IPL for Leg Scarring?

Question

I'm a 40 years of age, brown-skinned male, with injury scars on both of my legs. I recently searched online for treatment to remove the scars. I want know, will a treatment such as Intense Pulsating Light (IPL) help my situation?

Harold J. Kaplan, MD · Answer

While we would not suggest IPL for your condition, we have successfully treated traumatic Hyperpigmentation like yours with q-switched lasers for many years.  In fact, we have a picture of a woman with leg scars very much like yours on our website that was successfully treated with q-switched lasers.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Our office has many different treatments for 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

Todd Minars, MD · Answer

From what I can tell from your photograph, it appears that the pigment on your legs is the type of pigment called "post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation". This type of pigment does not respond well to IPL or any laser for that matter. The best treatment would be a strong compounded bleaching cream or a prescription bleaching cream like Triluma.

IPL for Leg Scarring?

Answers (3)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about IPL

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

IPL for Leg Scarring?

Answers (3)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about IPL

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