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POSTED UNDER BroadBand Light (BBL) REVIEWS

Another BBL (BroadBand Light) victim - PLEASE, Don’t do it! The risk of destroying your face and body is too high

ORIGINAL POST

Another BBL (BroadBand Light) victim - PLEASE, Don’t do it! The risk of destroying your face and body is too high

Timbo1010
$875
Just like many people - I got carried away by the idea of removing a few sun spots on my face and chest. I just turned 30 and wanted to “treat myself” to improve my perfectly fine skin. The doctor, who previously successfully injected Botox into my forehead, reassured me that it’s totally safe and there should be no worries - as there is no down time. The procedure on the chest and neck didn’t hurt but it was really uncomfortable on my face. Afterwards I had the regular redness and everything seemed to be fine. The next day however, my face was swollen and my cheek area was in a rash. Within the first week - instead of getting better - my face felt like it was burning, I noticed the laser imprints, facial fat loss under my eyes (fat bags were gone), and increased amount of wrinkles and lines all over my face. I was devastated - my perfectly fine skin was burnt. Two follow up visits with the doctor didn’t help much - he gave me a hyperpigmentation cream and an anti inflammatory. It’s been 4 weeks now and my skin still has inflammation around my cheek bones, hypo pigmentation on my chest, visible laser imprints on chest, neck and face, increased pore size. Not to mention that my skin is super dry and I now have wrinkles I have never had before. If you are thinking of getting BBL (Broad Band Light) - please don’t. I wish I have read some of the reviews on here before getting it done. If you are a BBL victim - please let me know if there is a remedy. How are you getting your skin back to normal - what is helping and what is not. I

Replies (29)

May 29, 2018
This is the exact thing that happened to me. I’m devestated. Please update if you found anything that helps!
July 21, 2018
Hi Bobbob. Do you have the laser imprints/indentations too?
July 22, 2018
Yes, very very depressed. I’ve been in contact with my plastic surgeon and he just feels it’s normal. I’ve never had to use makeup under my eyes and now the skin is all sunken, there’s cross hatch marks from the laser and it’s like I’ve aged 10 yrs around my eyes.
August 7, 2018
How long since you had your BBL procedure? I had mine 4 days ago Aug.3,2018 and my face is itchy and red spots which I don’t have these prior to BBL procedure. I have to go back to my dermatologist to see what she can do if this itchyness will not be gone. I’ll keep u posted. I’m kindda disappointed too
August 7, 2018
Itchiness will go away. If that’s all you have then you’re lucky! I’m four months out and still scarred and horrible.
January 9, 2019
I get BBL at least 3 times a year because it makes my skin look youthful. I love this procedure! In July I had it twice a month because of my 50th class reunion. I looked great. It must vary from person to person. An internist did mine.
April 5, 2019
I had a very similar experience! I had square laser imprints all over my face after the procedure, but those went away in about a week. At first, I was happy! I noticed that it did diminish some age spots and moderately brightened my skin. That said, about a month later I started noticing more fine lines and a saggy appearance, especially in the cheeks and lower face. I already have some volume loss due to the fact that I am 50 years old, but the added "wrinkliness" and loss of elasticity to my lower face made me look even older! I even asked about possible volume loss before my procedure. I was assured that it was not an issue and told that only ablative lasers are known to cause volume loss. I was also told that in fact, the BBL should add some skin tightening benefits. It's not just a coincidence that my skin looked shriveled and wrinkly within a month of the procedure. I have since followed up with microneedling + PRP treatments. After three treatments I finally see my skin looking like it did before the BBL treatment. I am just grateful that I trusted my gut and cancelled the second BBL appointment!
June 29, 2019
Thank you very much for your comment! Square laser imprints and volume loss are the biggest worst consequences that happened to me, after the worsening of my rosacea. I am glad microneedling and PRP treatments has helped you. To this day - I am still afraid to try anything on my face....
June 30, 2021
Exactly this happened to
Me - today I had my first PPR treatment hopefully this helps..
June 30, 2021
Hello, I’m so sorry this has happened to you, as well. What is PPR? Sorry - not familiar with it.
June 30, 2021
Sorry I meant PRP treatment (https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic/younger-looking/platelet-rich-plasma-secret-to-younger-skin)
June 30, 2021
I really hope PRP will help get back some volume - because three weeks after the treatment I suddenly got lines everywhere and my skin lost all elasticity - the texture is fully destroyed and I look as if I aged 10 years in a few weeks. I had really perfect looking skin before and I looked like 25 even if I am 40. Now, after this treatment, I think my skin looks as if I am ten years older than my real age.
I also suddenly, rather immediately after the treatment got really deep lines from my nose to the mouth and there is loss of volume under my eyes - the fat loss is immense all over the face, So in panic the last two weeks I have spent a fortune on all kinds of cremes, I had my doctor injecting hyaluron into the deep lines - and I got a profHilo treatment around the eyes additionally yesterday. Today I had my first PRP treatment. I am
also considering injecting profHilo into my forehead as well (I already have it around my eyes) as there is a lot of fat loss there as well. This treatment should be banned from the market.
July 3, 2021
Agreed. I didn’t have horrible fat loss but my eyes are not the same at all. Pisses me off that all the nurses and doctors claim it’s “impossible” for the laser to go deep enough when there are so many of us experiencing the same thing. I did find two articles claiming plastic surgeons are seeing this more and more from lasers. One who wrote the article stopped performing lasers. Let me know if you want me to send them to you via email.
July 12, 2021
I had this same thing happen to me on a third appointment. The first two were fine with no problems. I am commenting to tell you I went to another place and am getting microneedling and it is helping restore my skin as well. I am also using silicon bandages and gently massaging the areas with deep lines regularly.
December 22, 2022
I would like to see the articles if possible please? I know your comment was posted a year and a half ago so hope you see this, thanks!
October 4, 2019
I had bbl on my neck for brown spots and I come away with a wrinkley neck. I was told it would tighten this area. I'm freaking out any ideas what I should do. I will be cancelling my second appointment.
October 4, 2019
I would cancel if I were you. Not only i have a wrinkley neck, I constantly have breakouts on my neck when I didn’t use to have them before. Lots of water and vitamin C should help within time.
October 4, 2019
Thx I'm going back to see the Dr next week see what she suggests. My neck was hardly wrinkled before. I've heard microneedling helps but I'm scared to try it. Do glad I didn't do bbl on my face.
October 16, 2019
weird... my neck wrinkles first came out after a chemical peel. So sorry that I did that. The PA at the Derm's office said it couldn't be from that, but the coincidence is too much for me to believe it was just these wrinkles naturally popping up right after the procedure. I don't blame her, I guess my skin on my neck just reacted badly... ??
UPDATED FROM Timbo1010
2 months post

