Risks

The use of large quantities of high potency topical anesthetics to large surface areas of the skin, particularly when applied under occlusion, such as under plastic wrap, may result in lidocaine toxicity and resulting arrhythmias, and is contraindicated. According to published reports, two women completely coated their legs in topical anesthetic cream while at home and then suffered a toxic reaction on their way to the laser clinics, which led to coma and then death.Risks include the chance of burning the skin or discoloring dark skin with the laser, hypopigmentation (white spots), and flare of acne. Some point to the lack of proper government regulations in many countries as meaning that patients are at risk of being treated by improperly trained staff.