Profractional laser, aka Fraxel laser

[Trujillo]

Anyone have firsthand experience in Chiang Mai or elsewhere in Thailand with this for the face?

[CynthiaL]

I've just gotten my 1st fraxel CO2 treatment in Chiang Mai and had a wonderful experience! The place I went to is called Aura Clinic, and also goes by Aura Women's Center (this is what shows up on Google Maps). The staff and the female doctor/dermatologist there are all very nice and there was no hard sell (or any type of sell) when I got there. The doctor explained the treatment in great detail to me and answered all of my questions, leaving me to decide whether or not I want to go through with the procedure. I ended up signing up for a 4 treatment package - spaced 1 month apart to allow your skin to recover and regrow new skin cells -  since I will be in Chiang Mai for about 6 months. The package was 8500 baht (I just purchased today) but you can also buy a single session for 2500 baht which is the best price that I have found when inquiring both in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. And because I bought the package I even get a free facial treatment and I will be redeeming in about 2 weeks when I go back just for a follow-up from the doctor so that she can also check to see how my skin is peeling! She also takes before and after photos (so that you can monitor your progress, not for any commercial purposes) and she said that she will send me the photos.

 

I found the clinic through a google search for Fraxel in Chiang Mai. I came across their facebook page which is all in Thai but I used the "translate this page" feature to read the posts in English: https://www.facebook.com/Auraclinicchiangmai/

Then I messaged them via the LINE app (virtually everyone in Thailand uses this app and this is what I primarily have been using to get quotes from different clinics) prior to me arriving to Chiang Mai to inquire about pricing and was able to also schedule my appointment for a free consultation via the app. The person who responded to me on the app (the receptionist) communicated with me in English so there was no language barrier. And the doctor speaks English fluently too! When I got my 1st fraxel treatment done today she even gave me her personal LINE ID to text her directly if I need to make any changes to my next appointment date. She gave me her LINE ID because she said not all staff members in the clinic speak English and she wanted to make sure that I can get in touch with someone without any problems. Although when I went to the clinic today, I had no communication issues at all with the staff to pay and schedule my next appt. The doctor's assistant who preps your skin and applies the numbing cream was also very friendly and spoke English. She was super polite and also asked "may I please" do this and that prior to doing anything to my face, such as "may I please clean your face," "may I please apply the numbing cream and massage your face," "may I please apply the eye protection," etc. In the US I don't think I ever received such nice treatment when seeing a dermatologist! The dermatologist was also very nice in asking me periodically if I was experiencing any pain/if it got too hot during the laser treatment.

 

I will see how my next 3 sessions go and will update accordingly. But I really wanted to recommend anyone looking to do the Fraxel treatment to look into them. I don't think that many foreigners know about this clinic because the doctor had asked me how I heard about them - they aren't located in an expat neighborhood. I had to take an uber from the Nimman area and it took about 12-15 minutes depending on traffic and only cost around 74.50 - 93 baht one way, depending on what time you go. I had asked around for quotes in the Nimman and Old City area and the prices were much higher for the fraxel treatment. Oh and the dermatologist told me that their facility also has an OBGYN! She explained, hence the name "Aura Women's Center". I've coincidentally been looking online to find an OBGYN in Chiang Mai, so I've booked a appt here to see one in about 2 weeks! I think the OBGYN is a male (all of my previous have always been female) though...because the dermatologist had mentioned "he" in the conversation.

 

Some places that I've asked and got quotes for in Chiang Mai are: 

 

1) Chat Peera Clinic: (via email)

Our Ultrapulse Fractional CO2 laser program(at Skin dream laser center by Chat-Peera,our new branch) is depending on the modality and the areas to be lasers.

Please check out the price list below:

Full face                   9,000 baht per time / 22,000 baht per course( 3 times)

Cheeks both sides    5,000 baht per time / 12,000 baht per course( 3 times)

Forehead                 4,000 baht per time / 10,000 baht per course( 3 times)

Nose+mid cheeks    4,000 baht per time / 10,000 baht per course( 3 times)

Temples/Chin           3,000 baht per time / 7,500 baht per course( 3 times)

 

2) Sarinya Clinic (via email)

According to your email,cost of fractional skin resurfacing for full faceis 18000 Baht. **This is the same type of high price quotes that I was getting in Bangkok where most clinics I asked quoted around 12000-24000 baht for a full face. There was one place in Bangkok that had a 1st time session promo for 6000 baht including a free follow up facial and there was another clinic in Bangkok conveniently located in MBK Shopping Center called Juthamas Clinic with prices starting at 6000 baht - and the doctor was very nice and spoke fluent English and showed patient photo examples on her computer when I had gone in for a consultation: http://www.juthamasclinic.com/clinic/fractional-CO2-laser/ (So I would recommend looking into them if you are in Bangkok)**
Laser is approved by USA FDA and done by professional doctor.
Your pore size and wrinkles will be decreased,your skin will get more smoothing .
You can come in for free consultation. Cost of Medlite C6 for full face is 3500 Baht.
There are many types of fractional skin resurfacing laser.Cost is differentand the result is different also.
Our treatment is the most up to date one,Viva machine combine with stemcell treatment after laser.

 

3) De Lana Clinic

I came across them when I was walking along Huay Kaew Road - they are near Kad Suan Kaew shopping center. They are near the Nimman area and close to the northwest corner of Old City, and I was going to consider going to this clinic because they offered good pricing and are within walking distance from my neighborhood. They charge the following for a full face fraxel treatment:

1 session 4000 baht

5 sessions 16000 baht

10 sessions 25000 baht

The staff and doctor spoke fluent English. I would recommend looking into this clinic if you want a convenient expat neighborhood location. https://www.facebook.com/delanaclinic/

They also have a LINE ID which is: @delana

 

Hope this helps! I've gone through a lot of different clinics getting consultations while in Bangkok and now Chiang Mai and I feel that the clinics that I personally went into to get consultations from were very friendly (Aura Clinic and De Lana Clinic) and it didn't feel like I was walking into a cosmetic/plastic surgery clinic...which is what most of the places that I went into looked like in Bangkok and charged ridiculous prices too!

One place I definitely don't recommend in Bangkok is Meko Clinic (they are a chain with multiple locations in Bangkok) - I actually came across them through an expat forum about laser treatments (I think it may have been this one?)! They were charging a crazy expensive US type of rate for fraxel - a different price from what they originally quoted me via LINE, they said that they made a mistake and the laser treatment that I want costs more (seriously?! talk about bait and switch!!). And when I went in there for a consultation another staff (the one who I originally communicated with via LINE to schedule a consultation) was standing in the room - behind me and blocking the closed office door (awkward!) - with the doctor, and it looks like the way the clinic operates is that the staff gets a commission on the services that the patient gets! I came in there asking about fraxel and the doctor was pitching botox to me saying I needed it for the full face to get rid of crows feet, bunny lines, smile lines, etc. etc. (I'm in my mid-30s and still get asked for my ID in the US and while traveling in NZ and AU where the legal drinking age is 18!)! And the price she quoted for Botox was over $3000 USD which is even more than some US rates! $3000 USD is about the cost of 7-12 months rent in Thailand!

Edited July 24, 2017 by CynthiaL

[jobin]

Getting old and ugly, Trujillo, and now need help to 'catch the birds'?

[JaseTheBass]

I think my missus had that crap done to remove her beautiful freckles. We have a clinic a few yards away and they convinced her to waste her money and make herself less beautiful. Sold her a load of overpriced creams too. She is now banned from there.

Sent from my Cray II supercomputer