American Laser Skincare
Reviews and Complaints

I wish I had researched ALC before I went there. If I had seen all of these complaints, along with other websites, including the BBB, I would have never went there!
I signed up for 8 VelaShape sessions for $2520.00. In the end, I was a half inch bigger than I was before I started. Of course, they don't guarantee anything, so you're just out the money, PERIOD. They don't even act like they care. It's all a scam, so once they get your money, it's all over with. It took me 2 months to get them to send me my records so that I could show my attorney. Of course, they didn't include everything. The Technicians made hand written notes with each visit. I had voiced my concerns each time, but I have no record of it. PLEASE DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THEM!

American Laser Centers is such a scam! I work at the Head Quarters in Farmington Hills, Mi. We bug the hell out of people calling them every other day, making them think that the $300 coupon they just received is something special! HA! We are at every show/expo we have raffle boxes in every tanning salon, hair salon, gym etc. Don't fall for the WIN Free Laser Hair Removal It's all a scam! Our services are Thousands of dollars and with this economy who they hell would spend that kind of money. You could buy a new car or give your kids something useful like a college fund! On top of the complaints we get from current customers. Customer Service SUCKS! You will be on hold for an hour and they are no longer giving refunds! The head honcho is back, Rich Morgan the founder for ALC. He is all about money not satisfaction! He would rob a blind man if he could! DO NOT! I repeat DO NOT book a consultation with the call center. You are only setting yourself up for HELL!

American laser has an incredible bad reputation, when it comes to customer service and honesty. "vela' do not get this service, you will be extremly disappointed and with $2000 less.

On sept. 2008 I signed up for a "vela" treatment, they promise 9 sessions each for an hour, also the manager hillary made it seem like it was as good as a liposuction that I only needed 9 sessions and I would get ridd of my belly fat.

The staff in the office where giving me a half hour sessions, instead of the hour, then when I complaint they gave me 45 min. It was like I had to constantly remind them that the treatment was for one hour.

I paid $2000 and im still with my belly fat, I have being working-out and dieting, the results are extremly poor.

Embarressed to admit, but currently an employee of American Laser Center and want everyone to know this company is fake! The treatments do not work, and only work temp. giving the elusion that it works. I am leaving this company due to unethical practices. The company is based on sales only and if techs do not make their goal they are fired. Thats why we push sales on clients! Please people beware of this company! Do your research and go to a doctor for treatments only! The regional manager Theresa Nelson is on a mission to make her bonus and goal and so are the clinical managers Joan Passow. They will do anything to make a sale and get their bonus! Including taking you for a ride! Also if you get a treatment and want a refund, the company will not give you one! And if you get burned, know one cares! The owner who just got out of jail said its not a big deal! Please dont go here!

I have gone to the place in Denver and have never been so upset. On there web site they state that it is pain free, yes on the neck it is but the face wow it its like getting poked by a nail and then some one comes and burns the hole and then they forgot to give me the lotion. My first 6 appointments for a week, a full week my face was red with pimples and I have never had that problem. People at my job make fun of me ever time I’m done with a operation It looks like someone beat me up or some one took a razor after me. Face hurts for a week after as well. So I go in for more treatments after the 6th one and still I have to shave every day. So I’m basically paying $ 3700 to have some one burn my face and then it does not even work on top of it and also I have to have a red face for a week after the procedure. So I have been trying to get a refund and that has been a nightmare. On May 14th I called to ask for a refund, I went down there they took pictures and stated they would submit to the doctors and they would call in 7 to 10 weeks. well 12 weeks went by and no one called so I called 3 different days and finally I got through on August 13th Denver management stated that they need more evidence I sent them pictures as well So 12 weeks go by and I have to call them again and they stated that your request was never sent in. So then this new person states she will submit it and it will take 1 to 2 weeks so I call again and they state nothing has came in and then 4 hours later some one calls from Denver and says its been denied. I don’t think this ever got through to a doctor. And How do I get a refund, Do I take them to small claims court on this?

After I realized that I was getting ripped off I decided to ask for a refund before my first treatment. They said that the manager was going to call me to get my credit card information. She never called me. I left 6 messages before I decided to call the corporate office. I called the corporate office and couldn't get through. Their hold times are 30 minutes! I kept getting the voicemail for the corporate manager and she never called me back. I left 4 messages and finally had to threaten to call the CEO when they finally connect me to her. It has been 8 weeks and I haven't recieved my refund yet.

