I underwent 6 laser treatments (Aramis laser) for acne scars. The practitioners tried to persuade me it would be beneficial to treat the entire face and so they did. Over the next year while collagen was to be building as a result, I instead had another experience. 12 months after the treatments began, I had a peculiar pain under ALL of my facial skin, as if it were a sunburn on the inside. This pain continued for 6 months and then the collagen seemed to dissolve, as if the fat/collagen was separating from the skin. Fat deposits shifted and the under eye skin rapidly and markedly thinned. Now my eyes have very thin skin around them, something that seemed would not be a problem area before, judging from the ample collagen around eyes, pre-laser treatments. The under eye skin is more translucent and therefore darker, and in a probable related issue, I have chronic dry eye. (possibly due to duct damage or sagging collagen depleted skin).
Now what can be done?
I intend to gather evidence and information of similar results and then I will take some form of action. Can anyone please refer me to material/stories they've read on this, or anyone who's undergone such an experience?
Ultimately, I wish to know what can be done at this stage. Just getting confirmation from others that this happens would offer reassurance of some kind, but I also wish to gain advice on how to deal with this.
I will be very appreciative for as much info as you can give. Thanks!
Thanks for resituating the post. This issue is very serious to me and I am most interested in responses.
This is just my opinion but I think any laser can actually cause more damamge than good. I beleive they actually make the skin look worste and you do loose Collagen and mostl importantly it disolves the precious fat padding we have in our face.
We all tend to loose this Fat as we age through facial waisting an natural aging process. Lasers accelerate this process.
Now at first your face will look nice and plump and it will form collagen at that time so you have that feeling that your face looks better as it does from the swelling(Adema). Then over time you loose the sweeling and you still may have a good look for a while but over time the procedure actually has caused more damage than good.
THe way most lasers work is they tend to not burn the surface of the skin too much and go deep. THis may be good for hiding some Scars but actually I believe it causes damage to the Dermis and Sub CUtaneous areas of the skin permanently and you see these results years later.
I only trust LEDs and maybe those Weak Red and Green lasers.
GOod luck with your case.
Thanks for resituating the post. This issue is very serious to me and I am most interested in responses.
This is just my opinion but I think any laser can actually cause more damamge than good. I beleive they actually make the skin look worste and you do loose Collagen and mostl importantly it disolves the precious fat padding we have in our face.
We all tend to loose this Fat as we age through facial waisting an natural aging process. Lasers accelerate this process.
Now at first your face will look nice and plump and it will form collagen at that time so you have that feeling that your face looks better as it does from the swelling(Adema). Then over time you loose the sweeling and you still may have a good look for a while but over time the procedure actually has caused more damage than good.
THe way most lasers work is they tend to not burn the surface of the skin too much and go deep. THis may be good for hiding some Scars but actually I believe it causes damage to the Dermis and Sub CUtaneous areas of the skin permanently and you see these results years later.
I only trust LEDs and maybe those Weak Red and Green lasers.
GOod luck with your case.
Hi,
I'm new to this board. I was refered here by someone on the makemeheal board which deals with cosmetic procedures.
I do not have an acne problem - but, rather a laser problem.
Where to start...
First off - sorry to tell you. I got serious damage, in the form of wrinkles, divots and crinkling from one one of those "weak red lights". Mine was the Hairmax Laser Comb (4.5 mw, 655 nw) I had for hair loss. Worked pretty well for my hair. Then, unfortunately, I started getting e-mail ads about low-level laser therapy and devices for skin rejuvenation, so at 45, although I had very good skin for my age (most people thought I was about 35), I looked into it some more (previously, I knew nothing about lasers and skin care - wish I still didn't know, but here I am). Anyway, after reading about all the wonderful benefits of low-level laser therapy, especially for the skin - and absolutely no risks, side effects, etc., I thought "Hey - I already have one of these - I'll use it for my skin also". BIGGEST mistake of my life. Long story - but, basically I used it 3 times and now have the skin of a 50/60 year old, especially under the eyes. I'm devastated and depressed.
Since then I've been scouring the internet and boards (which I also knew nothing about either, but here I am) for information and help only to discover tons of nightmare stories about lasers - I had no idea. Now, quite frankly, I'm furious. How is it that people's faces and lives are being destroyed by lasers - and the average person and general public knows nothing about it!?!? I truly don't understand?!?! I understand they (I) may be the exception, but the fact that it happens at all is atrocious! If I had had any inkling that lasers could cause any problems at all - I WOULD NOT HAVE DONE IT! I just didn't know.
Ironically (although, not suprisingly), when visiting specialists for a solution (before discovering the boards), I was recommended all kinds of laser treatments, including Thermage!!! The brochures they gave me are a joke - incredible benefits, absolutely no risks or side effects! Excuse me?!?! By the way, in case you don't already know it, a lot of the pics you see on doctors' websites, etc., as if they're their actual patients, are the same. In other words, photos from the manufacturers. After visiting a "million" websites, everywhere, trying to figure out something... I've seen tons of the same pictures for these treatments. Anyway, my point is there's a lot of deception and downright lying going on out there - and I'm furious.
In any case, to the person who began this thread... there are tons of victims and stories out there. I've corresponded with some of them. If you search these boards and contact them, most will respond. Sadly, most are depressed and living in silence or desperately looking for some kind of solution.
Btw - we're talking about problems with all lasers, not just thermage. I've heard stories about every type, even "weak red lasers".
Contact me. Let's talk. Enough is enough!
By the way, in case you don't already know it, a lot of the pics you see on doctors' websites, etc., as if they're their actual patients, are the same. In other words, photos from the manufacturers. After visiting a "million" websites, everywhere, trying to figure out something... I've seen tons of the same pictures for these treatments. Anyway, my point is there's a lot of deception and downright lying going on out there - and I'm furious.
same thing for fraxel. all what they show you is just the same set of photos from the manufacturer few years ago. The doctors who have fraxel in my area are trained to say exact the same thing. No downtime, no side effects... only 3 days of redness.. safe for all skin type. Come on, now we all know that even fraxel can cause hyperpigmentation, the redness can last much more longer than THREE DAYS. PLEASE DON'T LIE!!
On June 19, 2007 at 0:04 PM, silas10961 said:I underwent 6 laser treatments (Aramis laser) for acne scars. The practitioners tried to persuade me it would be beneficial to treat the entire face and so they did. Over the next year while collagen was to be building as a result, I instead had another experience. 12 months after the treatments began, I had a peculiar pain under ALL of my facial skin, as if it were a sunburn on the inside. This pain continued for 6 months and then the collagen seemed to dissolve, as if the fat/collagen was separating from the skin. Fat deposits shifted and the under eye skin rapidly and markedly thinned. Now my eyes have very thin skin around them, something that seemed would not be a problem area before, judging from the ample collagen around eyes, pre-laser treatments. The under eye skin is more translucent and therefore darker, and in a probable related issue, I have chronic dry eye. (possibly due to duct damage or sagging collagen depleted skin).
Now what can be done?
I intend to gather evidence and information of similar results and then I will take some form of action. Can anyone please refer me to material/stories they've read on this, or anyone who's undergone such an experience?
How are you doing now? Is your skin recovered from laser?
Ultimately, I wish to know what can be done at this stage. Just getting confirmation from others that this happens would offer reassurance of some kind, but I also wish to gain advice on how to deal with this.
I will be very appreciative for as much info as you can give. Thanks!