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*Treatment results may vary
Final Treatment: Don't do it.
I am extremely disappointed in this treatment, and do not think AviClear is safe. I will be sending a notice including photos to the FDA. Overall my skin texture is worse, I have pitted scarring which I never have had, and my dark spots have gotten worse.
I was once again not seen physically seen during the reactions. The reaction isn't as severe because we did WAY less of a treatment this time, however the reactions and swelling was just as painful.
I was once again not seen physically seen during the reactions. The reaction isn't as severe because we did WAY less of a treatment this time, however the reactions and swelling was just as painful.
Second Treatment: Lasting Damage
The Physician at this location discussed with a technical rep from AviClear and apparently they consider those lesions normal or a strong reaction, so that is what you can expect. I am skeptical, those marks have left pitting on my skin and almost one month post treatment I still have redness and texture. The blisters on my nose have changed the texture of my nose completely, there is an indent the size of the blisters. I hope that this is not the normal and what you can expect after this treatment. I will have to repair my skin after this, it is worse in terms of texture and discoloration.
Day of 3/2/2023: I was prescribed acyclovir to prevent what presumed to be an HSVII outbreak on my skin. I took the full round of the recommended doses. The procedure was a similar feel, they went lighter on the strength this time. I left the office with some redness.
Day after 3/3/2023: I woke up to my face burning, and there were welts in certain spots. As the day went on the burning and pain was pretty awful and the lesions started to appear.
Two days after 3/4/2023: The lesions were all over my face, extremely painful. I talked with the Physician and she had consulted with an AviClear representative and that my reaction was normal or a strong reaction. She recommended a vinegar and water mixture to spritz, and that was SO HELPFUL. The next day the lesions were nearly gone, but the damage had been done.
Three weeks after 3/23/2023: I have pitting on my chin, my nose has two large indents where the blisters were. The marks are red and turning brown. My forehead is still very oily.
Day of 3/2/2023: I was prescribed acyclovir to prevent what presumed to be an HSVII outbreak on my skin. I took the full round of the recommended doses. The procedure was a similar feel, they went lighter on the strength this time. I left the office with some redness.
Day after 3/3/2023: I woke up to my face burning, and there were welts in certain spots. As the day went on the burning and pain was pretty awful and the lesions started to appear.
Two days after 3/4/2023: The lesions were all over my face, extremely painful. I talked with the Physician and she had consulted with an AviClear representative and that my reaction was normal or a strong reaction. She recommended a vinegar and water mixture to spritz, and that was SO HELPFUL. The next day the lesions were nearly gone, but the damage had been done.
Three weeks after 3/23/2023: I have pitting on my chin, my nose has two large indents where the blisters were. The marks are red and turning brown. My forehead is still very oily.
Before You Get AviClear
TL;DR: You can have a reaction, even if you've never had a cold sore. I am hoping that these pictures help someone if they have a reaction they are told is normal.
Everything I read about this treatment was that you leave the office with a little redness, there's little to no downtime, but purging of future acne occurs. This seemed more than doable, definitely worth it for clear skin.
The laser was up to the highest setting and I do have to admit it was pretty painful in some areas (chin, forehead). When I left the office my skin was a little pink, no big deal! The next day there were circular burns and swollen pores; it looked like I had welts all over my face. A bit more than I expected, but again everything I was seeing on reviews was clear skin or a bad before picture so I really couldn’t tell. By the end of the day I had 10+ pustules within every burn mark, all over my face. I realized I never received a follow up call or the aftercare instructions, so I reached out by text and never received a response. The next day I decided to call and email and was assured purging is normal and it's sometimes seen sooner than 2-3 days. I knew something was wrong so I sent pictures, insisting I haven't seen anything like this in any pictures online or any hint at a purging this bad in their paperwork or on reviews. The doctor told me it looked like a HSV1 infection (herpes), and said that I hadn't stated I have had cold sores on my intake form. I have never had a cold sore, which is why I didn't add that to the form. The doctor prescribed me antiviral immediately, but I was on my own again to figure out how to care for my skin.
I am in a position that I can work from home, and I really didn't have a choice. It took a week to 'heal', and its not done yet. My skin was grotesque, and as I am writing this three full weeks later I am still wearing full coverage foundation on a Saturday afternoon as I find it hard to show my skin now. I have brown textured marks from where the pustules were, and my skin is still as red as it was a week and a half ago. I am terrified for the next appointment, and am wondering if the viral reaction will cause scarring. I did not pick at it as I was told it may spread, even though these pustules were very painful and itchy. The redness you see was raised and textured.
I was disappointed to learn that this could happen to people who have never presented with cold sores, and not seeing anything like this on the internet made me hesitate to reach out- but probably would have insisted on a facetime check-in if the clinic had checked in on me the next day. I hope these pictures are helpful.
Everything I read about this treatment was that you leave the office with a little redness, there's little to no downtime, but purging of future acne occurs. This seemed more than doable, definitely worth it for clear skin.
The laser was up to the highest setting and I do have to admit it was pretty painful in some areas (chin, forehead). When I left the office my skin was a little pink, no big deal! The next day there were circular burns and swollen pores; it looked like I had welts all over my face. A bit more than I expected, but again everything I was seeing on reviews was clear skin or a bad before picture so I really couldn’t tell. By the end of the day I had 10+ pustules within every burn mark, all over my face. I realized I never received a follow up call or the aftercare instructions, so I reached out by text and never received a response. The next day I decided to call and email and was assured purging is normal and it's sometimes seen sooner than 2-3 days. I knew something was wrong so I sent pictures, insisting I haven't seen anything like this in any pictures online or any hint at a purging this bad in their paperwork or on reviews. The doctor told me it looked like a HSV1 infection (herpes), and said that I hadn't stated I have had cold sores on my intake form. I have never had a cold sore, which is why I didn't add that to the form. The doctor prescribed me antiviral immediately, but I was on my own again to figure out how to care for my skin.
I am in a position that I can work from home, and I really didn't have a choice. It took a week to 'heal', and its not done yet. My skin was grotesque, and as I am writing this three full weeks later I am still wearing full coverage foundation on a Saturday afternoon as I find it hard to show my skin now. I have brown textured marks from where the pustules were, and my skin is still as red as it was a week and a half ago. I am terrified for the next appointment, and am wondering if the viral reaction will cause scarring. I did not pick at it as I was told it may spread, even though these pustules were very painful and itchy. The redness you see was raised and textured.
I was disappointed to learn that this could happen to people who have never presented with cold sores, and not seeing anything like this on the internet made me hesitate to reach out- but probably would have insisted on a facetime check-in if the clinic had checked in on me the next day. I hope these pictures are helpful.
Provider Review