I am an ex-employee of American laser centers and every complaint is true on here now when trying to get a refund they will tell you it will take 4-6 weeks (not true) Demand your refund with in 1-2 weeks and make sure you get the 10% they try to take from you. Even if you have had treatment you can still get a refund don't let them tell you otherwise. They discount based on what you look like if you look poor they'll drop the price if you look rich they'll give you the minimum discount for the month. Some managers are great and some can be MEAN! do your self the favor and don't go to ALC.

I have been a client of American Laser Center for 3 years and nowhere close to seeing any results! The only thing it did was scar my legs permanently! Not too mention the ridiculous price I paid. I think the public should be more aware of the consequences and the truth about laser hair removal. I have called the office manager numerous times and left messages but no one has responded. The last time I went in there was to take pictures to supposedly send to corporate but no one has bothered to keep me posted and follow up and this was over a month ago! They are the most unprofessional organization ever, and I have never known a company to change managers and have such a high employee turn around! Its crazy, they need to be shut down!

I attended a bridal event with a friend who was getting married & we both wound up "winning" a $300 coupon from American Laser. Once you go in they overwhelm you with information and get you to sign up for services that don't work (my friend got the hair removal package for the face & I went for foto facials). They are not trained professionals, their staff are not dermatologists & my skin developed MORE problems because of the extreme sensitivity to light that occurred after I started. I was told that I should be wearing factor 50 on my face... AFTER I received serious sun damage. I am locked into a package I do not want and what they offer you is cheaper and safer elsewhere. DON'T do it.

I bought a 5, 000 dollar package And went to all my treatments and there was no difference.This place is a total rip off

Do not waste your money on photofacials or microderms. They have you sign and initial paperwork that states if you do not have any results, sorry, they cannot control results. Well you probably will not get any resul;ts because the lasers are outdated or lame. I think they buy reject lasers at a low costs that do not deliver results. I wasted alot of time and gas to get a smoother and clearer complexion. I received zero results and spent over $2000 on nothing. Do your research and research the laser they will use, Ask how old it is and ask to see real patients and real results before you buy anything. I will not do any more business with them.

On May 12, 2008 at 6:00 in the evening, my sister and I had appointments at the 41 W. 72nd Street location of the American Laser Centers. I need to inform you about not only the most unprofessional situation that my sister and I have experienced to date, but also the most inhumane treatment my sister has endured. You must understand that it is extremely important to understand the entire background to this situation prior to me explaining about what one of your “professional employees” has done.

I will begin with the fact that my sister and I have purchased two Laser Hair Removal Packages…including a full leg, face and Brazilian bikini process. Previously, we were referred to the American Laser Center from a friend of mine that has had positive results from her treatment. We were then referred to the Center on 41 W. 72nd Street in New York City. We live over an hour away from this site and still chose to come to this facility because of the good things we have heard about the clinic manager, Marisa Penkalski, and the results I had observed on my friend.

My sister talked me into the purchasing the package, and although I was very nervous, decided to do it. On the way down to our first appointment, I was so nervous my hands were shaking. My sister on the other hand was the one who was not nervous at all and trying to console me to tell me everything would be okay.

Upon arrival, we filled out paperwork and awaited our procedures. My sister went in first to a room with a woman (and I use the term loosely) who even from the beginning seemed quite unprofessional. My sister explained that after she entered the room, ANGELA nudged Marisa right by the door and said “You are going to do this?” Marisa jokingly responded with “No.” Angela responded with “You know how I am!” and laughed out loud as Marisa walked away. Now, this could have meant just about anything at all, however, when you are there about to undress and hear someone laughing, you can imagine the thoughts that run through your own head-just unprofessional.

ANGELA asked my sister to undress and then lie down on the table. The first thing Angela said to my sister is appalling! She asked her in these exact words, “How many pounds are you? “ Normally, this type of question wouldn’t be questionable in a medical setting, but when my sister answered her, she looked at her with a face and widened eyes and she said, “Oh” in a condescending manner. My sister, although unhappy with her remark, didn’t think much of it because she had thought the employee needed to know the weight possibly to set the laser machine (which we later found out is not the case at all.) The session went on with a ‘quick lasering’ to the upper lip. (At this point my sister was asked about the strength of the laser…but as you will see there was no other time that she was asked about the tolerance or intolerance of the machine).

