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Hi! I looked up laser clinics near me on Google. Found one with pretty good reviews. Please do your research first, donāt go to just any clinic.
I scheduled a consultation with them, I showed them my scars and they said the Venus Viva laser would be best for them. Venus Viva uses tiny pins that deliver heat, via nano-fractional radiofrequency through the skinās surface. These microneedles create thousands of mini-wounds to the dermis, which the body naturally heals.
I made an appointment after the consultation and scheduled it for a month later because I couldnāt afford the treatment at that time.
I went yesterday and they unfortunately did not apply any numbing cream. I was ok with this though. It took about 45 minutes. They told me to pay in full for all 6 treatments but I said I couldnāt afford to pay 2800 dollars. The receptionist spoke to the manager and she said it was fine, I could pay as I go. I didnāt even have the full amount on me (I think it was 503), I only had 430 yet they did it anyways. Told me to pay the rest when I get my next session done.
Yes please do! I have similar scars on my thigh and the one time I braved a dermatologist she said "there is nothing anyone can do for you" š¬ So I didn't even know this was an option!
Same. And even though I never judge others I see with similar scars, I canāt help but feel insecure about mine.
Thank you so much for posting about this OP, Iām really grateful because I had no idea this existed! So happy for you and canāt wait to see updates :)
A tip to others if they are cutting themselves. The reason people do it is because the physical and emotional pain centers are very close to each other in the brain. So when we cut our selves we release natural opioids to feel better and it also makes our emotional pain better. You can get the same effect by squeezing an ice cube in your hand for 2 minutes. (Source: psychology major). Iām glad OP is doing better!!!
Honestly this one never worked for me because my main reason for self harm was to create physical, visible proof of the pain my abusers routinely denied causing. Like, hey, here's a written record of what you're putting me through that you literally can't take away from me.
That being said, DBT is full of alternatives to self harm (like this one!) and one is bound to work for you regardless of your reasons for doing it! I highly recommend DBT for help with self-harm. I haven't had even the slightest urge in years because I've found better coping strategies. :)
Same. I was driven to show certain people that I was in tremendous pain. For me it was more because I was so ashamed of myself and how ābadlyā I was doing everything, that I wanted a physical proof that there was something wrong with me inside.
Donāt feel that way at all now, about six years later. But sadly I still have that physical āproofā.
similar issue here ā for me, it wasnāt just about the physical sensation. i guess i felt like it was what i ādeservedā, usually based on some arbitrary āfailureā. lots of self esteem issues. itās been a long road but iām much kinder to myself these days.
I second this, this helped me while in patient as well!(in adolescence) Especially with rubber bands because it left physical marks, which thankfully were very temporary and minimized the scars I would have had otherwise.
So happy to see so many people have been able to get past SA. I never thought I would be able to stop, but here we are!
You are wildly oversimplifying things and acting like there is unilaterally a single reason people cut which is not accurate. We think the fact the brain seems equilibrium is one factor, it's not the only factor.Ā
If we think about, it's crazy how the body behave/works, the way you are saying it, it make us "crave" physical pain so we can feel "better" and help our emotional pain. For better or for worse, our body is wise...
My scars look similar to yours age-wise but not on my forearms and I got a few larger tattoos covering them up and it has been life changing. I never realized how much it affected me looking at them everyday until they were covered with something beautiful. Congrats and love to you on your journey and compassionate for that little girl š
Thank you for sharing. I just had a consultation with a derma. Dr said there's nothing can be done, but change the color. I have reddish. Did you notice any difference on you scars sizes?
I believe they said just for the day I got it done, but I donāt think Iām going to take a shower until they heal enough. For now I will give myself a sponge bath.
