Nightmare I Can't Undo - Seattle, WA

I went back to the doctor yesterday. She said, after looking at the before and after photos, "So I take it you are not happy with the results". That's when she suggested hyaluronic acid injections. Well, that would not undo the embarrassment of the agonizingly long 9 weeks of red face. Plus, I've spent enough, thank you. Most female practitioners I've seen are HA overdone. My doctor's face was nice, but one could tell it had filler. Another practitioner, in Everett, had that puffer fish look with HA. No fillers for me, thanks. I have had enough deforming, thank you. Doctors really emotionally destroy their patients when they over-promise: My doctor said, "you'll be red for 2 weeks" "you'll have a great result". Nowhere did I hear, "you may look better; you may look worse; you may heal in 2 weeks, or you may heal in 3 months". If she had said that, I at least could have set that much time aside, or more likely opt out. I can still see the square pattern of the tool on my face.

 :/  I am so sorry to hear that!!  Are you trying any products to help with the redness and after care?

The day of treatment I brought in TNS ceramide Teatment Cream, 100% HA, aloe gel, lanolin, and other stuff, and asked what I should use. Dr. said use the TNS (after that initial Aquaphor). With my face still so red, the office then suggested their own B3 repair cream or Cetaphil. Well, they are in Seattle, and I'm in Everett, and I'm already feeling they are just suggesting things at random, as I was using the TNS and still red. The Cetaphil made me break out with pimples. And skin around pimples blood red. So horrid looking, I'd just cry most days. So I took daily vitamin C and the B's, and wore ski masks to keep my face moisturized and UV protected. Good that it was so cold outside, as the excuse for wearing them. Though I did scare the FedX delivery man. Maybe their B3 cream would have worked. If B3 cream was important, it should have been a requirement to buy before the procedure. My trust deteriorated each week that passed. I just don't care any more. I liquified a multi vitamin B tablet, put that on my face, and put yogurt on my face, then realized, I've just got to live with what I have. -I- made the decision to have her burn my face. I've got to swallow hard and live with the consequences.

"live with the consequences": Like, there is really anything else I CAN do but live with it. DOT did change me, though. I went from happy bubbly to feeling like an ugly old woman.

I'm really so sorry to hear what you are going through both physically and emotionally. You'll find lots of support here from the community, Try not to be so hard on yourself, nobody is perfect and we all make mistakes - it's part of experiencing life! You will rectify this, I am putting positive vibes out there for you. Be sure to keep a diary of your progress on here. It helps to get things out and write them down and it'll also help others too! Best of luck :)

Wow my goodness! I HAD to write u, I am in CA. I had C02 laser resurfacing in July & I'm shocked at how much alike our laser "stories" are..it's been 6 months, yes six & I can totally relate to the redness, the square marks, & I also now have the worst texture to my skin. I am 42, also healthy & was confident & somewhat attractive...but the last few yrs had been tough-a wedding called off, my mom is ill & I had changed careers. In my 20's, I needed accutane twice & genetically my family has puffy eyes. So I went to a top rated plastic surgeon in my area for my upper/lower eyes & the laser. My gut actually had me nervous about the pain from both things @ once, so I suggested a strong TCA peel bc I'd had a few before & I thought since I was asleep for the eye procedure, she could go a lot deeper w/the peel. Well no, she kept telling me how smooth my fine lines & acne scars would be..so how could I say no? Couple that w/ a huge discount-which is a joke to me now..I dropped $7500 for it all plus I've been to a great dermatologist who is telling me that I'll need the Vbeam laser & IPL treatments to the tune of another $2K!! Talk about hell!! I am SO sorry to hear about so many ppl going thru such pain & scarring from these machines!! I found a great support website @ IPLandlaserdamage.com. Lots of support & helpful people. Keep your head up, it's not been that long for you, I don't say that lightly, I know what it's like to avoid mirrors now, and anything reflective & I have tried every serum, cream etc..be it $5 or $500..it's my face, so I KNOW what u r going thru. Go to your doc & try Bionect gel-it's a prescription HA gel that helps & after 1-3 months, I had breakouts with almost a blood blister around it..much like u described ur breakouts, again ask ur doc for Aczone, it's an acne topical antibiotic that isn't harsh & helps. All my best to you!! I will post again after I see my derm on jan 27th 2014, take care

Dr. said, I "probably don't produce a lot of collagen", which is why I look more wrinkly around the mouth than I used to. I might not have minded the 9 weeks of redness so much if I had seen improvement. So it was a 9 week loss of any social life, loss of nearly 2 grand, pain, and a step backwards in the looks department. BTW, NO, I never smoked, drank, or did drugs. Super-healthy diet.

