Ira D. Papel, Dr

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ 1.0

Nov 20, 2024

I contacted Dr. Kontis’s office along with another doctors office about having V beam done for facial spider veins on my Asian skin. I had been researching this machine. I was immediately told by the other doctor that the V beam can not be safely used on my skin tone. Dr Kontis's secretary however called and said it could be. I notified her immediately about being told that Dr Newmon in Annapolis told me I could not. She said let me speak to my nurse Cheryl and she will contact you. Cheryl emailed me with the following response

“I am the nurse that does the lasering. I have done this for 10 years. I have treated many, many Asian pts for facial veins. Not sure why so many have told you it is not possible but the VBeam will target the red chromophore in the blood. So it is not targeting the melanin which can be a problem with other types of treatments for Asian skin types. Hair removal and brown spots can be trickier. Be happy to have you come in for a test spot if you like.”

I made the horrible decision to trust her and went in for a test treatment. Instead of using the V beam which I had been counseled on being safe and came in for, she used the Candela gentle Max which can not be used on patients Fitzpatrick 4-6 for treating spider veins. It can be used for laser hair removal. I am a 5. My skin immediately in 2 places raised up and turned red. I went in the bathroom and applied sunscreen I had in my purse. I emailed Cheryl about the spots 3 weeks later because now they had started to hyperpigment. She told me they were normal. I new they were not. My husband co owns a med spa. My husband had this exact machine in his office from 2014 to end of 2018 and I could have done it for free if this machine could be used on me. Why would I drive 40 minutes to use a machine we had in our office. I also have a brother that’s a dermatologist that has the Gentle Max and and he confirmed this machine for spider veins is absolutely not safe. I was in tears. I emailed Cheryl asking her why the vbeam was not used because that is what I came in for. This is her email

“V Beam almost always causes PIH on most skin types when used for this treatment. I have used a VBeam for 5 years now and am very familiar with its abilities. It is a great machine for many things, but does have its limitations as do all the machines. I very rarely use it for any skin types above Fitz II.”

I was so upset that is not what I was told in the previous email. I asked Dr Brown the same question all he did was dodge the question. He said there are articles showing it can be used. I asked him to please send me these articles. He never did, because they don't exist. My brother and husband’s nurse both said this machine will prompt you saying it can not be used on my skin tone when you try to select Fitzpatrick V. So it’s been now 1 year and the hyperpigmentation is just as severe. The other sad part is the their office made me purchase the products I needed to try to fix their mistake instead of giving them to me or even charging me at cost. I know the mark up is %100. I emailed Dr Kontis about referring me to a doctor that specializes in skin of color, and she has ignored my email. This office completely mislead me and out right lied. I have severe anxiety from the hyperpigmentation and have taken about 1000 pics hoping to see fading. Absolutely no change. Their aesthetician Jeanine even said I’m very sorry this happened to you and that dark skin has to be treated with caution. I did my research and I was lied too.

Update! 3 years later I still have severe hyperpigmentation. Please please do not go to their office and book an appointment with Cheryl. She will ruin your face. I have had a Visia scan and wood light examination and the hyperpigmentation is dermal and can not be treated with hydroquinone.

N patel — google_place

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