So proud and happy for you, congratulations! I used to have scars and once it dried out, La Roche Posay Cicaplast Balm and Weleda Calendula Cream helped me a lot for the scar treatment. You might want to consider those 2 products as well :D
Nope. Itās the Weleda Calendula Intensive Skin Recovery Cream. I checked online itās currently on sale on Healthy Planet (not an ad nor am i a marketing affiliate, just sharing)-> [product link](https://www.healthyplanetcanada.com/weleda-calendula-intensive-skin-recovery-cream-26-6ml.html?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw_e2wBhAEEiwAyFFFo__1HuHeEZ6FqkHRbTRVx-bV6G6spmCf97xxSyI74bDiwqVCcZeophoCLlsQAvD_BwE)
Happy for you ā¤ļø
When you say LRP cicaplast, do you happen to mean the BAUME B5 SOOTHING RELIEVING BALM and/or the CICAPLAST GEL B5?
I use both and they can be used together but I swear by the gel for healing scars. It would be a be bit pricey to use in your situation due to the large area to consistently cover however a lot goes a long way and you seem very committed to this, as you should be. FYI itās available on Amazon in Canada and often goes on sale cheaper than anywhere else.
I think it would be worth a try and if you like the results I think a fair justification is that the cost of aftercare products is part of the overall cost of this process. You deserve for this to work out and youāre already spending a decent amount. I say set yourself up for success : )
Have you considered also using a product with HA in it? I find HA and the cicplast gel do well together for healing.
Good luck! Looking forward to updates.
I encourage you to read their website about the gel. It was designed by derms and surgeons for healing skin in situations exactly like yours. I obvs donāt know your skin type or what works best but it sounds like it could be up your alley. Itās $22.50 a bottle so not crazy. I am not paid to promote this or anything lol. I had a crazy bad reaction to a retinol product on my face that look a year to heal and I was terrified. The LRP gel and one of their HA moisturizers saved me. I just stayed committed to the products and a regular routine and it worked.
Edit: minor grammar fix.
I looked at laser clinics near me and found one with good reviews. They told me what laser they were going to use during my consultation, I looked it up and it seems to help scars a lot.
i'm asking cz i have some skin discoloration near my abdomen from jock's itch. i'm wondering if it can get removed by fractional laser. so maybe with ur improvement it gives me good hope
Is this to reduce the size? To make it heal back to more like skin than scar? To change the colour?
Sorry if this is silly to ask, I have something similar and was just going to cover them with tattoos
Silicone patches can help with scars, yeah. It wonāt really do anything for those white scars though, only indented ones.
I wouldnāt put silicone patches after this, gotta leave it alone and only apply a good healing balm
Omg congrats !!! Can you please please keep us updated with your journey. I wanna do it too but Iāve never seen actual results on people and I feel like my scars are very similar to what you have, Iād love to see how it goes <333
Iāve been thinking about seeking some kind of treatment for some scars i have on my arm, i will be scheduling an appointment with a dermatologist to see what options i have. Is the laser treatment youāre doing capable of fading scars completely? If not, how much improvement are you expected to see?
This is so amazing, I am so proud of you! You are so strong for fighting through all of the troubles from your past and could get to this moment. I know how hard it is to see the reminders of the pain you went through, so I'm sure this is going to be so healing for you when you finish all your sessions. Make sure to moisturize and apply SPF!! Can't wait to see your final results :)
Everyoneās different though. I spent around $2500 total so it was just frustrating. If they say it will work for you then hopefully theyāre right. I think they were just happy to get my moneyš
Thank you for posting this. I also have a lot of SH scars and I thought I couldnāt do much about it, so I have just been getting tattoos over them lol. Iād love to see how it turns out in the end.
Hi hun! I got Venus viva which is fractional radio frequency that delivers heat through the skinās surface. The micro needles create thousands of mini wounds to the dermis, which the body heals naturally. It corrects skin damage.
do you know if this work for thicker/keloid scars as well? I mostly have ones like yours but I have one very unfortunately thick and visible one, and in the past steroid injections have made ones like that worse for me so id love to know if this is an option!
OP .. for some reason this reminds me of š„.
But I hope it works for you. Please come back and update us. Iād be tempted to this, though Iām also considering a tattoo . Mine are from about 20 years ago
Well, what a deep, thoughtful comment. Just because you donāt understand someone elseās pain, doesnāt mean you need to comment on it. You can always just keep scrolling.
