Permanent Scarring and Atrophy

My only face, and my entire life, is destroyed.

Please read the negative reviews. I was left with permanent scarring after a fractional Co2 laser and combination procedure with Dr Emer. There is constant staff turnover leaving you constantly attempting to contact people no longer employed there and having to constantly onboard a new team member to your case. At every point of contact, I was met with a constant sales push for skincare products. If at any point you decline, that employee starts avoiding you and you are passed off.

I was sold a treatment of Sculptra, TCA cross on some small open pores around my beard-line, along with a fractional Co2 procedure for full face and scalp that could not have gone more wrong.

After my initial consult, where I was presented with vague answers, and a grocery list of cosmetic procedures I never inquired about, I was then handed off to a pushy skincare salesperson who proceeded to try and sell me over $3,000 in skincare products - without knowing anything about my skin. I should have walked away right here, but I didn't.

After working with my coordinator and skincare salesperson on a more standardized skincare protocol, that I see Dr Emer approved on my patient records, we moved forward with treatment.

What you see in the videos online is not what you get. They know who they will be recording, so they appear to handle those situations much differently. I was given my consent forms to sign, and then I was taken to the room where the numbing cream was applied. This room had the windows open, and it was warm in the room. The numbing cream was running all over my face and got into my eyes. Nobody ever came to check on me even once in the 45 mins I sat unable to see.

Dr Emer first injected Sculptra into my cheeks, but then had a random person in the room do the massage of the product. I have since been left with terribly uneven injections and displacement that has left my right side looking noticeably different. This looks so obvious.

Dr Emer then performed a small series of TCA CROSS on some open pores around my beard-line before performing the fractional Co2. While these two procedures can be done at the same time, I have been told you are not supposed to laser over the TCA CROSS - only up to it. Dr Emer performed the laser over the TCA CROSS entirely since causing hypertrophic scarring in those areas. This procedure was performed in the same room with the open windows.

I drove 5 hours for the procedure, and I was sent home with nothing on my face. Nothing. When I asked why i was being sent home on a 5 hour drive with a dry and bleeding face, I was told I was fine, that the routine you see in the videos are only used for the videos, and if I wanted something I would have to purchase it. I just spent over $10,000 and wasn't even provided something to place on it for a 5 hour drive home.

My first few days of post care seemed to go okay. However, my face was very red, and I felt a burning sensation. I was told this was normal. By the second week I had began telling a coordinator and skincare person that my face was breaking out in small bumps everywhere and provided them daily update photos. The situation worsened. At the end of the second week, my face had made a dramatic change to the negative. It looked like plastic and was very red and inflamed. I was told that it looked completely normal, and to keep using the products. I did, but I voiced that I believed I was having a reaction to one of the many products they had me using. I was told to do test spots on my neck to determine this but to keep using the products. I asked what difference that would make since my neck is not compromised like my face. I was told it would be okay. I had no reaction on my neck, however, my face continued to erupt in bumps and became further inflamed. By this point they began trying to sell me more skincare products. I informed them I did not want to buy anymore products because this was obviously a product reaction. I asked to speak with Dr Emer and was denied. They later got back to me and informed me Dr Emer wanted me to buy a series of additional skincare products. I was told my reaction was because I wasn't using growth factors. I knew this was not true as Dr Emer approved my initial routine, and a reaction is not caused by NOT using something. It is caused by using something. It was at this time when I declined to buy more expensive products, and asked if I could just use Aquaphor or CeraVe, that they began avoiding me and passing me around to new people while I sat alone with a face that was deteriorating.

After 2 months of no improvement, and constantly trying to get assistance from them, I sent new updated photos. It was at this time that I was told Emer had reviewed the phots and that I had contact dermatitis and needed to take a steroid. This indicating that I was correct from the very beginning and there was indeed a problem when all of the non medical staff routinely told me I was fine and needed to buy more skincare products.

By this time the damage was done and the steroid made no difference. They again tried to sell me several hundred dollars of "gentle" skincare products that were not even approved by the National Eczema Association.

It was now apparent that I now had hypertrophic scarring on my face in the TCA CROSS zones where the laser was performed over it, my entire face was left with dense pock mark scars from the blisters from the contact dermatitis (that they initially refused to diagnose or acknowledge), and it was now obvious that I had developed several deep dents in my forehead due to dermal/fat pad atrophy from excessive energy from his settings. I have never been more scared in my life.

I sent new photos of the final damage and asked for an appointment to be seen. I offered to fly to LA, NYC, or Miami. Wherever was convenient for Dr Emer as I wanted to be seen ASAP for an in-person assessment and to determine what we could do to try and stop further damage. It was at this time they stopped speaking to me entirely. Over weeks multiple requests were ignored,

I was finally denied to come in and be seen by Dr. Emer, and I received a phone call from a very rude woman telling me I was made fully aware of the risks when I signed the consent form and that Dr Emer was not going to see me, was discharging me from their practice, and I needed to find another provider. I was devastated. He told me he was the best. I asked for my patient records, and I was sent the most vague, hand-written, records you could imagine. They did not even state the model of laser used nor a single setting used. I responded and asked for more information because I knew another doctor would need this to try and help me. The woman refused and said they are not required to provide that to me. I was then immediately blocked by phone and email.

Dr Emer frequently touts "best outcomes" in his responses, but it is now my opinion that he is referring to best outcomes for him. Not the patient. My entire personal experience was being sold a series of services that were not in my best interest as a patient, in what I presume to be an attempt to maximize revenue per chair time, and then place me into a perpetual skincare sales cycle. If you are damaged, they try and distance themselves from you. For months I wanted nothing more but for them to help me. Nobody cared. They only wanted to sell me expensive creams and potions. They wouldn't even let me come in to be seen at my own expense.

I trusted my only face to Dr. Emer and his team. I was so patient with everyone. I was never aggressive towards anyone. For my kindness and my money, I was left damaged and alone. The doctor I trusted refusing to even see me again. I never imagined a person could be treated in such a way. I am crying as I type this review. I was once a happy and caring person. Now my only face is ruined, and all my hopes and dreams along with that face. I look so awful that I can no longer go out in public, and it breaks my heart that I allowed this to happen to me. To have my only life destroyed. Please do not make my mistake.