The employee then moved to the bikini area. (Later, after I spoke with her about EVERYTHING that this woman did to her…Her procedure was nothing like what I experienced…and like I stated previously, we ordered and paid for the same exact package.) In any case, after a very quick time spent in the bikini area, the employee lifted up the paper cover and told my sister that she could put her underwear back on because she was finished and going to start the legs. She then said, “You are not getting the back done right?” My sister said, “Yes, the back is included in a Brazilian, right? That is what my package includes.” With no verbal response at all, the employee rudely placed the paper cover back over my sister and went right on to the legs.

I should also say here that my sister said that it hurt on a certain area during the bikini portion of the treatment, and the woman told her “The pain is normal on these sensitive areas.” Having the same procedure done with another employee, I know that if I ever stated something hurt, the first thing she would do is stop and say, “Oh, do you want me to lower the strength?” Why wasn’t my sister given that respect of even a choice of what she could do to prevent increased pain?

As rude as it was for this person to not respond with a verbal answer to a question that my sister had obviously asked, and that she just moved on to another area of the body the second after my sister told her that in fact was a Brazilian that she paid for, is unprofessional and rude. She could have very easily said that she was sorry for the confusion and explained the next steps of the process.

At this point, the employee stopped where she started on the upper portion of the front of the leg, looked at the clock in the room, and said the following…in these exact words, “You know, your legs are going to take over 2 hours because they are really big.” My sister was shocked by the words she chose to use and then said, “Oh, well Marisa told me that it was going to take an hour or hour and 15 minutes for the entire process. How long is my sister’s going to take?” The employee responded with, “Is your sister as big as you are.” My sister was again surprised by the response and only responded with one simple word, “What?” She said, is your sister’s legs as big as yours are?” First of all how dare her! To make matters worse then they already were… She continued to tell her, “The bottom of your leg is the same size as the top of mine. Usually when women come in their 2 legs are the size of one of yours.” What person in their right mind compares there own body to someone else’s in a professional setting such as this. And when a person is in such a vulnerable state to disrobe all of her clothing in front of a stranger and then get ridiculed is beyond my understanding.

My sister could then only respond with this, “My sister is smaller than me…much smaller then me, ” in a sarcastic tone. At this point, my sister informed me that her eyes began to well up with tears out of shear embarrassment. My sister explained to me that the sarcastic tone in her in conjunction with the tears that had welled up in her eyes appeared to change the demeanor of the employee at that exact moment. The employee asked, “Are you okay?” My sister responded simply with, “Yes.” The employee continued on to say, “I don’t think you are okay.” My sister was mortified at this point but thought she should just stick out the horror to complete the procedure she had paid for. “She told the woman in tears that she was “fine and to just finish.”

A few seconds later when my sister swallowed the ‘frog in her throat” she explained this to the employee, “You know many people are VERY sensitive to things such as weight and that you really made me feel uncomfortable.” The employee stated that she was sorry and didn’t know what she said. (Obviously you can now tell that that remark is more condescending then anything else because right from the start, she had asked my sister’s weight which is NEVER asked of a client for this procedure. And of course, with the other remarks leading up to this, it doesn’t make sense that this person says, “I don’t know what I said.”)

When the employee finished the top of her legs and asked my sister to turn over, my sister was so embarrassed that she started to cry and told the woman, “You know what, I can’t do this anymore.” The person turned off the machine and told her, “No just sit and relax and I’ll get you water.” My sister said, No! I want to get out of this room!” As she dressed herself with the lady still in the room, the woman continued to profess that that she didn’t know what she said. My sister could only bring herself to say through tears, “The remarks you made to me in the manner in which you said them have made me feel extremely embarrassed and uncomfortable.”

My sister being the good person she is went out to the waiting room and cried as she later told me she didn’t want my new and exciting experience to be ruined like hers was. Without knowing anything that was going, I happened to be experiencing the exact opposite of experiences my sister had. A little more than half way through, my technician, Libby, went to the room my sister was previously in to see of the other technician was finished with the other machine. (It was quicker than the one she was using with me, and she wanted to use it on me when my sister’s session was over.)

Libby came back into my room and said to me, “I just want to let you know that Angela just told me that your sister seemed to be “upset” about something and that Angela said “she didn’t know why.” (We already know that my sister explained to her why she was upset, so her remark, again, was a lie!)

