Laser treatment

Hank, thank you for the useful information.
As I mentioned I will be visiting uk in March for my lips and hopefully my pws doctor over there will give me some advise for the pws. Regarding Dr Waner, it would be a good idea also seeing him, but I am really really far away...

Thanks anyway,

Anti

[hankbartenbach]

Anti,

You know there are groups that provide free plane tickets even out of country.

This website as some under resources click on free flights.

Hank

Hank,

Thanks for the information.
You know, sometimes you loose faith.......

Anti

Hello Hank

I have a 2 month old daughter who has a port wine stain on her entire right cheek, and we are trying to find out who the best physician is in NY to perform laser for her. We are also very concerned at this time, whether to perform laser on her right away, or to wait until she is about 2 years old (as recommended by our pediatrician and atleast 3 dermatologists that we have seen so far). Out of the 2 dermatologists we have seen so far, one doctor recommended V-Beam laser and the other recommended the Candela Laser. Although both are pulse dye lasers, we would like to know which one we should go with, as we want only the best technology for our child's treatment.

Please suggest :
(a) which laser is the best one to go with for laser treatment.
(b) Should we initiate treatment right away for her(2 months) or should we wait until she is about 2 years of age ?
(c) What will be applied to her face before the treatment starts to numb the pain ?
(d) Could you suggest any best physician in NY who could perform this task for us ?
(e) What are the emotional factors involved for parents in this process, and how should we educate ourselves and our child as she grows up related to this issue..

We are really worried at this time, and would appreciate your inputs on the above.

Thanks, Hema

Originally Posted by hankbartenbach

Hi Angie, thank you for posting a reply to my poll and I hope your daughters laser treatment goes well.
The brusing does happen with the dye lasers but after the day of the treatment I can not even feel it any more. If you ever need to talk I am here for you. I have been doing laser treatments for 14 years now and I have been there. So if you have any questions just message me I and I will see if I can help.

Again good luck with the lasers.

Hank B

[nickbar]

I hope you don't mind me replying to your message to HANK.

I was just told yesterday that Candela makes the V-beam laser and it has the cooling system that is the only one of its kind. This is the best to have as tx can be more intense without distruction of the skin. The laser seeks out only the red.
In my opinion, contacting Dr. Waner in NYC is your best option (are you in NYC or upstate?) He helped develop many of the systems used today. He is the top vascular specialist in the world. I believe treatment on a pws should start pretty early to avoid the darkening. dr. Waner will be able to give you specifics on this subject. Our son started laser with the v-beam at 3.5m (a few test spots) and then at about 5 months old he had his first tx. under general anethesia and did fine.... he has a Hemangioma, so we had to wait until he was off steroids and the H. was flatter. I don't think you should wait....at least get the opinion of an experience vascular specialist....like Waner, For extensive lesions children are put under g.a. it is just too much to ask of a baby/child to be held down. If it were a small area and and history with g.a issues exsist in your family...then a child could be held down and a cream is used to numb it.
Dr. Williams, Nagy, Dr. Roy Geronemous (their contact info can be found in the physicians list above)

I would encourage you to read thru the information on www.birthmarks.com and also the support group on msn http://groups.msn.com/vascularbirthm..._whatsnew.msnw

there is a lot of experienced parents that can give you direct info on laser/pws and any issues related.

GOOD LUCK and i give you a big high five for being proactive.

Corinne

[hankbartenbach]

Hi Hema,

I agree with Nickbar.

I have used the V-Beam laser, and it is very safe for infants. I suggest calling and makeing an appointment with Dr. Waner he is the best in USA.
You should get a Clinic visit ASAP. The sooner you get it removed. The sooner your daughter can live a normal life. Trust me on this it was very hard liveing with it for 22 years.

She will probably be put under so it will not be tramtizing for her for the surgery.

The best thing I can say is be honest with your daughter about her condition. When she is old enough make sure she knows what she has so she will be able to teach other children her age about what she has so they do not make her out of place. If you have other children do not treat her any different, because she will start thinking she is different.

Talk to you soon.

Hank

Thanks for your responses, Corinne & Hank. That was definitely informative and supportive.

AT this time, we are so desparate that we want to help our daughter in any way we could, I'm currently educating myself so much about PWS and how to get laser treatment for our daughter. So I'd appreciate any inputs on the additional few concerns that I have and which are addressed below. I'm sure someone can help.

a) I understand from reading the forum, that Dr. Waner and Dr.Geronemus are the best in the field. Does anyone have references for Dr.Alan Schliftman in NY. I have heard that Dr. Schliftman is also really good in performing lasers and particularly in treating PWS. Please let me know if you have any information on the above physician.

b) We come from the Indian origin, and I have concerns about how the laser impact will be on a child with Indian complexion. By performing the laser, will the skin become more darkened or will the laser really bring my daughter's original skin color ? ARe there any Indian parents who could answer my concern or atleast info on doctors treating kids from the Indian origin ...?

c) I did notice mixed opinions within the forum, about people having to do laser sessions for their lifetime. Reading such opinions definitely created mixed feelings about pursuing laser treatment in the first place, and definitely was disturbing. Is this really true ? do we have continue laser on our child for her entire life ? How far is this true ?

d) Once we initiate the laser treatment, what is the incidence/probability that the stain does not come back again in the same spot where the laser was performed ? Does performing laser remove/fade the stain completely ..?

Your inputs are appreciated.

Thanks
Hema

[hankbartenbach]

Hi Hema,

I do not know any Indians with PWS, but if it works the same as my skin did it turned white after the blood capularys where closed off.

Does she have dark or light Indian complextion?

The reason I ask is it might lighten the skin a little.

Yes there always will be different opinons about treatment do to beliefs and and family background.
It also depends on the condtions, because nobody as the exact same marks or condtion. It could be close but there is always differences.
I would not call it having to have laser treatments for the rest of your life, it is more like a touch up visit or two. Dr. Waner says after my marks are removed I might have to come back in fifteen years and get a touch up visit.

The last questions really should be answered by a doctor that knows the field, because I could tell you what I think but it will just be a guess. I have never seen your daugter and do not know how thick it is, or the size.

I think I covered everything I could let me know if there is more.

Hank

Hello Hank

Thanks for the response. In response to your question, my daughter does have medium-light Indian complexion, and indeed, I havent heard or known any Indian child known to have a PWS so far (atleast from what research I have done so far on PWS within this forum.)

The PWS exists on most part of her right cheek, right-half of her nose, and a partial region between the right nose and right upper lip, a tiny spot on the tip of her right eyebrow, and mildly at the beginning of her right upper eyelid.

While I will keep looking for additional information, I certainly appreciate your inputs so far.

Thanks, Hema

hi, my name is debbie i am an adult with facial pws, i am so glad to find other people who have had such sucess with laser ;D, i too hope to obtain treatment the only worry is cost. if anyone has any suggestions i'd love to hear them. debw