i've been looking on the internet and i came across a website that said the VBeam is better than the PDL, mainly because the VBeam is a newer version of the PDL... (they must use the same method)

I'm just wondering if anyone from the UK knows anywhere where this laser is practiced, because if i'm going to get any laser...i want the one with the most promised results.

Thanks guys and gals.

Hi

Just to clarify PDL is not a brand name it is the name given to a type of laser.

The most common PDL laser is the VBeam made by Candela. To be honest I have not heard of anyone getting PDL treatment other than with the Vbeam.

The Vbeam comes in a few different models as can be seen on their site:

Candela Laser: Products for Cosmetic Laser Treatment Procedures

Anne do you know of any VBeam practitioners in the UK...if not where will i find out.

Your hospital seems to have a pretty go ahead dermatological unit. I am not sure if they treat KPRF under the NHS but you could sort that out. This is a link to their site:

Newcastle Hospitals - Skin Laser Service

They don't actually mention vbeam however if they are treating port wine stains this is most likely the laser they are using.

It would be a good place to start and if they are unable to do they should be able to recommend a reputable vbeam practitioner in the area.

Best wishes

I am also looking for a vbeam in London as it happens. One I have found is at The Lister Hospital

The Lister Hospital - Laser Unit

Also here at a hospital in chelmsford:

Laser Treatments

thanks for that. am so glad that this community of KP sufferers are all sticking together.

hey krissy, did you happen to find any more vbeam practitioners in the UK?

I'm in London, and can't find a single on here....

Terry

When I read your post my first thought was "there must be one" Your city is over twice the population of my whole country!

Anyway had a quick look on the net but surprisingly nothing presented itself.

I used to live in London (Enfield (North London) but never investigated lasers at the time.

Keep on looking - there must be some dermatologist site for London or South England that has a list of derms on it but unfortunately I couldn't find that either.

you would think so, but for some reason most of the lasers here (not the vbeam) are in "aesthetic" practices, and operated by a beautician with a laser course.
In america it seems different in that doctors, and dermatologists actually perform the procedures, which is of course what we as KPRF sufferers need.
Anyway, I am going up to chelmsford to have a test patch done at the laser unit there (vbeam perfecta)

I will keep a log of my progress.

Terry

VBeam is also PDL am i right Anne. here you go terry.

The Lister Hospital - Laser Unit

(scroll to the bottom it tells you it's in London)

Post your success in the laser subforum.
(post pics as well, even if there bad quality)

Just reading their web page the place in Lister would be worth looking into. They seem to have all the lastest PDL lasers.

Let us know how you get on.

I am absolutely outraged at the cost of Vbeam treatment in london. I managed to track down what seems to be the only Vbeam laser at the Lister Hospital. I called about treatment and they gave me a few numbers of consultants who use the Vbeam, who I would have to go through to gtet treatment.

I called all of them, mostly dermatological and plastic surgeons.

Well one place quoted £475 for just the consultation and test patch ($1000)!!!!
The cheapest was £150 ($300) for a consult wih a dermatologist, then a further £100 ($200) for a test patch.
Becasue they all use the Vbeam at the hospital, one secretary told me the hospital rates for the laser.

On a 10mm head :
0-15 pulses £170 ($340)
between 100- 275 pulses £1200 ($2400) !!!!

I was speechless. That is SIX times what a Vbeam full face treatment costs in San Francisco.
I told her this and she very rudely responded that I should get it done in America then.
Now I earn the same as my american counterpart, but the cost of living here is one and a half times the most expensive cities in the US. I am furious that this kind of treatment is effectively put completely out of reach of even well salaried professionals. A large percentage of people in the UK (myself included) don't have private health insurance, as we have the NHS here, but of course this kind of thing is covered by neither.

I intend writing to Candela to complain about this, but now my only option is multiple journeys out of the country to get the treatment done.

Terry

from the prices you have just said i think it woulf be cheaper to fly out to America, get the treatment done and fly back.

How about trying out of London. The overheads for buisness in London must be so much higher.

I found the same in NZ when I first went looking for PDL lasers. The only one in the country was operated by a derm in one of the poshest suburbs in our largest city. Cost for consultation and one treatment was about $2,300 (NZ).

Luckily for me by the time I began looking for a second treatment I found a PDL laser in a smaller town closer to me and treatment only cost $750 (NZ).

In order to find out who had PDL lasers in NZ I went straight to the NZ dermatological society. Do you have a similiar soiciety you could contact to help point you in the right direction?

heres an international laser directory right here.

Laser Directory