Foid spends $100k to fix her acne scars. Literally zero improvement.

The before and after:

$100k+ spent on treatments, AMA.

I began treating my acne scars in 2018. Had 10 rounds of blunt cannula subcision, all with either diluted sculptra or radiesse in the same session. Other fillers too...juvederm, restylane skinboosters...Had mass punch excision (12-14 atrophic scars on each side). Had 10 RF Microneedling sessions (7 Cutera Secret PRO & 3 INFINI RF Microneedling), Had 2 eCO2 and 7 eCO2 with secret pro, 5-7 TCA crosses with 70-90% strength, a phenol cross with fractionated erbium and subcision with Dr.Rullan in San Diego. And then the full 2 day phenol peel with Dr.Rullan in San Diego last December.

I also did a TON of microneedling and dermarolling at home for microswelling effects (like consistently, for over 2 years). Hate to say it but a lot of the after photos I am seeing in this community, 95% can be attributed to microswelling or photos taken in not the same lighting. A lot of it is the former - microswelling. Microswelling is great for self-confidence but we should be more real about it.

Acne scars are notoriously difficult to treat but it shouldn't be a shock to any of us. The collagen and fat is literally destroyed underneath our skin as a result of the inflammation our skin endured. I am ever hopeful though, my wallet can tell you that much. I even have a second 2-day phenol booked in August with Dr.Rullan. But please be willing to be more critical.

And there is no shame in some good ol microswelling, but let's calll a spade for a spade, shall we?

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I am hopeful that tropoelastin will come out eventually...that microcoring may prove fuitful....something has to be done. It is long overdue.

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You can read my threads here - https://www.acne.org/forums/7-scar-treatments/2-day-phenol-peel-with-dr-rullan-14-days-out/paged/5#post-3653780 I've painstakingly documented a lot of my acne scar journey.

Edit: how was I able to afford all of these treatments?

Answer: I saved. But my earlier treatments, my mom paid for. See, my mom has amazing skin. No joke. Like glowing. Poreless. She takes care of it too, has all her life. People tell her they want her skin. When I had cystic acne, she never took me to a dermatologist. Not once. When I first got scarring, she would tell me I just had large pores. Then she told me my scars would go away. It was a lot of psychological damage. But my whole family is like that. They all have amazing skin, and when i talk about my scars, they tell me I don't have scars. Which is crazy. Everyone on this thread sees them, I see them, ffs. Telling someone they don't have something when they do, that is so damaging.

When I finally did my own research, I realized scars were not going away (no duh right lol. But I had believed my mom because she's my mom). My mom later admitted to “not wanting to hurt my feelings” and not wanting to take me to a dermatologist because she didn't want them to give me medication. But honestly. I can't even blame her. I wish i took more accountability when i had cystic acne.

Anyway, she paid for the first bit of my treatments. The rest I have used my own money from work. This is also 100k spent over 5 years, not all at once.

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Things i've learned in the past 5 years of acne scar treatments:

1. Microswelling is an amazing yet tortuous by effect of almost all of our acne scar procedures. You can save yourself the hassle of spending thousands on an ineffective laser by simply buying a good quality 0.5-1.0 mm dermaroller and doing a few sessions at home, microswelling voila! without the fat melting.

2. Do not spend your money on providers who do not specialize in acne scarring - you will regret it. There is a huge chance of creating new scarring from the hands of a provider who does not know how to treat acne scars.

3. Your scars will likely change shape throughout your treatments.

4. Also stay optimistic. Optimism is key. Be relentless in seeking improvement because it is possible but also try to be methodological in order to minimize error and saving money in the long run.

Before any treatments (um besides like 8 ematrix laser treatments ha ha ha)

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Left: last year. Right: a fewm onths after my first phenol. Notice the same harsh lighting.