8 weeks later. Hypopigmentation, loss of elasticity, orange peel texture of the skin - all after just 1 BBL treatment.

Timbo1010

Replies (15)

July 21, 2018
Hi. When you say laser imprints do you mean indentations or pigmentation imprints? I have indentations on my face after IPL. Has yours improved at all?
July 21, 2018
My dermatologist believes those are not pigmentation imprints, and are rather indentations. They haven’t improved that much in 4 months. only a little. what about yours ?
July 21, 2018
I have a couple which I believe improved as I dont think they are as noticeable as before but I also have about 4 other ones that are parallel to each other on one side of my face which I don’t think have improved much. They aren’t very deep but they are noticeable when I tilt my head under a light and when I’m in the sun. It’s been 4 months since my procedure. How deep are yours?
February 8, 2019
I have been thinking I am making this stuff up, but I keep noticing indentations slanted and oblong right under my eyes in the fat pockets, and after my 3rd BBL yesterday, I have a few hard lumps under my skin and my pores like much larger, under eye swelling is big, but expect that should subside after a few days. But this seems like roulette from one person to the next the results can vary.
April 16, 2019
Hello,
Did your dermatologist recommended anything to help with the indentations?
I had the same thing happen to me, and am searching high and low for help fixing these indentations!
June 29, 2019
Hello, my indentations are starting to go away with time...but it has been 16 months since the procedure, and they are maybe 50% gone....
February 8, 2019
I called where I had it done and was told that it can't be and when I went in to show her, she said, there nothing there.
April 16, 2019
Hello.
I have had the same “result” with just one BBL. Vertical indentations under eyes and on cheeks. The place that did it acted as if it wasn’t a big deal, and said they couldn’t see anything. When I am in natural light, it’s extremely viable. Under eye texture is terrible, as well.
I just need to know if there is ANYTHING that can fix this?
It has been 3 months, and no improvement
May 23, 2019
How does your chest look? My chest was burned also by BBL I posted it on here...not sure what to think it’s been very red and the capillaries are irritated
June 29, 2019
I certainly destroyed the skin on my chest with one BBL...:-( It's been 16 months since the procedure and the skin is still irritated and the capillaries are broken. It is a bit better, but I still have a long way to full recovery. I also have random breakouts - which I never had before. It's definitely more red than my neck or the rest of the face. I am still hoping that withing time the cells will regrow....
June 7, 2019

We really need to see a before picture to compare with your outcome. It's not helpful to show after pictures because we don't know how bad things were before the procedure was done. Can you please post a couple?

