"This is a huge disappointment for me," said Carter, who faces six months out of action after being injured in a tackle with Stade Francais No10 Juan Martin Fernandez.
"I discovered another type of rugby, and I like that. I'm just disappointed not to be able to play a full season.
"Maybe I'll come back to play in Perpignan after the Rugby World Cup in 2011."
Carter will return to New Zealand to play his part in the All Blacks' quest for World Cup glory on home soil having been given a short-term sabbatical by the New Zealand Rugby Union to travel over to France.
Carter, who has 59 international caps to his name, now faces his first lengthy spell on the sidelines in a so far stunning career, but he claims he has no doubts that experiencing rugby and life in another country was the right decision to make.
"I'm going to be operated on on Thursday in Paris. I'm going to be unavailable for six months," added Carter.
"It's the first time in my career that I'll have to take such a long break.
"I don't regret coming to play at USAP (Perpignan)."
