29 replies to this topic

[JSM555]

This is just one of many people who have had laser treatments in which it destroyed their life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPojNzWQDlg

They have numerous posts on RealSelf and may have more on IPL and Laser Damage Support forum. Stop looking for the quick fix. I too had lasers...3yrs later I have rolling, boxcar, atrophic and ice pick scars. Keloids, collagen separation/stretch marks on my face and more. Every month and every year something else shows up on my face as the laser damage is deep. I have found out that my future will be skin cancer as a result of the laser treatments I had. If I live another 2yrs, I'll be lucky.
Some things that happen after lasers are eruptive squamous cell carcinoma, hypertrophic scarring, thermal cellular injury, irreversible chromosomal damage, cellular necrosis/apoptosis, permanent DNA DAMAGE, coagulating tissue, cell death...I could go on and on. If you do not know what these things are, google them. Go to the library or book store and read about them. If you have had laser treatments, STOP NOW! If you haven't don't go..find another alternative. Yes, you may look good at first, but just wait 1, 2, 3yrs. You will start to see the effect the lasers have had on your skin and far beneath the skin's surface. I can never allow sunlight to touch my face again
I found out the hard way...PLEASE do not make the same mistake!

[LiveLaughFart]

what about if you just wanna remove a mole and the laser only touches one area of skin?

[JSM555]

what about if you just wanna remove a mole and the laser only touches one area of skin?

The choice is yours. I stated my case, gave a link and names of other forums. If people choose to ignore it, there's nothing I can do....but if I can prevent just one person from ruining their life, my job is done. Before this year is out, there is going to be an 'outing', for lack of a better word, of laser procedures and the damage they do.

[Sunset1]

What laser treatments did you have?

I've had laser treatments and I had no bad side effects from it.

[mrjarjarbinks77]

What laser treatments did you have?

I've had laser treatments and I had no bad side effects from it.

Which laser?

OP: I cannot imagine going through the pain of what you have, the cost, and then, more suffering. Still, your post seems highly negative, and not sure what good you want to come of it? I understand warning it but, to blame skin cancer or anything is pretty harsh until or unless you have it. Then again, logically speaking, if a tanning bed gives cancer, what about a much powerful laser, like a light beam of some sort?

[JSM555]

I had IPL and Affirm. I had the Ipl's as I had very dark spots (sun damage) on my skin and was told it could become cancerous. After panicking I did very little research and found things on Ipl, so I went for 5 treatments. Well, within 2 yrs my skin started looking really bad, so I went for 2 Affirms. Within a year of that, the damage just kept building and building. Among all of the expensive things I am doing to prevent more from occurring, I am now doing hyperbaric oxygen treatments as the damage has gone deep into the muscle tissue, bone nerves, eyes, hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, etc, etc. From all I have read on the IPL and Laser Damage Support forums, most of us had damage show up 1-3 yrs after the lasers.
No laser is worth the risk! I really wish everyone would do their research/homework on these things before even considering a 'procedure'.
As for the damages I listed that I suffered, all have been diagnosed by my dermatologist, my GP, and a specialist, whom also says I have necrosis, nerve damage and low dose radiation poisoning...all from lasers. You do these procedures at your own risk.

[killertofutaco]

I mean no disrespect, but this post is bogus. "Do your homework" is advice the OP should have taken. Had he done so, he would realize that none of the things he mentioned are associated with the laser treatments he claimed to have had. None of what he says makes sense to anyone who has even basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology.

I hope everyone researches their own procedures and treatments, and talks to a medical professional about them---not an anonymous user on the internet. Bring any of the OP's claims to a doctor or nurse, and they will refute all of them.

OP, I'm sorry if you really DO have these health issues, but because of a laser treatment you got done 3 years ago? I don't buy it.

[Acne Security]

does the lazer pretty kill acne under the skin? cause I've heard thats what it does... I've always been curious, when I have the money I will consider it because if you could elimiante acne before it penetrates the skin life would be good

[JSM555]

I mean no disrespect, but this post is bogus. "Do your homework" is advice the OP should have taken. Had he done so, he would realize that none of the things he mentioned are associated with the laser treatments he claimed to have had. None of what he says makes sense to anyone who has even basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology.

I hope everyone researches their own procedures and treatments, and talks to a medical professional about them---not an anonymous user on the internet. Bring any of the OP's claims to a doctor or nurse, and they will refute all of them.

