my last facial laser treatment

I seriously hope so. I remember saying that the last year when I did subcision but apparently I've forgot about it. Giving myself a huge eyeballs roll and smack on my face. By now I probably already went for laser like 4 times and subcision 1 time. So with this latest one, in total 7 facial laser/subcision? Yikes!

This time I went to Nexus Clinic with the intention of removing a scarring. I have been at Nexus back in 2015 for a mole removal. Initially I wanted a small treatment but they suggested a full face. And I actually agreed. Because I was like yeah, the scars are still obvious and since I'm there might as well.

What I didn't know is that I signed up for BOTH subcision AND fractional C02 laser. Unlike what I did in Ting Skin Clinic, they poke a hole only once on each side of my face. Thankfully they have like a super strong numbing cream. The needle is phobia-inducing. Not fun. Then comes the laser. I thought no biggie, I've done this before should be OK right? It was so painful I was shaking under the covers, squeezing the stress ball and tearing up. Mind you, this is the only time I get a stress ball. When the doc ask if it's OK, I stuttered at my reply. Dafuq.

That's why they have like a massaging thingy on your forehead and another nurse was massaging my arm. I must've jolted a lot. That when the numbing cream was still in effect. The pain was terrible a few hours later I can barely talk or gargle my mouth.

Post-Treatment & Care

Day 1 (Same day): Bled a bit on my right side. Stinging pain all over and swelling on cheeks & forehead. I couldn't wash my face bc it hurts so I dabbed tissue after wetting my face with the antimicrobial spray.

Day 2: My face swelled and hurt in the morning. The It's still the weekend so I moisturise as often as I can. There is bleeding and some yellow liquid (I suspect 

Day 3-4: There are minor bruising on the parts where the needle went in. Yes, it still hurt slightly.

Day 5-6: More of the dry skin either flakes away or gets removed from me washing my face. The bruises are still there.

Day 7-8: The bruise appears minimal _ like I've burst-some-pimples-and-they're-recovering minimal. At least I felt more ok going out looking like that.

My Verdict

I do find the service here. They took their time throughout the process. They also apply the same antimicrobial spray and moisturiser post treatment. Would recommend if you don't feel like waiting on queue and you want to pay by card. The cons is probably the pain from the fractional C02 laser. 

On the other hand, I think their subcision is less painful than when I first did in Ting Skin Clinic. That's my personal opinion lar, someone need to validate by going to both and share their experience LOL. Perhaps the pain from the laser actually made it seems less worst. One thing I noticed, the inside of my mouth felt swollen and I think this is from the needle!

The downtime or 'ugly days' are usually less than a week based on my past experiences at Ting Skin Specialist. So I can tell they really went all in this time...

 Thankfully I didn't take package because I don't think I want to put myself through this again. It really, really hurts! I'm really praying this is the last!!

One advice for youngsters or just anyone: Keep your itchy fingers off your face. It'll save you time, money and the pain to get clear skin again. Instead, get proper acne products, there are so many options and good ones these days!

my experience having subcision aka needling

 

This post was written back in July 2022. It took a long time to post it and my almost full (ok, it is full) phone memory to finally get it out hahaha.

~♡~

It wasn't plan. I was there for a post one-month laser surgery checkup. While most of my face seems smoother, the deeper scars have remain.

I didn't captured the whole process and regretted a bit because I'm curious. But I could tell it was super bleedy just from the vid I manage to take and from how bloody the gauze I had to hold while pressing my face (more on that soon!)

This time I left home early and arrived at 915AM only to be told I'm 59 in line and to return at 3PM WTF.. Again I had many hours to kill. The fam was around KL so I hung out with them for several hours and on my own later bc I'm too lazy to go home and come out again. Which is why when I went to the clinic and the doc suggested subcision I was like, "why not since I'm out". Like I already spent 6 hours waiting and 20k steps. Sunk cost effect decision WTF.

I was later told by the nurse that if I've decided to do either laser/subcision, they could put me up the line and I didn't have to wait. That's a tip for y'all.

So like usual, the nurse applied cream anaesthetic and then had me wait while the numbing takes effect. Then right before the procedure, the doc inject anaesthetic and this works instantly. I could tell from how my skin felt frozen in place. That was the part captured in the video. Even before the suncision procedure started it's bloody already lol.

I actually didn't feel much pain on the right side when he was working on it. But my left side OMG they made me flinch with pain. They hurt so much but only at the points worked on unlike laser where my whole face felt like burning. The pain went on for the next hour or so. Btw, I think the whole procedure was 15-20minutes but I was lying down putting pressure on my face with my palms. 

Think like the famous painting "The Scream" except that I was screaming internally. Won't say its the worst pain I've felt but it wasn't pleasant and so I'm not sure I'd recommend to everyone unless you really want to look pretty lah.

Conclusion, if you have deep, moon craters-is scars, this may be a better procedure and then the CO2 fractional laser if you want a flawless finish. Also it hurt for less the time than doing laser. After 3 laser and 1 subcision procedures, I think I have done enough HAHAHA (2023 Me: No, you went through another one...). Oklah the pain is worth it but I just don't feel like going through it again. 

This post is rather short but if you have any qs, feel free to comment in this post or on my Ytube channel and I'll try to answer them!