A complication of a YAG laser on the face.
I totally hear you on this. Unfortunately, California has very little regulation regarding who can operate a laser. The person operating your laser could have even been a “technician” which is generally a term used to describe someone with no medical training at all or an aesthetician.
The YAG laser is a very long wavelength and is generally safe with two exceptions. It must always be used with eye protective shields and should not be usedat all around the eye area – it is very toxic to eyes (retinal damage). AND, it must be cooled very well between passes or burns can occur by heating up the epidermis too much. That means that when one pass is done there could be, for example, a rest break of at least 30-60 seconds with active cooling (an ice pack is fine) before the next pass is done.
Some ideas for you:
1. Could you go back to the doctor and show him/her what has occurred and give him/her the opportunity to correct this for you, hopefully at no charge to you?
2. Ask your regular dermatologist for a referral to a dermatologist who specializes in laser work?
3. See our regional guide to dermatologists and how to find a good doctor.
Dr. B I