IPL: Stories

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I Trust Esana MedSpa - New Haven, CT

I went in for my first IPL treatment today. I paid...

I went in for my first IPL treatment today. I paid 1/3 of the cost of a set of three, because that's how they do it. The RN (Stephanie) explained that it will hurt, that I'll see my sun damage get darker and then about 7 days after the skin will fall off revealing perfect skin underneath.

I have been using SkinMedica Retinol about three times a week for about a year and I had Ultherapy over my midface and neck in December.

I read a lot of bad reviews of IPL, and I can guess, based my own experience and by what Dr Davila and the RN Stephanie said, that those with negative results were burned. Dr Davila and Stephanie tested my skin with various strengths (20, 21, 22 and 23) to see what my face and cheat could handle. They discussed the pain and the heat with me, and didn't rush me.

The procedure took about 45 minutes, it hurt quite a bit (they used a 23 on me) and I felt stingy and a bit tingly after. Now, 6 hours after the procedure, I still have some orange peel like skin on my chest, but not as much as before, and there is no more swelling on my face. There's no pain now, and I have put on moisturizer twice since 11 am.

I'll post again tomorrow morning.

Okay!! It's the third day, and all the orange peel...

Okay!! It's the third day, and all the orange peel skin is smoothed out. A few of the very dark spots are starting to break up and they look patchy instead of evenly dark. I haven't seen anything disappear yet, but this is just the third night.

I'm still using the CalmPlex, although tonight it really stung when I rubbed it in!

More updates later.

Okay!! It's Day Six and I'm absolutely thrilled....

Okay!! It's Day Six and I'm absolutely thrilled. Almost all the weird brown dirt-like specks are gone, they really did just wash off, and my entire face looks radiant!

My neck still isn't "dirt" speck free, nor is my chest, but I can cover those areas with concealer and clothing very easily. I suspect I'll need another blast on my neck and chest.

I was a lot more damaged than I thought. I'll have to post my Day Of photo, my Day Three photo and the ones from today so you all can see the results.

Bottom line: only have IPL done by an MD or a highly experienced RN. I am very, very happy with the results.

I just posted the pictures from my third IPL...

I just posted the pictures from my third IPL treatment. Stephanie turned up the heat and wow! It really hurt and I wound up with actual blisters But, two weeks later, my skin is so very silky smooth it's almost unreal. And my dark spots are gone! I am very happy.

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I love this MedSpa! I recommend them to all my friends.This was the second time I saw Dr Davila instead of Dr Pan. He is just as nice as she, and very professional, but with a sense of humor. He was careful to pick the right strength light for my skin, and kept his eye on Stephanie the first few times she hit me with the light.

Comments (9)

Steevo 10 Sep 2012
Hello... I enjoyed reading your experience Miss Clare. I'm glad your happy and I'm not surprised.

Thought I'd add a different angle. I'm male and purchased a new professional machine a few years ago for personal usage largely for unwanted hair growth - I looked like a neanderthal. Also, underneath the hair I 'discovered' a number of browned spots. It has been a process of trial, error, pain and, very much success. I feel like a different person now. I would say to anyone with money and a patient disposition IPL is very effective and can permanently change your skin, if used properly. It's no gimmick but not a simple office visit either. It takes time and discomfort, especially so if thick hair growth is to be removed for good ;)

Good luck to all.
Megan P (Community Manager) 29 Aug 2012

Oh yowza, blisters!! I'm so glad that things healed up & are looking so amazing now. Thank you for posting pictures of what it looked like right after treatment. Its great to be able to see that, and that thing then turned out great. I can imagine seeing blisters could cause a bit of a panic if you weren't expecting them.

zulamaria 29 Aug 2012
Miss Clare, you look absolutely lovely! I am so very glad to see how well IPL worked for you. All the best!
Miss Clare CT 21 May 2012
I will get the next one or two as soon as Dr Davila and Dr Pan think I should. If they think I should wait 4 weeks, okay! Four months? That's okay too. I've had blotches on my neck for a long time and I usually cover my chest in the summer. But now I will ALWAYS cover my chest in the summer!

I'm eager for results, but not impatient. Besides, I'd like the "package deal" discount!
Megan P (Community Manager) 23 May 2012

That makes sense - so glad you feel so comfortable with your doctor! :)

Megan P (Community Manager) 21 May 2012

That is great to hear you are loving the results!! You had mentioned you thought you would need another treatment, curious if you are planning to have that done soon, or just sometime in the future?

Megan P (Community Manager) 18 May 2012

Glad to hear you are seeing some healing taking place. Looking forward to hearing how things look & feel in the next couple of days. Hopefully less stingy when you put the CalmPlex on!!

Megan P (Community Manager) 15 May 2012

I'm glad to hear you felt well cared for at the office you went to. Did they tell you to use (or not use) any specific products on your face while it heals up?

Miss Clare CT 15 May 2012
I was advised to use the Skin Medica redness calming cream (CalmPlex $85), which is for rosacea, general redness and sunburn. I was also advised not to use toner - which is such a habit for me! Cleanse, tone, moisturize...

Stephanie also said - no exfoliation, Retinol, alpha-hydroxy acids or fruit acids, and not to use my Shiseido face brush for at least a week. And to be hyper vigilant about using SPF. I plan on slathering on LancĂ´me Bienfait SPF 30 cream ($45).

Since the treatment, I have reapplied the Calm Plex twice and I'm not red at all. The sun spots have turned really, really dark already. I still have orange peel skin on my chest.

But I trust this group, and if they said I would be a good candidate, I believe them. I'm not worried by how icky I look now. I'm confident I'll be glowing in 5 to 10 days!!

Oh, they also quizzed me up on my ethnic background, because darker skins and Asian skins tend to burn, even if the ancestry is somewhat distant. Since it is my great-great grandmother who is my Chinese ancestor, Dr Davila decided I would be okay.

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