Fraxel Vs IPL for Fine Lines Around the Eyes?

Hi Sims, Fraxel re:pair is a great treatment for fine lines around the eyes. IPL is better suited for superficial pigment improvement. Good luck and be well. Dr. P

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 is a great treatment for reducing brown and red spots and evening skin tone, but it is not generally used to treat wrinkles. Fraxel can work well for deep wrinkles around the eyes, although depending on your individual condition, Botox may be a better option. I suggest visiting a board-certified dermatologist with experience treating wrinkles for an in-person consultation to determine the best treatment plan for you. 

Fraxel and IPL are two very different treatments for skin concerns.  Fraxel is an agressive exfoliating and resurfacing treatment. IPL is a light based treatment that is going to treat light and dark sun damage and facial vessels. Vessels can be closed to minimize overall redness in the skin through the cheeks, nose, and chin.  Pigment will darken and then slough off on its own over a 2 week time period.  Fraxel is a laser that is invading the skin to lift. Fine lines and wrinkles are deeper lesions of the skin and can significantly be softened by Fraxel resurfacing.  Good Luck!

IPL is a good treatment for superficial pigmentation while Fraxel (fractional laser resurfacing) is a good treatment for fine lines around the eyes.  

  Certainly, Fraxel is better for this than IPL.  But Botox/Dysport in this area is considerably better than both.

Hi Simsimas. Although we would definitely advocate the Fraxel over IPL for fine lines in the crow's feet area, we'd like to add another potential treatment.
While the Fraxel can help, we think Botox is the best option to eliminate the appearance of crow's feet (at least for 3-4 months at a time). Good luck.

Fraxel is a great choice to treat fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. Fraxel will laser tiny holes into the dermis, where your collagen resides. New collagen is created, therefore, smoothing out imperfections all the way up to 3 months from having the laser procedure. Your downtime of redness and flaking is only 5 to 7 days. To maintain results, Botox and Obagi's Elastiderm Eye Cream is recommended. Patients are happy with one to two Fraxel sessions.

IPL is great for sun damage, rosacea, broken blood vessels or any pigmentation disorders. IPL is also not recommended to be used very close under the eyes. Fraxel will improve the appearance of fine lines around the eyes by stimulating the collagen production and the restoring the skin elasticity. Multiple treatments might be necessary but the results last for a long time. Using a good eye cream, such as Obagi's Elastiderm, twice daily will maintain the results and prevent aging.

Fraxel has a better chance to provide long term improvement from new collagen formation by your skin and might even produce slight tightening of the skin below the eyes.
Botox still is the treatment of choice for the lines near the corner of the eyes.