Which Gives Better Results in Skin Appearance and Texture, IPL or LHE Photofacial?

Question

Which gives better results in skin appearance and texture, the IPL or LHE photofacial? I know that some say LHE is the newer technology and it gives better results for hair removal but I'm more concerned with the laser effects on the overall appearance of acne, scars, fine lines/wrinkles, broken capillaries, etc.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Fractional laser is an amazing and highly effective treatment in our office. We use the laser treatment to help with acne scars, large pores, fine wrinkles, tissue collagen loss, scars, sebaceous hyperplasia, active acne, and for brightening dark pigmentation. Although there are very strong fractional lasers such as CO2 laser, we use lighter treatments for corrective skincare and maintenance of results. Our Thulium fractional laser, clear and brilliant laser, and Ultra Thulium laser are excellent options in our clinic. We also perform CO2 fractional and erbium depending on skin tone and tolerance for downtime. Patients do have to use a Melarase cream before and after treatment to help further reduce pigmentation after laser. Dark spots can improve with these treatments. I recommend fractional laser for incisional scars as well, especially after plastic surgery.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Martie Gidon, MD, FRCPC, FAAD · Answer

Intense pulsed light is used for spider veins, brown spots and stimulation of collagen. For significant textural changes and scars, a fractional laser will give better results than IPL. Both devices complement each other.

Mark Taylor, MD · Answer

If you want to get rid of redness, freckles and age spots, IPL is a good Choice. If you want to improve texture, I would recommend some type of resurfacing with ablative or non ablative technologies like the eMatrix, Fraxel Restore or Fraxel Repair Lasers or even a TCA Peel. The LHE photofacial will not change the texture very much and is not as effective at getting rids or reds and browns in the skin as other technologies.

F. Victor Rueckl, MD (in memoriam) · Answer

IPL targets colors in the skin, like reds and browns, which is why it's effective to treat hyperpigmentation, freckles, flushing from rosacea, small capillaries, and other brown/red spots. Texture is not greatly improved with either IPL or LHE, as no skin is removed during either of these. If you want significant textural changes, you will need to do eMatrix or Fraxel, something semi-ablative. LHE photofacials are minimally effective at best. I have seen little to no results from these as they are extremely superficial skin treatments.

Which Gives Better Results in Skin Appearance and Texture, IPL or LHE Photofacial?

Answers (4)

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