kathy g

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?

I am also surprised your pain was mild. I thought it was so painful. The numbing cream was just something to make us think it wouldn't hurt as much. I even had to get pain reducing injections. That's probably why I swelled so badly. I hardly think they will give you another treatment for nothing, or give you your money back. Go somewhere else next time. It's your FACE, and it's what every one sees when they look at you. You don't want to take chances. I did the treatments on my face, neck and chest, on the advice of my doctor, for basil cells. I had 4 treatments and still ended up having Squamous cell carcinoma surgery on my face afterwards. Therefore, how good is this procedure afterall? Why were you having it done?

I don't know what a medi spa is, but I had problems and i was at a medical clinic. Certainly you should have been told who was doing the procedure and how many times they had done it before. We really get taken advantage of. You would think with all the malpractice insurance doctors have to have, they would be less likely to pull crap like that.