On my first treatment I was A) not given a patch test and B) not given any information to prepare me for the laser.
The reason I am so angry about the way I was treated is because I have started visiting a new clinic where the care and support is overwhelming, it makes me realise how the last place I visited only cared about the £££.
Last thursday I went for a consultation at The Private Clinic in Manchester, like others who have visited them I had seen their success stories in magazines and on TV. I was a bit nervous about going in because it looked quite "posh" and as a 21 year old graduate with acne that is the last thing I feel. The lady on reception was lovely and took me in to a homely waiting room and offered me a drink! I filled in a form detailing my acne history, naming all of the medications I had taken (the ones I could remember) and waited for the nurse.
The lady I saw was the kindest and most understanding person you could ever meet. When she asked me to take off a patch of my make-up so she could look at my skin I didn't even feel embarassed! She was horrified at the way my laser treatment was carried out at the place I previously visited as it was not done properly and therefore had no chance of working.
She gave me a list of ways to prepare for laser treatment:
- Avoid using any type of Retin-A on your skin a week before the treatment and only resume them approximately a week after
- Glycolic Acid or AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) should be discontinued 24 hours before treatment and only resumed 24 hours after
- Anti-inflammatories such as; aspirin, cold/flu treatments, any products containing Aloe Vera, and Antihistamines will reduce the effectiveness of the treatment as they stop inflammation in the skin and should be discontinued 48 hours before treatment
- No smoking on the day of the treatment (which does not apply to myself)
Now the price for 3 treaments at this clinic is quite expensive at £700 but with that you get £40 of skin care vouchers and here's what really made me think WOW; she said that the package would include treatment for my chest and shoulders too. That's something that nobody has ever mentioned to me!
She then went on to tell me about products called CLENZIderm form Obagi, it can only be purchased through prescription and costs an expensive £101 but she said it was guaranteed and if it didn't work I would get a full refund which is quite a promise!
I usually go to these consultations with my mum as I trust her opinion but as I went alone I said I would go home and discuss it with her first and the nurse gave me her moible number incase I ever wanted to talk about my skin! In my mum's opinion I really had nothing to lose, the amount I have spent over the years or products and treatments is easily in the £1000s.... Another thing that surprised me was that the nurse said that after 3 laser treatments there was no difference to the skin they would refer me to their dermatologist and would think up new treatments to help- they never give up on someone!
It just shows how profesisonal they are and all this should definately be taken into consideration when choosing a place to have laser treatment. Just because somewhere is more affordable doesn't make them an ideal choice; it is worth saving up money and spending it on a place run by dermatolgists rather than somewhere that is run by beauticians with little training.
If you go somewhere that doesn't offer you all the information then they probably aren't the best people to trust.
- Natalie
