Will IPL help my chest for wrinkles and sun damage? (photos)

Our office has many different treatments for the skin and 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 one of the staples of improving discolorations in the chest- just make sure you are not tan before the procedure.  Improving texture of the decollete area often involves several modalities to provide the maximal benefit:
Ablative laser resurfacing- Fractionated C02 resurfacing or erbium at a lighter setting can help build up collagen
Fractora- RF needling can help improve the texture and collagen creation in the skin here
IPL- can help improve the brown spots and discoloration of the area
Melanage or Cosmelan- Peels can help improve the appearance of the discoloration
Sculptra- Dilute Sculptra can help improve the texture of the skin and crepy appearance of the skin.

BBL/IPL is a great laser treatment to address sun damage and pigmentation. It can help with wrinkles, but if wrinkles are your main concern a stronger laser such as the micro laser peel or the CO2 laser may be better. The chest is a difficult area to treat but if BBL/IPL is administered by a trained professional under a doctor's supervision it can have great results. One treatment will not be enough. Most people need at least 4 treatments, 3-4 weeks apart to get the results they desire. I suggest going for a consult to a medical facility and purchasing a package series to treat the face and chest. Sometimes if one area is treated, the adjacent area becomes more noticeable.  Make sure you have a sunscreen with zinc as the 1st or 2nd ingredient. Zinc provides the best protection available on the market. Good luck!

IPL can help with sun damage but this technology is
very superficial. I like to recommend Fraxel Restore for sun damage and
wrinkles on the chest.

The Fraxel Restore will resurface your skin improving
the tone and texture while also stimulating new collagen production to help
with the wrinkling. Many patients see an improvement after one treatment but a
series of 3-5 done once a month would provide best results.

It’s also important to use an anti-oxidant and an SPF
50 every morning to help prevent future sun damage.

Consult with a Board Certified Dermatologist to see
what treatment is best for your concerns.

IPL can be used to help treat an aging chest if performed safely and effectively. Fractional lasers also help with an aging chest as does Ultherapy. Consult with your dermatologist to determine the most ideal treatment method. 

IPL works very well for sun damage on the face, neck, chest and hands.  However, the primary role of IPL is improving brown spots and blood vessels.  If your main goal is to improve wrinkle and scar then a different tool would be necessary.  A new laser system has just entered the market after 25 years under development.  The laser, Picosure, was released for the treatment of tattoos but with a special hand piece skin rejuvenation can be accomplished.  The technique is termed Focus and can be used for many body areas and skin color types not previously helped by existing technology.

Try one session to see if worth your time and $s. My guess is no but in some cases there is a mild improvement. 

IPL is a great treatment when done correctly and by trained professionals. The machine matters, the settings matter tremendously. So pick a very experienced office, with a physician directly involved in your care. And make sure you are using a good sunscreen every single day! "This answer has been solicited without seeing this patient and
cannot be held as true medical advice, but only opinion. Seek in-person
treatment with a trained medical professional for appropriate care."