jd1menke

I am sorry birdchirp feels so devastated and is still obviously under much emotional distress as a result of her laser treatment. Her anger is understandable. I hear her doctor's frustration and am glad he has responded so thoroughly. While I think he probably did everything "by the book" she has had a bad result. I was in a rage too. He can't undo what happened to her. I only went in for one post treatment appointment; it was too difficult to go out and very hard to hear the office's positive "chirping" and the doctor's seeming denial of my suffering. Hopefully she will heal and return to normal within a year. I was the person who first started this thread after participating in only one of two sessions of Mixto in a doctor's study. My results were also "off the charts" in terms of infection (staph, by day two), saggy skin, swollen face and healing time. No one had prepared me for the aftermath and it truly took a full six + months to heal. While my skin looked somewhat smoother the next year, I also have experienced a return of age spots - even though I used 30 sunscreen- and they were much larger, darker and more prevalent. Not good. Now I only go in twice yearly for Botox and have had two Juvederm treatments Nothing works for the spots. They are awful. I urge birdchirp to not post her photos; these photos float forever on the internet and pop up when least expected. She does not "owe" anyone such full disclosure as proof of her ordeal. I hear and believe her pain and wish her a full recovery. Her doctor ought to adjust his warnings/disclosures to new patients to include the "outer limits" of negative possibilities and healing time. Best not to just cut and paste the manufacturer's rosy description of recovery.

The acne CYSTS I got following the Mixto laser have lasted over two years though beginning now to be less frequent. They are definitely an unwanted side effect and one not mentioned to me before the treatment.

I have normal skin. Never had acne and rarely had breakouts even as teenager. My skin was easy to take care of. I just wanted to get rid of age spots from tanning. While I agree the resultant staph infection greatly exacerbated the healing process(I have heard of another patient who got an infectoon during Mixto with this same doctor, a board certified plastic surgeon rated among the very best) I stongly disagree that the results were worth it. Consider: eight difficult months to healing AND I still have most if not ALL of the age spots as dark and large as before. I lost a chunk of my life and money for what? I am asking doctors to warn patients as to the FULL RANGE of possible down sides. Not everyone gets an easy, good result, or ANY result. This came as a big surprise. I have been evaluated by a top San Francisco dermatologist, Dr. Seth Matarrarosa, and it is his opinion there is nothing to be done other than trying Fraxel to do what Mixto failed to do.

Having had a very bad result I think it important all doctors include the full"range" of possible outcomes when talking to prospective patients. I went to one of America's "Top Doctors". Within twenty-four hours I developed a staph infection on most of my face. It was weeping, swollen and very discolored for almost a month. It took an additional two months for the swelling to go down particularly under both eyes. After that I had hard pimples develope all over my face and have been unable to wear any moisturizer less it exacerbate acne type breakouts. Just now, almost eight months later, the lumps seem to be diminishing. The brown spots that caused me to undergo this MIxto treatment? They are still there as large as ever.

I am very happy your results were good. Mine were and are (at six weeks) a disaster. I look older and wearier. I still have puffy bags under eyes, red discoloration and general puffyness. I am so sorry I did this with one of "America's Best Doctors". Did my homework but this laser is too new and the results, reported by real patients were not in yet.