Dr. Sam Lam Plastic Surgery Forum

I have had minor acne from about 16 and still deal with it a little at 22. I am on differin and minocycline at the moment and it seems to be working good for me. I have a couple icepick scars on the right side of my face that bother me ALOT. I have visited a plastic surgeon in Waco, Texas that gave me some cream and did dermal planing(basically scraping dead skin off) and sent me on my way. I also have visited a dermatologist who let me know that Fraxel laser could be done. I am not sure I want to go that extreme and I have heard horror stories about lasers.

I want to know if TCA Cross would be an acceptable way to get rid of these scars. I have watched your videos, and it seems to be the best option for me. I am plagued everytime i look in the mirror and want to know if there is something that can be done or am I just having high hopes. I am getting married next august and would like them gone A.S.A.P so I can worry more about that than my face.

Are there any other options than to just leave it alone and live with it.... without obtaining even more scarring?

hi obviously, you should post a closeup photo so i have some idea of what you are talking about. if they are etches, then cross may be great but it takes a while to see the result and you may have prolonged pigmentation so starting now is reasonable if you are shooting for a date next august. a photo is not perfect but it is a start. whether to leave it alone or not is based on how realistically i can improve it, how much you want it done, and how realistic your goals are.
best,
sml

You can some what see what I am talking about through the pictures....to me on here..they do not look as bad...but still are apparent.

ok, the photos give me a general idea. i agree that they are more of a CROSS than silicone treatment. hopefully i could get away with a single treatment session (maybe 2 but no more) and i would space the interval between treatments at probably 4 months to make sure i do not overcorrect it. obviously, the other option is to leave it alone but the photos may not do justice to what is truly there as you say (which is comforting to know that you also think the photo shows very little).
best,
sml

I definately think that would be an option for me. I think even if i got a little help i would be okay. From your other posts I know that you talking about what procedures costs is a no no, so what would be the next step ? Are you still booked months in advance? Is there a way to get prices? Thank you so much for your help. I can only hope to gain a little more confidence before my wedding day and I think this might be the step towards that.

hi,
just email marcy@lamfacialplastics.com or call 888-866-3388 to find out about prices and to schedule. unfortunately, i am booked out a few months but there is a cancelation list and what you need hopefully is short enough that someone can squeeze you in at some point. just make sure that you don't say, "Dr. Lam said it would be ok to get me in earlier." Trust me, they have heard that one before a thousand times. I allow my staff to do what they do so I don't get into trouble. They will work with you.
look forward to take care of you,
sml

hi dr. lam,

I had another question. I scheduled an appointment in November, but i was wondering how long is the recovery for the tca cross? I am not too worried about it as long as it is not hyperpigmented around my wedding. Theres only a couple spots, so i wasnt sure if it will be less noticable on me and not look too bad...or it just depends on the person and how they heal?

If we just had to do one...how long until some kind of result is seen?

i can never predict. since your wedding is a while from now, you can always bleach it if it stays pigmented.

Dr. Lam,

This is probably a really random question but do you do any type of excision? like punch excision for small scars?

I know that acne scarring isnt necessarily your specialty...I just wondered if that possibly could be an option for the one bigger icepick i have.

thanks for you help!

amy

i find at least in my hands that such a treatment is too risky. there is too great risk that i will worsen your condition. that at least is my opinion.
best,
sml

thank you dr. lam for all of the helpful info you have given me!

you are definately leading me to be more at ease about being in your hands with this procedure.

i feel like a mad woman researching all of the available information on TCA cross...I guess I need to be patient and just see what you think and what you can do.

I have one more question beforehand however....hopefully the last...

From reading the other posts...here and on other sites...i hear that one treatment doesnt necessarily bring on any change....but....you said that you might be able to get away with one treatment on me. Will I see any change? Is it just something that will have to be figured out with time?

I also want to add another picture because i feel like the ones i put on here weren't as clear as i would have liked.

I am trying to get a better one up so you can see if just the line of icepicks down at the bottom of my face (which hopefully you will be able to see better in this photo) and the small two or 3 small small (maybe scarred pores or small icepicks) will be capable of being helped at the top of my cheeks.

thanks so much!

usually one time does not work but when they are very minor one time could help. it would in any case takes months to see the change so that in order to limit overcorrection, i would wait many months before deciding on round 2.
best,
sml