POSTED UNDER Fraxel Laser REVIEWS
Bad Outcome with Fraxel -permanent Hypopigmentation - Ashburn, VA
ORIGINAL POST
I had a series of Fraxel treatments (total 3)...
cf1221July 22, 2016
$3,500
I had a series of Fraxel treatments (total 3) starting in 2013. Last treatment January 2014. My treatments we're through the the fall/winter so there was no sun exposure post procedures. To be honest, I really didn't need them, I was just being vain and trying to be proactive in preventing wrinkle formation and smoothing my skin from acne hyperpigmenation. A registered nurse performed my treatment at a plastic surgeons office and had done the procedure for a few years. I will mention the treatments cause me to break out (hundreds of very tiny acne) so bad that I took an antibiotic (minocycine) but that actually did not help either. It was really bad!!! She said she hadn't seen anything like it. I do believe I had some burns also. I did NOT pick at my skin. I am religious with sunscreen use since my procedure and always wear a hat if I am outside more than 10 minutes.
About 3 months after my treatment, I was vacationing in Mexico (with sunscreen) but my hat blew off will on a boat in the water and I was left with exposure to the sun. When I got back that day I noticed my face was tanned but also left with white spots most notably on my forehead and then my cheeks. More than 2 years later, they have never gone away and have only gotten worse! I am now 33 and feel I am stuck in this horrible skin for the rest of my life and it is only going to get worse! I have to wear thick, waterproof foundation and reapply through the day because the spots come out after a 2 or 3 hours after foundation application.
I have read that more Fraxel may help this problem but as you can imagine I am completely apprehensive. Any doctors suggestions are welcome to what I can do. If it was anywhere else on my body I don't think it would be as upset but it is my FACE!!
I think this procedure has aged my tremendously. I would advise EXTREME caution with this procedure as this has left me permanently disfigured.
About 3 months after my treatment, I was vacationing in Mexico (with sunscreen) but my hat blew off will on a boat in the water and I was left with exposure to the sun. When I got back that day I noticed my face was tanned but also left with white spots most notably on my forehead and then my cheeks. More than 2 years later, they have never gone away and have only gotten worse! I am now 33 and feel I am stuck in this horrible skin for the rest of my life and it is only going to get worse! I have to wear thick, waterproof foundation and reapply through the day because the spots come out after a 2 or 3 hours after foundation application.
I have read that more Fraxel may help this problem but as you can imagine I am completely apprehensive. Any doctors suggestions are welcome to what I can do. If it was anywhere else on my body I don't think it would be as upset but it is my FACE!!
I think this procedure has aged my tremendously. I would advise EXTREME caution with this procedure as this has left me permanently disfigured.
cf1221's provider
Replies (21)
July 23, 2016
I keep reading stories like yours & am now realizing that the issues(same as yours)I'm having were probably because of clear and brilliant. Like you said I never had any problems with my skin before this procedure but since I have had it done I've had breakouts. Tiny bumps beneath the skin around cheekbones. Went to the dermatologist(same office I had the clear & brilliant) and they also put me on minocycine. Told me it was probably hormonal as I am 32. Since being on this antibiotic. I've went on a cruise. I wear a hat, try not to stay in the sun, wear 50spf and reapply every two hours. What a pain in the ass??? But, I still have gotten a dark shadow above my lip and on my cheeks. It looks terrible. It has made me so self conscious. I've spent hundreds on obagi c to correct. It improved tremendously at first, now it seems like a very slow process. Not mention everytime I go into the sun I panic. I have a 50spf stick that am constantly putting on& I still think it gets darker. It makes me so sad. That I wasted so much money on doing this clear and brilliant to only ruin my skin. Literally. Honestly looking back I think the procedure shouldn't even be done on an olive completive person. They are "higher risk". I wish I had answers for you and myself but I don't. I would just tell people to carefully consider using this laser. With that being said I don't think I noticed one improvement from it.
August 25, 2016
I had bad experience w one laser treatment for spider veins & dark circles .. Ruined my skin & ended up having Blepharoplasty /-see my posts--and FYI ,, I was on minocycline prior & was told by my dermatologist afterwards that Minocycline tends to darken your skin give a bruised appearance, sometimes a blue or brown pigment/ so she had me stop & with several months and lots of help from her it finally went away I googled it and it is the one and only oral antibiotic that causes this especially if you've had surgeries laser, blepharoplasty etc. it makes it worse look it up I can't believe no one's ever told us about this it's so sad
July 28, 2016
I bet the pigment was permanently burned out of your skin. Those were Burns. My face was destroyed by fraxel. It should be banned.
August 25, 2016
I could be wrong but I don't think you have permanent hypopigmentation. I think you ended up with melasma.
August 27, 2016
I have read that using hydroquinone on the my skin (but avoiding the white spots) may help bleach out my skin to match the white spots. I also have read that chemical peels or more fraxel may help. I don't know what to do! My skin tone looks like I am 60. It is so depressing and I am so self conscious.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I hope you find support here in the community.