Fast facts

IPL

What it is: IPL or intense-pulsed light is a skin treatment device designed to emit powerful bursts of light energy to the surface of your skin, for the correction of various skin conditions.  IPL is also referred to as a photo-facial or photorejuvenation.  

What it addresses:  

- Sun damage
- Stretch marks
- Uneven pigmentation
- Age spots

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Was it worth it?

Percent of consumer reviews saying "Yes":

86% Tummy tuck
83% Invisalign
83% Blepharoplasty
81% Smart Lipo
80% Silicone breast implants
79% Photofacial
78% Facelift
78% VASER Liposelection
78% Lasik
75% Laser resurfacing
74% Rhinoplasty
74% Botox
72% Permanent makeup
70% Liposuction
69% Pixel laser
67% Active FX
67% Microdermabrasion
66% Chemical peel
63% Juvederm
61% Restylane
58% Sculptra
53% IPL
52% Radiesse
51% Fraxel Laser
50% Mesotherapy
48% Accent XL
44% Zoom teeth whitening
41% Lifestyle lift
37% Thermage
37% Lipodissolve

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Question

Is it safe to have IPL done some time after a Thermage treatment?

Can the use of these two procedures (done about 1 year apart) cause excess melting of fat under the skin?

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Asked by: real123
NY

Answers (1)

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1
November 13, 2008

Yes it is safe

Edgar Franklin Fincher, MD, PhD
Edgar Franklin Fincher, MD, PhD
Board Certified
Dermatologist

It is safe to do these two procedures when staggered on different days. Thermage and IPL are both extremely safe procedures when used by experienced doctors.

Thermage heats the skin to tighten and IPL uses light to treat brown discoloration and redness from broken capillaries. By combining the two therapies you are treating different aspects of skin aging. Both are excellent choices for "no downtime" treatments.

Because I feel these are safe treatments, I would allow my patients to have the treatments done even 1 week apart. Do the thermage first and then follow up with your series of IPL treatments. Most IPLs will require around 3-4 treatments in the series.

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