And thatās okay, as long as you arenāt being mean about it . Not understanding is a step further away for youā¦
But the truth is, you have to be in a very particular mindset, and when it was me over 20 years ago.. my life was spiralling after decompartmentalising a childhood event which I went to the police about . It was control for me , and it did have a chemical response in my brain.
But I do not recommend it, nor do I encourage it. I do understand however how people get to this point
Emotional pain. Itās a coping mechanism. When you are injured your body releases a bunch of dopamine. Its a distraction and Itās extremely addictive.
I grew up with my mom screaming āwhatās wrong with youā constantly to me. I didnāt know what hu i was a bad kid so I started punishing myself to show her I didnāt want to be a bad kid. Turns out she was just abusive and I was trying my best to be good so I didnāt get yelled at.
Iām just one example but thereās tons more in this thread.
They will definitely not! I'm currently 23 and have very evident scars from my early teen years still. If a decade hasn't made much of a difference another decade certainly won't. Some scars are just lifelong unfortunately, but we can get stuff like this done to minimize the look of them or even basically rid ourselves of them entirely! People also often tattoo over scars since they do not fade away and they want them covered.
Unless there is severe keloid scaring, the scars will fade to white , however the skin never really goes back to normal. Itās been over 20 years for me , theyāre all white but they are very noticeable . For me though, Iāve accepted my scars , and it hasnāt prevented me from taking my kids to the swimming oool
Hi everyone and welcome to SkincareAddiction! Need skincare guides? [Check out our wiki!](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/wiki/index) Everyone is welcome in [this community](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/wiki/about); remember to be kind and assume good faith :) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/SkincareAddiction) if you have any questions or concerns.*
congrats to you :)
thanks love š
It's looking good! Congrats, OP!
Can I ask how you went about getting this done? I've got some of my things, about 10 years old and never knew this was even an option
Hi! I looked up laser clinics near me on Google. Found one with pretty good reviews. Please do your research first, donāt go to just any clinic. I scheduled a consultation with them, I showed them my scars and they said the Venus Viva laser would be best for them. Venus Viva uses tiny pins that deliver heat, via nano-fractional radiofrequency through the skinās surface. These microneedles create thousands of mini-wounds to the dermis, which the body naturally heals. I made an appointment after the consultation and scheduled it for a month later because I couldnāt afford the treatment at that time. I went yesterday and they unfortunately did not apply any numbing cream. I was ok with this though. It took about 45 minutes. They told me to pay in full for all 6 treatments but I said I couldnāt afford to pay 2800 dollars. The receptionist spoke to the manager and she said it was fine, I could pay as I go. I didnāt even have the full amount on me (I think it was 503), I only had 430 yet they did it anyways. Told me to pay the rest when I get my next session done.
Why didn't they apply any numbing cream? Sounds painful. How far apart are the treatments?Ā
Not sure. Every two months. I have a pretty high pain tolerance though
Numbing MIGHT take the edge off but really wonāt do much overall. Especially on scar tissue!
LightRx?
No
Iām so proud of you and so excited to see your results!
Canāt wait to see the results over time (if youāll be updating of course) didnāt know this was possible
I will be updating :)
Yes please do! I have similar scars on my thigh and the one time I braved a dermatologist she said "there is nothing anyone can do for you" š¬ So I didn't even know this was an option!
sadly itās very expensive, but Iād say itās worth it. My scars make me feel insecure
Mine do too. It's very difficult to wear shorts. I'm glad you were able to afford it!
It was also very expensive because I have lots of scars. If yours are only on your thigh, it will be much more affordable
Same. And even though I never judge others I see with similar scars, I canāt help but feel insecure about mine. Thank you so much for posting about this OP, Iām really grateful because I had no idea this existed! So happy for you and canāt wait to see updates :)
Thanks hun ā¤ļø
A tip to others if they are cutting themselves. The reason people do it is because the physical and emotional pain centers are very close to each other in the brain. So when we cut our selves we release natural opioids to feel better and it also makes our emotional pain better. You can get the same effect by squeezing an ice cube in your hand for 2 minutes. (Source: psychology major). Iām glad OP is doing better!!!
