POSTED UNDER Laser Resurfacing Reviews
CO2 Disasterous Results - Richmond, VA
UPDATED FROM Skin repair needed
4 years post
Is there any stopping the destruction?
$4,500
My skin continues to deteriorate over 4 years after co2 ablative. Its extremely dry. I'm so depressed I can hardly keep going at times. I used to have lovely skin and every time someone tries to help, they make it worse. The most recent was a moisturizing mask which took even more pigment out, I'm a splotchy mess. Further scarring. Looks like I've had acne all my life. Jennifer at Dr, Sundin's office did it. And Travis Shaw did a very mild peel 1.5 years ago to help with the damage but only made it worse. Its a living hell and i"m embarrassed by how disfigured the doctors have made me. I don't understand how they can live with themselves knowing they damaged me and changed my life for the worse. I would never in a million years wish this on my worse enemy.
Skin repair needed's provider
ORIGINAL POST
I had only mildly noticeable lines around my mouth...
I had only mildly noticeable lines around my mouth and mild acne scars. CO2 took out all my pigment, (think ghost), destroyed skin laxity, pitted and left lesion like marks all over my skin. Four years out and I've aged 20 years. Its only getting worse. Skin is waxy, dimpled and mottled. This procedure destroyed my skin and its progressively getting worse. This is reason why the late review. At first it wasn't that bad but over time its a hundred times worse than I ever thought imaginable. The below image is what I look like now.
Replies (5)
C
October 29, 2015
Sorry to hear about your experience. I too am going through the same thing with CO2. Do you have a before picture to compare to and can I ask your age? There must be a way to correct this.
SN
October 30, 2015
Im 59. You would think the pits and laxity could be improved somehow.
SN
October 30, 2015
The worse part is the hypopigmentation where my face is entirely white. The doctor didn't really warn me adequately about this. I feel disfigured but I slap a lot of make up on and it helps. What's really bad is in the summer time when Im tan all over and my face is white. I thought I would have my natural skin tone but that was all blasted off my face.
W
L
December 1, 2015
Hi SRN- Has anybody recommended a SMAS facelift? I think it would help a lot with the issues you listed as bothering you. As for pigmentation problems, my skin went colorless in areas post laser damage too and microneedling helped. Needling also helps tighten skin and lessen scars.
SN
December 1, 2015
Hmm, microneedling, might consider that but my skin is so sensitive I'm nervous about doing anything. I started using a Circadia skin care products and taking vitamin E and it seems to be helping with the dryness and overall texture. The improvements will take a long time with new skin care products. I've also been told by new dermatologist (who, by the way, always make be feel better about myself. Plastic Surgeons always make me feel like hell) that skin medica is very good, very expensive too.
L
October 29, 2015
I'm so sorry you are going through this. I have also had a negative experience with Fractional Co2. Did you have your entire face treated?
R
October 30, 2015
I am so sorry to hear this happened to you. I didn't resurface but used ultherapy to tone jawline an slightly double chin and it has done the EXACT same damage to me. Why is this not exposed except by suffering patients posting here? Sickening these procedures are still widely available, marketed and allowed by government when doing grievous harm! I wish you best of luck fixing, I still am scared an perplexed on how to go about next step to fix this mess.
S
November 2, 2015
So so sorry this has happened to you. It makes me so angry and upset that the people doing these awful laser treatments deny everything. I am over 2 years post fractional laser and still trying to get my skin right. It has been confirmed there is damage and scarring due to being treated incorrectly. At this point i don't think my skin will ever be the same . Having led treatments and dermapen at present wilk kerp you updated. Also using vit a cream
O
November 6, 2015
It confuses me the success stories on here of dramatic improved results then tragic results like you experienced added by other dissatisfied customers. Why are people experiencing such drastic different opinions. Seriously?!- your skin was perfect for 5 months then randomly went 'crazy?'
SN
November 6, 2015
The doctor was unskilled and yes, my skin is rapidly deteriorating within the past few months. Its like the worse shows up years later. My advice is to never do anything permanent, OR make sure you get referrals for the same procedure from the patients who have worked with the doctor. I didn't and now will pay forever. Sometimes its just bad luck too. I saw red flags and ignored them.
O
November 6, 2015
Wow that's strange to hear that it actually turned out great, THEN started to deteriorate. Everyone's skin- especially on the face is SO different, I guess we truly don't know what to expect huh?
What would you consider red flags?
