Can Photofacial Help Reduce Breast Reduction Scars?

Breast reduction scars are usually T-shaped with a vertical component and a large transverse component along the inframmary crease. These scars tend to present with three different problems:

Hypertrophic scars
Discoloration
Widening of scars

Treatment of these scars can be done with basic treatments to address the thickening and pigmentation of the scars. This can be performed with injections in the office or topical creams. If scars are widened, surgical revision may be required.

There are several treatments that we think can or will help with reduction of surgical scars but the IPL is not one we recommend. It's substandard compared to the option. You should evaluate these before ever considering IPL:

Surgical revision for redness/brown and or texture
Pulsed Dye Lasers for redness
Q-switched lasers for brown
Steroid injections for texture(debulking of raised scars

While the IPL may have some positive benefit, it would be less than the alternatives noted above.

Scarring is a response to injury. After breast reduction, the scars are the result of surgical trauma. Attacking a scar with a technique that creates further injury is illogical and does not work. If there are small visible blood vessels in and around the scar, they can be eliminated with a laser. But reducint the bulk of by other topical treatments, lasers or otherwise, will not work.
If the scars are mature and unacceptable, you might want to consider a formal scar revision.

IPL therapy will not likely help your scars.
Therapies that will improve the appearance of some scars depends on the nature of the scar.

If the scar is wide and flat - re-excision with meticulous closure may help
If your scar is thick and raised - steroid injection may improve the contour
If your scar is dark or red - there are laser treatments that can make small differences, but they need to be tailored to the scar and expectations should be tempered.

Try going back to your surgeon, explain that you're unhappy with the scar, and see what can be done.
I hope this helps.

Unfortunately, 4 years after breast reduction,  your scars will be “mature”;  many modalities of treatment that might have some effect early on after surgery will likely not be effective at this stage. However, the use of steroid injection and/or scar revision may improve the appearance of the scars.

Consultation with a well experienced board-certified plastic surgeon may be helpful.