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POSTED UNDER MiXto Laser REVIEWS

MixTo Treatment Great, but Unplanned Disaster Happened

ORIGINAL POST

I am 54, have taken excellent care of my skin...

BugjuneMay 29, 2010
$3,000

I am 54, have taken excellent care of my skin since I was in my mid-20s - but even so, I had developed fine crinkly lines, more noticeable wrinkles, and even puckery skin in the areas around my mouth, under my eyes, the eyelids, and tops of cheeks. My PS had been telling me about MixTo for almost a year, so after doing as much research as I could on this, I got the treatment done on May 14, 2010. From what I'd read, MixTo is excellent on acne scars and age-related skin rejuvenation, and it was the latter that prompted me to have MixTo over Fraxel or even chemical peels.

About an hour before the treatment, my face was slathered in a topical lidocaine gel; that was followed by 3 pills prior to the procedure: one for pain, one for nausea, and a Valium. I also got several nerve block injections around my mouth and eyes to reduce the discomfort further. So I was woodenly numb by the time the procedure began.

My surgeon was awesome at communicating every single step of the way - from the waiting room to the treatment area, throughout the entire treatment and in recovery - what was going to happen and how that would "feel". That really reduced the anxiety and fear factor a HUGE amount.

Overall, on a scale of 1-10, where 10 is unbearable pain, I'd say 80% of this treatment was 1-2; 15% was about a 3-4; the last 5% was definitely HOT, but the sensation lasted 2-3 seconds at most. After the treatment, I was slathered in more topical lidocaine and cool, moist gauzes were placed all over my face and neck to get through about 30-45 min that I was told may be uncomfortably warm - but it was not! I didn't feel a thing at that point. I was driven back to my hotel to begin the recovery, and now I can tell you: THIS is the part where you're going to need to be strong, positive and confident in the results. The swelling doesn't set in till about 24 hours post. Plus, the skin begins to crust over almost immediately - more so in the areas that are treated a bit more aggressively. For me, that's the eyes and mouth. It's tender, but you can actually manage to gently scrape off the Aquaphor and reapply it yourself without a grimace. I have also tried icing the area, but any material will stick like glue on that sensitive face - OUCH when you try to lift it off. Even so, the icing really helped my eyes, and I will continue doing it.

Pain meds? One Extra Strength Tylenol per day (if even) is what I've had. It's not painful, it's MESSY. Aquaphor is on your hands, towels, clothes, hair, anything you get near. If you're a neatnik like me, it'll bug you blind for about a day; then you simply accept it! Since I'm recovering away from home, I packed camisoles to wear under button-up shirts; also a headband to keep the hair off my face; I packed an inflatable, horseshoe-shaped travel pillow that I place under my head at night - with the legs pointing at the headboard, not wrapped around my neck.

Unfortunately, while the MixTo treatment seemed to go well, I had a very severe reaction to the anti-viral drug Valtrex, which is given to prevent an outbreak of Herpes Type I cold sores. After taking the drug for 4 days, I got nauseous, had uncontrollable diarrhea, a rash, hallucinations, and several other side effects. I stopped taking Valtrex, but my immune system was compromised, and I ended up with a staph infection on my treated skin as well as a fever of 103. It was a long and scary week of recovery from that, and the illness derailed my MixTo recovery by at least a week. I am back on track now and making progress to a very fine outcome. I think it's important to evaluate the recovery from these procedures. If there is any unplanned-for occurrence, you need a Plan B to get through it.

Despite my experience with Valtrex, I would not hesitate for a minute to recommend my surgeon who performed the MixTo. I am confident that I'll have an excellent outcome.

Bugjune's provider

James Newman, MD, FACS

James Newman, MD, FACS

Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

Bugjune rating for Dr. Newman:

Overall rating

Replies (41)