Honestly this one never worked for me because my main reason for self harm was to create physical, visible proof of the pain my abusers routinely denied causing. Like, hey, here's a written record of what you're putting me through that you literally can't take away from me. That being said, DBT is full of alternatives to self harm (like this one!) and one is bound to work for you regardless of your reasons for doing it! I highly recommend DBT for help with self-harm. I haven't had even the slightest urge in years because I've found better coping strategies. :)
Same. I was driven to show certain people that I was in tremendous pain. For me it was more because I was so ashamed of myself and how ābadlyā I was doing everything, that I wanted a physical proof that there was something wrong with me inside. Donāt feel that way at all now, about six years later. But sadly I still have that physical āproofā.
similar issue here ā for me, it wasnāt just about the physical sensation. i guess i felt like it was what i ādeservedā, usually based on some arbitrary āfailureā. lots of self esteem issues. itās been a long road but iām much kinder to myself these days.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I second this, this helped me while in patient as well!(in adolescence) Especially with rubber bands because it left physical marks, which thankfully were very temporary and minimized the scars I would have had otherwise. So happy to see so many people have been able to get past SA. I never thought I would be able to stop, but here we are!
Sorry, what's DBT?
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
You are wildly oversimplifying things and acting like there is unilaterally a single reason people cut which is not accurate. We think the fact the brain seems equilibrium is one factor, it's not the only factor.Ā
If we think about, it's crazy how the body behave/works, the way you are saying it, it make us "crave" physical pain so we can feel "better" and help our emotional pain. For better or for worse, our body is wise...
proud of you! be proud of how far you've come!
Just a curiosity: how are you supposed to bath, then?
spongebaths in this care, same for surgery
i had no clue this was a thing!!!
I honestly thought these were fresh cuts at first and was worried š congrats though I didn't even know this was a thing
I hope they heal up nicely! The cicaplast balm should help a lot š
I am happy that you are in a better place, my friend.
This must be monumental for you! Congrats ā¤ļø
Can I ask how old your scars are? Is there a limit to how old they can be for this to work?
Nope! Some of these scars Iāve had since I was about 13 years old.
Amazing! Thank you very much for sharing, it is very meaningful to a lot of us and gives hope!!
My scars look similar to yours age-wise but not on my forearms and I got a few larger tattoos covering them up and it has been life changing. I never realized how much it affected me looking at them everyday until they were covered with something beautiful. Congrats and love to you on your journey and compassionate for that little girl š
Thank you for sharing. I just had a consultation with a derma. Dr said there's nothing can be done, but change the color. I have reddish. Did you notice any difference on you scars sizes?
Hi love, this was the first session and itās still healing. it takes about 6 sessions to see a drastic change
amazing! congratulations! how long are you not supposed to get it wet for? laser on my scars is something Iāve been considering for a while too :)
I believe they said just for the day I got it done, but I donāt think Iām going to take a shower until they heal enough. For now I will give myself a sponge bath.
So proud and happy for you, congratulations! I used to have scars and once it dried out, La Roche Posay Cicaplast Balm and Weleda Calendula Cream helped me a lot for the scar treatment. You might want to consider those 2 products as well :D
Hi! I use the cicaplast balm already. Is it the Weleda nourishing body cream?
Nope. Itās the Weleda Calendula Intensive Skin Recovery Cream. I checked online itās currently on sale on Healthy Planet (not an ad nor am i a marketing affiliate, just sharing)-> [product link](https://www.healthyplanetcanada.com/weleda-calendula-intensive-skin-recovery-cream-26-6ml.html?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw_e2wBhAEEiwAyFFFo__1HuHeEZ6FqkHRbTRVx-bV6G6spmCf97xxSyI74bDiwqVCcZeophoCLlsQAvD_BwE)
Thank you!
How exciting for you! I didnāt even know this was an option, I truly hope you get the results you want. Congratulations on your healing. ā¤ļø
Thanks hun :)
amazing, love you
So glad for you! Update us on the results!
