Photo Facial

Photo Facial

WHAT IS PHOTOFACIAL (IPL) TREATMENT?

Photorejuvenation (IPL- Intense Pulsed Light) laser treatments are most commonly used for:

• Lightening and removing "sun spots", "age spots",  and brown blotches on the face, neck, chest, hands and other areas of the body
• Lightening and reducing redness, rosacea, dilated blood vessels and "broken" blood vessels on the face, neck and chest
• Helping to control flushing
• It also has a lesser effect of improving skin texture through collagen stimulation and improves pore size minimally by temporarily reducing oiliness

How does the IPL treatment improve the appearance of blood vessels, rosacea, and age spots/freckles?

The IPL device emits a range of lightwaves that are then tuned and targeted at hemoglobin (the red blood cells in the blood vessels) or melanin (the brown pigment in freckles and age spots). The light beam passes through the skin and is absorbed by either hemoglobin or melanin resulting in damage to the vessel wall or fragmenting of melanin pigment. These tiny vessels and the melanin pigment are then absorbed by the body, rendering them less visible.

How long does it take for laser photorejuvenation treatments to work?

Most people need a full series of 4-7 treatments about 2 weeks apart.  You can see some improvement with each treatment,The more sun damage or redness you have, the more likely you are to need a full 7 treatments.  Some cases of severe redness or brown spots require more than 7 treatments. Expect to see gradual clearing over time.

How does the IPL treatment improve the appearance of blood vessels, rosacea, and age spots/freckles?

The IPL device emits a range of lightwaves that are then tuned and targeted at hemoglobin (the red blood cells in the blood vessels) or melanin (the brown pigment in freckles and age spots). The light beam passes through the skin and is absorbed by either hemoglobin or melanin resulting in damage to the vessel wall or fragmenting of melanin pigment. These tiny vessels and the melanin pigment are then absorbed by the body, rendering them less visible.

What are the IPL Photofacial treatments like?

When you come to a laser center, you will be shown to a laser room. Your medical provider will put special glasses or eyepads over your eyes to protect them. A cool gel is then placed on the skin being treated. The smooth glass surface of the handpiece is gently applied to your skin and pulses of light flash. You may feel a very slight sting, like the snapping of a small rubber band.

At the end of the treatment, the nurse wipes off the gel, cleans the area with a warm cloth, and applies a moisturizer with sunscreen.

What types of reasults can i expect?

A clear complexion with healthy, glowing skin can be achieved after a series of Photofacial (IPL) treatments. For patients with rosacea, a ruddy complexion and intense episodes of flushing can be markedly improved if not eliminated.

How long will the results from a photofacial last?

Tht depends on how much sun exposure your skin gets after your laser treatments.  If you are in the sun a lot and do not use sunscreen, the underlying issues, whether they are redness or brown spots, will return.  But if you take good care of your skin and keep it protected from the sun, your skin will continue to look good with annual maintenance treatments.