That is, never in my life smoked, or did drugs. I have had a total of a half-dozen drinks over my entire life.

I heard the same song and dance. I went in for Venus Freeze and heard that Venus would only bring a 3yr. change to the face whereas Smartskin would bring a 15 yr. change...he just didn't tell me that the 15 yrs. meant older and not younger.

In NJ my doctor had me sign a consent form acknowledging that laser resurfacing "may" cause damage in very rare cases. How many is "very rare cases" since I'm reading about several cases on this site?! It would be nice to know what the success rate really is.

Thank you for sharing. It is of some consolation. My friends, who haven't seen me in months have that, "What the *&% happened to you" look on their face when they see me. I'm too embarrassed to tell them why I look so bad. I just quit caring.

Don't be embarrassed to tell your friends. It's not your fault. Did you have to sign any sort of consent form and/or can you get a copy of it? If there isn't a "Very rare cases" type clause, bring it to your doctor and request another consultation for reparative damages.

The manufacturer says its for wrinkles: **link removed * Cosmedic Skincare (where I went) also claims it turns back the clock 5 years: ***link removed **Thing is, she/Dr. did the work (about 1/2 hour). Who is really responsible? It was a horrid experience, and I certainly don't want to go back to her for anything. Though I didn't keep taking pictures (it was too heartbreaking), the doctor has before & 9-weeks-after photos, showing the damage. I have started Refirme treatments with someone else. I don't see any papers that papers I signed, just the $1800 receipt and post care instructions.

If you never signed any kind of consent form prior to the procedure, you may possibly have a case against this doctor. I checked Cosmedic's website and the doctor and her credentials are pretty shabby, especially receiving a degree from Grenada. I lived in Cozumel for 14 yrs. and we all knew about American medical students who went to the Caribbean to study...I won't distress you further....Anyway, your doctor isn't even a member of the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery! I do think you should at least speak to a lawyer regarding financial compensation, and I do hope you get some sort of benefit from the Refirme treatments. I must say that your outcome isn't half as bad as mine. Take a look of the close up of my chin/lips just 9 wks. after.

Wow, $6500: I feel lucky I only spent $1800. Per your support, I DID email "DEKA medical lasers for aesthetic and surgery", that I believe mfrs the machine. The doctor likely applied the laser per guidelines It is the claims of the machines' use that determines what machines doctors buy.

Actually, it was $2,500 for the laser and 4,000 for the fat transfers, but neither one worked so I'm still out a large sum of money!

I filed an on-line complaint with my state Atty General. There is no disclaimer either from DEKA or the doctor saying one may end up looking worse versus better. They (DOT laser treatment advertisers) need to post that disclaimer.

I'm glad to hear that you filed the complaint. I feel the doctor should pay damages for reparative work that has to be done due to the procedure, and I agree that the company should definitely post a disclaimer!

I am so very sorry that you have suffered this experience. Thank you very much for sharing, your posts have been an invaluable source of first hand experience. I believe that you have saved many (myself included) from a similar outcome.

I am glad. We gals are so desperate to look younger, that when a doctor promises youth by burning your face for about $2000, it sounds like a dream. But it turns to your nightmare and riches for the doctor. I do not know what movie stars do to look young, but this C02 laser treatment is not it. Only good thing that came out of it is I have lots of alone-time to finish projects. I lost my looks; so what else can I do but shout, "don't do it".

I had laser resurfacing eight years ago and I regret every day of my life. I was left with large areas of hypo-pigmentation on my face. They are large white splotches that are highly visible and one person called me a human dalmatian. Furthermore the pain was horrible and my face initially was a bloody mess with open oozing sores. Please don't do this to yourself.

Realself asked for an update: It's been 17 weeks since DOT. I scraped $ together to try Refirme (to undo the odd mouth wrinkling the DOT caused).