“Dot laser diary”
Laser resurfacing: NOT worth it
Pain: Severe
I am so glad to have found this forum...Wish I would have found it prior to my DOT laser treatment to have a bit more realistic idea of what to expect. I want to record my experience here for the benefit of anyone looking into it.
My main goal in having this done was to treat the smoker's wrinkles around my mouth. I quit about 3 years ago, and this year, for my 61st birthday, my four daughters gave me the gift of this treatment. Luckily I am in good health, but very self conscious of those deep lines. Also have some skin laxity, large pores, old acne scars, and a few brown spots. In addition to the DOT, I wanted a small ice pick scar removed, (just a term for a deep pit scar) which requires a surgical cut through the center and a couple of stitches.
Found a doc highly recommended by many sources.
My proceedure was yesterday at noon. First thing in the morning I took my first of a 21 day prescription for Methylprednisolone 4 mg. This was to help with swelling. I was a bit reluctant to take these, and thought at the time I may only take just that one if my swelling wasn't bad. They also prescribed Valtrex as a preventative for the possibility of cold sores after the proceedure. When I questioned the doc he said even people who have never had cold sores can get them after DOT. I did some research on the drug and decided I did not want to take it. Let's hope this decision doesn't come back to haunt me!
After checking in, I sat down with the nurse and went over the recovery process. She likened the whole thing to a bad sunburn. Shudder. I avoid the sun because I absolutely hate the feeling of burned skin. She had a little bag for my post proceedure care with soap, moisturizer and hydrocortisone ointment 1.0%. She then slathered my face, neck and upper chest with the numbing cream and covered it all with saran wrap. Then I just waited for about an hour for it to become completely numb.
First thing done was the ice pick scar. No big deal. Then the laser. While I can't say it was pain free, it wasn't so bad. While one doc did the laser, another held a hose which blew cold air (had a bit of an alcohol smell?) over the area. Nasty smell of burning hair. As he worked he conversed with the two fellows (docs in training) present about the proceedure. At one point, about the time the first area treated was beginning to throb, he was talking to them about the pre-op preparations for the DOT, and mentioned the numbing cream and the valium and vicodin. I asked when do I get the valium and vicodin, and he stopped and said I should have gotten them when I first arrived. Offered to stop the treatment if I wanted to take them and wait while they took effect, but I thought the numbing cream would be wearing off during that period so told him go ahead. A bit further into the process I asked for the vicodin. The whole thing took about 30 minutes or so. Pain level of proceedure not that bad but burning sensation increasing quickly. Hoping the vicodin will kick in soon.
Finally back home. Getting more uncomfortable by the second. I consider myself to have a high pain tolerance but I really don't like this feeling. My face isn't that red, mainly notice the swelling arount my mouth and eyes. Throbbing and hot.
I spent the rest of the day on the couch with my daughter waiting on me. Feel very tense - my whole head feels clenched and tight. Mixed up some organic aloe juice and water in a little spray bottle which cools and comforts me but still cant relax. Daughter offers me a Vicodin and I accept. This is really hurting. My face continues to redden and swell, even a bit of blood on my chin. Did not expect this level of discomfort but I don't regret doing it. I believe the results will be worth it.
Another daughter brings me an aloe plant . I begin applying that and feel a bit soothed. Instructions warn not to let the skin dry out so I am constantly spraying and fanning and moisturizing.
Took another vicodin and finally fell asleep around midnight. Sleep fitfully, on my back. Body chilled, face and neck hot. Not a great night.
Day 2: Woke this morning with tight swollen skin, red as a lobster. I can feel small bumps (blisters?) all over. Decided to continue taking the prednisone prescription. Pain a bit better but can't seem to unclench my jaw. Writing this to take my mind off the discomfort. I feel like such a baby...everything I read said this was like a bad sunburn. Do others go through this like a breeze? Thought I was tough.
Post instructions say to use cold compresses a few times a day. I would advise finding some lightweight gel packs and eyepacks for this. I'm surprised they dont develop a face pack to cool the skin. Wish I had thought about this before hand. Daughter is looking at the drugstore for something.
Hoping this will be the roughest of the recovery period. I look bad, and would never consider going out at this point. Wonder what I'll look like on Christmas day!
Just called the doc's office to inquire about getting some pain pills. Also worry about the instructions to not let the skin dry out. That is proving to be difficult!
