My doctor wants me to have the Lumecca procedure for past sun damage. Are there any known possible complications to worry about?

Question

I am 67 and not that unhappy with my skin. I'm just afraid of the procedure going wrong.

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

Lumecca is a type of IPL system and is one of the better systems available.  The benefits of this system versus is others is that the band of light is focused between 500 and 600 nm placing most of the light in this range.  Within this range is where patients can experience improvement in treating browns (hyperpigmentation) as well as reds (blood vessels) to help the skin look as consistent in color tonality.Patients should be aware with any IPL system that the main risks include hyperpigmentation and burns.  Patients being treated by an experienced provider will minimize these complications.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

IPL is a great device for improving sun damage, but a combination approach will give the most improvement.  Fraxel laser is the gold standard for improving sun damage. I recommend a combination treatment of Fraxel lasers, IPL, microneedling/prp, and Cosmelan. It will take a series of treatments. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a cosmetic dermatologist. Best, Dr. Emer

Michael J. Brown, MD · Answer

Good afternoon and thank you for your question! Lumecca is a great IPL treatment for sun damaged skin. It is one of the stronger IPL machines on the market right now. Most IPL machines require 3-6 treatments, whereas Lumecca usually only requires 1-2 treatments. With that being said, make sure your technician is experienced on the machine and is careful with the settings that he/she uses. Go over your medical history with your technician beforehand and make sure you let him/her know if you are on any photosensitizing medications (oral or topical). With any treatment there are always risks that something could go wrong, but if you go to an experienced technician who knows the proper settings to use then you should be fine. Best of luck! For more information please feel free to visit our website!

Katherine Dee, MD · Answer

Lumecca is just a specific Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) device. IPL works well for sun damage for most people. It will usually take several treatments to have optimal results. IPL should not be used on darker skin, and can cause burns if used improperly; however we use it in our office many times a day to treat sun damage with great success.

My doctor wants me to have the Lumecca procedure for past sun damage. Are there any known possible complications to worry about?

Answers (4)

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