InjectorNurse1

Half of my Face Rotted Off! - Redding, CA

I agree Teabag2. The problem with Radiesse is that if you have an ischemic event as many of us have had, you cannot erase it immediately like you can with HAs such as Juvederm or Restylane. Therefore, all I inject these days are HAs (Juvederm is the best). If I ever see artery blockage, I can erase the HA immediately with an injectable medicine called Vitrase. You cannot do that with Radiesse. In addition, my injector did not even know she occluded my artery! Therefore having an excellent injector is absolutely important. I wish you great healing, Julie

Bently, that is such excellent news!!! Which lasers did your doctor use? I often forget it even happened to me. Unless a certain light hits my skin, it looks totally normal, or looks like I once had some acne. I hope our healing helps others. Hugs to you, and please keep me updated!

Hi Machaut to Vaughn, I decided to post this thread and not pursue legal justice. I think there is more power in telling people how terrible Radiesse is, how the injector nurse who trains people has no idea what an ischemic event looks like, and not to ever consider getting injected (or lasered) by someone you don't know. I have healed beautifully (considering) but took my healing in my own hands (and own lasers.) I paid for everything, and got nothing from Merz, the terrible company who makes Radiesse. I don't regret not suing. I'd rather educate people and look at this as a positive thing that may help others.

Hi MK, I posted on your thread. Wishing you the best, Julie

MK, I would go with IPL since most clinics have it. Seriously, I'm concerned with the skill level (or lack thereof) with the clinic you've been going to. They have hurt your skin twice. You are in Boston, right? There must be clinics with at least 10 years experience. Ask them how long they've been in business. Make sure the nurse or physician performing the procedure also has 10 years under their belt. I think there is a lot of safety with experience. I have been doing this for 14 years and I have to tell you there is a lot of knowledge with each year that passes. Knowing what I know, I wouldn't go to anyone with only a few years experience. In the right hands, you will do great with IPL. My favorite IPL is Syneron's. It's often called "elos" technology. It is very safe (again, in the right hands.) VP532 is a vascular laser. It works well too, but again, with experience. Laser has more power and could be more dangerous than IPL if someone doesn't do it correctly. I know you are scared. Heck, I do this for a living and was scared after reading what people wrote on your thread. I wish I knew someone reputable on the East Coast, but I don't. There are topical solutions but they work gradually and not as well as IPL or laser. Hydroquinone cream 4% is the best choice to reduce darkness caused by brown pigmentation. Redness is harder to correct with creams. Metrogel is the topical of choice for Rosacea, but you have a different kind of redness. The only two things that reduced mine were IPL and VP523, from the Versa Pulse C laser. There are other 532 vascular lasers that work well too. Again, please interview other laser centers and ask about experience. Did a nurse treat you? In California you have to be a Registered Nurse to perform any laser or light treatments. In our clinic, that's all we do. I am always uncomfortable with people offering several kinds of services. For example: If your family practice is seeing sick people all day, but has a laser in the back room, say NO! If your foot doctor is removing toe fungus but has a back room for laser... NO. There are clinics that only do laser and injectables. Go there. Is there a dermatologist with a team of laser specialists with years and years behind them? Great! Wishing you all the best!