UPDATED FROM Timbo1010
1 year post

The face is getting

Timbo1010
It has been 16 months since the day I burned my face, neck and chest with 1 BBL (Broad Band Light) procedure. The epidermis was certainly destroyed, and even though the Doctor never admitted to it - I have some serious skin damage on the epidermis level. To this date, I have spent so much money trying to restore my original condition, that it has made me very depressed, and I spent almost all of last year in depression, hiding, and general sadness. I was trying to do everything possible - taking vitamins, drinking lots of water, using sunscreen every 2 hours on my face, different types of creams, basically I experimented with everything to see what might help me.
After 5 weeks since the BBL procedure I went to see the Dermatologist, who prescribed me Doxycycline, which is usually a medicine to help with acne. But I certainly needed that as my rosacea was acting up through the roof and my whole face was rough, patchy, and dry. Make sure you do not take Doxycycline with Birth Control pills - as they cancel each other out, and can make the breakouts even worse. I also got prescribed Mirvaso, it is a "Cinderella" rosacea cream. The redness would go away for 10 hours, but then the skin will flare up like crazy - so I would not recommend it as a permanent solution. The moisturizer that has helped me then and now is "Meg 21 with Supplamine". It is pricey, and lasts only 4-5 weeks, but that is the only cream which could keep my dry and exhausted skin moisturized. Within a year, the fine lines and wrinkles finally disappeared, as basically I was putting squalene on my face. Drinking lots of water helps, as well. The capillaries on my face,cheeks, and nose are still broken, and my face has a reddish tone to it, but I'm still hoping that one day it will get back to somewhat normal. I have read somewhere that it takes 7 years to completely regenerate the skin cells. I am hoping that in 6 more years that will be true in my case. But I can no longer be in the sun, I do not leave my house without my Zein Obagi Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 50 with Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. I have to reapply the sunblock every 2 hours, and I wear hats all the time. The indentations are fading away, but are not gone completely. I still see the laser imprints, forming lines with my pores - hoping one day they will be gone. My elasticity was not coming back for the longest time, but it's much better now with the daily moisturizer. The worst that happened to me was the fat loss by the cheekbones and my eyes. I waited 14 months to get fillers (hoping my skin would be healthy enough), and I spent a fortune at the very well-known doctor in San Francisco, but I am finally happy with the results. However, fillers do not last forever, so I am creating another expensive habit...I stopped using Doxycycline and Mirvaso earlier this year, as I don't want to depend on them, and trying out the Rozatrol cream by Zein Obagi. It's been a week so far - and I think I see an improvement. My chest is struggling too - within the first 3 weeks of the procedure I was not careful with the sun, and I burnt my skin even more. I have random breakouts, and the capillaries are still broken. I also apply sunblock all the time on my neck and chest. Overall, my life is starting to get back to normal, but at a super high price, and so much effort on my part... I wish I could take the day back when I decided to get rid of the few sun spots....I hope my update is comforting and hopeful. I certainly do not lose hope, and try to keep my skin moisturized and away from the sun. Please, let me know if any of the natural remedies have helped you. I am certainly staying away from any other procedure, especially lasers....

Replies (12)

October 10, 2019
It’s the doc, not the procedure. I have had three and look wonderful. Consult with a reputable service.
October 10, 2019
90% of people who comment had the same issues as I did. Maybe you see just lucky
September 22, 2020
Yes your update did help! It is encouraging to hear from people that are improving from the damage this laser causes!!! Forever BBL should be banned from use FOREVER!!!!!
September 23, 2020
The improvement is painfully slow, but I’m staying optimistic. I agree with you - it should be banned! I’ll never let a laser touch my face again
March 31, 2021
I have also noticed my skin is worse after the third treatment. It just looks saggier and I have bags under my eyes that weren’t there before. The scary part is that I have searched for ONE SINGLE doctor or dermatologist to explain how this could happen and nobody has an answer. Every website I have found describes this procedure as totally safe with minimal risks that go away within days. They only warn about sun damage. Not one place warned that it could ruin your skin and fat.
March 31, 2021
I’m really sorry about your experience! Nobody wants to take responsibility and any accountability as these procedures bring money to the doctors and spas. On a personal level, I had nurse admit to me that these machines are old (most of them) and can be very damaging.
August 13, 2021
I know this post is a year old but I have to comment as I had a bad experience 2 months ago. Over a half inch of my hairline was burned off and I had blisters(one huge one on my cheek). The blister on my cheek left a big but shallow crater scar. I have used Neogenesis Recovery and seen amazing improvement. It’s expensive but a miracle worker. My hair, however, is growing back sparse and patchy. I also have a weird, crepey patch on my forehead.
I hate that this treatment is marketed as safe. Since my disastrous treatment, I’ve seen so many stories of people whose skin was destroyed by this.
I hope your skin has improved since this post. I can see improvement in the photo. Best of luck to you!
August 28, 2021
Hola hace 2 dias me salio una alergia en la cara son como pequeños granitos y ahora tambn cerca del cuello
No se que podria causar esos brotes ya q no soy alergica a nada y la comida jamas fue un problema tampok consumi medicamentos