayed that the doctor would not really help me or consider my issues as valid.
January 25, 2012

I can understand why you would feel upset if you didn't feel listened to by your doctor. Even if there wasn't anything that could be done, just having felt like you were heard is often a big help.

Hopefully the Retin-A & hydroquinone combo will help things. Please keep us posted on how its looking/feeling.

January 28, 2012
worse, my skin is so dry that it hurts. i had greasy skin prior to this, and never used moisturizers previously (only a little spf), I have had to load my skin with moisturizers at night in the morning and throughout the day because my skin is so dry...I live in los angeles, dry skin was never an issue until fraxel. I'm hoping that it will relieve itself as it gets warmer. I used to love winter in los angeles, fraxel ruined that.
January 29, 2012
The really bad makeup brown faded for me around 10 months. The red is still there at 19 months. My texture and redness are slowly improving over time. I believe they are related. Could be an inflammation response? I was treated at a very high levels so hopefully you will improve quickly.
January 9, 2017
I have fraxel laser for almost 3 week now. I have the same issues too. After fraxel laser my skin is very dry, itch and pigment issues. I am scaring that my skin will dry for long term. I have to used Vaseline only I can't go back to my regular day and night cream products. But Vaseline cause acne to my face. If I have read your story before I wouldn't do the frexal laser. I think frexal laser is not good for some people.
UPDATED FROM clonakitty

Update: I am still struggling with horribly dry...

clonakitty
Update: I am still struggling with horribly dry skin, particularly on my neck and chin areas. My neck is so dry, that i have to cover it with vaseline 2x a day. The oil glands were destroyed in my neck and the neck wrinkles are WORSE! So if you look at my neck, you can see a line of demarcation from where the fraxel took place, cause I don't have neck wrinkles past that point. STAY AWAY

Replies (2)

May 8, 2012

Thank you so much for continuing to update your review so others can hear how this is playing out for you long term. Vaseline twice a day? Wow, that is dry!!

Hoping things get better as more time goes by. Please continue to keep us posted on how you are.

May 8, 2012
it's absolutely horrible. I never, ever had dry skin, my skin was so greasy that if i didn't wash my face, the sebum would get into my eyes and burn. I have lost oil production on my chin area and under my mouth. I couldn't wear powder previously without getting super shiny, that doesn't happen anymore. I NEVER wore moisturizer before - ever. Now I have to wear vaseline 2x a day? This is ridiculous.
UPDATED FROM clonakitty

Just to update you, my skin is terribly terribly...

clonakitty
Just to update you, my skin is terribly terribly dry in my lower face, and it feels so tight that its hard for me to move my face without noticing it, its very uncomfortable. I can also start making out the wrinkles on my lower face,. I never had one damn wrinkle till I did this stupid thing, I also had oily skin, my forehead is less oily, but still produces oil, my chin and cheeks however have not been so fortunate. I I am putting glycerin and coconut oil to try and increase flexibility, because it hurts to smile.. I also carry around a small jar of vaseline because my skin on my chin and neck starts to hurt because it has no moisture left. A total nightmare.

Replies (6)

June 21, 2012

So glad you are continuing to update. I wish you were seeing improvement, and that your skin wasn't feeling so uncomfortable. :( I remember you had talked to a nurse back in January, have you seen anyone since then? I would assume a burn would be healed by now, so I wonder if there might be something else that could help alleviate these symptoms you are having to deal with(??).

June 21, 2012
The symptoms are the result of the skin being dried out. I had EXTREMELY greasy skin, so much so I couldn't wear some powders because my skin would get super shiny, I never had to moisturize until this procedure, now it feels uncomfortable and tight. I'm at a loss. I actually liked having greasy skin, because it meant id most likely age slower, now im not so sure. I'll continue to keep you updated
September 26, 2012
I also have extremely dry skin, never had it before, also I have acne, never had that before fraxel laser, or the numerous other skin and vision problems I have now since I has fraxel laser. Do you work, because I work in a costumer relations job and have to wear makeup now since my complexion is ruined, and it still doesn't cover the sever damage fraxel did. I use to never wear makeup, except a little blush and eyeliner, now I can cake enough on. How are you able to put moisturizers on so much, my skin also needs it? This is just another bad side effect like all of them that my doctor never stated could happen, because according to them nothing bad could happen.
August 11, 2013
I had fraxel on my face and décolleté on July 26 th and am dealing with severe dryness and itching. I am also breaking out in sores on my forehead and décolleté. Any suggestions. Feels like an allergic itching.
January 9, 2017
It had been couple years now. I want to know how your skin now. Is it still dry or go to your normal skin now. My skin is supper dry now so I wonder how other people do after fraxel laser for couple years.
March 9, 2019
Hello group, so I had fraxel restore on November 21, 2018; it has now become the worst day of my life. I feel I suffered laser damage, I am pretty sure I was burnt from inside out. I have extremely dry skin on my face, no oil production and get red boils on my face now. I went to the dermatologist to get lines filled around my mouth and the doctor suggested I do a quick fraxel restore sine it helps with fine lines and texture. I am now left with very wrinkly skin lines that run on the side of my face. I use to have nice shine and glow to my face, now it’s dull and dry with super orange peel skin, holes and can not get any moisture to hold. I have been back to the treating dermatologist 5 times, she says she has been doing this for 20 years and has never seen anything like this and that she sees nothing wrong with my skin. She thinks I got great results. My face is so sunk in and tight she said I got a face lift from the fraxel. On my last appointment she told me that she sees nothing wrong with my skin and there is nothing more she can do to help me, so if I come back I need to see another doctor. So I just got left in the dark.
I am using Hyaluronic Acid serum with moisture over the top. I used tinted sunscreen and that’s all. If I try to wear makeup it makes the holes and texture so pronounced that I look like a reptile. Since I am 4 months post fraxel destruct is there any hope of me getting my oil glands back.
Any help in this would be greatly appreciated.