What is an IPL Photo-facial Treatment?

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is a light based treatment that breaks up pigmentation such as freckles, acne scars, melasma, liver spots, moles, broken capillaries and other such areas of hyper-pigmentation on the face or body.

How Does IPL Photo-facial Work?

The bright beam energy that comes from the IPL machine break up dark pigmentation and cauterizes red vessels, as a result the discolored area gently reduces in color, essentially erasing stubborn and unwanted red and brown spots.

The BBL photo facial treatment is a safe, natural and effective treatment to make aging skin appear more youthful by stimulating collagen. It also reduces sun spots or uneven pigmentation and manages diffuse redness. It can even diminish fine red vessels that appear on the nose and across the cheeks. It is the perfect choice for patients with rosacea or acne prone skin. It is virtually pain free and there is no down time. BBL can produce dramatically noticeable results in a very short time.

A BBL treatment is non-invasive and non-ablative. There is typically only mild redness and heat that can persist for several hours post treatment but no bruising or swelling. This means this patient can return to their normal routine right after the procedure without having to worry about downtime. Avoiding active ingredients like glycolic, salicylic or lactic acid and retinol before and after treatment for 72 hours is critical to keep the skin safe. Minimizing sun exposure before and after treatment is also important along with sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher.

WHO is/isn’t a candidate for IPL?
Women who are pregnant or breast feeding are not candidates for IPL.

Is there any preparation for the treatment? 
No Accutane use for 6 months prior to treatment. No sun exposure to the treated areas for 4-6 weeks before treatment. No self tanning products 2 weeks prior. Avoid Aspirin, Advil, Motrin, or any other aspirin containing products for at least one week prior to treatment. No new medications should be taken for at least 2 weeks prior to treatment. Patients should cease using products containing retinol, glycolic acid, bleaching cream, and exfoliants 4 days prior to treatment. 

How long does the actual treatment take?
Treatment can take up to 30 minutes.

Does it hurt? What is the sensation like? 
Discomfort is minimal. Some patients report a sensation similar to a hot rubber band snap.

What can I expect immediately after treatment? 
You will have a mild sunburn sensation following treatment that usually subsides within a few hours. Skin redness, flaking, mild bruising and swelling is normal and may last a few days. The treated area will usually darken right after treatment. Pigmented areas may begin to flake after a few days.

How many treatments are recommended? 
A typical IPL photofacial treatment regimen consists of 4 to 6 regular treatments that are administered during 4-week intervals.

What should I avoid after the treatment? 
Your skin will be fragile for 2-3 days after treatment. Avoid soaking for 24-48 hours. No hot tubs, whirlpools, or saunas, or baths, though showers are okay. Avoid excessive sweating and vigorous workouts for 24-48 hours. Do not rub the skin vigorously and avoid hot water on the treated area. Moisturizers and makeup may be applied if the skin is not broken. Avoid using products containing retinol, glycolic acid, bleaching cream, and exfoliants 7 days after treatment.

Should I be concerned with sun protection immediately after the treatment?
Avoid sun exposure and tanning creams between treatments. Use at least SPF 25, protective clothing, and sunglasses prior to, in between, and after treatment.