kathy g

Don't Get Fraxel Lazer for Treatment of Basil Cells

Yes, we should all start a law suit against the fraxel laser providers!!!!

I've commented on this site before about having fraxel laser done to treat existing pre cancer spots . My doctor said aren't you tired of coming in to the office all the time getting one or two of these frozen off , this process will do an over all treatment to take care of these areas and giving your skin a healthy glow and smoothness. Well, after going through the TORTURE of 3 treatments, i did have a healthy glow, which eventually and quickly went away. Then i got a squamous cell carcinoma on the side of my nose that i had to have surgery for. It was the worst cancer I'd ever had and it was in my opinion caused by the laser. I also had the laser procedure done on my neck and upper chest all at the same time. This was years ago, by the way. I was left with some ugly red and white blotches on my throat area and the dr. said it happens sometimes, but it will go away. Well, it is so bad now, that it has spread and it itches all the time and sometimes it hurts to even touch it and now it seems to be spreading up over the jaw line. I wish I could go back in time and had never listened to my dr. By the way they used to have brochures about fraxel laser out in the waiting room, now they are no where in sight! Oh, did I mention the laser also destroyed the hair on my eyebrows. They never grew back after I had it done and i have to draw them on. My advice to all of you looking to have this done, get the $$$$$$$ back that you have to pay in advance and run like hell. Not once since I had this done, have I ever heard anyone else say that did it to get rid of pre cancers. I was dooped!

Twix, I believe you know my daughter. She sent me some photos of a friend in NY whom she said had fraxel laser done. Her name is Vicki. But maybe not, because she said you had a lot of sun damage. I wanted to read more of what you had to say, but it ended at (work on Monday morning).

Hello Dr., Yes she is board certified. I have been going to her for the removal of pre cancer spots for some time. She said to me "aren't you getting tired of coming in and getting all of these areas treated individually"? I was having them cut off or taken off with the freezing method, (can't think of what that is now). I just know it was not pleasant, but very quick. She said "Fraxel laser would be a great alternative for me and at the same time i would benefit from it cosmetically too, because it reduces wrinkles and age spots. Although, insurance covers none of it, because it is considered completely cosmetic". She never mentioned any other procedure that would be as good at treating my problems or better at it.So I had it done,( four treatments).It was so painful and I had to have injections in my face and forehead. I swelled terribly. My eyes were even swollen closed and the lids filled with fluid. I cried a lot. Then just about 3 months ago I went in for my complete body check with her and I pointed out a spot on my face along side my nose. I asked her if she thought it was a new pre cancer and she said " are you sure it isn't just a blemish"? I said "I think I have had enough of these by now to know the difference". She cut it out and it ended up being a squamas cell carcinoma. What would have happened if I'd said yes maybe it is a blemish. Afterall, she is the doctor and she wasn't worried about it. I had an area the size of a dime cut out and the scar has healed nicely as scars go, but it's still swollen and I can feel the scar tissue in there. What procedure do you think I should have gotten done instead of fraxel laser in the beginning? Now by the way I am back to square one. Years ago when i first started getting treated for pre cancers on my face and neck, I used Aldara. Now I am using it again, per the same doctors orders. I have had a lot of sun damage, and I know I will probably always have these problems, but after talking to people on Realself.com I really think I may have thrown away $4,000.00. Please let me know what your thoughts are. Thank you, Kathy G

I can't believe the one person on here said the first treatment went great and it was painfree. The first thing the doctor did after they covered my eyes (which, by the way was a lame excuse for protection, 2 pieces of cotton. I am sure it was either the poor protection or the numbing cream, but something messed up my eyes), was to put 2 squishy rubber balls in my hands to squeeze when the pain got too hard to bear. If that didn't mean there would be pain, what did?