Then Libby had to go out one more time and when she returned she said to me, “Listen, I don’t know your sister but it looks like she may have been crying. ( I later found out that this was approximately 15 minutes after my sister had left her room). Shocked, I just asked, “No, that can’t be. Is her face just red?” Libby did say that her face was red, so I assumed that she was mad about something that went on with the procedure itself. Never did I think that it could have been anything so horrible and embarrassing and abusive as what I was about to hear. As I finished my process, Libby professionally explained to me that I should go out and speak with my sister in private to see what happened and that she would wait with the door closed to give us privacy. She also very generously offered to try to “fix” anything that may have happened to my sister during the procedure. Little did I know the only thing she would be attempting to fix was a broken heart.

As I opened the door to the waiting room to ask my sister what happened, my sister looked up at me and began to sob so horribly that I couldn’t even make out a word she was saying. Libby then came out of the room right away to see if everything was okay. My sister was crying so terribly as she tried to explain the story to Libby and me. At that point, I asked Libby to call Marisa, the manager, because this was more than unacceptable. She did so right away still offering her sincere apologies to my sister and me.

My sister attempted to tell the story to the manager still in tears, and something interesting came out of this. Marisa had informed my sister that Angela had called her earlier to say, “I think one of my client’s was upset during the procedure. I think she might have got upset because I told her that it might take a little longer to do her legs then what was planned.” (Here we know that THAT is a LIE, because before she had told my sister and Libby that she “didn’t know what she had said” and that “she didn’t know why my sister was upset.”) So all of a sudden, she decides to call the manager and she miraculously knows ONE of the reasons that upset my sister---of course with a little sugar coating.

My sister went on to explain to Marissa the EXACT words that came out of her employees mouth as well as the rest of the horrible things Angela had said and did to her. She made it clear that the remarks relating to her legs were just the last straw to one full hour of the most embarrassing experience of her life beginning from the second she was rudely asked for her weight.

As I took the phone to speak to Marisa myself, Libby tried to console my sister as I spoke. I don’t want to disregard the fact that I had a wonderful experience and that my person made me feel more than comfortable at all times and was very skilled in her technique during the laser removal process.

However, when I compared every step of what was performed on me to whatever was done to my sister, I was even angrier. My procedure was very thorough and throughout the whole time, I was asked about intensity and how much I could tolerate or not tolerate. My sister was not asked this at all except for in the very beginning on her upper lip. Also, I compared where the laser was placed on her body compared to wear it was placed on mine, and it was NOT the same as what this person did with the laser on my sister.

Honestly, we have paid a lot of money between the two of us for these procedures and I feel that even with all of the horrible things that have just happened put aside…we should have been getting the same detailed and precise work as the next person who puts their trust into your employees to perform fair, equal, and legitimate treatment procedures.

It is imperative that this be taken seriously, as I am classifying this as verbal abuse and harassment. It breaks my heart to watch my sister cry and hear my sister say to me, “I feel like this woman just did not even want to work on me from the beginning because of my weight.” I mean really, imagine something you have dealt with all of your life-both internally and externally- day in and day out-and then it happens…your worst nightmare comes true! All of the things you are scared of and think about on a daily basis…come to surface by the words and rude unprofessional actions of an ignorant, animal of a person in your most vulnerable moment- (naked in front of a stranger.)

I can’t explain to you the pain my sister is now going through at this moment, but it was and always will be harassment in the form of verbal abuse. This is by far unacceptable and what happened on this Tuesday evening at the 42 W. 72 Street American Laser Center is not going to end there.

There is nothing that can be done to heal what my sister has endured and is still going through at this very moment. I am sure the feeling of embarrassment, horror, sadness and even shock that a person could actually say and act that way, will not ever really leave her heart or mind.

---- It has now been over 2 months and not only has my credit score been affected, but my mental state has really been affected in a horrible way. All we are asking is that a full refund is issued. This has been mentally draining and I need this to be out of my life. I can’t understand how a company could treat a human being this way and it is appalling. Below I am going to list everyone I have left messages for, e-mailed, or spoke with without any resolution to my case.

