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POSTED UNDER CO2 Laser Reviews

Regret is an Awful Thing!

ORIGINAL POST

Regret is an Awful Thing!

$2,200
I had CO2 laser resurfacing on 6/7/2019 so I would have a freshened appearance for my daughter's wedding 12 weeks away. I did my research. I looked a dozens of photos and read dozens of reviews before going ahead with the procedure. I was assured that I would look amazing in the 12 weeks between the procedure and the wedding. I definitely did/do not. Several places on my face are still very red and are a weird texture after 3 months. My skin is still tender to the touch and continues to break out almost daily with milia. The redness is splotchy and seems to get brighter at times all over my face but the area between my eyebrows, bridge of my nose and upper lip are always red. Regular make up does not cover those 2 areas. I've spent hundreds on camouflage make up and found something that got me through the wedding without looking like I had a stop sign between my eyebrows or that I have a red juice mustache but except for the bad stories, I haven't seen a single photo that looks like my face. My surgeon and his aesthetician have told me it will heal but agree that it is taking longer than normal. I've been given micro needle with HG facials, calming facials, a hydrofacial free of charge. I went to a dermatologist who told me they don't see patients with my degree of redness from my surgeon and was given a script for the redness and to facilitate healing as well as something given to rosacea sufferers but if there has been any improvement, I can't see it. The dermatologist did tell me that the laser 'fried' my face and that it could take up to a year for it to return to normal. I saw my surgeon about 10 days before the wedding and he was very upbeat - telling me that it could take months for the redness to go away and told me to come back for a check up in 6 months which would put me almost 9 months out from the procedure. I'm concerned that my skin is permanently damaged and am not sure what, if anything I can do moving forward. Many people have had incredible results with laser resurfacing but I think I'm one of the ones that have a very different tale to tell. I wanted the resurfacing to get rid of 5-6 dark spots - I still have 3 of the ones I wanted to get rid of. Also the pores on my nose seem more prominent than before so I don't know what happened but wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience. I'll try to post photos but am having trouble transferring them at the moment so check back and maybe I'll get this mac to cooperate.

Replies (5)

I had a similar laser procedure (Pro-fractional) & also had a few places that stayed red AND had a grid-pattern for a few months. I think it'll eventually calm down after you are 100% healed (for me, 3-6 mos). Thanks for sharing your experience & best of luck on your healing!
Thank you.
I am right there with you! I had a facelift on June 3, along with CO2 laser around my eyes and mouth. The mouth isn't too bad...not red but just darker than my normal color. But under my eyes and the very top of my cheeks are still very red and I've also spent a lot of money on makeup which won't completely cover it. At least your doctor has offered facials, etc. I've gotten nothing except come back in November to check it. I'll follow your story for updates. Best of luck to you.
I can’t help but wonder if I’m getting free facials to keep me from getting angry. How is your skin texture? Mine is like an orange peel. When I put makeup on, it doesn’t go on smoothly and emphasizes the bumpy texture so the redness shows through. My face is a mess. I hope you heal soon but have you thought about seeing dermatologist? I’ll try to post any progress.
I had CO2 done on my eyes.. I too was considered a slow healer! And I had wierd texture too. Do your self a favor and go get a product from La Mer, called La Mer concentrate. It can be found at high end department stores and they are good at giving samples. It's expensive! But it saved me! Not only did it reduce the color, it fixed the texture issue as well. This is important bc I've heard people say that doesn't always go away. I found it by reading reviews on the La Mer website and there were several laser patients it helped so I went for it. Over all it did take 5 months for it all to heal. Not fun but my eyes still look better a year later.
I’ll get the La Mer. I’m glad you healed. Thank you for the tip.
I just had CO2 done under my eyes last Friday, 9/20/19. I had it done 4 years ago, so knew what to expect, but this time, I swelled up and oozed way more than before. Just today, 5 days later, the last of the scabs have gone away, but I'm still really swollen, and RED. From my experience from last, it took around 2-3 months for the redness to dissipate. So why your dr told you you would look great in 12 weeks was just plane wrong. I would have don it 5-6 months prior. I know you can't turn back, but hopefully in the next months to come you end up having beautiful skin. I'm going to try the La Mer that Lmt6891 suggested. I hope you feel better about your results in time. Huggsss
Wow - such different experiences from the same procedure. I know I won’t be doing this to myself a 2nd time. Hope you heal quickly. I’m going to find some LaMer as well and hope for some healing.
I had it done around my mouth area to get rid of the Smoker wrinkles, I have a lot of issues with my lips feeling very dehydrated and shaft, and constantly putting Aquaphor on them and I had mine done in April 2019. I’ve been to my dermatologist who did the procedure and she has put Botox in my lips filler in my lines that were deep since then. The top of my lip still feels cold when I touch it. Smoker wrinkles, I have a lot of issues with my lips feeling very dehydrated and chaffed, and constantly putting Aquaphor on them and I had mine done in April 2019. I’ve been to my dermatologist who did the procedure and she has put Botox in my lips filler in my lines that were deep since then. The top of my lip still feels cold when I touch it I’m hoping it gets better. I have red that will just come up out of nowhere on the side of my face. I still have some smoker lines on my mouth but I don’t think I’ll ever do that again
I know I will never do CO2 laser again. Apparently my skin is not up to it. I definitely looked better before having it done.
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