IPL Reviews
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“Would NOT Recomment IPL for Freckles and Sun Spots”
2540anon
Not Worth It
Spent: $600 in Flushing, NY
Spent: $600 in Flushing, NY
Went to dermatologist for consult about having some freckles & sun spots removed. After a quick look at my face, the doctor said he could remove everything with 1 session of IPL for $600. I'd become increasingly self-conscious of minor blemishes and dark spots left behind by sun damage and acne. I said I wanted to do it. The doctor told the nurse to prep me right away. I stopped him saying I had to work tomorrow (I bartend), and since the recovery time is 1-2 wks, I should reschedule. He brushed it off saying I should be fine tomorrow, it was minor &I'd be able to work. His nurse chimed in repeating the same. I was reluctantly persuaded to have it done that day.
They numbed my face and right before the precedure was done, the nurse handed me a short 1 page consent and disclaimer form to sign. She seemed put out when I insisted on reading it first. I had it done.
Aftercare- I had to prompt for insturctions beyond bacitracin oinment and no lotion for 2 weeks. I asked about make-up since they said I sould work the next day. She wasn't sure.
Needless to say I couldn't work the next day, or the one after that, or the one after that. I've lost 4 days work, (5 shifts) so far and will lose at least one more. So the real cost of this procedure is actually easily twice what I paid. Add to it, my face is now swollen, blotchy and patchy, this has NOT been a good experience. I am afraid my face is going to end up worse off than it was before as the spots seem to be forming dark pigments on my skin (after the original spot was shed).
Can anyone take a look and let me know if I should be worried. The last pictures are of day 5 after. I seem to lood worse and worse.
Updated on 14 Feb 2011:
Absolutely no aftercare. I had to do everything and ask myself. My skin is now worse off than it was before I ever saw him and his doctors. I definitely do not recommend his practice.
This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.
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My Doctor: James J. Cui, MD, PhD
My rating:
He and his nurse just wanted my money. Despite my protest that I had to work the next day, they went back on their word about 1-2 week recovery period and said I'd be fine the next day. I was not fine and have lost a lot of money losing a week of work. And my face doesn't seem to be healing right. It's swollen and splotchy and rough.
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KikiLisa, if you don't mind helping us out in regards to how your doing your after care?
I had ipl, 2 sessions, done last summer. Same old story, did all my research before undergoing ipl, saw nothing negative, asked all the right questions. I was scheduled for 4 sessions, I stopped at 2, 2 weeks apart. Had a nice smooth complexion before, just wanted to get rid of a few sun spots and keep a healthy glow. BIG MISTAKE! Have orange peel skin now, I didn't outright burn but I have linear scars all over my face, and it's not that bad compared to what I've seen other people go through, but it's still damn right depressing knowing I'm stuck like this permanantly. What did you do for after care? I'm at a loss. Just using ROC treatments, which actually seem to help a little. Very little though. I want to post as to many sights and places to discourage men and woman to avoid lasers...
While I agree that some skin types should avoid IPL or approach it with great care, I've had 6 treatments on maximum so far, and there is no evidence of skin destruction.
Every person is different. With any procedure it's up to the consumer to do research and evaluate the risks. No one should ever rely purely on the opinion of the therapist/doctor.
Because you were satisfied, and some others weren't, you cannot say this procedure is dangerous for all people.
Writing in this matter is simply spreading the same misinformation you claim to be fighting.
People must be wise enough to use such products with great caution and at at low, measured doses. Sadly many people assume because those things are packaged and sold commercially they're safe to use any way they want. They are WRONG.
IPL, or any cosmetic treatment designed to permanently change skin colour, is in the same category as the above.
It can cause embarrassment and pain for people when poorly recommended and utilised. But it can do wonders, as it has for me, when patch=tested properly and used for the skin types it was meant for.
I'm sorry for the people who had bad experiences with IPL. But I live in a country where sun damage on light skinned people is a plague. I would deeply regret if IPL were taken away from people who needed it, simply because others used it incorrectly, or were poorly advised.
Germany seems to be one of the few countries in the world that understand the dangers of IPL. German doctors/scientist have written peer reviewed studies on the possible dangers of reiterative IPL treatments. Sadly, in the US our doctors are more interested in getting these expensive devices paid for with numerous treatments to unwitting patients than in the negative side effects that arise repeatedly from these devices.
Acne.org had a regulary poster who had IPLs for YEARS and was just fine, but one day (using the same doctor, same settings) her treatment went awry for no apparent reason causing scarring and volume loss. She touted IPL for years on acne.org. She had fat grafts to try to fix her volume loss. Last I heard, she no longer even posts.
If you PM me, I'll be happy to send you links to MANY articles speaking of how cosmetic devices such as IPL can and do cause great harm. Yes, 1000s are treated yearly by these devices and not everyone does have a bad outcome, but many do and many more than you'll read about here.
Have you ever checked out the FDA MAUDE database for adverse events from cosmetic medical devices? IPL leads the pack in adverse events.
It's a gamble you take when having these treatments done. You just have to decide for yourself if you're willing to gamble your skin and possibly health..benefit vs risk. Personally, I'm no longer the gambling type when it comes to my skin or my health.
I'm glad to see that everyone is trying to research as well as they can, and thanks for the info kikilisa.
I stumbled upon something kind of random. Just lately I've been incredibly stressed out, and started breaking out, maybe my hormones could actually be a little off..not sure. But I went to go buy the Neutrogena Acne Complete System, and it's been two weeks. My face has been peeling ridicoulosly, but low and behold my skins texture has made a dramatic transformation. The lines are a bit smoother, and the orange peel is fading away. It's not a fun product, it's itchy and drying, but I can't believe that my skin is looking way better in texture and color!I have to bring in a non alcholic toner sometimes to get the massive peeling off without picking at it. But this is so freaking wierd! And i'm happy. It's not the biggest improvement, but it's definetely noticable. I know not everything works for all, but my dark spots are also just peeling off. It does leave my face tight, not pleasant, but its looking good. Aliciapie, I don't even know if you suffer from acne or want to get ipl for dark spots, but this may be worth a try. And if you're okay with looking oddly goofy with peeling skin...lol...It's not that bad considering I've seen a nice imporvement on my sun spots and texture. I'm sure its a temporary treatment, but then again so is ipl, and there arn't as many risks.
I'm still on the acne product. The peeling has slowed, the orange texture is there but it's more even and seems less shallow I as I mention before, so I'm still thrilled. Fat loss, yes, I have it, will it stay....probably. I'm going to go for microdermabrasion, I'll stick to it once a month on top of my acne regimen, and I'll keep everyone posted.
The forum posts indicate that light 'Irish' skinned people find IPL excellent for pigmentation, whereas all other people should approach it with great caution.
The use of IPL or laser for acne treatment is suspect, that seems well established. Acne is a deep hormonal issue, any topical treatment is going to have limited use.
Before anyone makes sweeping statements about IPL, we need to consider that there are 4 distinct groups here: light skinned, darker skinned, pigment and acne prone. The evidence is that the experience of IPL is different, but quite predictable for all of these groups.
I also have to inlaws that are cosmetic surgeons, had they known I was going they would have stopped me dead in my tracks... It didn't occur to me to tell them because I thought IPL was the lightest of them all, and just assumed they performed lasers too. Guess what, they don't, and they wanted to kill me for doing it.
I'm backing you up on this one.
PL3ski, take before and after pics after every ipl and keep us posted. How many ipl's have you had done so far?