After my magical encounter with lasers at PPP Laser Clinic, I went on a slight rampage, googling and reading up whatever that I could find on the net about said magic. And even though it's all really scary because you are actually burning your face with 'no guaranteed results', I was really enticed by Jacqueline's very detailed review on The Clifford Clinic's Edge Fractional CO2 Laser. She mentioned that it was also used to remove her skin tags and that got me sitting up ramrod straight (Actually, another laser was used. But more about that later.). My face practically houses (Still a present tense. ): ) a population of skin tags. Big sigh. It's probably because I have very sensitive skin but I try like a gazillion products anyway (No one else in my family has this, so it isn't genetic for me.)...
Anyway, I wrote in to find out more about the laser and got a very detailed reply 2 days later. I decided that the service was good, trial price was good ($200) and promptly made an appointment with Dr. Chow Yuen Ho.
The Clifford Clinic is conveniently located at Raffles City and it's right at the entrance of Clifford Centre. I was actually quite nervous when I went down but then, all the receptionists were friendly and had REALLY good skin (Think: SK-II kind of crystal clarity, completely pore-less... Basically, baby skin! Like what on earth?!?) and I was like 'Okay, I'm just going to pray really hard.'.
I didn't have to wait too long before I saw Dr. Chow. He did a quick examination of my face, explained what the Edge Fractional CO2 Laser was and told me that it was actually a separate laser that got rid of skin tags. For the former, it's zapping your skin in a grid-like manner to stimulate collagen for tighter and younger-looking skin. Your skin will be red for a couple of days and thereafter, scabs will form. They are supposed to fall off naturally and reveal new skin, yay (More information can be found here.)! For the latter, it's just burning the skin tags off. Scabs will form too and when they fall off, the skin beneath will be lighter, like scars, but they will fade off in a few months' time.
Day 0: Bare face, with numbing cream on.
Day 0: Right after lasers.
After consultation, I removed my makeup, had numbing cream applied on me by a very sweet receptionist (Who has the most A-MAZING skin and she's like 40 or something. She has been doing lasers for many years now. Sigh. #skingoals #moolahgoals too. Lol.), waited a while and zapped, zapped, zapped! Dr. Chow did the Edge Fractional CO2 Laser on my cheeks and then, killed some of my skin tags across my entire face. Everything was over within less than half an hour. And boy, was my face red and a tad swollen! But I just slapped on some sunscreen from the clinic's vanity area and after getting my meds, I caught a movie with friends. And I went out the next day too. With my lobster-red face. Yes, there was some staring, especially since the redness ended quite abruptly (Because of the laser.).
For my meds, I was prescribed Skinceuticals's Photo Corrective Gel ($129), which was to be applied only for a week, and Foban Cream ($8), an antiseptic which was to be applied for the first 3 days. I really didn't think the gel was necessary because it's really expensive and it's only for a week, but then, #newproduct #beautyjunkie #wthmightaswell.
Day 1: I woke up like this.
Day 2: Fake freckles.
Day 3: In the evening.
Day 4: After removing my MU, and lots of scabs in the midst of it. MU IS EVIL.
Here's what happened to my skin after the treatment:
- Day 0: Lobster-red and some stinging.
- Day 1: Seemed even redder and scabs formed for deceased skin tags.
- Day 2: Less red and lots of scabs all over face in a grid-like manner.
- Day 3: Wore light MU to work. Lots of scabs came off while removing MU (MAJOR SADNESS. They are supposed to drop off naturally, like all other scabs.) and skin was red again. Sprayed lots of thermal spring water. Skin started to get rather itchy and I scratched some scabs off at night unintentionally (DOUBLE MAJOR SADNESS.).
- Day 4: More scabs dropped off, including those from skin tags. Skin was still itchy and red from unintentional scratching (SAD, SAD, SAD.). Carried on spraying TSW.
- Day 5: Almost free from scabs, save for some from the skin tags. Skin was reddish. Continued spraying.
- Day 6: Even fewer scabs and a lot less red. Old acne scars were flattened out. Went to work with light MU.
- Day 7: Slept late the previous night and old acne scars seemed a little more obvious (SLEEP IS KEY TO GOOD SKIN, PEOPLE.), but very much less than before. Less red. Wore light MU.
Day 10: When all the scabs have left me.
Day 12: Fully healed.
It has been more than a month since I did the laser and I had incredibly good skin. It was smooth, plump and clear, and my pores were sooo miniscule. I barely wore MU and... It was really like having baby skin all over again, something which I didn't think was ever possible. But anyway, I went to Korea and the weather mucked it up so my face is currently experiencing a major drought (Weleda's Skin Food to the rescue.). Joy. Some of the skin tags actually returned, which Dr. Chow did warn me about.
Will I do this again? Yes, definitely. But maybe annually because it won't be at a trial price anymore. ): I think the Edge Fractional CO2 Laser is supposed to be done once a month several times but I'm not sure what the effect will be like then. Like must you keep doing it for the rest of your life to maintain it or will there come a time when you have baby skin PERMANENTLY??? *twinkly eyes* Hahaha. Well, one can dream.
As usual, if you have any questions about my experience, just drop me an email at lovecharlenejudith@hotmail.com. (: I hope this was helpful!
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