OP, I'm sorry if you really DO have these health issues, but because of a laser treatment you got done 3 years ago? I don't buy it.

Excuse me? I'm going to assume you either work for the 'industry' or know someone who does, as you seem hell bent to defend laser treatments and the 'people' who perform these procedures. You obviously have not had any of these lasers done, or you would know what kind of damage they do.
So, here is a forum in which you can read about the damage done to hundreds of thousands of others... http://iplandlaserdamagesupport.prophpbb.com/ If you still don't believe the damages done to people after reading what they have to say, then go and experience lasers for yourself. Make sure you get more than 1 or 2 so that you'll have the full effect 1-3 yrs from now. Oh, and please be sure to come back to this forum and blog about how 'wonderful' your skin is...ok?

Edited by JSM555, 15 April 2011 - 09:14 AM.

[shalibee]

I agree with JSM555. Lasers can definitely damage and many times the damage isn't seen 'till years later. I had Smoothbeam 6 years ago. I started to see the damage 2-3 years later. My upper cheeks where I had the Smoothbeam seemed tighter, and thinner. Eventually, I lost a lot of volume under my eyes and upper cheeks. It's not hereditary. In fact, my face remained unchanged for most of my life only to change quickly within 2-3 years after that treatment.

Most doctors will tell you that this cannot happen. Of course, they sell this service. However, if you start to PM others for information on this board who have had treatments over 5 years ago, you will find many of them no longer post here. They stopped posting NOT because they were happy with their improvements. They stopped posting because the treatments RUINED parts of their face to the point they needed to get away and try and forget.

JSM555 may seem negative but she's simply trying to warn others. Many people who left also mention that they can't handle giving their input here because they get ripped apart. They get trashed for bashing a treatment which ruined their face. I know we want to grasp on to any hopes when we are obsessed with our scars, but believe me and others who have been here, the negative impacts of many of these treatments can be much worse then the acne scars.




Excuse me? I'm going to assume you either work for the 'industry' or know someone who does, as you seem hell bent to defend laser treatments and the 'people' who perform these procedures. You obviously have not had any of these lasers done, or you would know what kind of damage they do.
So, here is a forum in which you can read about the damage done to hundreds of thousands of others... http://iplandlaserdamagesupport.prophpbb.com/ If you still don't believe the damages done to people after reading what they have to say, then go and experience lasers for yourself. Make sure you get more than 1 or 2 so that you'll have the full effect 1-3 yrs from now. Oh, and please be sure to come back to this forum and blog about how 'wonderful' your skin is...ok?
[/quote]

[Oil King]

This is a ridiculous post. Just because TWO certain lasers caused damage to YOUR skin doesn't mean you can conclude that ALL lasers will damage EVERYONES skin. Different lasers have different wavelengths, some are abrasive and some aren't, some cause thermal heating while some do not. It's like saying "accutane gave me side effects and therefore every single oral acne therapy will cause side effects for every one else in the world".... ridiculous.

Post pictures if you have so much damage....How old are you? Mid-Forties? I can assure you that the pictures will, at worst, show signs of normal human skin aging. Your over-analyzing your skin and seeing "horrible" disfigurements that no one else can see.

Stating that the laser damage occurred 1-3 years after treatment is absurd. It is an extremely scientifically inaccurate statement, and you again state such a broad claim with no evidence.

[JSM555]

This is a ridiculous post. Just because TWO certain lasers caused damage to YOUR skin doesn't mean you can conclude that ALL lasers will damage EVERYONES skin. Different lasers have different wavelengths, some are abrasive and some aren't, some cause thermal heating while some do not. It's like saying "accutane gave me side effects and therefore every single oral acne therapy will cause side effects for every one else in the world".... ridiculous.

Post pictures if you have so much damage....How old are you? Mid-Forties? I can assure you that the pictures will, at worst, show signs of normal human skin aging. Your over-analyzing your skin and seeing "horrible" disfigurements that no one else can see.

Stating that the laser damage occurred 1-3 years after treatment is absurd. It is an extremely scientifically inaccurate statement, and you again state such a broad claim with no evidence.

