Painter

Accent XL Under Chin and Neck - New London, CT

Pixel Not Worth the Risk

UPDATE: I went back to the cosmetic surgeon's office that performed this procedure about a month after the procedure because I looked so much worse. They said it didn't seem like my skin was shedding properly so they gave me a free microdermabrasion treatment which helped significantly. I'd say it decreased the negative effects of the Pixel treatment by 50%. I then had a second free microderm two or so weeks later, which also helped a lot. At this point, which is a few months later, I would say I am almost back to where I started, with the addition of a few more age spots (which showed up immediately post-pixel) and slight crepey-ness on my cheeks when I smile. It is no longer something that concerns me, though. I just wish I had never wasted my money and time, or that I had gone to a DERMATOLOGISTS office for a consultation. They did not examine my skin AT ALL pre-pixel, the actual MD never even met me, no one asked if I was on Retin-A (which I am, and which I have read can lead to complications)...those kinds of things should have warned me away. But you have such high hopes, and once you're there and ready to go, what are you going to do, walk away if they don't examine your skin and you don't get seen by the doc? Yes. I recommend yes. I'm just grateful things have resolved as well as they have over time, and that it's not as bad as for some posters on Make Me Heal etc. Just hoping 10 years down the road it doesn't turn out this created DNA damage that's invisible now. Here's hoping. So my last word (unless someone posts a question) is: if you are willing to take a risk, more power to ya and good luck. If you are not willing to take a risk that you might wind up worse and waste what at least to me is a lot of money...just wear sunscreen and pamper your skin in more noninvasive ways. Retin-A had worked wonders for me.

I'm confused, when did you have this done? Very recently or quite awhile ago? Also, what do you mean by "finally, an honest review?" Do you think many of these reviews are not honest?

Wow, how refreshing, thanks so much for your reply. I wonder what the criteria are for safety, considering it gives one such a burn, and even the FDA doesn't know if there will be long-term cancerous effects, no? And as far as "results claimed" being a matter of ethics rather than legality, what about "false advertising?" When I say horrible results...it has been one month and I have worse texture, brown spots, pore size, and lines than before, and the tiny acne scars on my right cheek are bigger, or deeper, I'm not sure which. Not to mention acne, which hopefully is just from left over dead skin form the procedure clogging my pores (I have been trying to gently exfoliate but the peeling stage is long over). I've been very gentle with my skin, worn sunscreen, etc., and I'm very scared that I will "stay" this way or even get worse. I am 37 with very fair skin and freckles. Aside from the small acne scars, my skin looked great for my age...now I look older than my age. The technician (I went to a cosmetic surgeons office on purpose, but I never even met the doctor) said she used a "medium" setting, not their lowest, not their highest. Sorry I can't be more specific. Have you ever seen this happen? I called the office that performed the procedure and they said I am probably just still in the healing stage, taking longer than most people. But I was told that after 4 days I would be "thrilled." Ha. I'm not looking to sue anyone (like the laser manufacturer...the office just doesn't know any better), I just want the truth. And if the truth isn't what I want to hear, then I need to know what to try to do about it. But... definitely no more lasers for me!

Texas Mom, I'm so glad you are happy with your treatment! Now that it is three weeks out, I'm curious if your fine lines are just as smoothed as they were at the one week mark? Because I know that at one week there is still "microswelling" going on, which can plump them up temporarily. By the way, I'm sorry to have scared you about the propensity for Pixel to cause neck scarring, but I still urge you to research it before you let anyone do your neck again like it sounds like you're planning to. There is a study at www3.interscience.wiley.com named "Hypertrophic scarring of the neck following ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing" where the results were 5 of 5 people got scarring on the neck. I can't direct link to it but if you go to their website and in the search field enter "fractional laser neck" it will come up as the first result.

Dolvid, I'm glad your skin texture is smoother...I was mine was! Pixel is also a fractionated CO2 laser so yes, they're similar procedures. I still have hope that after a month (which is only several days away) things will at least be back to where they were when I went in. Maybe I just heal slower than other people, but when I broke a bone a few years ago it healed twice as fast as the docs said it would, and I'd always considered myself an easy, quick healer. I know the 'pro skin consultants' out there will be up in arms about this, but if I am still worse after two months I might ask for at least some of my $575 back.