IPL Photofacial Treatment - Broadband Light (BBL)Phototherapy

IPL Photorejuvenation - An Age-Defying Skin Treatment for Our Los Angeles Patients

IPL Photofacial treatment is one of the most popular procedures with our Los Angeles patients because it represents an age-defying skin care technology that addresses the effects of photoaging due to sun damage with minimal investment and downtime for recovery.

IPL PHOTOFACIAL FOR FACIAL REJUVENATION

Whereas photoaging from sun exposure occurs due to the damaging effects of the ultraviolet light, more specifically, the UVA and UVB components of sunlight, the IPL photofacial treatment uses the higher wavelengths of light, mostly in the visible range, to rejuvenate the skin and counter the effects of photoaging. IPL Photofacial involves a non-ablative (not peeling or removing top layers of the skin), innovative, light-based treatment that applies a carefully calibrated and filtered light to the skin to seek out specific targets on the skin surface. These targets could be pigmented spots, superficial blood vessels and even hair follicles. IPL Photofacial is an ideal treatment for skin care concerns ranging from sun spots and hyper pigmentation, to Rosacea and broken capillaries. Having regular photofacials is a great way to keep the skin glowing, fresh, even-toned and beautiful throughout the year. With adequate skin aftercare, the results often last for years.

Many of our patients who have had previous IPL photofacials at other medical spas, laser institutes, or cosmetic surgery centers are enormously impressed and pleasantly surprised with results they observe after only one IPL treatment session, and say that the improvement in their skin complexion is more significant than that they have noticed in the past after having several IPL / photofacial treatments. In fact, many patients experience such a dramatic improvement in skin complexion that they discontinue using daily make up to hide their facial skin blemishes. Getting consistent, safe and robust results with IPL treatments requires significant expertise and experience, as the treatment is very easy to underdo or overdo. At Nu Vela, Dr. R. Dishakjian uses the Sciton BBL technology, a leading manufacturer of IPL devices, and takes pride in personally performing all IPL treatments to give his patients the best possible outcomes with each procedure.

What Does IPL Photofacial Stand For and How Does It Work?

Different terms, such as Broadband Light (BBL), Variable Pulsed Light, Photorejuvenation, Photofacials, Fotofacials, and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Photofacials, and IPL phototherapy, basically refer to the same technology — a light bulb connected to a computer that tells it how often, how long and with what intensity to flash. A filter is applied to the bulb to restrict the light to a specific wavelength range to make the emitted light go after certain pigmented targets on damaged skin.

Despite the fact that many people refer to laser skin treatments and IPL photofacials interchangeably, the technology in the two systems is not the same. A laser emits a beam of light of a single wavelength (monochromatic), where all the waves are coherent (in phase with one other) and travel in the same direction, exactly parallel to one another. Scientists say the laser light is "collimated." Unlike lasers, light waves from ordinary sources (such as flashlights, light bulbs, or the Sun) spread out in all directions.

Because the laser light is monochromatic, coherent, and collimated, all of its energy is focused to produce a small point of intense power. This focused power makes laser light useful for cutting and welding, and when it comes to cosmetic dermatology, gives it the ability of penetrating skin. An IPL on the other hand, has a range of wavelengths of non-coherent light that scatters very quickly, and therefore has less skin penetrating ability. This makes it an ideal treatment for very superficial structures of the skin, like sun spots, superficial wrinkles, hair follicles and blood vessels.

Light and lasers both act on the skin by generating heat after being absorbed by pigmented targets or water. However, different targets (referred to as chromophores) respond to different wavelengths of light. Lasers have a single color and wavelength and therefore are commonly used to go after a specific target that responds to that wavelength. With IPL / photofacial treatments, the broad range of wavelengths of light allows seamless treatment for multiple skin conditions (sun spots, shallow wrinkles and redness, to name a few). Thus, while lasers are very specific to the conditions they treat, IPL machines are versatile and generalists. Perhaps, it would be convenient to think of an IPL as the "iphone" of the laser world.

BEFORE AND AFTER IPL TREATMENT

What is the Difference Between IPL and Skin Resurfacing?

The laser beam in skin resurfacing lasers, whether CO₂ laser or Erbium:Yag, targets the water content of the skin cells so efficiently that the heat generated essentially vaporizes these cells. Although the thickness of the vaporized layer of the skin depends on the settings of the machine, this process occurs indiscriminately over all the skin cells, including pigmented and the normal skin cells. IPL photofacials, on the other hand, are more color specific in their targeting and go after only pigmented spots and patches, leaving the surrounding skin minimally traumatized and essentially intact, without the associated oozing, crusting and peeling, with less pain, minimal risk of infection or scarring, and a much shorter recovery time.

What Skin Conditions are Treatable with IPL?

The broad range of wavelengths of IPL light together with Smart Filters will allow targeted treatment for many skin conditions and permanent hair reduction (except for poorly colored, grey, blond or white hair). This process will also stimulate your skin cells to regenerate new collagen and thus restore your skin to its natural tone and texture, blending its colors and making it smoother, vibrant and younger looking. Note that it's the heating of the pigmented brown or red cells that causes photo-rejuvenation and the therapeutic effect of IPL. Skin conditions that are successfully treated with IPL photofacials include freckles, age spots, sun spots, liver spots, birthmarks, pigmented and red acne scars, uneven skin tone, superficial skin wrinkling, very fine facial spider veins (broken capillaries), diffuse redness associated with Rosacea, Cherry Angiomas and even acne reduction. Note that Rosacea is a chronic condition and cannot be "cured" with any laser or light, however its appearance can be significantly improved with IPL phototherapy.

