Fraxel Restore Nightmare

My doctor told me I had an "eye for fine details" and that would go away in 6 months. It never did. I now have holes drilled into the once smooth surface of my nose. These doctors are monsters.

Hi Berryfam4... Just curious as to whether you have seen any improvements!

I always encourage patients to consult with board certified specialist such as dermatologists, plastic surgeons and head and neck surgeons for aesthetic services. I am the only dermatologist in our area exclusively practicing aesthetic and procedural dermatology and as such I see many patients referred by other physicians. Please allow me to comment generally: As specialists our primary concern is helping a patient safely improve a desired aspect related to their cosmetic appearance. The practice of dermatology or aesthetic dermatology is not restricted to the skin alone. There are many causes of skin disorders and sometimes the skin complaints are a symptom of something more. Ultimately, the many physicians I have been honored to work with over my career , both in the United States and Britain, were consummate scientists and honest and loving people, truly vested in helping their patients through whatever disease or trial they were facing. In aesthetic dermatology, the patient's wellbeing can be at stake in some cases, related to disfigurement or sometimes the perception of it. It Patients who see something much different than the physician are owed a duty to be properly evaluated and informed by their treating physician. Sometimes the diagnosis of body dysmorphic syndrome is considered but the physician may elect, depending on the circumstances, to treat with a low risk procedure such as Fraxel restore and observe both the skin's response and the patient's perception of the results. When the two strongly polarize, at that juncture it is the physician who must broach the possiblity of BDD in an unconditional matter and strive not to offend or alienate. BDD is not a weakness or a choice, it is a common disorder that effects young and old, teens and the elderly, by intensifying the perception of deformity out of proportion to what others or the physician can observe. This is an ofttimes debilitating feeling of unremitting anxiety that significantly compromises an individuals ability to enjoy and live happily. Many times an individual with BDD end up visiting multiple physicians, seeking procedures and a cure. Sometimes an inexperienced or naive physician may treat these patients with increasingly aggressive procedures, sometimes leading to complications and scarring or an untoward result, which only serves to intensify BDD symptoms. I hold that most physicians, and indeed most people, are kind and well intentioned. My life's experiences support this belief. If your physician specialist suggests an evaluation for BDD, the motivation is to help in recognition how devastating to one's happiness this disorder can be. When BDD is suspected, it is incumbent on the specialist to make every attempt, even sometimes at the risk of alienation, to be candid in sharing the proposed diagnosis. As physicians we recognize those suffering from BDD can be aggressive and less than open minded regarding the possibility. I believe though that this is not a reason fro the physician to shirk is responsibility to his patient. With BDD, there should be no embarrassment or stigma tolerated. BDD is a real disease with real and painful symptoms that often compromise one's health and as such should be treated. Sincerely, Dr. Dannaker