No Results - San Diego, CA

I had this procedure done to reduce wrinkles and old acne scars. Improve skin tone and texture. There was an anaesthelogist and I had IV sedation. When the procedure was completed I had minimal redness and swelling. There was some slight burning following the procedure, but that faded in about an hour. I didn't need any of the pain medication prescribed. I hardly had any peeling at all. It was similar to getting a sunburn. Some skin turned very light brown and sluffed off. My face was completely healed at Day 3 following the procedure. I looked the same as pre-op and could go out in public. I had no results.

According to the medical record, 1 pass was done at 30 watts. I have done multiple chemical peels at home over the years and have had more peeling and downtime than this procedure.

The Dr. used a rental machine and he stated this was an industry standard. However, I randomly called 10 doctors from San Diego to Cardiff, and 9 out of 10 owned 1 or more laser machines. Before getting this procedure, recommend you highly research the Dr. to make sure he has a good track record.

I chose Dr. Hilinski because I he had administered some injectables and those worked out well.

On the day of surgery, his staff called me excessively to come in 3 hours early, because he had finished his earlier surgeries and the rental machine was there. (Rental machine?) The surgery took 30 minutes and I was rushed in and out. I healed in 3 1/2 days. It was no worse than a bad sunburn. Looked EXACTLY the same. (I have had more success with at home glycolic peels!)

This was suspect because CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing should take more time, and healing should be much longer. He had advised me to take at least one week from work.

When I returned for follow up, he stated that results would come in 2 months. He wrote in the medical record "Pt being quite unrealistic in expecting to be completely healed by now...." I WAS completely and totally healed. That was the problem!

At the 2 month follow up visit, I asked him for a partial refund or some juvederm injectables. He said he would think about it. Two days later I received a letter discharging me from his office.

So, I took him to Small Claims Court. Having never been to court, I was completely surprised that he actually showed up...it was a 4 hour ordeal. I lost. Judge ruled that it was a medical malpractice case and I needed an expert witness.

I asked Dr. Hilinski why he rented a laser machine, and he claimed it was an "industry standard." "The machines are always newer and better so it is best to rent and keep current." With that, I called 10 random plastic surgeons from San Diego to Cardiff,and 9 out of 10 owned at least one machine or several.

I posted on Yelp, March 2012. I received a PM from a woman that had consulted with him a couple months prior, and he told her that he had not done Laser Skin Resurfacing in 2 years. Mine was "done" in November 2011.

I had a very superficial treatment with a VERY high price. Simply, if he had refunded a partial refund or some juvederm injectables, and stood by his work, it would have been fine.