Why Is There No Difference After 2nd IPL Session?

Question

After my 1st IPL session, I had immediate dark spots that fell off within a week! Great improvement! 4 wks later, at my 2nd IPL session (at another facility), and I see no difference whatsoever. No dark spots, redness or anything. Looks as if I never had the 2nd session. (I don't know the machine names, but the 2nd one was much more painful). I was told that you only typically get dark spots after the 1st session. Is this is normal? Must you get dark spots in order to lighten the sun damage?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Our office has many different treatments for skin and scars depending on the depth of atrophy or hypertrophy. Scars require a combination approach using our HI DEF protocol which uses a combination of lasers, topical scar modulation, and RF treatments to pixelate scars, improve contour, reduce hyperpigmentation, and improve the visibility of the scars so that they are no longer visible in ambient light. Everyone has a unique pattern of scarring and we employ our HIDEF technique to improve texture, color, contour, and topography. We often use a combination of treatments that begin with a careful examination to examine the micro texturing of the acne scars. Atrophic scars and indented  scars can benefit from injectable fillers such as Radiesse, Sculptra, and Restylane with or without subcision to remove tethered scars and atrophic depression. Hyper-redness in scars can be improved with V beam laser, Excel V, BBL, IPL, and Venus RF to improve  the redness and reduce the visibility of deep scars. Fractional Thulium laser and clear & brilliant can also reduce the inflammation and redness of the scar when combined with topical therapy. Fractional lasers such as Fraxel, erbium, and CO2 laser can be combined with radio frequency and also fractional RF to improve textual issues and microtopography. Subcision and TCA cross are also used for deep ice pick scars and narrow valley scars in order to improve the micro texture.  Above all, our combination approach with our clinical nurses and board-certified plastic surgeons can improve the quality of your skin by using at home Melarase creams combined with PRP treatments in our office to improve your skin quality and tone. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with an experienced team of experts in order to reduce your scarring.
 
Finally, hyperpigmentation of scars can be improved with at-home Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads to help reduce active PIH and melanin deposition.

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

George T. Boris, MD, FRCS · Answer

I suggest telling your provider to adjust the laser to a higher setting .

	Best of luck

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

It may be that you had more sun damage when you had your first IPL, it eliminated so much of the sun damage that you didn't notice much change for your second session or the laser needs to be adjusted to a higher setting. You should advise your medical provider to be able to get the best result.

Sam Naficy, MD, FACS · Answer

I would recommend that you see the same provider for your treatments.  It may be that the laser settings need to be adjusted.

Joseph A. Eviatar, MD, FACS · Answer

With IPL, the darker spots usually get darker and then come off. For lighter sun damage, the immediate result is often not quite as visible, but the long-term result can still be quite good. Sometimes the energy needs to be increased to get optimal results. There is a pigment regulator on some machines that allows the technician to evaluate the amount of pigmentation on the patient’s skin. Therefore, the energy can be raised safely to the maximum level.

Why Is There No Difference After 2nd IPL Session?

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Why Is There No Difference After 2nd IPL Session?

Answers (7)

Answer: IPL

Answer: IPL

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Everything you need to know about IPL

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