IPL for Veins Around Eyes?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

While IPL can help the rudy complexion of rosacea and other redness causing syndromes, the best treatmeent for small veins is using a vascular laser such as the cleascan from Sciton which basicallay "spot welds" them closed.

As you can tell from the other doctor's suggestions, this is indeed a tough problem that is very difficult to treat-- both because of the delicate nature of these blood vessels and the close proximity to the eyes.

An IPL will be ineffective for treatment of these veins.  I have had some success with Nd:Yag laser to these types of vessels- one needs to be very careful treating around the eyes.  A special eye shield  must be used to prevent damage to the eye.  

Best of Luck!

-Dr Mann

The veins in your eyelids would not be corrected by IPL treatments unfortunately. There is no non-invasive way I am aware of that is successful either. This is a tough problem.