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POSTED UNDER IPL REVIEWS

Would NOT Recomment IPL for Freckles and Sun Spots

ORIGINAL POST

Went to dermatologist for consult about having...

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2540anonMay 23, 2010
$600

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.

2540anon's provider

James J. Cui, MD, PhD - Account Suspended

Dermatologic Surgeon, Board Certified in Dermatology

2540anon

2540anon rating for Dr. Cui:

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Answered my questions
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Replies (4)

Aliciapie
June 20, 2010
How are you doing now? It looks like those brown spots would eventually come off. Not sure how long ago you had the procedure. I just booked IPL in two weeks for sunspots.
littlemo6
June 25, 2010
I had IPL a few years ago and it made a huge improvement to my skin. Yes, after each procedure the face looked awful with brown spots BUT there was never any swelling like I have seen in your pictures. That should not have happened. It looks like whoever did the procedure used too much power on your skin. Go back for a review but do not have any more treatment from this practice or go see someone else for an opinion and help.
abluesgirl
August 22, 2010
Hope things are better now! I never had pain when I got my IPL treatments and I was fine the next day (just a slight rosiness). That doctor sounds terrible.
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Jason_Ames
October 9, 2010
That's pretty much what I looked like. It all peeled out after a week. Looked way better afterwards though. I don't work face to face though, so that helps me.
UPDATED FROM 2540anon

Absolutely no aftercare. I had to do everything...

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2540anonFebruary 14, 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.

Replies (72)

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KikiLisa
February 16, 2011
OK, first of all, I've heard time and time again that IPL is very tricky on Asian and Black skin. In fact, I don't think it is recommended for your skin type, but I could be wrong about that. Either way, you should not be swollen. It looks as though some of the areas on your face have reacted poorly to the treatment and there is swelling. I personally am against any laser or IPL procedure because I myself had a terrible experience (nerve damage, change of texture, fat loss). Since you only had the one, give your skin some time to heal and never go back for another. Contact me if you need more info about after care. Yes, they wanted your money. They all do.
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cveroleyva
March 1, 2011
To all us ladies, keep the faith! Hopefully your skin will heal...sigh.
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...
Aliciapie
March 1, 2011
Oh, this is terrible! What did your dermatologist say about this? I've been considering IPL treatments. I did Total FX last May, paid for two of them but I didn't see any benefit from the Total FX so I've been thinking of doing IPL instead.
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KikiLisa
March 4, 2011
Aliciapie, please don't get IPL. There are other things you can do that can resolve skin issues. People want the immediate gratification that a cosmetic device promises, but in many cases, it just isn't worth it. The way laser or light works is by destroying the skin! Yes, it destroys the skin! Now, if your skin repairs itself and it ends up looking better than before, great, that's great, but what can also happen is the skin repairs, or tries to repair and it doesn't quite work out very well. I am kind of interested in things like Selphyl and Stem Cell therapy to repair this type of skin damage, and it's a much better idea in my opinion if you're looking for skin rejuvenation (though, many studies still need to be done to determine effectiveness and safety). As for aftercare, cveroleyva, firstly, the orange peel skin may not be permanent. I know of a few light or laser victims who've had improvement on this front. I admit I have not yet found a product that actually fixes this problem for myself, but some have said retin-a has helped them, while others have reported the Obagi system helped restore their skin to a better condition. I am about 6 months out from being damaged and I feel that just taking really good care of yourself is the best way to go. Proper diet, a lot of rest and sleep, massages, and lots of anti-aging supplements (Omega 3, reseveratrol, vitamin C). I have faith that I can heal and get better, so I hold on to this as well. Also, there is a ton of support and information on the IPL and Laser damage support board which has helped me tremendously.
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Jason_Ames
March 8, 2011
KikiLisa, you really shouldn't be making statements like 'it destroys the skin!' without providing reliable evidence. You're just scaring people needlessly.

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.
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Jason_Ames
March 8, 2011
Correction: "Because you weren't satisfied.."
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KikiLisa
March 10, 2011
People should be scared, Pl3ski, because these devices are not as safe as they are marketed to be. Sorry but I completely disagree with you and I am stating what I believe to be true. It's OK if you don't agree with me and it's OK if others don't. My experience is such that the procedure destroyed my skin and I know of of many others in the same position. Light and laser devices work by vaporizing skin tissue -- that's what they do. This is taken from DermNet: "IPL systems work on the same principles as lasers in that light energy is absorbed into particular target cells with colour (chromophores) in the skin. The light energy is converted to heat energy, which causes damage to the specific target area." Key words here are HEAT and DAMAGE.
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