After IPL for stretch marks, I now have a burn mark. I'm worried it will leave a keloid scar. What can I do? (photos)

Question

I am devastated my Surgeon gave me an ipl treatment for stretch marks I developed after breast implants and he left a terrible burn mark on me. It burned so bad and welted up. He just brushed it off and said it will get better in time. It is very red and raised. I am so upset and worried it will leave a keloid scar. What can I do to help this?

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question, Sometimes the full scar needs to be surgically revised and this just entails surgically/cutting removing and restitching the scar with or without radiation or steroid injections/5fu. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a cosmetic dermatologist/plastic surgeon. Pigmentation can be treated using cosmelan peel or lightening creams such as hydroquinone, kojic acid, retinol. Non ablative lasers like fraxel combined with vascular lasers such as excel V, yellow laser, v beam/pulsed dye laser, venus versa IPL also help if you want to try and avoid surgery. Microneedling/prp can be added to the lasers or skin care to help the color, texture and tone. Please see an expert. Best, Dr. Emer.

Laura Riehm, MD · Answer

Thank your for your question and posting pictures.  I'm sorry this happened to you.  We have lots of recommendations for stretch marks.  IPL is not usually on the list of things we recommend.  I don't understand why providers use what they have versus refer treatments out to someone with the proper equipment.  We have over a dozen treatment options, but still refer some thing out because we don't have everything.The good news is that it looks like your burn is healing well.  I do not think you will keloid.  Worst case, you might experience a little PIH (Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation) that is easily treatable.For stretch marks, every physician will have their area of expertise and preferred treatments.  You might find success with microneedling with PRP, lasers, etc.No one has perfect skin, but you can probably get significant improvement in your skin texture.  You will get better and faster results with laser treatments over microneedling.  After a complete consultation in a medical setting, you would probably be a candidate for a several treatment options depending on your skin type, severity of the stretch marks and how much downtime you can take.  Keep in mind that more intense/deeper treatments require more downtime, but you will need less treatments.  If you choose a short downtime treatment plan, you will need more treatments in the series.  The most gentle would be something like the PicoSure FOCUS treatment with almost no downtime.  It is safe for all skin types, but you would probably need 3 to 6 treatments.  Another option would be a fractional 1540 nm laser treatment like ICON or Fraxel.  With these treatment you could have redness and swelling for 1 to 3 days, but need less treatments.  Based on your skin type, you may be a candidate for a fractional CO2 treatment with 7 days of redness and swelling.  Look for a medical setting with a doctor in house, where they have multiple laser options.  I hope this helps

After IPL for stretch marks, I now have a burn mark. I'm worried it will leave a keloid scar. What can I do? (photos)

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After IPL for stretch marks, I now have a burn mark. I'm worried it will leave a keloid scar. What can I do? (photos)

Answers (2)

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Everything you need to know about IPL

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.