Should I do IPL or Excel V for diffused redness? (photos)

Hi Pie,
Good question! You are right that doctors tend to recommend whatever laser he/she has in the clinic. Your best bet is to go to someone who has done a fellowship in lasers (like me!) so that you are going to an expert who has had experience with ALL lasers/devices.
I personally hate the ExcelV and find that it's mainly marketed towards non-dermatologists. There is a ton of unnecessary swelling after the procedure and the results are much less impressive than what we get with certain (powerful) IPL and vascular lasers.
Hope this helps!
Dr. Kiripolsky

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

Hello pie_martin,
Thank you for your question and taking the time to share a photo as well.
There are many technologies that treat redness/rosacea/flushing such as IPL, BBL (Broad band Light), Laser Genesis, excel V..etc The more experienced physicians should have multiple platforms that target these concerns as you may benefit from combination therapy. I would suggest seeking a specialist who has multiple technologies and does not recommend based on their limited offer. Definitely address the redness/flushing as a first step as you will find textural improvement when the redness is calmed/improved. The most important consideration is who is carrying out the treatment and what their success is like with that technology. Ask to view photos of actual patients treated within the clinic. Hope this helps! Best regards, Manish Khanna MD FRCPC