Quote from Enfyniti1980:

Hi!
I just wanted to share my experience with the Smoothbeam laser. I'm 24 and went from moderate to severe acne after using it. I started smoothbeam at a dermatologist office in Festus, MO (about 60 miles from me) for $295 a treatment. The laser was incredibly painful, especially if you have bad acne. It feels like (and this is no exaggeration!) a searing hot needle being stabbed into your face. The first time I did it, I got "lasered" 587 times. The next 3 times was between 400 and 600 times. You get zapped everywhere on your face, including your hairline and neck. It was the worst pain I've ever felt, very similiar to a tatoo ON YOUR FACE, with acne. There was a huge breakout after every treatment that lasted 1-2 weeks. I had 4 treatments altogether, 3-4 weeks apart. I gradually increased to level 13 (I think there are 16 levels, but they generally don't go higher than 14). Every time, my acne was worse than it had ever been. 4 treatments into it, I stopped b/c I had spent $1200 and my face was 10 times worse and not better at all. Every place the laser had hit me, there was acne. Places I never even had acne before was now broke out. I didn't want to use myself as an experiment again. I called the derm office and they just suggested more treatments, but I don't trust them anymore. They wrecked my face. I'm now going for my last resort, which is accutane.
What's really disappointing is that the before and after pictures they showed me of everyone else were amazing. They promised it works for everyone, but I just can't see spending another 1200 dollars and 4 months of looking like a monster to test it out. Another thing, the pain is pretty bad. They will tell you how much it hurts before you get it done, which they don't mention in any radio advertisments. I have a high threshold for pain and this HURT. The nurse doing my face said that grown men CRY from it and the younger patients have to be put to sleep (for an extra $300) just to take it. Good luck to thinking about using it.

Wow your story is so similar to mine, I just had to respond. I too was VERY disappointed with Smoothbeam. I am from Eureka, MO and got my treatments done in Chesterfield, MO... I was promised great skin for at least 6 months and that my scarring would go away - HA! Yeah right. I had to laugh when you described the pain as getting a "tattoo" on your face, because that is EXACTLY how I have always described the pain to others when they asked how it felt. Just horrible! When I would leave the clinic, I had to keep my face down and not look at anyone in the eye because I was left with tiny, red, inflamed spots everywhere the laser had "singed" me. It was awful. I noticed a slight decrease in oiliness WHILE I was getting the laser done, but not two weeks after my final treatment the oil, acne, large pores and everything else was back in full force. I felt so bad for my parents (I was 18 at the time - 20 now) because they had shelled out all that money for something that really didn't help at all. Well now I just started a series of microdermabrasion treatments in conjunction with Renova and Neostrata...so far my first treatment has made my skin break out worse than before. :rolleyes: I'd like to get dermabrasion, but who has time to recover and hide away for 1 - 3 months??! :confused: If I did, I would be all about it, but until then, the microderm is going to have to do. I hope things get better soon. What is your facial regimine like now?