Fraxel Laser: Stories

I had Fraxel done by Dr. Rapaport about 4 yrs ago and this doctor ruined my face. Now I need surgery to correct his mistake at my expense. Everyday I look in the mirror and can't escape the horror he did to me. I never ever wanted surgery, I wanted to only have anything but, and now I have no choice and it's for repair, not an natural choice. FRAXEL IS DANGEROUS IN THE WRONG HANDS!!! Know better- check vitals.com, search the doctors name with malpratice, sued after it and also state’s Office of Professional Medical Conduct. There is a lot of info to research and available these days. When you know better, you do better! STAY AWAY FROM THIS DOCTOR!!!

Sorry, but your response is callous because you have apparently not done your research on these devices, nor how doctors treat those who are harmed. I don't think any doctor sets out to harm a patient, it would be foolish. But when it does happen, they universally disavow and deny even when faced with the obvious. After all, they have a $50,000-$150,000 piece of medical equipment that they must pay for somehow, some way.

You should really read more or research more. My guess is you are not a patient but a person who either uses these devices or is in some way connected with them, so you make these type of callous statements. This story is only one of 100s on RS talking about one cosmetic medical device disaster or another and the damage it has caused. Some of the top docs and even inventors of some these devices have harmed patients, so in the best of hands they can be dangerous. If these doctors do not know how to choose the best patient or use the correct settings, then who will?

Take some time, do more reading and educate yourself better on what these devices and the doctors who use them have done to more people than you likely would care to know about.

assumptions are the worst thing someone can do. i'm sorry you went through such horrible consequences. But to be quite frank and realistic.. doctors are NOT gods...they do not have mystical powers to heal and cure, they are only tools, who do their best. A doctor does not go through practically 12 years of school after high school, to sit there and throw it away at one patient. I am sure precautions must have been taken (or like chapi says, possibility of contamination is likely). doctors do not "trick you" to save them selves by making you sign legal documents. It is exactly for this reason, the process exists...some people just love to blame and do not gather enough knowledge to understand situations.Its hard to practice defensive medicine, to sit and know you cant just take care of someone, because here in america, they are likely to sue for any stupid reason, leaving the MDs to practice in a different way. the laser is not a magic wand, that u wave n gives u good skin, it states clearly in the brochures u get from it, how it works- it is therefore common sense that should follow.

Yes it is extremely dangerous in the wrong hands...it is after all a laser. The price we pay for beauty, is something that exists BEFORE we undertake the procedure than just suddenly AFTER...... I am quite sure this person's personal hygiene played almost a huge part in the infective process. It is possible they used a strong setting, and it caused blisters, but those heal too..the only way bacteria can infiltrate someone is through exposure..and generally, if noticed right away and taken care of- they are treated quite easily with antibiotics. It must have been ignored, not handled appropriately to have gotten 'that' bad. ---- i dont know this doctor, and have no idea who it is, I am a medical student, who has undergone the procedure, and i can promise, becoming a doctor is the hardest task someone can undertake in there life, to basically sign your life away and all relationships and activities, to sit and read and study all day- to simply help other people........is not easy. I know some doc's get old n slow n not up to date with their knowledge...but again everyone is a HUMAN. not a GOD. What I can say, through my medical experiences is that, infections are never spontaneous! they start from somewhere-- and they get THAT bad, because of a reason, someone didnt clean, or someone ignored themselves...... And to anyone who wants to use fraxel.....all you need to make sure is, the place u go is WELLLLLL experienced! a sterile environment!!! and that YOU , as a person and patient , go home, clean and take care of yourself.... and you will be fine.... In terms of getting dramatic results, who knows.. but in terms of 'life threatening anything'-- your ok if u just stay clean and be wise enough to seek attention at the FIRST sign of trouble. Most people do not get such bad infections because they have strong immune systems...for a person to deteriorate so suddenly would indicate a level of immunocompromised states--( an underlying illness, causing them to be susceptible to new infections)..which is NOT most people. Anyway, hopefully this can clear silly assumptions and let ppl actually think thoroughly without being biased.

Everyone that has had lasers should have a full thyroid panel and thyroid ultrasound done. A woman that has had a bad experience from a laser went to have her thyroid checked and had low numbers. Her doctor said she was fine and she insisted on the ultrasound. She found out today that she has 2 masses on her thyroid. All of these lasers can be very dangerous. The gain is not worth the risk for the cosmetic devices.

Did you research doctors well? Read up on the one you chose prior to procedure? Given your results, I can't help but doubt that you did.. This type of thing isn't something to be taken lightly..you don't just pick a doc out of the phone book. Your results are unfortunate..I hope it's a lesson to others.

What is the fault of the 'laser' is the undisclosed problems these devices cause. Have you ever read Christine or Awalk's(Angela Walker) stories on realself? These devices are causing systemic problems for countless people who never realize the correlation between having an IPL or Fraxel treatment and their problems, if they are not immediately seeing the problems with their skin or fat loss in their faces--many have that as well. This is not isolated and is real. Just wish the medical community would step forward and take ownership and stop saying 'they've never heard of fat loss or sores' from these devices. MANY of the doctors on this website have certainly heard of these problems. But, will they pay attention or admit it? Time is the big decider.

I think that infection is a risk from any dermatologic procedure, but is not the fault of the laser per se. Maybe poor hygene from doctor's office, or just low inmune system... I don't know. People don't realize that just because this procedures are not open heart surgery, it doesn't mean that they don't have a lot of risks. Sorry you had to go through this, hope ou're healing well.