Possible Complications

Every activity in life, whether driving automobiles or having surgery, is associated with risk. The following inherent risks must be understood and assumed by you, the patient, if we are to proceed with this treatment.

A change in skin pigmentation occurs in every instance. Sometimes this pigmentation change becomes permanent. For some patients, this necessitates daily makeup applications. The incidence of complications is infrequent, but the following may occur: irregularities in surface contour (i.e. bumpiness of the skin); irregularities in pigmentation either causing the treated areas to be darker or lighter than the surrounding skin, which may be temporary (up to a year) or even permanent; full-thickness burns, which may result in permanent scarring; nausea and/or vomiting from a reaction to the medication. A permanent, unsightly scar may result or a scar that cannot be improved with surgery or other treatment modalities. These complications may necessitate wearing heavy makeup permanently to camouflage skin discolorations or scarring.

Perhaps the most disturbing post-operative event is a failure to meet the patient’s preoperative expectations. These treatments tend to be much more effective for treating wrinkles and surface discoloration than acne scars. For patients with very deep wrinkles or acne scars, less than 25% will see a very significant improvement. Another 25% will be disappointed and see very little (if any) improvement. The remaining 50% will see an improvement, but may feel that their results were below their expectations.

It is not possible to list every conceivable complication. The foregoing is not designed to frighten or upset you, but to enable you to make your decision from an informed position.