ROSACEA IPL TREATMENT - BEFORE AND AFTER

When Should IPL Photofacials be Avoided?

IPL treatments should be avoided in the hair bearing areas of the lower face in male patients, since the treatment may also target the dark facial hair resulting in unintended permanent hair reduction. In these areas, a superficial laser peel would be a better and safer alternative, since the ablative laser targets the water content of the skin cells rather than the color content of the hair.

What Types of Skin can be Treated With IPL?

People are often surprised to learn that most skin types can be treated with nding skin minimally traumatized and essentially intact, without the associated oozing, crusting and peeling, with less pain, minimal risk of infection or scarring, and a much shorter recovery time.

What Skin Conditions are Treatable with IPL?

The broad range of wavelengths of IPL light together with Smart Filters will allow targeted treatment for many skin conditions and permanent hair reduction (except for poorly colored, grey, blond or white hair). This process will also stimulate your skin cells to regenerate new collagen and thus restore your skin to its natural tone and texture, blending its colors and making it smoother, vibrant and younger lookinthe patches of abnormal pigmentation often occur in the deep layers of the skin. Only an adequate consultation with an experienced cosmetic surgeon/doctor will determine if you are a good candidate for this procedure.

IPL PHOTOFACIAL FOR PHOTOAGED SKIN

IPL PHOTOFACIAL FOR DARK SKIN

Other than the Face, What Parts of the Body can be Treated With IPL?

IPL phototherapy can be used on any part of the body. The most common areas are those most exposed to the damaging effects of sunlight. The most popular treatments are on the face, neck and décolleté, back of hands, chest and shoulders.

IPL PHOTOFACIAL FOR SUN SPOTS REMOVAL

IPL FOR CHEST

How to prepare oneself for an IPL treatment?

Since skin tanning stimulates the growth and severity of pigmented spots, one should avoid tanning before and after IPL treatments for more effective and enduring results. It is particularly important to avoid tanning before IPL treatments for permanent hair reduction sessions, since the treatment capitalizes on the color difference between the hair and the surrounding skin. Tanning decreases this color difference and makes the treatment potentially more challenging, less safe and less effective. One should also avoid the use of photosensitizing medications before a treatment, as these may exaggerate the skin response to treatment.

What Does an IPL Treatment Session Involve?

Numbing cream is applied on the bare skin about an hour before the procedure and is removed just before the treatment starts. Adequate baseline photos are also taken for later comparison. You will be comfortably seated, wearing protective goggles. Dr. R. Dishakjian, the cosmetic surgeon at the medical spa, will then carefully examine your skin, select certain settings of the IPL machine, and spread a layer of cooling gel in between the skin and the IPL handpiece. After spot testing your skin response against a variety of settings of the IPL machine, the best setting is selected and the treatment starts. Patients often describe a sensation of rubber snap on the skin as the light energy is delivered.

Note that the Sciton BBL system used at our medical spa is an industry leader in IPL technology, offers one of the largest treatment areas on the IPL handpiece (15 x 45 mm spot size) and comes with an integrated sapphire cooling tip, making the treatment sessions fast and efficient while maximizing patient comfort and safety. Treatment time depends on the area of the body being treated. A face treatment for example, typically takes a few minutes of actual treatment time. After your treatment, Dr. Dishakjian will instruct you on the skin care instruction to maximize comfort, safety and effectiveness of the results.

What Shall I Expect After an IPL Photofacial Treatment?

Depending on the application for which an IPL is used, in the immediate aftermath of the procedure you may feel like a sun burn, and your skin may show diffuse patchy pinkish areas, which often disappear within a few hours. You will often be advised to cover your skin with a protective skin ointment for the first day or so, after which regular make up may be applied. Depending on the setting, some mild swelling may also occur during this period. You will notice gradual flaking of freckles and sunspots and/or disappearance of blood vessels within one to three weeks. The ultimate result should be a more even complexion of the skin with better tone and texture, and more youthful, vibrant look.

How Many IPL Treatments Should I Need, and How Often?

Depending on the indication for the IPL Photofacial treatment, one or more treatment sessions may be needed for optimal outcome. For instance, when targeting sun spots, a single robust treatment session is often adequate, whereas treatment for Rosacea, broken capillaries and hair may require several sessions. Depending on the application, the results are often long term. For instance, with adequate sun protection, many patients experience relief from unsightly sun spots for 2-3 years. When used for hair reduction, IPL treatments results are often permanent. There is also emerging evidence that regular periodic IPL treatments (1-2 times a year), over many years, may in fact delay skin aging significantly, maintaining a more youthful and glowing appearance.

Questions About the Cost of Skin Peels with Laser or the Treatment?

You may reach our Los Angeles medical spa and vein clinic by clicking the "Contact us" button at the top of the page, or by calling 818-832-4500. Our receptionist will be delighted to assist you with any enquiries regarding the cost of IPL treatment, additional information, or scheduling free personal consultation with the cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Raffi Dishakjian.

BEFORE & AFTER GALLERY. click here...