Marissa Penkalski – Manager of Upper west side laser center
[protected]

Carina Rodriguez – General Manager of NYC centers
[protected]

Robert ? – head of legal department at ALC
[protected]@alcpartner.com

Eva ? – head of refund department at ALC

Kim Kuster – customer service rep who “promised” calls and answers

Vita – customer service rep who also “promised” calls and answers

This will be short and simple. Do not go to any American Laser Centers. Especially the clinic in
Greenwood, IN. I just recently moved in the area looking for a place to receive great hair removal BUT OH MY GOD I was in for a nasty treat when I step foot in this place. My first tx was terrible some new girl burned me, at first I was going to let it slide, but I called and spoke to the manager Amanda her name needs to be AIR HEAD INSTEAD she was very short with me and rude she even had the nerve to say she was having a bad day and was very red in the face. But to make a long story short I for gave her. Funny me and Amanda even became friends, and she gave me corporates phone number for a friend of mine in Miami, FL that is having problems at the clinic there.[protected] aks to speak to or leave a message for the regional mgr or HR. STILL PLEASE DO NOT GO TO THE GREENWOOD, IN CLINIC those girls need to be retrained.

At american laser centers, estheticians are performing procedures are not lawfully able to perform.

I was reading some updates that texas department licensing & regulations has made. For those of you in the esthetics industry, you should read this and watch your back. Employers will try to make you do things that are not under the realm of your license! Yet when you get caught, you're on your own. Tdlr will come after you. . . .

9. As a facialist in a medical spa, may I perform laser hair removal, laser resurfacing, or laser teeth whitening through delegation or supervision by a physician, nurse, or dentist?

No. A facialist specialty license does not authorize facialists to use lasers, including lasers for hair removal, skin resurfacing, or teeth whitening. To the extent, if any, that a physician may delegate the use of lasers to a non-medical licensee, please contact the texas medical board at [protected] or [protected] or at http://www.Tmb. State. Tx. Us. To the extent, if any, that a dentist may delegate the use of lasers to a non-dental licensee, please contact the texas state board of dental examiners at [protected] or at http://www.Tsbde. State. Tx. Us. To the extent, if any, that a nurse may delegate the use of lasers to a non-nurse licensee, please contact the board of nurse examiners at [protected] or at http://www.Bne. State. Tx. Us.

10. If I hold a facialist license, may I perform additional procedures (Procedures not authorized by my facialist specialty license) because I work with or am supervised by a licensed medical doctor or nurse?

No, a facialist specialty license does not authorize a facialist to perform additional procedures or a more advanced or expanded scope of practice depending on the facialist’s place of employment or title of employer.

Lasers

15. Does my facialist specialty license authorize me to perform laser hair removal?

No, a facialist specialty license does not authorize the use of lasers. Under 16 t. A. C. 83.10 (8) , a facialist may temporarily remove hair by depilatory, mechanical tweezers, or wax. Laser hair removal is not a temporary hair removal method, and cannot be performed by facialists.

16. Does my facialist specialty license authorize me to perform laser skin resurfacing?

No, a facialist specialty license does not authorize a facialist to use lasers. Laser skin resurfacing methods affect areas of live tissue below the epidermis. Facialists may remove dead skin cells, but may not affect or treat live tissue. You may learn more information from the texas medical board at [protected] or [protected] or at http://www.Tmb. State. Tx. Us.

17. Does my facialist specialty license authorize me to perform laser teeth whitening?

No, a facialist specialty license does not authorize a facialist to use lasers. You may learn more information about laser teeth whitening from the texas state board of dental examiners at [protected] or at http://www.Tsbde. State. Tx. Us.

Unregulated services

20. Does my facialist specialty license authorize me to perform body wraps?

No, a facialist specialty license does not authorize facialists to perform body wraps. Under occupations code, sections 1602.257 and 1602.002 (A) (7) , facialists may only beautify a person’s face, neck or arms. However, as of the date of this publication, the department is not aware that body wraps are a regulated service in texas. If unregulated, any person may provide body wrap services.

Delegation to facialists

7. Can a doctor delegate cosmetology procedures in a salon to a facialist?

No. Regardless of a facility’s name (Salon, medical office, medispa, etc. ) , a facialist may lawfully practice under the facialist specialty license in an establishment that holds a cosmetology salon license, without delegation. In fact, a doctor cannot delegate cosmetology procedures. A doctor may delegate only medical procedures in accordance with the laws and rules relating to the medical license. Also, under occupations code, section 1602.403, a salon must, at all times, be under the direct supervision of a cosmetologist.