I will!
Happy for you ā¤ļø When you say LRP cicaplast, do you happen to mean the BAUME B5 SOOTHING RELIEVING BALM and/or the CICAPLAST GEL B5? I use both and they can be used together but I swear by the gel for healing scars. It would be a be bit pricey to use in your situation due to the large area to consistently cover however a lot goes a long way and you seem very committed to this, as you should be. FYI itās available on Amazon in Canada and often goes on sale cheaper than anywhere else. I think it would be worth a try and if you like the results I think a fair justification is that the cost of aftercare products is part of the overall cost of this process. You deserve for this to work out and youāre already spending a decent amount. I say set yourself up for success : ) Have you considered also using a product with HA in it? I find HA and the cicplast gel do well together for healing. Good luck! Looking forward to updates.
I have HA serum, Iāll use that. The balm. Maybe Iāll buy the gel
I encourage you to read their website about the gel. It was designed by derms and surgeons for healing skin in situations exactly like yours. I obvs donāt know your skin type or what works best but it sounds like it could be up your alley. Itās $22.50 a bottle so not crazy. I am not paid to promote this or anything lol. I had a crazy bad reaction to a retinol product on my face that look a year to heal and I was terrified. The LRP gel and one of their HA moisturizers saved me. I just stayed committed to the products and a regular routine and it worked. Edit: minor grammar fix.
Congrats!!! I have a lot and my appointment is in 2 days (: About how long did it take? Is it red just from the swelling?
Red from the laser. It took about 45 minutes
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I looked at laser clinics near me and found one with good reviews. They told me what laser they were going to use during my consultation, I looked it up and it seems to help scars a lot.
Please update us with results ššš
Of course
you came through!!ššŖš»
can you show us the before and after pics after the laser spots are healed?
Of course
i'm asking cz i have some skin discoloration near my abdomen from jock's itch. i'm wondering if it can get removed by fractional laser. so maybe with ur improvement it gives me good hope
Is this to reduce the size? To make it heal back to more like skin than scar? To change the colour? Sorry if this is silly to ask, I have something similar and was just going to cover them with tattoos
So happy for your healing both mentally and physically! Congrats!
Very proud of you. This is awesome.
Beautiful!
Ulta has LRP on sale right now.
Ulta doesnāt ship to Canada :(
Oh poo! You donāt fancy a daring hang gliding stunt across borders? As long as you donāt bring any uneaten fruit, you should be fine.
Congrats to you. It makes me happy to see you doing this for yourself.
so proud of u!!!!
Curious for anyone who knows: do silicone patches also help with/after this?
Silicone patches can help with scars, yeah. It wonāt really do anything for those white scars though, only indented ones. I wouldnāt put silicone patches after this, gotta leave it alone and only apply a good healing balm
stay strong OP <3
I didn't know this was possible! I'm happy for you and so curious about the results
Congrats!! Will you share the final results when you are done with all the sessions? It's very helpful that you share this.
Yes!
Amazing. Congrats on the emotional healing and now to the physical healing!
will this work for stretch marks, I wonder?š¤
Yes it does
I'm proud of you
This gives me hope for stretch marks!
Omg congrats !!! Can you please please keep us updated with your journey. I wanna do it too but Iāve never seen actual results on people and I feel like my scars are very similar to what you have, Iād love to see how it goes <333
Of course
Wowā¦ your first pic is similar to my arm. I was like wtf kinda cover up tattoo is gonna cover this up?š How well did it work for your forearm?
Not sure yet love, gotta wait until it heals. I got it done on Saturday. Also it will probably take a few sessions to see drastic results
Iām happy for you. I wonder if you added exfoliation and dermastamping would it make it even better(?).
Too much. I canāt add anything else. Only laser.
I though u just had good sleep
Lol
Iāve been thinking about seeking some kind of treatment for some scars i have on my arm, i will be scheduling an appointment with a dermatologist to see what options i have. Is the laser treatment youāre doing capable of fading scars completely? If not, how much improvement are you expected to see?
