Emily’s Laser Treatment

My Daughter, Emily Hallett, was born with a facial port wine stain birthmark. The photos above are from when she was little, a recent family photo and one from after her treatment last week.

From 18 months to 16 years she had 15 laser treatments at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Unfortunately, Emily's birthmark did not respond and was classed as "stubborn birthmark". Now at 33, her birthmark is changing and becoming harder to cover with makeup. Sadly, adult birthmark laser treatment is not covered on the NHS, as it is deemed to be cosmetic. Emily has spoken to a couple of Laser Surgeons, who have advised her that her birthmark is becoming more prominent and is likely to disfigure as she gets older. They think that the more up to date lasers can dramatically lighten her birthmark, but this comes at a cost. It is estimated that she will need around 8 treatments over the next 18 months, each treatment costing around £600. The treatment causes extreme bruising and burning pain, so Emily will also have to cover the additional costs to her business with extra staffing etc. We have therefore set up this page to just try and get a little support with the costs.

During Emily's consultation with the surgeon she had to talk about her birthmark with a frankness she'd never experienced before. I learnt so much about the inner demons she has lived with her entire life. We all grow up with "issues", but Emily's is on her face for all of us to see. From being bullied at school to comments in public, these have all taken their toll on her self esteem. Emily says her birthmark is the second thing she thinks about after breathing. Her partner and children have not seen her without makeup. She wears it 24 hours a day, taking it off to shower and then reapplying it. She carries makeup with her at all times, checking and reapplying it.

Any help you are happy to give would be so gratefully received as every penny counts. Perhaps helping Emily to walk with her head held high and make-up free xx