So I have fairly bad acne scarring and hyperpigmentation/rosacea as a result of roaccutane. I went for a consultation with Professor Chu and to be fair, he was great. Very understanding ,patient, let me ask a bunch of questions. He suggested I get the Regenlite laser for the redness which sounded promising but here is where the problems started.

So I asked him at the time - would the laser work for flushing or just the permanent areas of redness. He told me just the permanent areas and the flushing best treated with medication. So that was fine- ideally the laser would work for both but I was excited at the idea that it would get rid of the always-red areas of my face.

I came back 2 weeks later for the laser. The first thing that surprised me was that it was not Prof Chu performing the laser but a technician. Now some people may say this is some kind of "snobbery" but I've always said that were I to ever get a treatment of any sort, I would want it carried out by the dermatologist themself, not by a nurse, technician etc. Plenty of places like the SKIN clinics and the Pulsed Light Clinic in London offer rosacea laser treatments, but these are not carried out by professional dermatologists. I know from research that at the PLC Clinic, the same lady who performs tattoo removals performs rosacea treatment- I don't know about you but I'd feel much more confidant having an actual dermatologist.

Anyway as I say I was a bit surprised when this lady called me into a room and felt a little disappointed in Professor Chu for having not told me he would not be performing the treatment. This lady was extremelycold and abrupt. I expected her to sit me down, explain what was going to happen, really examine my face, tell me about after care etc. Instead she just brought me into this room, barely said hello and told me to lie down. I still had my makeup on but assumed she'd remove this once lying down. I could see she was prepping the laser and it became obvious that she had no intention of taking my makeup up and hadn't even looked at my face long enough to figure out I had makeup on. So I pointed it out and she just handed me a baby wipe and that was it.

I had done a lot of research prior and read lots of blogs about PDL and all of them described complete opposite experiences to this..they were all sat down, had a proper chat first, makeup was properly removed etc. She then started the treatment again not saying a word. I checked with her (just to reassure myself) that this laser would work for the permanent redness, but not the flushing. The answer she gave was the complete opposite to professor Chus! She said that NO it would not help the permanent redness and for that I would need the very high, bruising setting that would take 2-3 weeks to heal. The setting I had it on would only help flushing. She said we could do a test patch for the purpuric setting. She lasered a tiny area just on the top of my left cheekbone which blistered within about 5 minutes. I assumed this was normal and it wasnt until I got home and read about it that I realised this in fact isnt normal and really should not happen. I emailed professor Chu explaining my concerns and got no response. When I went back to have the laser done, I told her what had happened. She said it was normal but the setting she had this time was still very very low and not purpric as we discussed it would be for my 2^nd treatment. This made me think that actually she realised it was pretty bad that she had burnt me like that, therefore didnt want to go to a high setting but didnt want to admit that. She said wed go higher next time (so my 3^rd treatment.)

Anyway it has now been about 2 months. The tiny area she did the test patch on is still red and theres a tiny scar there. I am still keen to get the Regenlite laser as I have some areas of my face that are always red and really damaging to my self esteem..however I am just unsure whether to stick with Professor Chu. As I say he was perfectly nice and helpful in the consultation but I am very disappointed in him not informing me this technician would perform the treatment. I wish he performed them himself and perhaps he does if asked..maybe at a higher price. The problem also is- I dont know if I just have very very sensitive skin and therefore should never get the purpruic setting, or if in fact it was the ladys fault and she didnt do the treatment properly. Has anyone had experience with professor Chu? Anyone know if he can ever perform the laser himself?