A man with half his face covered in a flint mole birthmark has undergone laser surgery so painful it has been described as “torture” in a desperate last-ditch attempt to remove the maroon mark.
In preview clips shot before the season finale of Dr. Pimple Popper, which airs tonight at 9pm ET, a man named Nhan reveals he has lost all hope of getting treatment for his large red mole.
Fire spot birthmarks are usually harmless, but when they appear on the face — especially over the eye — they can be linked to glaucoma and Sturge-Weber syndrome.
This can lead to seizures and other disabilities, while glaucoma can lead to blindness.
Seeking help: A man named Nhan reveals he was killed by Dr. Pimple Popper has lost all hope of having his large red birthmark removed on TLC
Insistent: Girlfriend Debbie is encouraging Nhan to get laser treatment for the birthmark that ‘ruined his life’
“I don’t really trust doctors anymore,” he confesses to his close friend Debbie. “I just lost hope, you know?”
But Debbie insists Nhan seeks help – especially given that his birthmark has already “destroyed everything he could have in life”.
“I have a strong feeling that Nhan was betrayed,” she says. “He has a big heart and he doesn’t deserve it.”
After being persuaded to act, he visits laser expert Dr. Arisa Ortiz for the agonizing procedure and staying awake the whole time.
“A laser like this could be a form of torture,” says Dr. Sandra Lee. “There’s a heat build-up, and it’s like having your best friend shoot you at point-blank range with a slingshot.”
But Nhan endures the pain bravely.
Although the procedure may seem simple, Dr. Sandra points out that it is complex due to a number of variables such as the patient’s skin color and age.
Although viewers will have to tune in to Wednesday’s episode to see Nhan’s results, it looks like the surgery is going positively.
Painful procedure: He asks the laser expert Dr. Arisa Ortiz for help – and stays awake for the duration of the procedure
Breakthrough treatment: Laser is believed to be the only procedure that can remove port-wine moles with less risk of scarring
Repeat visit: Nhan needs Dr. Visit Arisa for further treatment before his birthmark is removed
“They’re getting a great response,” says Dr. Arisa to him.
However, explains Dr. Sandra that Nhan needs to be prepared for one more treatment before the burn stain is removed.
“This is just the first of many treatments,” she says. “He must Dr. Visit Orteze at her practice again to really see an improvement here.”
Last year, an Australian mother was dubbed a “monster” by cruel trolls for choosing to laser remove the birthmark on her baby’s face – but she claimed she did it to help her child.
Housewife Brooke Atkins, 33, from Gold Coast, noticed her son Kingsley had a large “port” stain covering half his face.
“When he was first born we were referred to the Dermatology and Vascular Unit at Queensland Children’s Hospital where they organize the initial treatment and explain in more detail why lasers would be important,” she revealed at the time.
Housewife Brooke Atkins, 33, from Gold Coast, went viral earlier this year when she revealed she had lasered the birthmark of her young son’s birthmark
What is a port wine stain birthmark?
A port wine stain is a birthmark that results from overdevelopment of blood vessels under the skin.
The change in blood vessels is caused by a genetic mutation that occurs before a child is born and persists for the rest of a person’s life – although the severity varies from person to person.
Port wine stains begin as flat red or purple spots and can become more raised, voluminous, and darker over time.
They can appear anywhere on the body, but 65 percent of them occur on a person’s head or neck.
About three babies in 1,000 have a heartburn, and it’s more common in girls than boys, although the cause isn’t known.
Treatment usually involves laser resurfacing to remove some of the dark color from the mark, or covering the discoloration with a special type of makeup.
“The purpose of laser treatments is not to ‘remove’ the mole, but rather to keep the skin healthy to prevent further damage to the site.”
Speaking of the negative feedback she received online, Brooke said: “Honestly, when I first started reading the negative comments I sat there and cried for a good half hour.
“I felt a whole load of maternal guilt and it made me question my decision, even though I knew I was doing the right thing, the cruel words were still playing in my head.”
“Luckily for every negative comment there were 100 positive ones, so that helped a lot!”
“I just wish these people had known about the health issues associated with these types of birthmarks before writing these things, that it wasn’t for cosmetic reasons and that for us as parents, this was the hardest decision we’ll ever make had to.”
“That the last six months have been extremely tough for us and reading these comments actually hurts – that’s the last thing we need, judgment from those who don’t understand my son’s conditions.”
Elsewhere in today’s Dr. Pimple Popper finale, Debbie worries her shoulder lump is aging her prematurely.
Meanwhile, Justin has bumps sticking out of his scalp beneath his messy topknot.
The season finale of Dr. Pimple Popper airs on TLC tonight at 9 p.m. ET/PT.