Buccal Fat Pad and All Fat Pads in my Face Were Damamged by 12 IPL Laser Treatments, Will The Fat Come Back?

I was told by a plastic surgeon that there is a chance that my buccal fat pads and other facial padding can regenerate after 2 years if they were melted by the IPL laser treatments. Is this true? I have a gaunt, saggy, loose looking face with no symmetry, elasticity or shape. Is it possible for the buccal fat pads to regenerate or are they gone?

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3 Doctor Answers | Asked by KApanda in Kahului, HI

Doctor Answers (3)
Community Comments (2)

IPL and Buccal Fat Pads

I fully agree with my other colleagues on this topic. IPL is a light-based treatment. It doesn't have the ability to diminish, treat, or melt fat. Did you do any other treatments that might have more of an effect on deeper skin, like Titan or Thermage or something that penetrates deeper in the skin? Because IPL cannot penetrate deep enough to affect fat - it's a surface light treatment only. I would suggest you consult another physician, and possibly get a consultation for Restylane... more

IPL Does Not Affect Fat

IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light, does not penetrate deeply enough to remove fat beneath the skin. IPL is light of wavelengths between 420-1200 nm. Excessive sun exposure, tobacco use and age all cause loss of elasticity of the skin. Your skin should recover from IPL treatments 6-12 weeks after the last treatment. You might discuss other treatment options if your skin is gaunt and saggy, such as facelift, Pelleve, ablative laser treatments and other options. Fat grafting can also add... more

IPL and fat loss

I do not think it is possible for IPL to melt facial fat because it really is a skin surface treatment and does not penetrate deep enough. If it is really that easy to melt fat, we would all be using IPL to melt the love handles rather than using liposuction. You should consider fat transfer to the face.

Comments (2)

aimhigher 7 Nov 2012

I have full facial fat loss right after fraxel dual on a very high setting it was very, very, obvious to everyone that knew me and my facial structure is changed forever.The doctors who do lasers and ipl all know they have the capacity to burn fat but don't admit because of legal issues

Anne Smith 18 Jul 2012

I too, along with many others, have experienced this with IPL treatments. I am 20 years old so it is not from aging. Seriously, doctors need to get a clue. How many times has there been a "safe" drug or treatment that has turned out to have unknown negative side effects? I'm tired of doctors acting like it's so unreasonable when it happens all the time. Either they don't know what they are talking about, or they are purposefully keeping their mouths shut. I was never informed this may happen when I did these treatments, or else I wouldn't have done so many of them, if any at all. Please post to let me know if it is improving. I am hoping everyday that this damage will heal.

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