NataliaK

Fractional CO2 Laser (Company Deka)

P.S. I have pictures taken few months after the laser but I am afraid to share them on public. I do realize there are people with much worst skin complications after the laser (I saw on e-net many), but this doesn't help the situation. On contrary, I feel all their pain. I would love to help them so much but what I can do is only to share my experience...Coming back to psychological side of all this, I am not afraid that people will stop love me, I do understand that appearance is important and one cannot change his inner instincts. What happened to me now is I lost my identity, I do not recognize myself with how I look now any longer.

Thank you for your message...Yes, it has been a year now...The scars (small pin dots all over the face where the laser went) and "due to laser" hyper pigmentation are still there (less visible though but have not disappeared). I got also small wrinkles and less elastic skin on top of all complications after laser. About pre-history, this "doctor" Mr Cabotin (he should be called monster instead) was recommended to me by therapist (I went to consultation regarding my throat sore and mentioned I had few minor acne, and he suggested a "certified dermatologist" in my living area; and I live in Paris). Cabotin started to treat my minor acne and they were gone after topicals (I NEVER was on accutane or anything similar). Later he proposed laser to correct minor acne scars left from teen-age time. Just to mention, my post acne scars were really minor and people did not notice them at all. I asked whether this is safe procedure and if I am the right candidate. He said "yes". I also requested pictures from similar procedures. He said he did not take because the procedure is light. On my question if there are any risks involved or if this procedure is aggressive to my skin type and age (I was 32 last year), he said there are " no risks involved". He also said he would use light settings. Cabotin also mentioned .that he practiced laser for few years now and he treated many patients. He even would not call this resurfacing but a "laser peel"! No skin preparation, no documents signed, nothing...The impression he made about the procedure that this was light-medium cosmetic peel. Why he charged me only $200? I dont know. But when you are going to a cosmetic peel, $200 is ok price. He performed the procedure in a laser center. As far as I understand they have few machines there different brands. When I was back in his office months after, I saw brochures with Fractional CO2 laser adds, he continue to practice that and promote to his patients. During past year I have visited many doctors (in France and Russia) trying to get some help. I got different opinions. Most of them conclude that the skin was burnt, and therefore scarring and pigmentation occurred. He gave me parameters he set (20 watt, espacement 600 nm, duree de oulse 800 nm, stack 2). Parameters he gave me few days after the procedure (I got a first shock a couple of days after the procedure as my skin was all brown and I called him many times come to visit me to see what happened). The doctors I visited after told me the parameters Cabotin is referring to are not the highest. But what I learnt laser is unpredictable. Why he did this to me? Why he lied about the risks and promoted this procedure? Probably the answer lies in his unlimited stupidity. He did not follow all necessary security measures (I learnt this from multiple post consultations with other doctors + my own several months research on laser industry). But one cannot attribute all the consequences to merely these mistakes. Instead, he should NOT touch the skin with laser (especially when this is ablative laser based on CO2) at all.

Not good Jamie...I am thinking about dying every single day, perhaps this is the only solution to all non-reversible problems

Hey dear. Well, I have some recovery signs but far from the condition my skin was before this laser procedure. It is still hyper-pigmented (especially on my forehead) despite of the bleaching creams I regularly use and the scars received from the laser are still there (less visible though). Past 10 months I went to 30 different doctors (at least!) in a search for a remedy but what I understood is that no ideal medicine exists at this point to correct all the damage. The best way is to be gentle to skin (avoid any aggressive procedures) and let it heal slowly. Another problem is that it is difficult to treat pigmentation and scars at the same time. To improve scars one has to go more aggressive but then you do this it is 99% risk to get more pigmentation on already pigmented skin. One point from my experience, female doctors are more knowledgeable in dermatological problems and they do consider multiple factors when deciding possible treatments while male doctors are more willing to take a risk. You can write to me in private to share more details between two of us. I did lots of research myself on different lasers and skin health in general. It is hurting so much when I realize how "stupid" that doctor was to do this to me. This was an esthetic procedure and not a necessary surgery! The rule should be "do not harm" (at least!!!). Well, my life has totally changed.... but one cannot go back in time.... The only positive thing is that I am going to become an expert in dermatology due to so much time invested in research and learning + my experience...

The only true way to avoid destroyed skin and life is to choose Not to do any amblative laser procedure on face. Even experienced doctors do fail to perform this well on every patient. So i only recommend to stay away. Keep this young person safe. Best regards.