IPL for Veins Around Eyes?

Question

Just some background on the eyes: They were perfectly fine until 2006 Sept. when I started to develop very faint dark circles underneath my eyes. My skin is fair. I was still a teenager back then and related the cause to lack of sleep and that the would be fine after a while. From 2006 to 2008 the dark circles just kept becoming worse and worse. By 2009 Summer, I started noticing that my upper eyelids also had veins. My whole eye-patch area started to look red and inflamed.Will IPL help these veins?

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

William Ting, MD · Answer

IPL helps to minimize background rosy complexion and pigmentation irregularity; however it does not do much for dilated capillaries, i.e. telangiectasia. Diode laser 532nm or frequency-double Nd:Yag 1064nm can be helpful. Care must be taken for facial vein treatment around the eyes and should be done with consultation with an ophthalmologist.

Stephen Prendiville, MD · Answer

IPL works very well for small broken blood vessels which are red in color, but is fairly ineffective for larger, blue colored veins.  The only solution that is likely to be effective involves an incision and cautery of these vessels.

Ivan Wayne, MD · Answer

You might get results from a pulse dye laser or a ndYag but I would worry about long term bruising from those devices that could stain the skin and be hard to get rid of. This is a tough problem.

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

I see the superficial blue veins in your upper eyelid photo. I'm not aware of any non-invasive topical treatment, like IPL, to coagulate and eliminate these.
As we age, the veins under our thin eyelid skin become more visible. When they're present in the lower eyelid along an area of hollowing, I've found that Injectable Fillers to the hollowed area will lift the skin away from the veins and make them less visible. Simillarly, visible veins in the hands are minimized with Injectable Fillers.
I don't think Injectable Fillers would be a good application to your upper lids. These veins are probably difficult to see with your eyes open.
I hope this is helpful for you.

IPL for Veins Around Eyes?

Answers (8)

Answer: IPL will not work for those veins

Answer: IPL will not work for those veins

Answer: IPL PhotoFacial treatments will not improve visible veins under your eyelid skin.

Answer: IPL PhotoFacial treatments will not improve visible veins under your eyelid skin.

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IPL for Veins Around Eyes?

Answers (8)

Answer: IPL will not work for those veins

Answer: IPL will not work for those veins

Answer: IPL PhotoFacial treatments will not improve visible veins under your eyelid skin.

Answer: IPL PhotoFacial treatments will not improve visible veins under your eyelid skin.

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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.