Co2re laser treatment performed WITHOUT and numbing cream or injections! Still have treatments left. What do I do?

Question

Prior to the procedure I was told that I will not need pain relief.I trusted the clinician and I didn't think anything. This was the most traumatic experience I've ever had in my entire life. It was that bad that I was clenching my jaw & the bed so hard! My whole body was uncontrollably shaking from the pain and shock.I have been non stop crying, This was so traumaticI can't believe what I have just gone through. I don't know what to do because I cannot go through that again.

Jeffrey Ridha, MD · Answer

I am sorry to hear that you've had such a traumatic experience. It is pretty unusual to treat patients with ablative laser without some form of anesthesia. I would recommend communicating your concerns with your treating physician, and make sure that you are being treated by a board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist, one with significant experience with laser treatments. If you do not feel that your concerns are being adequately addressed, or something is not planned differently for your next treatment, then you may be best served by going elsewhere to seek another opinion. Best of luck.

T.G. Khan, DO, FACS · Answer

Ask for numbing gel and regional anesthetic nerve blocks. There is no reason not to offer pain relief to patients. I have done a lot of CO2 laser in 15 years and all of them get 20%lidocaine, 7% tetracaine numbing gel 30-40 min before. Make sure the cream is removed and wash the face TWICE to completely degrease the face so it does not affect laser penetration. Still having pain? Consider a prescriptive pain or anxiety Med before you treatment.

Davin Lim, MBBS, FACD - Account Suspended · Answer

If CO2 CORE is performed at v v conservative density, namely 1% and if your Specialist moves the laser v v quickly, pain is tolerable for a brief time (2-3 minutes at most).It is standard practice to give patients pain relief 30- 60 min. before higher densities are used, as well as to look after them after the procedure.This is just my opinion on patient comfort levels, numbing gel at least if moderate to high density should be given. Dr Davin Lim Laser dermatologistBRISBANE , Australia.

Co2re laser treatment performed WITHOUT and numbing cream or injections! Still have treatments left. What do I do?

Answers (3)

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Co2re laser treatment performed WITHOUT and numbing cream or injections! Still have treatments left. What do I do?

Answers (3)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about CO2RE Intima

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.