“Big Dents, Pock Marks, Fat Loss from Ellipse IPL - London, UK”

Firsty - if you're thinking about IPL, DON'T DO IT!!!

My first treatment was for a few thread veins 4 weeks ago and it went fine, the second was 2 weeks agao and was for general rejuvinaton across the nose and cheeks. I was a different tech from the first. As soon as the tech finished I knew something was wrong, I was badly swollen.

Now I have a very big long indentation under my eye socket, two more on the other cheek, many other dents and pale stripes and pock marks all over, as well as fine lines like etching over the cheekbone. My undereye is hollowed out and I look like a hag. I'm only 27, and the tech commented on my beautiful skin. How I wish I could turn back the clock. I was a model but I can't work anymore, I can't believe I did this out of pure vanity over a few freckles and thread veins. I can't concentrate on everyday life, and so aware of the scars and ashamed of my face.

Updated on 26 Jan 2011:
Hi everyone,
Just wanted to update you on my progress. So after reading alot about IPL, free radicals, stress oxidisation etc I decided that to stop the damage I had to kill off the free radicals that were causing it right away. My first derm recommended retinol and vit c to look after my skin and as vit c and vit a are antioxidants I decided to give them a go. I used a high potency vic c serum for a week then tried the retinol 0.5 a couple of times which didn't agree with me at all and left me red and sore. It did seem to smooth some of the weird lines/circles, however it also seemed to uncover new ones that I guess were under the surface. It also caused crepeiness around my eyes and cheeks which made me look old on top of everything else. However if your skin can handle it it might be a good treatment in the long term to help 'grow out' damage and kill free radicals deep in the skin. I carried on with the vit c serum for a couple of weeks along with taking oral antioxidant suppliments and then tried bio oil to smooth the dented scar on my cheek and the discoloration (striping). This did seem to help a bit. I went to my GP a few days ago who told me IPL are designed to damage skin and that is exactly what its done to me, although she doubted it was permanent apart from the scar tissue, and she recommended Dermatix gel for the scar and in the few days I've used it I can already see a difference in the dent/scar area which seems to have filled out and smoothed over. Yesterday I saw a new derm who told me I'd had an inflammatory reaction to the second IPL and that all the marks and dents should 'melt away' over the coming months. He said he didn't see any permanent damage under the skin apart from the IPL had done a good job of zapping my capillaries! I have to say that coming up to 8 weeks post IPL I am seeing improvements. I won't get my hopes up too much but I honestly think things are getting better, especially the dented scar which was bothering me the most. To all of you who have IPL recently and are seeing strange and distressing side effects please take heart - things can get better! I think the key is to kill off the free radicals caused by the IPL as soon as possible to minimise damage without irritating your skin or delaying healing.