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• The Day After Yesterday
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• February 2006

Monday, February 06, 2006

Monday morning

Here goes another IPL update. I've lost most of the brown spots. I literally watched a few flake off (tiny and not at all horrible to seee). I woke up both Saturday and Sunday morning and began to see a dramatic transformation. Even the reddish purple bruising on my cheeks is gone. I would say that my skin is beginning to return to normal. However, I have fewer brown blotches and the red capillaries are gone. As well, the small pink scars I noticed before have faded. Once the spotting on the sides of my lower cheeks is gone, I'll get the big picture and have a better idea of whether I want to put myself through the discomfort again.
Another friend who did this said her skin was consideralbly softer after her first IPL. Mine is soft, but it was okay in that department before the treatment, and I've been using SkinMedica TNS Recovery for almost 2 weeks which (not unlike Oil of Olay Regenerist serum at 1/6 the price) has a nice softening affect.

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posted by Heidi at 06:38:33 | 0 comments

Thursday, February 02, 2006

The Day After Yesterday

These things went through my head today as I considered what I've done to my skin and the rest of me recently and in the past in pursuit of beauty and now fleeting youth: what do I really know (medically) about what I've had done, why the heck do I care so much about "sun damage" and aging--in the scheme of life and the short time we have on earth, is it really important (of course, no), how better could I have spent this money (certainly the answers to that question are innumerable), and other similar thoughts. I'm feeling no physical pain, just doubt and a little guilt. 
And how am I looking? Kind of strange. The same dark brownish-purple spots and still a little swelling beneath the redish spots on my cheeks, previously the location of small broken capillaries. I will probably have a little bruising there. 
I think I may need to go sit in a brightly lit room to shake this mood that I partly blame "Capote" (saw it this evening) for. I'm sure I'll feel more positive tomorrow.

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posted by Heidi at 22:12:59 | 0 comments

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Photofacial Experience

I had my first of a possible series of IPL facials today (photofacials). My goal is to get rid of some of the sun damage that has really become evident in the past year (or maybe I'm just now noticing it)on my face. I'm also hoping to rid my face of broken capillaries of which I really only have a few, but they drive me nuts, and some light scarring from multiple attempts at using Renova. I've only heard good things about the procedure. 
Even after being numbed with a deadening cream at the dermatologist's office, the procedure caused some real discomfort (and I think I'm pretty tough). I honestly believe that the intense, hot flash of the light held by the technician is as uncomfortable as the snap you feel on your skin. It did not hurt enough to prevent me from doing it again if the results are good, however. Good results being a softer, brighter complexion minus the brown blobs and some of the redness I previously had. Supposedly, this procedure encourages collagen production also.
In the aftermath my face is dotted with brownish purple spots and I'm a little swollen where the capillaries on my cheek were zapped. I know the swelling (it's really minor) will go away tonight, but the spotting is freaky and I know it sticks around for at least a few days. I was also instructed not to use moisturizer at night to encourage the discoloration to flake off or be absorbed so I feel a little dry/tight. I will admit to a little self-conscious about the way I look right now, and of course, life goes on. I have to run the usual errands daily and go out with my husband and another couple tomorrow night to a theater event. 






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posted by Heidi Kallenberg at 21:51:04 | 0 comments