Are you really that naive? Have you not done any research yourself? All lasers are 1000x hotter than the sun, so just what do you think will happen to your skin each time you have a laser procedure? Have you been on forums where others have suffered untold damage as a result? 3 doctors have diagnosed me with necrosis, thermal cellular injury, dna damage, nerve damage, pre-cancerous lesions, rolling, ice-pick, atrophic and hypertrophic scarring, low dose radiation poisoning, etc, etc. I don't know how many times I have to post this, but for those with short attention span, such as yourself, here you go.... http://iplandlaserdamagesupport.prophpbb.com/
Now, go book yourself a few IPL's and a Thermage and come back on this forum 3 yrs from now and tell us your story.

[biggs881]

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Edited by biggs881, 18 April 2011 - 11:25 PM.

[Sunset1]

What laser treatments did you have?

I've had laser treatments and I had no bad side effects from it.

Which laser?

I've had Isolaz for acne. I'm starting another round of Isolaz next week. Isolaz is absolutely amazing.

[mrskoala]

I mean no disrespect, but this post is bogus. "Do your homework" is advice the OP should have taken. Had he done so, he would realize that none of the things he mentioned are associated with the laser treatments he claimed to have had. None of what he says makes sense to anyone who has even basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology.

I hope everyone researches their own procedures and treatments, and talks to a medical professional about them---not an anonymous user on the internet. Bring any of the OP's claims to a doctor or nurse, and they will refute all of them.

OP, I'm sorry if you really DO have these health issues, but because of a laser treatment you got done 3 years ago? I don't buy it.

Everything you said is disrespectful. Doctors said that diet has no effect on acne. That's not true. They also said Mercury was safe at one point in time. Do you wanna slap that on your face?
Honestly I feel for the OP. I'm so sorry this happened to her- she was told it would help, and it made things worse.
I would never want to be lightsabered in the face, and laser surgery is fairly equivalent.

Oil King, you're acting no better.
It's one thing to say that laser treatment doesn't effect everyone the same way- nothing does.
But to treat her badly and say she's 'ridiculous' for just warning others, is terrible.

I'm sorry for your experience, OP, and for people who treat you like this.
Is there anything you can do to improve your scarring?

[Bonbonique]

What about ematrix? It doesn't use lasers is it harmful ? And I don't understand how non-ablative lasers can be harmful..

[tricia]

What about ematrix? It doesn't use lasers is it harmful ? And I don't understand how non-ablative lasers can be harmful..

Ematrix does use thermal energy, just like thermage and smoothbeam. I wouldn't get those treatments because you could lose fat. I did have IPL about five years ago and have no damage from it whatsoever now, it really wasn't that strong, much less strong than a sunburn in my opinion. Gave no dramatic results at all, wouldn't advise people get it for those reasons, but not because it is dangerous. Maybe the op had a doctor who somehow misused it, or she has lupus and is sensitive to light, I know another user on here who had lupus and got terrible scarring after light therapies.

[Pindi]

I'm not going to discount your health problems and I'm sorry for what you've been through but you have to understand that everyone is different and not everyone will suffer the same problems. You can't just smear one treatment method because of your issues.

I had a series of N-Lite laser treatments done around 6 years ago and they were very effective in reducing my acne. I have not suffered any ill effects because of it and am in very good health.

My skin today suffers from one or two spots a month and is a little oily. Before the laser treatment, my skin was a little oily but I had many more spots. The change in my skin will of course be down to my ageing as well (I'm now 24) but the lasers really helped. My brother had the treatments done around 8 or 9 years ago and his skin is perfect.

I suspect other health issues contributed to your current problems, I don't believe that laser treatments themselves caused all your problems.

Pindi

[JSM555]

I'm not going to discount your health problems and I'm sorry for what you've been through but you have to understand that everyone is different and not everyone will suffer the same problems. You can't just smear one treatment method because of your issues.

I had a series of N-Lite laser treatments done around 6 years ago and they were very effective in reducing my acne. I have not suffered any ill effects because of it and am in very good health.

My skin today suffers from one or two spots a month and is a little oily. Before the laser treatment, my skin was a little oily but I had many more spots. The change in my skin will of course be down to my ageing as well (I'm now 24) but the lasers really helped. My brother had the treatments done around 8 or 9 years ago and his skin is perfect.

I suspect other health issues contributed to your current problems, I don't believe that laser treatments themselves caused all your problems.

Pindi

Believe what you like. I have gotten to the point where I feel everyone needs to learn the hard way.
Glad you had no problems though.

[scarsbegonedamnit]

of course they are dangerous. they are lasers. the whole point of them is to cause fractures in the skin to rebuild the cells.

the person using them needs to know how to use them. with anything people need to educate themselves and pick carefully where they go.