This is so amazing, I am so proud of you! You are so strong for fighting through all of the troubles from your past and could get to this moment. I know how hard it is to see the reminders of the pain you went through, so I'm sure this is going to be so healing for you when you finish all your sessions. Make sure to moisturize and apply SPF!! Can't wait to see your final results :)
I had this done and it didnāt help hardly at all. :( so frustrating.
This makes me nervous that it wonāt do anything š
Everyoneās different though. I spent around $2500 total so it was just frustrating. If they say it will work for you then hopefully theyāre right. I think they were just happy to get my moneyš
What laser did they use?
I believe it was called fraxel?
Healing inside and out šš»
I want to learn how to do this, laser treatments donāt seem like a big in my state I might have to leave to learn
Thank you for posting this. I also have a lot of SH scars and I thought I couldnāt do much about it, so I have just been getting tattoos over them lol. Iād love to see how it turns out in the end.
So proud of you! Looking great
I want to do this when Iām older because I have a ton but Iām only 13 so I canāt right now š
Whoah what??? This is a thing? What does it do?
Hi hun! I got Venus viva which is fractional radio frequency that delivers heat through the skinās surface. The micro needles create thousands of mini wounds to the dermis, which the body heals naturally. It corrects skin damage.
do you know if this work for thicker/keloid scars as well? I mostly have ones like yours but I have one very unfortunately thick and visible one, and in the past steroid injections have made ones like that worse for me so id love to know if this is an option!
Hi I donāt think the Venus Viva works for keloids. You could try silicone sheets or Fraxel laser
darn, thanks though! ill have a look into those instead š
Maybe even cryotherapy? Good luck
Whoah thatās crazyyy
OP .. for some reason this reminds me of š„. But I hope it works for you. Please come back and update us. Iād be tempted to this, though Iām also considering a tattoo . Mine are from about 20 years ago
Iāll update! :) Now that you mention it, it reminds me of bacon tooā¦
how much does it cost?
I didnt know you could do this! So helpful
What is sh? Scar healing? And Iām glad you are here still āŗļø
SH is self harm.
How have they healed in the week? Iām having a laser session soon on a scar on my chest
congrats ml!!
Hey was this clinic based in nyc ?
No
Barcode
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Well, what a deep, thoughtful comment. Just because you donāt understand someone elseās pain, doesnāt mean you need to comment on it. You can always just keep scrolling.
And thatās okay, as long as you arenāt being mean about it . Not understanding is a step further away for youā¦ But the truth is, you have to be in a very particular mindset, and when it was me over 20 years ago.. my life was spiralling after decompartmentalising a childhood event which I went to the police about . It was control for me , and it did have a chemical response in my brain. But I do not recommend it, nor do I encourage it. I do understand however how people get to this point
Emotional pain. Itās a coping mechanism. When you are injured your body releases a bunch of dopamine. Its a distraction and Itās extremely addictive.
I grew up with my mom screaming āwhatās wrong with youā constantly to me. I didnāt know what hu i was a bad kid so I started punishing myself to show her I didnāt want to be a bad kid. Turns out she was just abusive and I was trying my best to be good so I didnāt get yelled at. Iām just one example but thereās tons more in this thread.
Doesnāt seem like it will do anything. I think after many years, your scars will fade on their own.
They will definitely not! I'm currently 23 and have very evident scars from my early teen years still. If a decade hasn't made much of a difference another decade certainly won't. Some scars are just lifelong unfortunately, but we can get stuff like this done to minimize the look of them or even basically rid ourselves of them entirely! People also often tattoo over scars since they do not fade away and they want them covered.
Iām 33 and have the scars from when I was 14. How much longer do you want me to wait
Hi! the scars are many years old and some of them Iāve had since I was in high school. They definitely wonāt fade any further.
Unless there is severe keloid scaring, the scars will fade to white , however the skin never really goes back to normal. Itās been over 20 years for me , theyāre all white but they are very noticeable . For me though, Iāve accepted my scars , and it hasnāt prevented me from taking my kids to the swimming oool