Summer66
June 6, 2010
I'm impressed with your very clear and informative narrative of what to expect, as well as your absolutely generous nature in sharing post-procedure photos. I will have this procedure done on June 21, and I had no idea what to expect, really. Your photos of your swollen and oozing face shocked me, I must say, but I'm glad to have seen the photos so I won't freak out when the same happens to me. I really appreciate your post and photos. You look like you're healing very well. I'm going out of the country 10 days post-procedure, and I was told I could start wearing makeup at day 5, so I assumed that by the 10th day I'd be back to my normal self. I can see that might not be quite the case. I'll be prepared, thanks to you.
Bugjune
June 14, 2010
I was also told that in 10 days I would be able to wear makeup, but the reality is far, far from that. I don't want to cause you undue anxiety, but to travel out of the country just 10 days after is pushing the envelope. Perhaps your experience will be different from mine. My suggestions to you would be: 1.) Find out what medications will be prescribed right now; study the handouts for adverse reactions and interactions with other things you may be taking 2.) INSIST on a prescription for an antibiotic right up front; I feel this is as important as the anti-viral (which didn't even prevent the Herpes outbreak for me). 3.) get IN WRITING a "roadmap" for recovery: what is your after-care cleaning/treating regimen? When is the next follow-up? What are the danger signs you should watch for, to alert you to infection or Herpes outbreak? What kind of medicine will you need to have on hand while traveling? What happens if you have a crisis outside of the country, who will treat you? I, personally would cancel your MixTo until after the trip. But I wish you all the best in your procedure, and would LOVE to see you post your outcome here - even without the pictures!
Bugjune
June 14, 2010
Update June 14, 2010 It's been a rocky road to recovery - to say the least! I wanted to add an update to share the past 2 weeks, because now I have issues larger than just recovering from the MixTo Laser. The reaction I had to the anti-viral Valtrex was worse than I could imagine. I not only suffered through about 7 days of incredible discomfort and anxiety, but then was put on a 9-day course of antibiotic to stop a secondary staph infection that formed on my newly-lasered skin. The antibiotic killed my fever of 103.7 overnight, but as a result of being on that for so many days, the skin on my palm, fingertips and bottoms of feet peeled in sheets. My feet are still peeling. I had HUGE, swollen ankles that also took about a week to resolve. Then I developed a rash-like outbreak all along my neck and chest, which took about 2 weeks to nearly resolve. Finally, as if I hadn't had enough things to worry about, I was diagnosed with Herpes Simplex Type I virus. That is exactly the thing that Valtrex was supposed to prevent from happening. But since I bailed out on day 4 of a 7-day course, I guess it wasn't good enough. So my lips are full of fever blisters that sting like 100 bee stings. I am self-treating with Abreva cream (the only FDA-approved cream for relief of cold sores) and taking 1,000 mg of L-lysine daily, as some studies have shown this amino acid to actually prevent the formation of fever blisters. I have an app't with a GP doc today (thank GOD) and hope to get more answers to my health issues. I will be having complete blood work done, with panels for rheumatoid, liver, metabolism and TSH, in addition to the antibody test for Herpes Simplex Type I. Needless to say, this was a LOT more than I had ever bargained for in getting a facial laser treatment that I understood would heal to glowing skin in about 10 days. My own guestimate is that my face will take another month or more until the redness and outbreaks subside; Herpes will be with me for life, with future outbreaks always on the horizon. Not to end on this negative note, I just want to emphasize once again, go into this procedure with BOTH EYES OPEN; have a plan in case anything untoward happens during the recovery phase. While the procedure takes only 45-60 min, the recovery can be grueling.
Bugjune
June 15, 2010
Update June 14, 2010 - AFTER I got in to see a GP physician this afternoon. I am pretty stunned, but he says I do NOT have Herpes Simplex Type I. In fact, when he added up all the symptoms I'd had in the order in which they progressed, he said it's likely I have "Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome". He speculates this resulted from the laser treatment, which led to the development of a staph infection (first in eye, then spread systemically to my entire body). The classic signs of this scalded skin syndrome include staph infection, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, vivid body discoloration, blisters around the mouth and lips, and peeling hands and feet. He thinks the Keflex course I was on knocked out the staph, so now I need to be patient and let my body heal. I will see a derm doc this week, and may get yet a third diagnosis to share.
Bugjune
June 21, 2010
My final update - I hope - to the health issue saga I've been going through since mid-May. I did get in to see a dermatologist last week, who basically confirmed what my GP doc had said (without knowing what that GP doc's diagnosis was at the time): I had a staph-induced, total-body infection. He said I could have had Toxic Shock Syndrome, and he based his diagnosis on the photos I showed him, plus the order of the symptoms I had in the early days following my MixTo laser treatment. I am now more than 5 weeks post, and the soles of my feet continue to peel, leaving tender, new skin that is hard to walk on. My lips continue to be an issue, with small, painful blisters having erupted (and now fading), plus incredibly tender lips. The dermatologist told me it'll likely be 3 months until all the redness fades from my face, not 2-3 weeks as I'd been told. So I will have to be very careful this summer keeping the sun off that new skin. I can live with these inconveniences if I am truly "out of the woods" with the other health issues. But what I want to emphasize is that EVERY doctor who provides surgical procedures must have a "crisis management" plan. This includes putting in writing the symptoms that patients should watch for right after the procedure: fever, drop in blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, livid skin/rash, etc. In addition, internally, the doctor's office should have a plan for getting the patient admitted to a hospital or transported to a qualified specialist for further evaluation and timely treatment. Patients often elect to have a procedure done without dreaming of the complications that can occur, let alone knowing where to go for help, and most important, being of sound body and mind enough to get that help when a health crisis occurs.
Summer66
June 15, 2010
You surely have gotten all the bad results possible. I hope you heal completely, soon. I do appreciate your experience and your concern for me. I would be the same in your place. My doctor prescribed an antibiotic and an antiviral for me to start taking a day before my procedure. As she said, I "don't have much going on" with my face, so I'm expecting a light treatment. I am stubborn and, like most people, hope that bad things won't happen to me. I will let you know how mine goes.
Bugjune
June 16, 2010
I am going on 5 weeks post (as of this Friday), and just about overnight, the odd breakout on my chin and blisters on and around my mouth seem to be resolving - hallelujia! May I ask if the doctor doing your procedure is a dermatologist? I ask because she seems to be following a different protocol than the doctor who did my MixTo. It seems pretty standard for MOST other doctors to prescribe an anti-viral and antibiotic together. I SO WISH that had been the case for me. I suspect you will do just fine - with a light going-over. And if you have the back-up plan - even if it's just in your mind! - for that possible untoward event, you may rest even easier. GOOD LUCK to you! Do come back to post.
Bugjune
June 23, 2010
Five weeks post-MixTo, and another related symptom has cropped up: I have a lumpy, itchy rash all over my back, thighs, abs and on my scalp. It turns out that I activated the rash by applying self-tanner on my body and a scalp nourishing liquid on my scalp. I never dreamed these lotions would result in a rash, but after seeing my GP doc, he says my body is still SUPER sensitive to any kind of foreign substance applied to it. I am to put NOTHING on my skin for the next 3 months except Cetaphil or Eucerin lotion and OTC cortisone as needed for my rash. I'm hoping that by taking cetirizine (Zyrtec) and applying the OTC cortisone, I'll put an end to the rash, but it's been three days of treatment and the rash is, in fact, spreading. I am clearly going to have to deal with lingering health issues for some time to come. And my skin's heightened sensitivity is going to put a damper on my summer activities.
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