POSTED UNDER IPL REVIEWS
Female who underwent IPL procedure
ORIGINAL POST
I naturally have brown to tan skin...
Real ReviewerOctober 25, 2014
$100
I naturally have brown to tan skin. I recently had my first IPL procedure done and here is what I experienced:
The
procedure itself: It was extremely painful. Heat traveled
to the tips of my fingertips and toes. It felt like rubber bands snaps
on my face from a far distance. Although my eyes were covered, I saw
bright red flashes after each zap.
Immediate results after
procedure: My face was extremely red and it felt like it was placed over
a hot boiling pot of water. The nurse said to expect swelling for a few
hours. My face was swollen until the 3rd day. I looked like I was badly
beaten.
Day 2: Black charcoaled marks appeared all over my face
with some areas that had perpendicular lines. The nurse said I could
easily cover the aftermath with make-up. This was not true at all. See
my Day 2 photo with make-up. This procedure was definitely not a "do it
during a lunch break and return to work" as the nurse stated. The pain
was still intense. The hairline around my widow's peak was burned.
Day
3 & 4: I experienced extreme itching on both sides of my face and
forehead. The marks were darker. Couldn't cover up marks with make-up.
Day
5: I woke up and discovered multiple bumps and pimples that contained
white pus on my forehead. Again, face still itched. There were very few
flaking that left very light colored pigments, as light as my palm and
at least 2 shades lighter than the rest of my face.
Day 6: More flaking with lighter color pigmentation than the rest of my face. Less itching.
I will provide more photos and update as days go by.
UPDATED FROM Real Reviewer
8 days post
Day 7 after IPL
Real ReviewerOctober 28, 2014
There are numerous areas on my face that have lighter color pigmentation. The burnt bars are still visible and also discolored. The bar marks don't appear they will peel and left darker lines on both sides of my face above my jawline.
Replies (3)
October 30, 2014
hi, did the brown peel off? i read u can have coffee ground brown. not sure abovut the hypopigmentation. hope all gets solved. let me know. best of luck!
November 1, 2014
Thank you for checking on my progress. I am at day 12 after IPL and saw major improvements the last few days. The brown coffee grounds have gone away. I only have a few freckles but very light in color. The lighter pigmentation is more noticeable on my forehead and the burnt bars and lines have slowly blended.
UPDATED FROM Real Reviewer
12 days post
Week 2 after IPL
Real ReviewerNovember 1, 2014
It has been 12 days after IPL. The dark coffee grounds have completely gone away. The bars/lines are still visible but lighter in color and can be easily cover with make up. The lighter pigmentation is more pronounced on my forehead. (Please see all new photos.)
The end result: IPL has made my face feel and look smoother. I am at least 2 shades lighter then I was before IPL. The dark circles under my eyes and lines around my eyes are extremely less noticeable. The nurse who did my IPL mentioned the procedure will help boost collagen. I am pleased with the end results, however I definitely wouldn't go through the painful procedure again. Thank you for reading my review.
The end result: IPL has made my face feel and look smoother. I am at least 2 shades lighter then I was before IPL. The dark circles under my eyes and lines around my eyes are extremely less noticeable. The nurse who did my IPL mentioned the procedure will help boost collagen. I am pleased with the end results, however I definitely wouldn't go through the painful procedure again. Thank you for reading my review.
Replies (11)
November 4, 2014
I was told ipl treatments are done in series of 5 ipl treatments. I didn't notice significant improvement after first treatment. My family commented saying my skin did look better than before treatment. However now after 2nd treatment I get sick to my stomach when I look in the mirror. My sister concern with my self esteem she made me promise putting on make up would be first thing I do when I get up in mornings.
November 5, 2014
Thanks for sharing your experience. I am trying to choose between IPL and Pixel treatment for my skin (olive/sallow complexion). I am relieved to see that the burn marks on your face cleared up. That would be frightening to me as as I have a lot of pigmentation and retain scars for years. Your skin looks great. Wish I could have seen a before picture.
November 11, 2014
i go in tomorrow will i be able to drive myself home? this looks scary to me and i already paid for the procedure. they have done great stuff for me before and did the bbl on my daughters underarms to get rid of dark hair that left a shadow. never noticed any burnt places or peeling or marks. her hair just sort of disappeared and now she doesn't have to shave. but thats not the face. it did hurt she did six treatments but it worked and nothing else had. she was embarrassed by that dark shadow left after shaving and its gone now. I am worried about my face and chest. i look at my skin and it looks ok on my face but i can see the sun damage on my chest. i see some wrinkles around my eyes from squinting. and skin is starting to sag i guess from sun damage. But im 53 so i think its about time to do something about all of that tanning i did in the 70s.
scared about the pain. and dont want to be scared. A dermatologist is doing it so I do feel better that a doctor will be there doing it. and she is my age had it done and looks great. younger than me. But i dont do pain well. How will i feel afterwards for a few days? will i be able to pick up my kids from school and stuff? Im a widow. so its me there is no one else to do the driving around. I do not think i would have gotten this if i had read all of these reviews beforehand. But i go in at 8:30 in the morning for an hour on numbing cream. i wish they would just put me under and wake me up when its over. I am scared!!!! Is anyone really happy with their results? after the initial two weeks healing time or three or however long it takes. ugh.. i am going to need an xanax before i go in to the doctor tomorrow im so scared right now.
