Is 4 weeks long enough between ipl "treatments"?

Our office has many different treatments for 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

Thank you for your question. IPL treatments can be done every 4 weeks to give you the best result.  With each treatment, settings are increased for a more effective treatment. IPL treatments are good for brown spots, capillaries, and fine lines.  It helps stimulate collagen.  There are other treatments for grooves or volume loss such as fillers.  I would recommend being treated under the supervision of a Board Certified Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon for safest and best treatment options. I hope this helps.

In general, you will obtain the best result with 4-5 sessions that are generally spaced 3-4 weeks apart. 4 weeks is a good amount of time to wait between treatments, and something else may have caused the issues you describe. I would recommend following up with your provider. I wish you the best of luck, I and I hope this helps.

4-6 weeks is ideal to space out your IPL treatments. I'm sorry to hear that you are noticing changes around your eyes after IPL. I am actually very surprised that you are having this reaction and urge you to go and speak to your practitioner. Sometimes clearance of pigmentation can make other areas more noticeable that were already present before treatments. Pre/post care treatment photographs can be helpful.

4 weeks is a pretty standard interval between IPL treatments.  It's unlikely to be the culprit of the areas of concern you are describing.