What Should I Do If IPL Wasn't Effective?

Fractional laser is an amazing and highly effective treatment in our office. We use the laser treatment to help with acne scars, large pores, fine wrinkles, tissue collagen loss, scars, sebaceous hyperplasia, active acne, and for brightening dark pigmentation. Although there are very strong fractional lasers such as CO2 laser, we use lighter treatments for corrective skincare and maintenance of results. Our Thulium fractional laser, clear and brilliant laser, and Ultra Thulium laser are excellent options in our clinic. We also perform CO2 fractional and erbium depending on skin tone and tolerance for downtime. Patients do have to use a Melarase cream before and after treatment to help further reduce pigmentation after laser. Dark spots can improve with these treatments. I recommend fractional laser for incisional scars as well, especially after plastic surgery.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Go back to the same office and discuss your results thus far.  I agree that a test spot on the side of your face would be a safe way to test the results of a higher setting.  Don't forget about topical creams!  While they don't have the cache of lasers they can be very effective in this exact setting.   Good luck!

Certainly, not every person responds as the books say that they should.  You are obviously not getting the effect that you hoped for and maybe this treatment is not right for you.  But I do agree that you may want to go back to the same practitioner, express your concerns, and ask for higher settings.

IPL is typically ideal for patients who are experiencing problems with too much redness or lots of brown pigmentation or both; however, there are other options.  For brown spots, a Q-switched laser may be the solution for individual sun freckles, but it sounds like the problem may be more widespread , thus a medium depth chemical peel or the Fraxel duet laser may be the best answer.

however, if the settings arent high enough, you wont get any response.  I would talk with your practicioner about increasing the settings or doing a test spot at a higher setting for you.  If your freckles are too light, it can be very difficult to reduce them with an IPL device or even a laser.  Chemical peels and lightening creams might be a better answer for you.  In addition, you must wear a sunscreen containing zinc oxide every day, to prevent the brown spots from returning.  They are due to UVA rays, which can penetrate window glass and clouds, so you must protect yourself every day.  Best to you.

IPL treatments are most effective on very dark spots.  The lighter the freckles are, the less effective it is.  I know that sounds funny, but that's the way it works.  So if your freckles are too pale, that may explain why you are not getting the desired result.  Other options would be higher settings, chemical peels, or bleaching creams.  Sunscreen at all times is a must!