My surgeon is incredibly qualified board certified working for a high end clinic but honestly really pissed me off on my free consultation, asked me what I didn't like with a handheld mirror had a tough alpha male demeanor, wasn't encouraging like we are going to make your skin look amazing ect. Was actually quite negative, telling me my pores wont be perfected and the hyperpigmentation risks. No Balance to follow that negativity with how great the results are with C02. But I know he's a great surgeon and I did my own personal research to know CO2 is gold standard w the best results. So just gonna 'use' him for his skills and equipment and never go back.
I think you really need to be blessed to find an excellent board certified professional who has the equipment needed AND the soft personality and positivity plastic surgery customers desire. Just in this case that 3rd one I'll have to get a rain-check on for my resurface.
What would you consider red flags?
My surgeon is incredibly qualified board certified working for a high end clinic but honestly really pissed me off on my free consultation, asked me what I didn't like with a handheld mirror had a tough alpha male demeanor, wasn't encouraging like we are going to make your skin look amazing ect. Was actually quite negative, telling me my pores wont be perfected and the hyperpigmentation risks. No Balance to follow that negativity with how great the results are with C02. But I know he's a great surgeon and I did my own personal research to know CO2 is gold standard w the best results. So just gonna 'use' him for his skills and equipment and never go back.
I think you really need to be blessed to find an excellent board certified professional who has the equipment needed AND the soft personality and positivity plastic surgery customers desire. Just in this case that 3rd one I'll have to get a rain-check on for my resurface.
SN
November 6, 2015
Time is what will tell you if you get hypopigmentation, which is when your face turns white. yep, they don't really talk about this and I have this on top of everything else. Sometimes it takes a year before loss of pigment shows up. Don't do anything you cant undo, this is permanent. I would not do co2 again even if it is the gold standard, far too many risks. Unless you have really bad skin, a lot can be done with less invasive treatments and retin a micro gel and hydroqinone. REd flag is the doctor not being direct when I asked her about her experience. And she said my friends were being "nice" when they said I didn't need this. They were right. She wanted the business and guinea pig. The red flag in your case is your unsympathetic doctor. If other patients have success though you are probably ok. I didn't do that and my gut said to, but i didn't.
S
November 6, 2015
Same thing happened to me but with IPL. Doctor insisted I needed this treatment and even offered the first treatment free. I guess I was the Guinea pig as well. I'm left with fat loss and sagging skin at 35!
O
November 7, 2015
Its a shame because Fraxel/ fractioned CO2 procedures have less risks but so many multiple unsatisfied customers who have to undergo more procedures to equal a full CO2 resurface. 1 fractioned laser procedure has very minimal effects on deep acne scars on the first procedure. Interesting to me that hyperpigmentation, over time starts to show up. There's a bit of hope there that if its not immediately within the first month you see white/white spots then perhaps there's preventative measures to lessen the permanent benefits overtime. Something else to research I guess. Yeah my doctors personality didn't bounce off mine well, yet I still trust him as a surgeon I dunno, I don't need someone to be my friend or have a connection with me I guess. That's the independence in me. His suggestion was to go for the lesser extreme Erbium laser. Wasn't telling me I need this or that. Just made a suggestion, even though the Erbium laser is same price. Then he stated how he did CO2 on his wife so its something he for sure knows how to handle. Maybe its good the doctor wasn't kiss assing and optimistic telling me what I 'need' almost like this is what are clinic offers, any questions, ok hit us up if you want it. Kinda cool. Ugh I hope I don't regret this but I cant live with my skin anymore and I cant try yet one more thing and have minimal results.
S
November 30, 2015
I had erbium going on 9 yrs ago and still dealing with the damage. it took off too much skin in places leaving me with scars and dents from fat loss. I went for fillers, fat, needling but it seem a lot of it doesn't respond to make my face the shape it used to be. it looks wavy on my upper cheek and a dent on the other side. I'm going to a PS on the 9th to see what he can do since he's supposed to only do faces.
C
December 8, 2015
Here's what I think...that laser looks phenomenal out the door then the results just come to a halt,ya know! I'm scared, I'd like to here reviews from people who have had it at least minimum a year. I mean the cost and then damaging your skin more sounds criminal.
SN
December 8, 2015
Replies (5)
The doctor who treated me was Dr. Adel Kishawi, Third Clinic in Manchester UK. So many doctors make promises they can’t deliver or worse leave you botched. I had little faith in doctors but that was restored when I was treated by Dr Kishawi. He puts patients first not money and has a wealth of knowledge and experience and my satisfaction was his goal.