1 week

Yesterday I went to the Dr. for my 1 week follow-up.  To my surprise they said I was looking really good.  I don't have to wear that awful greasy ointment anymore I can use a cream now.  I still have to wash my face 4 times a day but at least I don't have to apply the cream as often as the ointment.  I'm still peeling and itchy.  I noticed some yellowing on my right side and they said it was just bruising. 

I'm Molting

Days 3,4,5,and 6 I have been itchy and peeling!  I have to wash my face four times a day, apply antibiotic ointment twice a day, I have to apply healing ointment every 30 to 60 minutes, and I have to do light therapy once a day.  I have struggled with applying the stupid healing ointment every 30 to 60 minutes.  I forget or I get too busy feeding Eva or putting her down for naps.  My face has been peeling and I have struggled to not peel it.  I am going a little crazy just staying hidden at home but its for the best.  The other day Aleecia's friend came selling stuff for dance and I'm sure I freaked her out.  When I told Aleecia that I probably scared her friend she said she had warned her that I was "freaky". 

Right side

Left side



Day 1

When I first decided to have this procedure I was expecting it to be a lot more painful!  I feel no pain!  Yesterday I had a doctors appointment just to check my healing.  They showed me how to wash my face.  It's a complicated procedure just to wash my face and I don't feel like it cleans anything.  After washing my face they put these lights on my face to help promote healing and sent me home with a smaller version to do at home. Since having to apply greasy ointment to my face every 30 min. I have started to breakout in small little white heads.  But, every time I wash my face a little bit of blood sluffs off and it looks better.

After Day 1

After Day 1 right side

After Day 1 left side

The "Procedure"

Yesterday I did it!  I had my acne scars treated.  David brought me to my appointment with my med.s in hand.  When it was time to go back to the room it was a short goodbye.  The MA was great.  We got back into the room and I took my Percocet and Valium.  She gave me a headband and cap to wear.  She hooked me up to a blood pressure machine and she applied the topical numbing cream.  While we were waiting for it to work we chatted about pregnancy and I told her my horror stories about pregnancy since there was a chance she might be pregnant.  (Poor thing I probably scared the poop out of her.)  I kept licking my lips which was a dumb thing to do cause it caused my tongue to go numb.  Once my skin was numb Dr. Taylor came in and injected numbing medication into the sides of my face where he would be inserting the tool.  Sometimes the numbing medication can cause some burning and stinging but I didn't have a problem.  After he inserted a long needle into my face and injected it with a saline (water) Lidocaine mixture.  It's used to swell the skin and numb at the same time.  It was so bizarre cause I could see my cheeks puff up and feel my skin stretching.  When I was all "puffy" he inserted his special tool and started cutting away at the scar band that are beneath the skin.  It made the weirdest noise.  I didn't feel anything though.  Once all the bands were cut they applied the chemical peel on.  It burned like a sun burn from HELL.  They were nice and sprayed my face with more numbing cream.  Last Dr. Taylor took the laser to my cheeks.  I couldn't feel most of it cause I was still numb but there were parts where I could feel it.  It kind of felt like what I imagine a taser would feel like.  After the laser they applied wet gauze to my face.  Once everything was cleaned up they let David come in.  The look on his face was priceless.  I asked him if he still loved me.  I don't he knew what to say.  Once  they sat me up I could see my reflection in the window.  I didn't even look like myself.  I was a scary monster.  On the way home we were laughing about how hideous I looked.  If I gained 100 pounds that is what I would look like.  I had trouble talking cause of all the swelling and numbness.  B's were the hardest thing to pronounce.  I couldn't open and close my eyes very well either.  I looked like a deer caught in headlights.  Now to applying this greasy ointment on every 30 min. for at least a week!
I said I wanted to document this process and what better way to document then to take pictures.  Here is a picture of a scary monster after the procedure.

After Procedure

After Procedure R side

After Procedure L side

 Still swollen from the saline and bloody from the laser treatment.