Would IPL, Laser or a Vi Peel be Best After Facial Scar Revisions?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I wanted to let you know, first of all, that I am thrilled with the results of surgery. You have really increased my confidence and I no longer feel that people are looking at my scars, I just can’t express to you enough, how your talent has improved my life!

I have done pulsed dye lasers in the past, along with IPL for redness and discoloring. I have also done C)2 lasering and microneedling to help even out the scars. I was wanting to try a Vi peel I’m wondering when it would be safe to do this peel it is a light peel  that ends up being somewhat of a medium peel. I am 3 weeks post surgery should I focus on pulsed dye, or IPL, or is it okay to try a peel and then do these redness treatments later? 

A: The early treatment of scars after facial scar revisions can be done by either BBL (what you call IPL) or fractional laser resurfacing depending upon what is trying to be accomplished. BBL is for redness, laser resurfacing is for surface texture. 

As for the Vi peel it could be done anytime after the scar revisions IF the healing scars were avoided. Otherwise I would wait 6 weeks after the surgery before having it applied over the scar revisions.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana