IPL: Bad Idea. Really Bad - Pointe-Claire, QC

Britt, to answer your question, I don't think it's hyperpigmentation, but the texture has changed. Rosy cheeks are gone and replaced with rough skin, and I forgot to mention that my face feels like it's on fire 24/7.

Oh my! What did your doctor say? Have you seen anyone else about the burning? I looked up some info for you in our expert Q&A about side effects. Keep me posted.

-Britt

My dermatologist treats acne for the most part and treated me as though I had an irritation of the skin. She did not understand the severity of what I'm experiencing. Trying to find a derm who has more knowledge of the subject.

Hi KikiLisa,

What part of Canada are you in? I was going to look for a doctor recommendation.

-Britt

Britt, that is extremely kind of you. I'm 30 minutes west of Montreal, in a region known as the West Island.

Good Morning KikiLisa,

Here is a link to two doctors from our site in Montreal maybe they could help. Please keep me updated, and have a great weekend.

-Britt

Yes, I had the procedure done at Dr. Benchetrict's office, by one of the staff. I called them but they don't seem to think my problems are a result of IPL.

Britt, I'm still seeking help at this time. I am on a crusade to get proper treatment. I have uncovered mounds of information that these procedures do more harm than good. Lives have been ruined. You asked if I had any problems before IPL treatment. The only problems I've had with my skin before IPL were regular issues such as sensitivity to certain types of creams and makeup and the occasional pimple. I used to have really nice skin. My skin continues to degenerate by the way. Scratch marks all over the place, like a kitten was dancing around on my face. I look as though I've aged 10 years, maybe more. This is the worst nightmare of my life, and I've been through a lot, but this one takes the cake.

Hi KikiLisa,

I just re-opened our forums for IPL and there is a forum about help with complications  from IPL you should go and talk to the other community members, it would provide you with support and see what others are doing. Hope that helps, please keep me updated.

-Britt

Yes, the scratch marks that seem to come out of nowhere! And the leathery skin when smiling! I haven't had IPL, but these happened to me a few years after one Fraxel treatment. My 'after' smiling face looks like yours. What really gets me is that these types of procedures are referred to as 'photo-rejuvenation' and laser 'rejuvenation' procedures, when they do the OPPOSITE of rejuvenate! I sure got older in only the 3 years since my procedure! I was kinda considering IPL for my very perpetually uneven blotchy complexion, but these negative reviews will save me from making the same mistake I made when I got Fraxel.

Mine was the same way. A doctor told me it was nerve damage and suggested hyperbaric oxygen treatments. I could only afford 4 wks worth, but for 3 months I no longer had that problem. It is coming back again, as the specialist said I would need 6-12 weeks of treatments. Maybe check into it for yourself.

hey greeneyes,
when you mean treatment for hyperbaric you go in daily for the 4 weeks straight. what does it exactly do? i read about it for burn vicitms, but i didn't actually get how it really worked, i never spoke to anyone about it.

I would go 5 days one week, 6 days the next for 4 weeks. 90 minutes each treatment. The doc puts you in a Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber and you sit or lay down and read or whatever until the time is up. So much to explain what it is helpful for so here is one of many links with some info: http://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/100_199/0172.html
Hope this helps somewhat.

Here's another link: http://www.drwhitaker.com/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy

If you had good skin and an occasional pimple what compelled you to do IPL? Whats wrong with this picture? What about seeing an Esthetician for burning, right products that are calming and for sensitive skin. A well educated and experienced Esthetic Clinician can do more for you than doctors.

That's a pretty bitchy comment. And very hurtful for anyone that has had this procedure and can't go back in time. Obviously you haven't had the procedure and know what it feels like. If you have nothing nice to say then don't even bother commenting. Speaking on this women's behalf I'm sure their were plenty of depressing days so you can just stop with the rude comments.

I hear ya! I've been through hell in my life too but this nightmare is truly unbearable. I know this is an old post so I hope you found answers. My skin looks similar to yours.

I have not read one good long term review. Not one.

I'll add to the long list of damaged people , 1 bbl on entire face when I wanted dark circles and 2 patches on upper lip. Dr said she was using a tiny circle and wanted to get a few spots on the far side of cheek. She was using a big square and went everywhere. No coolonh gel nor goggles . I now have the same texture as kikilisa but worse , I'm olive so ansobed more light plus dr lied about everything so her settings , which were entered after she saw my damaged face , are questionable . I look like melted wax/plastic and apparently it's permanent , white lines going every direction , hypo and hyper pigmentation , huge ugly designs that are scars, my face is flat and completely lost it's shape and structure , under eyes hollowed out , giant pores when you could not see any pores on my face before , dehydrated skin, orange peel swirls everywhere , I look burned and crispy , silvery layer over the waxy skin and ok only 3 months out . I don't even have a nasolabial fold on one side anymore . The texture is waxy and plastic like , like a mold . Thermal damage is correct , it's deep, elastin is gone as well. I had very good elasticity and looked much younger than my age and I'm not self complimenting or giving a line here , I did and it was due to good elasticity , I had the fullness and spring of someone much younger and elastin is the key and can't be replaced . I now look like a weathered shoe. You stare at your skin in disbelief but when you step back and look at yourself , you will see your grandmother only worse because grandma has natural skin and no weird scars or designs or white lines etc , your face looks so old it's utterly shovking. It broke my skin into these ultra thin white lines so looks like a wrinkle fest. I have weird Tony squares that look stamped into my face . She went into the hairline and it's so thin there against bone that the skin melted and folded on top of itself , running pinholes . My skin looks chalk pink . It's just disgusting . I did look here first and it read they it was so great 95% thrilled and I couldn't find a negative review until I knew to search for orange peel and texture chsnges whigb are not on the consent . The fat loss is real, spoke to a plastic surgeon that explained it in detail , I fear more is to come . This site filters the bad reviews and you just can't find them . Plus , it all these names for machines they have 30 year old technology like bbl, confuse the issue , they keep changing the marketing . Bbl is the worst ipl but they're all scary . Everyday I wish I ran away when I heard all those pulses , I never thought to ask the dr to let me see the size of the applicator bevaude she said tiny circle . She kept insisting it was a tiny circle until squares became evident and another derm documented the squares . No idea why she did this to me . I'm devastated and this has consumed my life. The fact it's irreversible is heartbreaking . I don't look human anymore , like s bad 90 year old with a plastic face . Hideous