POSTED UNDER CO2 Laser Reviews REVIEWS
CO2 Laser - Lake Mary, FL
ORIGINAL POST
I am appalled by the appearance of my skin after...
Summer51February 27, 2015
$3,000
I am appalled by the appearance of my skin after receiving CO2 laser resurfacing on my face from Dr. Johnston. I chose to have the procedure to reduce the appearance of acne scars on my face. I informed Dr. Johnston that I was NOT looking for perfect skin. I asked him if I could expect a 50% improvement in my skin, and he told me at least 50% but most likely more. What I received was at least a 50% decline in the overall texture of my skin and only minimal reduction in some acne scars and no change in other scars.
The procedure was completed in June 2014 and after nearly 9 months of recovery, I continue to have scars, redness and hyper and hypo pigmentation to my face. One scar, that I noticed the same day as the procedure is 3 inches long and in a diagonal pattern across my cheek. Another unexpected outcome was Dr. Johnston’s unprofessional demeanor when after months of listening to him tell me all sorts of ridiculous reasons (he used the laser in a different direction, one side of my face gets more sun than the other) for my scars, he then said to me “you had a good outcome, what do you want me to do?” Up to that point Dr. Johnston and his wife had given me facials and hydroquinone which were not improving the scars. I am completely distressed that I paid nearly $3000.00 for the CO2 laser that visibly made my skin look worse. My friends and family are also in disbelief that my skin is actually worse than prior to the procedure.
After consulting a “facial” plastic surgeon and reading research articles, I discovered that I could not substantiate all the information given to me by Dr. Johnston. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states “ . . . causes of scarring include operator error in the form of excessive fluence or density, too many passes or pulse stacking." I also learned that not only did Dr. Johnston use the incorrect laser for my skin and condition, but that it was the incorrect procedure.
Based on my opinion and my experience with Dr. Johnston, I cannot recommend anyone to Dr. Johnston for the CO2 laser procedure. I do recommend that careful consideration be conducted with extensive research though both literature and recommendations from patients who were pleased with their outcomes. The CO2 laser resurfacing is only one of many procedures available, it is wise to look at all procedures. Lastly, it is imperative that one receives treatment from a plastic surgeon that is skilled and experienced with “facial” plastic surgery.
The procedure was completed in June 2014 and after nearly 9 months of recovery, I continue to have scars, redness and hyper and hypo pigmentation to my face. One scar, that I noticed the same day as the procedure is 3 inches long and in a diagonal pattern across my cheek. Another unexpected outcome was Dr. Johnston’s unprofessional demeanor when after months of listening to him tell me all sorts of ridiculous reasons (he used the laser in a different direction, one side of my face gets more sun than the other) for my scars, he then said to me “you had a good outcome, what do you want me to do?” Up to that point Dr. Johnston and his wife had given me facials and hydroquinone which were not improving the scars. I am completely distressed that I paid nearly $3000.00 for the CO2 laser that visibly made my skin look worse. My friends and family are also in disbelief that my skin is actually worse than prior to the procedure.
After consulting a “facial” plastic surgeon and reading research articles, I discovered that I could not substantiate all the information given to me by Dr. Johnston. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states “ . . . causes of scarring include operator error in the form of excessive fluence or density, too many passes or pulse stacking." I also learned that not only did Dr. Johnston use the incorrect laser for my skin and condition, but that it was the incorrect procedure.
Based on my opinion and my experience with Dr. Johnston, I cannot recommend anyone to Dr. Johnston for the CO2 laser procedure. I do recommend that careful consideration be conducted with extensive research though both literature and recommendations from patients who were pleased with their outcomes. The CO2 laser resurfacing is only one of many procedures available, it is wise to look at all procedures. Lastly, it is imperative that one receives treatment from a plastic surgeon that is skilled and experienced with “facial” plastic surgery.
Summer51's provider
Replies (3)
June 26, 2015
I too had a CO2 laser by Dr. Johnston. My face looks horrible with acne scars and wrinkles around my lips worse than ever. I am surely disappointed to have spent $$ on this procedure as well. Perhaps a series of peels would have worked better...He used fillers after the procedure which gave a "false" impression of the outcome. In my opinion fillers are at worse only a bandAid . I was looking for a permanent improvement which I did NOT get.
October 29, 2015
It's interesting that fillers were recommended after your CO2 laser. I too received the same recommendation by his wife/nurse after not receiving a favorable outcome after Dr. Johnson completed CO2 laser. I suspected that recommendation was an attempt to cover the poor outcome, and I refused to have fillers. My face is round and full and no fillers were necessary, and I was not about to waste any more of my money with Dr. Johnston. I have been evaluated by 2 different facial plastic surgeons who denied that I needed any fillers. They also confirmed that I have post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and hypopigmentation as a result of Dr. Johnston's CO2 laser procedure. One facial plastic surgeon also described one area of my cheek as "striped."
I am now 1 year and almost 5 months post CO2 laser resurfacing from Dr. Johnson, and my face continues to look worse than before I had the procedure. I have extremely white areas around my lips and eyes and an overall increase in redness in all other areas of my face as well as an increase in broken capillaries. I have received recommendations for additional laser procedures in an attempt to remediate the damage, in my opinion, caused by Dr. Johnston. The procedures range from $2000.00 to $7000.00 and of course, there is no guarantee that the procedures will rectify the damage. As it has been explained to me, hyperpigmentation may be corrected; however, hypopigmentation cannot, as there is no way to increase pigmentation in areas that are extremely white due to the removal of pigmentation. I am truly sorry that I ever let Dr. Johnston touch my face.
I also would like to add that it concerns me that other individuals seem to find it necessary to post a favorable outcome with Dr. Johnston 3 years after a procedure. It appears to be an effort to move unfavorable outcomes further down the list of reviews.
I am now 1 year and almost 5 months post CO2 laser resurfacing from Dr. Johnson, and my face continues to look worse than before I had the procedure. I have extremely white areas around my lips and eyes and an overall increase in redness in all other areas of my face as well as an increase in broken capillaries. I have received recommendations for additional laser procedures in an attempt to remediate the damage, in my opinion, caused by Dr. Johnston. The procedures range from $2000.00 to $7000.00 and of course, there is no guarantee that the procedures will rectify the damage. As it has been explained to me, hyperpigmentation may be corrected; however, hypopigmentation cannot, as there is no way to increase pigmentation in areas that are extremely white due to the removal of pigmentation. I am truly sorry that I ever let Dr. Johnston touch my face.
I also would like to add that it concerns me that other individuals seem to find it necessary to post a favorable outcome with Dr. Johnston 3 years after a procedure. It appears to be an effort to move unfavorable outcomes further down the list of reviews.
Thank you for sharing your personal experience with the CO2 Laser. I am sorry that you didn't have a good result. What type of acne scarring do you have?