Kiran
November 11, 2014
Hi Kiran. Thank you for your email. I definitely think you can drive home after the procedure; especially when you're appointment is early during the day with the weather being cooler. My appointment was at 3pm and took longer than 20 minutes because I had to take breaks due to the level of pain I experienced. You might not have the same experience so I don't want to scare you. I had a 40 minute drive home and made it. I stayed home the following day only because I wanted to avoid the sun completely. Only because my face was burned, I didn't go out much because the heat outside didn't help. Again, I'm just speaking from my experience. If there is any advice I can give you, it would be this: If the pulses are too strong, ask them to decrease the intensity. Don't forget to breathe and take breaks if you need them. Make sure you have sunscreen available and use it everyday, even if you're inside the house. Have a bottle of cooling gel, (aloe vera) available to help with the burn. I use Cetaphil cleanser on my face; its very gentle on your skin. I will be thinking about you tomorrow on your procedure and hope it goes very well ! Let me know how it goes.
November 11, 2014
Kiran, I forgot to say that I think you will be fine picking up your kids and run errands because I went back to work on the 3rd day. As burnt my face was after ipl, I went to the grocery stores and restaurants - not to say I didn't get glares and stares from people. But what can I expect if I got zebra marks on my face, right? :-)
November 14, 2014
Hi Kiran,
By this time you had your procedure of IPL. How did it go? IPL does wonders for sun damage. I hope you were able to tolerate the procedure well, some providers will numb the area with a topical anesthetic, did you get numbed? Usually at your age it takes a few treatments every couple of weeks, approximately 4 depending on your skins condition. Let me know how you did!
February 17, 2015
How are the results from your treatment? I am sorry I took so long to respond. I went back 3 weeks ago after 2+ months of not wanting to go through the whole process again! The procedure hurts, I look horrific and it takes approx. 1-2 weeks for scabbing to shed. I continue with ambivalence. The nurse doing procedure states I am going to have to start from beginning since I did not stick to monthly schedule. however, I know the pigmentation to my face is darker and over a larger surface than before starting treatment. I have an appointment next week for another treatment. My gyn doctor wants me to see a dermatologist. He asking why can't see give me Obagi. The nurse is very caring and explains procedure. She stated she was an instructor teaching usage of IPL machine. She sounds sincere part of me wants to trust her but this has been an ordeal for me. She has set settings back due to pain and length healing time of scabbing. She is not charging me if treatments may need to be added. She is conscious appears concern and since I started this I will go one more time. I giving the theory-. it may get worse before it gets better ( pulling pigmentation to surface . I wish I could turn back clock and have chosen the pixel treatment verses the more invasive treatment IPL. Please keep me posted I will up date next week after treatment. Please say a prayer I can at least have skin I had before I started these treatments.
February 17, 2015
Thank you for writing. I was wondering how you're doing. I'm so sorry to hear about your experience. I'm praying your skin gets better as time passes. I wished I could turn back the clock too but we can only wish for the best, wear sunscreen, and move forward. As for me, I'm having to wear make-up now since IPL, where as in the past, I hardly ever worn any foundation because my skin was very even, with the exception of sun spots. I recently saw my dermatologist and was prescribed a 4% hydroquinone & tretinoin cream. She said many of her patients have had great results so I'm excited to try it out. In the meantime, I've been using Palmer's Even Tone Fade Cream. I use it only at night time and use CeraVe in the mornings with my foundation. So far both products have made my skin feel less rough. The Palmer's lotion has soften my skin but definitely not a "miracle" cream by any means. I will post a before and after photo once I've used my hydroquinone and tretinoin prescription for a few months. I'm praying for you and will be thinking of you next week during your treatment. Keep us posted!
November 14, 2014
Hi Callei,
You say you didn't see any improvement after one treatment, you must complete a series of treatments to obtain good results. Why did you get upset after the second treatment? What did you see in the mirror? From what I understand and have heard if you are looking to have a more healthy look to your skin, brighter, tighter you may initially have a redness like a sunburn for a day or two after the procedure. If you are treating sun damage you will find and increase in pigment that will slough off in a week or two. Not sure what your treatment was for. Hopefully in the end you will be happy with your results. Keep us informed!
February 17, 2015
IPL Treatment (5tx-- 4 weeks apart) to what was thought to be melasma pigmentation cheeks both side of my face.
First treatment may have given certain areas tighter looking appearance but what you described as sunburn -redness did occur along with process of coffee grinds scabbing and sloughing off. The intensity was increased second treatment the area of pigmentation is now larger and darker. I am afraid that it is scaring. I had not returned since first week of Nov. -She has decreased the intensity some of areas are darker it may have the leather appearance. I am hoping and praying that by continuing treatment it will improve and at the end the results will be worth it. I will try to post pictures,
May 1, 2015
I don't use make up & thinking I'd have after IPL. Lol, I don't think so. I'll just stick to Obagi.
Replies (4)