Fraxel Laser: Stories

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Fraxel Laser SOOO AWFUL Please Don't Pay to Ruin Your Skin - Boston, MA

shell3025
updated 2 years ago

Not Worth It
Cost: $4,500
Boston

I went to a certain doctor in Brookline Mass...

19 Apr 2011

I went to a certain doctor in Brookline Mass "the guru" of skincare most know who I am referring to for a dime size acne scar I had on my cheek from my teen years. He suggested Fraxel and I figured why not. I was sold on having a visibly smooth complexion even if it mean't a little pain. Let me inform all of you since I have read many reviews on this site that it doesn't matter how experienced the doctor is trust me mine is the "big Poppi" here in BOston of this machine.

Trust me when I tell you it will ruin your skin. At first it seems the results are wonderful because your face is swollen therefore temporarily hiding the imperfections so you naively go and do the second one never knowing the damage that lies beneath. What I now have is deep lines and the middle of my face and worst of all terrible muscle loss. My face completely droops down and I now have deep jowling. I am thirty two years old may I mind you always considered a good looking chick. I have brought all this to my doctors attention because I am getting married soon and am so depressed. He said it could not be from fraxel but from aging. I said in SIX MONTHs. What was I chain smoking and living in the tanning bed. I don't even put my face in the sun. He tried juvaderm for more money and it wore off way to fast.

NOw I am 32 considering a facelift. I can't believe it all for a little scar don't do this to yourself. PLEASE!!

Great review?

My Doctor: name not provided

My rating:

I don't think he truly informed me as to what could happen if I received this procedure.

Comments (26)

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MarkK1927 28 Sep 2012

Hmm, I think I know who you're talking about. Can you please email me the name of the physician who did the procedure? Email me at fraxelized@yahoo.com

JULIE HERMANN 6 Oct 2012

Thank you for your continued updates. You are so young and have your whole life ahead of you. I'm so sorry they did this to you. I am living the same nightmare, but not as young as you. I feel so bad when I hear all the cries and heartache this has caused so many people. I am a fighter, and want these lasers taken off the market so it can't hurt anyone physically or emotionally again. I have a daughter your age, and she is my life along with my husband and my son. I couldn't imagine her going through this at her young age. You are a wonderful, kind, strong person. I will keep you in my thoughts and payers and thank you again for warning others, you will impact many lives by posting your situation. XXXOOOO

JULIE HERMANN 6 Oct 2012

Yes, how they can say this is lasers are safe, and nothing can happen, how can they live with themselves, we all know how untrue those statements are, because were living the nightmare first hand. Then why are so many people faces and lives ruined. It's all greed, they don't care it's all about the money. I also believe no lasers are safe, I found that out the hard way, now that I live a life of confinement, and misery. We all have to have hope, we all have to be there for each other and for the others that join us. I know sometimes I can be so negative, but I have to keep positive for all of you and myself. So even when were down we should express it, because it's not good to keep it in, but then we have to try and pick ourselves up, because we are here for each other, and to warn others of the dangers of lasers. So I'm here for all of you, and will try my best to help you all. Take care everyone, and hang in there, someone will help us.

JULIE HERMANN 8 Oct 2012

I'm sorry this happened to all of you as well. Fraxel ruined my face and my life, and the person I was once. I am no longer the same person I was before Fraxel and will never be that same person again.

Biggest Mistake of My Life 7 Sep 2012

Hi,
I'm sorry this has happened to so many people, it also ruined my face and my life. I think the fraxel laser company and doctors should be to blame, and should get some money and some information to correct there faces. So far no doctors seem to know how to help all of us that have had there faces and are lives fixed. I think we should all get together an file a law suit against fraxel laser and all the doctors who don't know how to use it properly use this laser or maybe it is the laser and stop them from deforming anymore people.

Coco in Boston 9 Feb 2012

I know exactly the doctor you are referencing and 2nd your opinion. He's VERY ARROGANT and ready to tell you that he LITEARLLY WROTE THE BOOK. He dismisses concerns. I Went for consult w/ him. He kept me over an hour in the waiting room. I've read that time often cures these problems...I hope your skin has healed Shell.

spottedface 9 Aug 2011

shell3025 can you private message me? I am also from the boston area and would like to ask you a question.

cveroleyva 13 Jul 2011

I had ipl, 3 sessions, got fat loss too. I'm officially over a year out, and no change. It's not fun:(. I'm 34 now and look like a shrivled up raisin...sigh.

Berlin2559 12 Jul 2011

does the skin and fat loss happen after fat transfers too because a year after my fat transfers I look worse than before I did it.

evilfraxel 25 May 2011

I'm in the same situation. My skin and fat loss continues even though it's been over 16 months now.

And I am only 26!! T.T I am living in a nightmare, it's surreal.

Anyone reading this, don't do fraxel!

NopainNogain 1 May 2011

Hi Shell,
I'm sorry things didnt work out as expected. However, I am curious, why for one scar, the entire face was done, rather than the specific area? they should have gone minimal. Another thing is, the laser should not penetrate muscle, it goes to the dermis and epidermis, so what that tells me is, really its the outter layer of yours, the collagen and elastin that have malformed. I can only imagine how hard it is for u, with a wedding coming up. The question here is also , to what degree is the skin drooping, and is it worth it for a much more invasive surgery? What I could suggest, and have realized through experience, is to do the best you can to excercise and tone the muscles, so that they can support the outter layer of skin above , which is drooping. Overall fitness and even facial excercies (silly as it sounds) help recontour your face. What I had done, was use obagi serum C on my skin as a daily routine after treatments and between,bc as we know vit C helps build collagen. I also took vitamins, the ones specific for skin/hair/nails.... And of course... exercise. For me, I have remembered to be focused on over all health, with diet, exercises, and used the obagi system along with the treatments, and have recieved tons of compliments. I am hoping, if not already present, if you were to change your health routine, it would help u, so that u do not need surgery. Just be patient. The bottom line in medicine, has always been Good diet and exercise help overcome many issues. As silly as it may sound, it is true though, that depression can change the contour of your face, as these people usually subconciously are enhancing their frowning muscles. So please do try to smile more for a natural lift.

