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When Should Swelling Dissipate After IPL?

asked 3 years ago by oldteacher in Pennsylvania
Latest answer by Elaine R. Cook, MD
Question viewed 7,158 times

I am 51. I had an IPL two days ago. Some parts of my face are still swollen especially under my eyes. (The brochure said swelling for a few hours or a day, or more. But the technician did not prepare me for any swelling.)

Is this normal? Will it go away? It seems like the skin under my eyes will have more wrinkles due to the puffiness. Did I create a bigger problem?

3 answers to When Should Swelling Dissipate After IPL?

+2

Swelling after IPL can take up to 1 week

Swelling after IPL under the eyes can happen but it's not very common. It is unusual that you see more wrinkles on that area just because when the skin is swollen the wrinkles are less visible. I would recommend icing the area 2-3 times a day, using aloe gel or hydrating eye cream. The skin under the eyes is more delicate and it's normal to take longer for the complete recovery.
Gregory Turowski, MD, PhD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Prevent and reduce swelling under the eyes after IPL

Some patients do experience more swelling under the eyes after IPL. I am one of them. It seems to happen more frequently in patients with diffuse redness pre-treatment more than in those with mainly brown spots or larger veins. It is also more common in patients with thin skin, or those who have been on tretinoin. Usually it resolves in 3-5 days, but rarely I have seen it last as long as 7-10 days. For those patients who are more prone to swelling, and for myself, we have found that... more
Elaine R. Cook, MD

Amarillo Dermatologist
+1

The swelling should disappear within a week.

Thanks for your question. IPL can cause slight swelling for up to 2-3 days, but in cases where the inflammation may be more, it may take slightly longer for the swelling to settle down. This might be the case in your situation, and I would simply give it more time and see how it looks after one week. Under no circumstances would I worry that IPL gave you more wrinkles. Perhaps it may feel like that because of the swelling and the appearance of new lines, but again, this will be temporary... more
Don Mehrabi, MD

Beverly Hills Dermatologist

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