IPL

[marsto911]

Hi,

I do have some training & experience with IPL's. Since I have limited experience with IPL's I'm not the best person to ask....but

In general, with IPL treatments require multiple treatments. Most offices will try to sell a package of 5 treatments. A single treatment might help but will not be optimal.

One major difference between IPL and laser is: A laser is like a sniper bullet, targeting one thing and doing it well. With lasers there are different wavelengths and depth of penetration is targed to a specific depth of tissue. Because it is so specific, many lasers do only a couple of tasks well.

I think of an IPL as a "shotgun" treating many things but not as well as a laser. The IPL has a "range" of wave lengths and that is why it targets several problems at once.

The trainings that are provided by the manufacturer portray their product in a very favorable way. What their products do "in the books" is sometimes not typical for every user.

Personally, I am a laser girl. Since I do not have a lot of experience with IPL, I am probably biased toward lasers. Did I have IPL on my face, chest & arms? Heck yes, I practiced on myself. Did I see dramatic changes? No, but I am always doing things to my face skin so it is difficult to know exactly what works.

With any treatment, going to someone exprienced is so important.

Regarding your specific settings, I cannot comment. Different machines have very different ranges of settings. Since you have very light skin, your skin can tolerate higher settings and more aggressive treatment. It sounds like the person who did your treatment was very aggressive. What your provider will tell you is that you need more treatments.

Telangectasias (little red veins) around the nose area can be very resistent to treatment. They can be lasered, IPL, or cautery. I think laser works best for me.

I am unaware of a super treatment for large pores. There are a lot of products, IPL included, that state they will shrink pores, and they might help some.

Wow, I didn't realize I had so much to say. :-)

Good luck

Mar

[Jillren41]

I had the levulan kerastick with Lazer(verses ILP). This was 2.5 weeks ago, I had no side effects at all! Curious as to if it worked. Skin broke out first week, no peeling, Age spots look darker(I was told this would happen). Mine was for Aketinic Keratosis. But, since I paid 1,500 I went to getting the wrinkles, softer skin, etc.
Not sure what products to use now, except alot of sunscreen. Any suggestions.

[marsto911]

Hi,

With the levulan kerastick, I am not really familiar with this product, but was under the impression that it is to treat actinic keratosis which are pre-skin cancers. What did they tell you about how it worked and what it would do?

M

[marta]

I am happy to have found this forum as I am just considering laser and learning about IPL and other lasers. It is *very* expensive in my area,
with 5 treatments costing $3,000 all to be payed up front. This has me seriously not considering it and perhaps thinking about the freeze method.
In my panic, I called another clinic who said that IPL was not considered to be as effective and they recommended Iridex. Anyone had any experience with that? I am of German/Polish heritage, hence fair... I am looking for something very effective but reasonable in price (or even payment options!)

thanks

[claudek]

This place is quite pro.
IPL was about 55Euro for about 8 lightnings on 3 -4 spiders on the face.
They seem to be good and use photoderm. Since you are Polish, it may be of interest, if in Warsaw.

http://www.epi-centrum.pl/en/general.html