I Went to Doctor John Harlan in Missoula, Montana for a light resurfacing procedure around mouth area (peri-oral)on 04/2004. Doctor Harlan instead resurfaced around orbital eye area (peri-orbital) and burned very heavy. The results were devastating. I developed weird burns and side effects around my eyes and clearly looked 10 to 15 years older within weeks. Dr Harlan did not call or follow up with me, even after I called in a panic.   I made an appointment to see what was happening, When Doctor Harlan came into the room, and saw my face, and how upset I was, he got visibly angry and dismissed my concerns, saying it was my fault of all things and that he would see me in a month. I left his office bewildered, devastated and literally in tears.

I was so devastated and couldn't leave the house because of my horrible skin, I began my journey to find out how to fix my face and who to go to. I started with the manufacturer of the device Dr. Harlan used. Then I made appointments to different doctors, including dermatological surgeons.

Both the manufacturer of the device and three other specialists told me that the resurfacing device was used wrong to cause my outcome and injuries, plus it was never supposed to be used on my skin type! the manufacturer was appalled at my after pictures. I have emails from them stating he was dead wrong to use the device on my skin type,I also have a letter from the attending nurse stating the device was used wrong.

One of the Doctors I went to for help afterward said my 'before' pictures would have made great 'after' pictures and that I had looked so much better before Dr. Harlan performed the resurfacing.

I have since found a wonderful doctor (out of state) that has fixed my bad results from Doctor John Harlan. My new doctor, as with any decent doctor I have since found, will follow up, give out a cell phone number, and conducts themselves in a professional and courteous manner.

It has taken 2 years and 8,000 dollars to get almost back to the way I looked before.   Dr. Harlan refused to even give me my money back, or help out with any
of the costs to fix my bad outcome.