First Session Today - Washington, DC
(That's $450 per session, I will probably need...
(That's $450 per session, I will probably need 3.)
I had one session of Fraxel: restore at $2750 (at my derm), had a very bad reaction to it and saw no results, decided to try IPL for hyper-pigmentation and rosacea-induced redness. I am 36, very pale (red hair, blue eyes), have always had freckles but have started to get larger blotchy brown spots and redness/broken capillaries on my cheeks, and the freckles have worsened (i.e., they no longer look cute and youthul, they look like sun damage). Tried fraxel initially for those, but not pleased with the results, expense, and down time.
First, I knew from research (and the technician confirmed) that I was the ideal candidate. It apparently can burn you if you have olive or dark skin, or even if you are a light or medium-skinned person with a tan.
I had my first session today at a medi-spa. I am reluctant to do such things anywhere other than my derm, but since it's not a laser I figured I'd be ok. For me, it hurt. While I wouldn't call it painful, exactly, I wouldn't call it merely uncomfortable, either. It's somewhere in between. Like a hot rubber band snapping on your skin. It hurts like hell in the moment, but the good news is it's over quickly. Next time I think I may put on a numbing cream before I go.
I had my first session today. I am now 5 hours post. I am not red or swollen at all. (I was nervous about the "no down time" claim, as that had not at all proved correct for Fraxel: Restore, which claimed the same.) My freckles and age spots are DARK brown. I am told this is normal and good, and I should expect them to come off over the next week. I experimented with my mineral makeup concealer, it dulls the spots enough that I'd be perfectly comfortable going out tonight (though maybe not on a first date :-)
Will wait to see how it goes over the next week before I decide whether or not to have more. Right now, don't see any difference for redness or pores (or that glow one is allegedly supposed to get after IPL), but the freckles and age spots are definitely dark brown, so that seems to have worked (and I know from research it usually takes at least two sessions before you see real results).
I don't really understand why IPL has a 50%...
Day 3 (it's Monday, I had it done Saturday morning). The spots that had turned dark now appear to be breaking up. Peope compare it to coffee grounds and that is a pretty accurate description of what it loks like. This is apparently normal and good, should exfoliate off within a week. Anyway, just used a little concealer, am totally comfortable at work. I had no side effects at any point, no redness, swelling, etc. I would say don't do it less than a week before an important event (wedding, reunion) because your freckles/brown spots turn almost black and it is noticeable. But I think it's accurate to say there's no down time for work and normal social situations.
I can see why they say it takes several sessions. Definitely notice an improvement, but it's not an aggressive treatment and I can tell already I'll need more. I'm definitely going back for a second and third session.
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Hi EC,
So glad this worked out so well for you. Your review is very detailed and provides a lot of information for the community. We would love to see pictures and hear how your next treatments go.
Thanks so much for the review and have a great weekend!
-Britt
I am now about 2.5 weeks post. The coffee grounds...
I also notice that "glow" I heard so much about. My parents arrived for a visit this past weekend. I haven't seen them in almost a year and one of the first things my mom (who didn't know I'd had it done - she wouldn't approve!) said to me was, "Your skin looks great." Yay!
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