I will update as things progress. I want to say, I am not writing this to scare anyone off the DOT therapy. I feel very hopeful that this will have a wonderful result. I do wish I had realized the possible reactions - I would have waited until after the holidays to have it done.
Best to all!
Updated on Apr 11, 2009:
Apr 11, 2009Comments and replies (19)
9 posts
20 Dec 2008
Day 3: Yesterday was another very uncomfortable day. Doc gave me pain meds which I took all day. His nurse said the pain is not abnormal, and that he went a bit deep. I heard him mention settings of 26 and 24, but don't fully understand the strengths used. My skin continues to dry out and is unbelievably red, really more brown. Feels like sandpaper. Swelling still present but more even. I have been good about applying moisturizer, and alternate between aloe vera and coconut oil. All the other moisturizers had petroleum products and alcohol in them, and burned my skin. I am much more comfortable using natural organic healing products. The weird thing about my face is the patterns that are visible...looks like thin white stripes along my cheeks between the rows of laser; other areas are darker where he overlapped the strokes. He went back over my face the second time hitting my problem areas, such as the vertical frown lines between my eyes, and the smile lines, and used what felt like the pinpoint laser. Those areas are very dark, almost appear bruised. Don't want to be seen by anyone. I could never cover this with make up. My eyes and cheeks are still swollen, as is my neck. The upper lip area, which was my main area of concern, is the least painful...maybe from years of waxing that area? They did recommend an abrasive facial or microdermabrasion prior to the treatment to lose the dead skin, but I didn't have the time. Looking back, it might have been a wise idea. Mid afternoon and I'm beginning to feel better. Not as much pain. I really look freakish. Still have great faith that the results will be worth it. My daughters all say they can see it is going to look good, and they try not to react when they look at my face. It is pretty bad. I will be curious to see how many days it takes to mellow out a bit. Would not be seen in public at this point. I'll write more as there are changes to report. Meanwhile feel free to contact me via email if you have any questions. Annie
9 posts
22 Dec 2008
Monday morning...Just woke up after another fitful night. Needed to take pain medication. While my face is feeling better, my neck has been very painful. Thinking back I believe he made two passes over that area, and it might have been a bit too much. It is very raw and crusty. The rest of my face is looking better in some areas, although I still have very dark lines where he made two passes with the laser. I look freakish and could not cover with makeup at this point. I am trying to convince myself I'm not miserable... anna
19 posts
23 Dec 2008
Dear Annie--Tomorrow-12/24/08-makes one month for my DOT treatment. I didn't experience the after pain that you did. I ahve to agree that when you look in the mirror, it's pretty scary. I have posted my experiences elsewhere on this site. My biggest shock was the down time--it took a good 7 days before I looked semi-normal! Anyway, it's one month later and I'm finally back to normal and the terribel burning sensation was worth it! I'm loving what I see and expect that I will keep seeing improvements over the next month or so. Good luck and hang in there!
16 posts
26 Dec 2008
Hi Annie, I just got this done today!! why dont you keep telling us how are u doing.. Thanks!!
