Has anyone done any resurfacing after electrolysis? Laser, peels, microdermabrasion? Were the results successful? I’m almost done with electrolysis and I am satisfied with the results but the overall texture of the area I got treated (upper lip) is slightly rough looking and it’s bothersome. I’m looking into a light chemical peel and I’m curious to know if anyone has tried anything like that and if it’s worth it.
I just spoke with a nurse at a plastic surgeons office( I was only calling to talk about a skin care product that they sell), but I told her I was concerned with electrolysis scarring and she said microdermabrasion would help. She has not seen my skin, but am thinking about going in for a consultation. If I do see her, I will post what she says( she used to be an electrologist too). Good luck!
Hi Michk and sevastra,
Thanks for the posting. Out of curiosity, is the surgeon you spoke to a “Plastic and Reconstruction” surgeon, or a “Cosmetic Surgeon?” People often mistake these two but (and I have worked with both) there is a universe separating these two categories.
With “resurfacing” the upper lip, timing is everything. You say, “almost done with electrolysis … “ So, my suggestion is to wait a year before adventuring into any resurfacing treatment. The healing process on your lip is going through many stages that will not be completed for at least a year. Tissues are pulling and pushing, collagen is being remodeled and an army of cells are “doing their thing.” (The lip often looks awful after electrolysis … but looks perfect when the entire healing process is completed.)
I’m not a big fan of micro-dermabrasion only because too many treatments are needed to achieve anything (beyond some swelling that makes the skin look better in the short run). Here’s the thing, you could go through a year of various cosmetic treatments and at the end of the year it WILL look better. Conclusion: the treatments worked. However, your skin would have undoubtedly looked better any way without all the treatments (and a ton of money spent)!
To answer your question “is it worth it,” let me only say from my experience that “no” it is not worth it … at least not now. Wait a year, give “mama nature” time to heal you nicely … she IS good at this! After this time, well, then make a decision. I will bet you “10 to 1” that you will be super-happy after this time.
Remember that all resurfacing processes (well, those that work) also have risks. Pigment changes are the big risk that I have seen too many times. If you decide on a chemical peel (or other peel), probably doing the entire face is a better idea (to achieve an even color). What I have seen with targeted peels on the lip is a loss of pigment. Too many times the women ends up with perfectly smooth skin on the lip, but it’s much whiter. Without make-up she looks like she has a “white mustache.” This look is WAY worse than hair.
(Women often want those upper lip vertical wrinkles “re-surfaced” but now the new fillers can fill these up and the results are immediate and fantastic … check this out! “Belotero.” Watch the excellent video on YouTube.)
So, PLEASE be careful. Let “mama” do her thing first! As Dr. Chapple would tell me: “Michael, take the money and have a vacation.”
BTW, (if you have read this far), beware the latest “miracle product” called Nerium. It’s an MLM product that has “scam” written all over it. This one could actually be harmful. If you like, I will write more about this little “beauty.”
I like your attitude, Michael. It’s amazing what our bodies are capable of. I have horrible hyperpigmentation from plucking the hairs on my face and from ingrown hairs after waxing on my legs. It takes a while for the skin to regenerate but it does happen eventually.
Please be careful before considering cosmetic procedures and do your research before you have any done so you don’t end up with more damage.
The old CO2 lasers and Baker-Gordon phenol peels could work miracles on skin resurfacing but often left the skin ghostly white; for this reason, using them to resurface just one area of the face is not a good idea. Now, there are newer methods such as the Hetter formula phenol peel that do not carry the same risk of skin lightening. However, this is a major procedure that is best reserved for severe cases. I agree that it would be wise to wait at least a year after the end of electrolysis before looking into any kind of medical intervention. In the meantime, however, you could consider seeing a doctor for Retin A therapy. If you still are having texture issues after that year or so, you might consider a medium depth TCA peel. TCA, even in spot treatment, does not carry the high risk of pigment changes that the heavy-duty lasers do.
Thanks for all the replies thus far. I definitely am not jumping into anything blindly regarding resurfacing treatments. I research extensively as I am pretty paranoid when it comes to my skin. For the longest time I was following organic/home remedies for minor skin issues. I do agree that “mama nature” does do great things in time and sometimes it’s best to do less than more. Patience is not a virtue I utilize to the best of my ability at times. I will hold off in the meantime and complete my electrolysis sessions and leave well enough alone… for now 
I did read your entire post Michael, which I do appreciate. Thanks for taking the time to respond so thoroughly. I’ve not heard of Nerium but I’m not surprised it’s a scam, what isn’t these days?
Michael- the women i spoke to works for a cosmetic plastic surgeon. I have not gone in to see her and I doubt I will bc I’m afraid of doing anything too aggressive. She did say that microdermbrasion was the best way to go … I guess she was an electrologist prior to this position and knew what type of scars I was referring too. I’m going to wait it out and hope that my indents/ pits on my cheek and chin will go away with time!!!
Michk,
I’m not entirely surprised. A “cosmetic surgeon” is a physician “turned” “cosmetic surgeon." Here’s a typical scenario. Dr. X has been an ENT guy for years, and then decides to do “cosmetics” (yeah, for the $$$). He takes classes in how to perform various procedures and then calls himself a “cosmetic surgeon” or a “cosmetic plastic surgeon.”
The actual “plastic and reconstructive” surgeons began their dedicated training doing plastic and reconstructive surgery. Their entire careers have been dedicated to this specialty. They are the “cream of the crop.”
I have found that very few “plastic and recon” surgeons do any “esthetics” procedures in their offices, and don’t typically sell products. It’s the “cosmetic” guys that hire estheticians; sell products and own medical spas.
I’m sure this post is going to send a bunch of you scurrying around the internet to disprove the above. You will find the answers a bit clouded and definitions vary as to country … but the above is the real deal. I have worked with both types of physicians (30 years) and this is the actual story.
BTW the “plastic and recon” surgeons also do cosmetic procedures … lots of them! But they have a depth of understanding and experience that the others don’t have.
A key question to get a sense of their qualifications is to ask if they have “hospital privileges.” Ask the name of the hospital! A poor quality surgeon will not have “privileges.” It’s all about liability.
A coy way to ask this question goes like this: “I’ve been considering a face lift, but would prefer to do this in the hospital. At which hospital does the doctor have privileges?” If he says: “Oh, we do everything in the office, no need for hospital,” that will give you a clue. A good answer would be: “We do most procedures in office, but we can also do the procedure at General hospital.” (They are very proud of privileges and will want to tell you!)
Interesting topic on plastic v. cosmetic surgeons. Even board certification in “facial plastic surgery” is not the same as board certification in “plastic surgery.” But I would trust an ENT with facial plastic certification to do a face lift and nose job. Experience is where it all counts! Book smart plastics guy can still screw you up. One of the top “nose job” surgeons in NYC is not a plastic and reconstruction surgeon but a dual board certified ENT. He charges obscenely high dollar for nose jobs because people like his results. http://www.drsamrizk.com/mps-aboutdrrizk.htm
Yes, of course, a good point. Mostly I like the continuing proof (from fenix) that Friedrich Hegel was right! And, that’s a good thing.
My own personal experience, for what’s that’s worth, is the cosmetic boys would be great if they would stay within their specialty. Too often their “ego” gets the best of them and they venture into unchartered territory. “Cleaning up” their adventures is not so much fun. I’ve seen some interesting “short cuts” they take, e.g., in “neck lift” surgery and that’s not so good.
(Beate, was heißt ein “Fenix” auf Deutsch?)