FSRB (RealFriend) 1 May 2011

Hi Nopain/Nogain.....did you have Fraxel or a fractional laser?

NopainNogain 1 May 2011

Hi bowman,
I had the Fraxel Restore done

FSRB (RealFriend) 3 May 2011

Hi. When was your last treatment? I read your account as though you had an adverse reaction but recovered.

1972Amy 25 Apr 2011

Shell, I am so sorry this happened to you. Happened to me as well. I want a lift also, but am afraid that we have compromised skin. What are your thoughts on this? Do you think we would heal like a regular patient. Or will all of the scar tissue Fraxel created cause the blood supply in our skin to be weakened leading to necrosis? Would like to hear thoughts from anyone regarding this. I know 2 women that have had lifts after fraxel and their skin did not become necrotic. I have also gone to a top surgeon and he said my skin would be fine, but I wonder how do they know for sure. I know smokers can have problems.

litschi25 24 Apr 2011

hello bowman, you are 10 months out...did you not see improvement since the early weeks post treatment? How many treatments you had and what settings, had you any other treatments afterwards? had you fillers in your face while doing the laser ( according to my derm laser treatments and fillers can create problems)and how old are you?. I was 34 when I did the treatment and the derm told me that at my age the skin has still a lot of power to recover fully.

FSRB (RealFriend) 25 Apr 2011

I had 3 treatments at very aggressive settings. I have seem improvement and hope to see continued improvement. I have used Obagi's Nu Derm and no other treatments. I think time has healed my skin more than anything. Thank you for your encouragement. I hope you are right.

FSRB (RealFriend) 23 Apr 2011

Same here.....10 months.....still waiting on healing.

BrittB 22 Apr 2011

Hi Shell,

Welcome to the Fraxel community. Oh my I'm so sorry. Have you considered going to see someone else? When is your wedding, soon? Please keep us updated and I hope you are able to find support within the community. Please keep us updated.

Thanks so much for your review,

-Britt

cveroleyva 22 Apr 2011

Wow,
That sounds like fab news. identical experiences, but I havent healed...ugh!!!! Lol, so ipl can be a little rough. I've been babying my skin again, laying off the chemicals, but it's so tempting because this has been an incredibly dragging and horrifying experience. The upside is that it sounds like things can go back to somewhat normal from your experience. Thanks so much for sharing, you're right in that there is so much information that people don't know how to prepare for their treatments, or what to expect, because it is much more individualized then they what they advertise and counsel people on. But great news, so maybe I have a tab bit of hope. How were your derms able to measure loss percentage wise?

litschi25 22 Apr 2011

that same thing happend to me, but afer 4-5 months my tone start to recover and by 8 months tone and texture where perfect...it is for sure not a "2-weeks recovery and look good" treatment and I guess there is a lot of misinformation regarding to recovery. we all have different skin and everybody heals different and some of us take a long time to heal. I looked ok for two weeks after the treatment and afterwards my skin start to loosen a lot, lost cheeks, had jools, orange peel texture with huge pores all over the face and felt that i aged 10 years in one go. i was shocked! i went to a lot of derms some wanted to sell me some further treatments and some other said...your skin is harmed, the setting for density was high (8) so 30 % of elastin and collagen is destroyed terefore missing and affecting the tone and texture of your skin, give it time to reorganize and to rebuilt...do nothing, and dont stress &obsess...because stress is acelerating aging process and oxidation of cells...sleep well, eat well, drink a lot of water, take vitamins and protect your skin from sun...I decided to do so and I swear to you i did the treatment in Feb 10 and by October 10 my skin looked smooth, healthy and younger. So stay calm. trust that everything will turn out well! time will heal and DONT harm your skin with peelings, agressive creams etc...by the way, I did IPL afterwards, and this treatment I really regret because it messed up everything again and left me blotchy and with broken blood vessels. So I am going to do another restore in 2 weeks with the same settings (15/8)knowing it will be a long & hard way to go BUT now i know what I have to expect and not wondering why after 1 month I will be looking
horrible...

FSRB (RealFriend) 26 Apr 2011

So you are happy with your restore treatment now that you are healed completely? How does your skin look now compared to before?

Please be careful!! My skin looked wonderful after my 1st and 2nd treatment. Of course, I did my treatments 4 weeks apart so I think I would have seen the damage sooner if I had waited the 6 weeks. My treatments were very aggressive for some unknown reason. Best wishes!!!

frenchy15 20 May 2013

I am in the exact situation...8 weeks post fraxel dual and looking bad..orange peel texture, fine lines, bad skin texture....I have an appointment to see a derm to get a second opinion...What products did you use? What supplements did you take? I hope I will recover like you but will NEVER EVER do laser again!!

cveroleyva 21 Apr 2011

Omg, I'm so sorry to the both of you. I want to warn people of the pros and the cons, and it's getting harder reading new posts as they come along because it's innocent people that are getting lied to. All this makes me so sick, it's young people, middle age, older, for all kinds of skin symptoms and they advertise this as the safest. I've come to believe no laser and no ipl treatment is safe.

FSRB (RealFriend) 1 May 2011

I am sorry for your experience!! I think many adverse reaction Fraxel patients are told to get IPLs to correct Fraxel damage. Thank you for sharing your story and picturse. I hope you have a complete recovery!!