POSTED UNDER IPL REVIEWS
Severe Burns from IPL Laser! - Port Charlotte, FL
ORIGINAL POST
2 years ago (8/08) I had IPL laser treatment to...
$1,500
2 years ago (8/08) I had IPL laser treatment to remove freckling on my chest at a "Medical Spa". The tech. apparently did NOT know what she was doing and I was severly burned.
I now have (2 years later) underwent a Melanage peel, a TCA peel and some micro dermabrassion etc all in attempts to correct the permanent rectangle white boxes that appear all over my chest and cleveage area. I have tried tanning the area, but that seems to only make it worse!
I fear that I am scarred for life - please check out your technician PRIOR to having them work on you and ensure they are qualified to perform this procedure!
I was burned's provider
UPDATED FROM I was burned
3+ years later - I still have scarring and...
3+ years later - I still have scarring and rectangle "boxes" all over my chest! If anyone knows of a corrective procedure for this type of scarring - please share! & Please do your homework on your technician before choosing this procedure!
I was contacted by the NY Times, I am hoping they will run this story soon to prevent anyone else from suffering this type of anguish due to an unexperienced technician!
I was contacted by the NY Times, I am hoping they will run this story soon to prevent anyone else from suffering this type of anguish due to an unexperienced technician!
Replies (36)
February 8, 2012
I still have htperpigmentation all over my chest. If anyone knows of a "miracle" treatment, I would love to hear reccomendations! I have had to change my entire wardrobe - and this has really just left more than physical scars on me! I have tried creams, micro dermabrassion etc etc! Any suggestions?
February 10, 2012
check out curcumin gel on psoria-gold website. it is good for scars and hyperpigmentation. you can email them and ask them questions and they are very knowledgeable and helpful
February 20, 2012
Well first, I hope you have consulted with an attorney regardless of whether or not you signed a consent form. This is a clear cut case of malpractice. FL requires any technician who uses these types of machines to be trained properly and/or certified and licensed.
Second, Google Tamanu oil. Studies have shown Tamanu oil possesses a unique capacity to promote the formation of new tissue, thereby accelerating wound healing and the growth of healthy skin. This process is known as cicatrization. Hope this helps.
March 8, 2012
Ive been reading these horror stories and cancelled my IPL appt for my chest. Just discovered Dermablend body makeup (Macys or online) really appears to cover amazingly well- bruises, scars, birthmarks etc... check it out.
July 6, 2012
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Peel - they have a face and body version. I am using the face version, and it made my acne scarring fade away. They have an extra-strength version if you need something stronger, but if I were you, I would build on to it. So far amazon's been the cheapest. Wear sunscreen, cuz it'll make you sun sensitive.
February 22, 2012
Hi. Sorry to hear what you are going through. I had ipl laser hair removal done years ago all over my legs And had 1st-3rd degree burns over every inch of my legs and had the same exact boxes/circles every where for almost 3 years. They did eventually fade And are now completely gone but surprisingly enough what helped facilitate the scar evening was actually getting a nice deep tan every 6-8 months. Oddly - this started to even out my skin tone exponentially and the blotches began fading dramatically each time tan wore off. This might sound unconventional but this is what helped me. I avoided skirts/shorts for years and it severely affected my confidence. Good luck to you. Also avoid getting this procedure if you've recently had a tan and do not wear creme/lotion or use oil based soap for at least 24 hours before any laser procedure.
September 9, 2012
I had the same thing on my chest and shoulders. I was tan at the time not knowing you should not have any tan at all when you get this procedure. They deffinatley were up way to high with the laser. I also did start tanning and covering the area that wasn't damaged with laser in hopes to get some color to in the white areas. It also worked for me. All my boxes are gone. I don't tan anymore. But at the time you'll do anything to fix it. Once it matched the other I completely stopped tanning. I would take what ever I needed with me to a tanning bed and cover the non damaged skin. I know folks are going to say this is not the way to fix it but when your soooo upset over the damage you'll do anything to fix it.
September 10, 2012
You are not kidding! My scars are still pretty clear - and I have done everything- so you put sun block on the normal areas when you tanned?
April 18, 2012
I've heard good things about copper peptides for scarring.
April 30, 2012
They burned my arms exactly like you and I was so scared that i will never ever use a t -shirt anymore .. Luckyli someone told me about Go Derm and I went to pharmacy immediatly , thanks to Go Derm I dont have any scar at all today ... but the thing is that u have to use Go Derm immediatly after the burn from 1 day to 5 or after it wont work ... I dont realy know what it is in Go Derm but it realy saved my arms ...
May 25, 2012
omg I am horrified !!! I have had IPL for over 10 years for the treatment of
Rosecea and it absolutely works for this skin condition. I had a great technician --but once, only once I was burned and it was horrible. turns out the doctor was going thru a bad divorce and was ---too stupid to do the procedure correctly ( I don't really know) it was horrible but lucky for me did not leave lasting scars.....
Rosecea and it absolutely works for this skin condition. I had a great technician --but once, only once I was burned and it was horrible. turns out the doctor was going thru a bad divorce and was ---too stupid to do the procedure correctly ( I don't really know) it was horrible but lucky for me did not leave lasting scars.....
May 25, 2012
I went from the ipl treatment to my hairdresser and while I was sitting there big blisters starting popping up on my skin....she was terrified for me and insisted I go back to the doctor that did the treatment.
I did and they were like--oh, that happens sometimes ( grrrr)
the office I went to before NEVER MADE A MISTAKE LIKE THAT.
so I firmly believe it is all in the technique.
about 2 weeks later that Doctor closed his office and abandoned his practice.
I understand how mad you must be but I do believe IPL can be done with great results
my face used to flush so red I looked like I was having a stroke. It was horrible and embarrassing and the IPL did cure that.
its all in the technique.
the people who do not know what they are doing should have their darn licenses yanked and be held accountable.
I did and they were like--oh, that happens sometimes ( grrrr)
the office I went to before NEVER MADE A MISTAKE LIKE THAT.
so I firmly believe it is all in the technique.
about 2 weeks later that Doctor closed his office and abandoned his practice.
I understand how mad you must be but I do believe IPL can be done with great results
my face used to flush so red I looked like I was having a stroke. It was horrible and embarrassing and the IPL did cure that.
its all in the technique.
the people who do not know what they are doing should have their darn licenses yanked and be held accountable.
Replies (19)
I can't believe she is allowed to teach others her technique! I ended up stopping my treatments because the sun spots that where under layers of skin where much worse than I already had and they came to the surface when they did the treatments. If anyone has sun spots to fade I have found that the bleaching creams from the dermatologist works much better than the IPS treatments.
I stumbled across this browsing the internet and am amazed at the damaged caused. I am trained in IPl & VPL and have trained in three types of light laser. The technician doesn't look to have done the placing of the crystal correctly because as a rule you overlap by 10% and you have huge gaps of inches apart. Did you sign a consent form?
Also where you given aftercare advice? As with IPL treatments you should avoid sun exposure for the course of treatments unless you wear a high spf 30 PLUS. Also you should avoid heat treatments/ gyms / saunas etc for at least 48 hours etc.
I am so shocked i hope my comments may help a little.
I have since given myself 2 TCA peels and it has evened my skin quite a bit, but the plastic surgeon said that because I was so tan that the pigment cells probably died and next time I get sun the white hypopigmented squares would just show back up. He said it was malpractice, she didn't use the feathering technique and she shouldn't have done it over a tan.
Aftercare...not from her, other than the look of horror on her face telling me to put lavender oil on it and it would look beautiful in a week. HA!