IPL - share your results

[Anonymous]

My dermatologist says I’m a good candidate for IPL - I’m pale and freckly with sunspots and some broken capillaries on my cheeks and nostrils.

My sister recently did her first IPL treatment. Honestly, she looks no different than she did before the treatment. She had a couple of small bruises and the “coffee grinds” on her face after the procedure and they have sloughed off (and I can see the bruises have gone away), but imo those little spots were not even noticeable on her face before the procedure. The larger/more noticeable imperfections like sun spots and broken blood vessels look exactly the same. I also think one of her eyes looks different now - it is a little swollen in the undereye “bag” area. Of course I haven’t said any of this to her! But I have obviously been really inspecting since I, too, am considering doing IPL.

This is a decent amount of money to me and while I know there is no guaranty, I’m worried my derm has overhyped the benefits of IPL and that my results would be like my sister’s.

If you’ve done IPL, can you describe how you think the results were? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I have had 12 sessions of IPL. It completely got rid of my melasma. It has dramatically reduced my redness from rosacea. I have much more even skintone now. It is not a one and done procedure, but it really works. I also believe that it has slowed the appearance of fine lines, because my skin is plumper. I am not interested in more invasive and painful laser procedures, so I’m willing to commit to several sessions each winter!

[Anonymous]

My friend got it done and had a great result - she had tons of coffee grinds slough off and I had a couple of spots so decided to do it.
Nothing. My face might look a little better but not enough for the $$ I paid. I STILL need to use major concealer on one spot.

[Anonymous]

I'm 58, grew up on a farm, didn't wear sunscreen growing up and spent 4 years in the tropics. I'm fair skinned, blue eyed with reddish hair and rosacea.

I got my first IPL treatment about 15 years ago and have had sessions at 4 different places since then and 1 laser treatment at my old dermatologist's for some broken capillaries. IME, the level of intensity/strength of the IPL determines what kind of results you get. Also at play is how much sun damage you have. I had 3 sessions at one place and I could hardly tell they did anything (thank goodness it was a Groupon). The laser treatment at my dermatolgists was the most effective on the but it was also the most expensive. At this point, it's a better value for me to have 4 IPL treatments than 1 laser treatment. The IPL also hits my sunspots. The laser was targeting the broken capillaries only.

Just last month, I got my first IPL since before COVID. I did my face and, for the first time, my hands. I had far more dramatic results on my hands than on my face but the spots were also far, far more prevalent on my hands. If your sister's face was in good shape to begin with, I wouldn't expect dramatic results. HTH

[Anonymous]

I had an initial series of 3 or 4 IPL and now do once or twice a year. I am 50 and have red hair and lots of sun damage. The IPL removed the majority of the sun spots on my face, I think after the second treatment I saw the greatest results. I had so many coffee ground spots after my second treatment, I was even hesitant to go out for a few days.

[Anonymous]

I had a series of 3-4, settings as high while still being safe, and it did nothing for me. I think the problem is you won't know until you try.

[Anonymous]

Fractional laser worked better for me

[Anonymous]

I am also fair and freckly with lots of sunspots, some broken capillaries and redness. I don’t get zits but I do get a flushed face and rosy cheeks.

I bought a 4 pack of BBL (my derm recommended BBL specifically for best results). After the first treatment (October) all my age spots were gone - it was amazing. I had a lot so that made a big difference. The first treatment didn’t seem to affect my redness whatsoever though.

The second treatment (December) had a substantial impact on my redness. I still have a little but I’ve been told to expect even more improvement on redness with the 3rd and 4th treatments.

I was supposed to do all the treatments in one month intervals, but I failed at that. I’ll probably do the third this month and save the fourth for the fall,because the results have been so good, I’ll just save that one for a maintenance treatment post summer.

PS I swelled like CRAZY after my first treatment. Like I literally woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t see because my lower eyelids puffed up. Most people do not react anywhere near that badly but they did tell me it was within the bounds of normal. That’s partly why I delayed my second treatment. But I didn’t swell the second time.

[Anonymous]

I did 2 ipl sessions and have zero results

[Anonymous]

I agree with the PP who said that the laser strength matters greatly I've had IPL done (to treat rosacea) at three different dermatologists' offices, multiple times at each, and they were like three completely different treatments. The brand of laser and the "volume" they crank it to are what matters -- but I don't know what to ask for, and the only office where the treatment worked closed However, the downside is that the better it works, the more it HURTS. Ouch.

[Anonymous]

Hahahh so true! The higher they turn it up the more it hurts. It has helped my rosacea and melasma for sure. I always look amazing 1-2 months following! Like skin glowing... That fades but the treatment of my broken capillaries seems to face with each treatment. I just do it once a year.

[Anonymous]

I’d do PDL if general redness and broken capillaries are your primary concerns.

[Anonymous]

NP, but where do you go to get this sort of thing done and who recommends whether you should have IPL, laser, something else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP, but where do you go to get this sort of thing done and who recommends whether you should have IPL, laser, something else?

I see a cosmetic dermatologist for PDL, Fraxel, etc. Dr. Adrian at the Center for Laser Surgery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friend got it done and had a great result - she had tons of coffee grinds slough off and I had a couple of spots so decided to do it.
Nothing. My face might look a little better but not enough for the $$ I paid. I STILL need to use major concealer on one spot.

This happened to a friend of mine with the first dermatologist. Then she saw a different one with MUCH better results.