9 posts
27 Dec 2008
Hi again...Time for an update. It is so good to read of everyone's experience! Day 10. Today is the first day I have really been myself again. Still have dark red marks across my cheeks, and some blistered areas that turned a bit scabby on the sides of my mouth and the tender part under the chin. Also across one eyelid. The frown lines between my eyes are still very red, and make me look fierce when I don't really feel that way. But a baby sat in my lap this afternoon without screeching, so maybe I'm not so bad after all. I am a bit disappointed to see some lip lines still remain, but there is a big improvement. I need to have my daughter teach me some facial yoga, and maybe learn to relax myself a bit more. And I know the collagen production will continue to increase for the next 3 months or so. My skin is smoother and not as crepey as before. The little ice pick scar is now a straighter, smaller scar, hopefully to become less noticeable as time goes by. It is no longer a crater, so I am happy. I don't know about my neck result yet, and time will tell if the better way might have been a bit of a tuck for that area. One thing is for sure. Through all this pain and discomfort (and I would call my pain level for the first 5 days very uncomfortable), I have gained a new appreciation for my face, wrinkles and all. I don't see myself doing any other proceedures, although who knows what will be developed in the near future. I would like to say for those of you who have not yet gone through this... I think I would have done much better in my recovery if I would have started gently exfoliating a couple days sooner than what I did. I was in such pain I could barely stand to touch my face, and other than lightly soap and splash with tepid water, I didn't do much. I would dab on the moisturizer and wait for the warmth of my face to soften it so I could spread it around. Oh, I still shudder... Then about the 4th day, I just felt an urge to get in the shower and steam. I stayed in there about 30 minutes, soaking up the moisture. Then, when everything was soft and saturated, I used a soft terrycloth to gently rub my skin, and work off some of the dead skin. But I think I waited too long. Some of the really tender areas that had more peeling just scabbed over. I should have started doing that the 2nd or 3rd day even though I didn't want to touch it, and I might have cleared up a little sooner. Another thing I'm wondering...When I went in to the office on day 6 to have the stitch removed, the doc told me I was the first person to have the DOT to ask for pain medication. Anyone else out there??? Enough for now. Hope everyone's had a wonderful holiday. Keep writing...I love to hear your stories. Annie
34 posts
28 Dec 2008
Annie, I find it interesting that each person has a totally different experience with the Dot laser. I did not require any pain medication but the two treatments I had with the Smartxide dot laser were totally different to one another. The second time around hurt more then just the pinch of the first time around. I also had way more redness and a bit of spot bleeding, not much but I did have some spot bleeding. It also took longer for me to heal the second time around, although on the first day my skin looked normal from a distance (I did my Christmas shopping that day.) Redness and swelling did not set in until the following day. I love my results! It has been 2 1/2 weeks since my last treatment and my skin looks amazing. All the redness and swelling is gone. I got the treatments to deal with acne scars. I have after the second treatment easily an 80% improvement. I am on cloud nine. Yesterday skiing, men were flirting and asking me out as I stood in the chair lift line. My skin looked good and my confidence was high even with the falling snow eating any drop of make-up I may have had on my skin. The old me would never have gone skiing while it was snowing and I never got asked out in the line-ups. Good-luck Annie with your results. I know I am quite pleased with mine. Allison
16 posts
28 Dec 2008
Hi Annie I just got the smartxide dot done 2 days ago, I mostly did it for my acne scars because Im 25. And so far I been recluded at home for the last 2 days, not a good experience though. My mom did it as well and she is terribly red, not a lot of pain though. But let me tell you day while the doctor was doing the procedure it was EXTREMELLYY painful, it was just like if I didnt have any medicine on me. I dont know how I made thru the whole procedure, I was crying and crying. My mom did ok. anyway lets see what the future looks like from now on..
7 posts
1 Jan 2009
also,is it ok to scrub your face at all while you are peeling. I heard that could lead to scarring.
19 posts
2 Jan 2009
tacobellfreak--your experience is like mine. I believed the 3-4 day B.S. & discovered that it takes much longer before you appear somewhat normal. don't panic--you'll look waay bad before you look better. I think I prevented blisters by applying Aquaphor & keeping my face from getting bone-dry & cracking. I did not scrub because my skin was much too sensitive for that. I don't think you should do that at all! But by about the 4th or 5th day I could tell that I no longer had raw skin even though it felt very very sore. But the little lasered dots started to get hard and brown. At that time I used a cosmetic sponge that the estheticians use (flat beige round sponge)to wash off the greasy aquaphor. This was smooth enough not to irritate my skin but just abrasive enough to take off the dried up skin. I had mine done on a Monday and was able to go back to work the next Monday & use makeup. I definitely needed makeup to cover up the redness and brownish patches of drying skin--but I managed & no one said that I looked weird! I'm glad that I did it and am really enjoying the results. I had it done 11/22 and it was worth it. But even now I still have fading patches of red where the doc lasered extra hard. Hang in there.
16 posts
4 Jan 2009
as i said before tacobell, my mom and i did it at the same time.. she went extremely red and swalloed VERY,, and for me i just went red im 25 by the way. anyway now its been a week since i had it done,, and let me tell you that it will get better,, to be honest,, i dont see a lot of change in me my acne scars are still there smoother maybe,, my mom did better she looks younger and with fresher skin.. anyway, im still gonna doit a secondtime just to see if i can get some imprvement,, trust it will all go away,, we event went to vegas looking like this,, lol