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What is intense pulsed light (IPL)?
What is an IPL photofacial treatment?
How does an IPL photofacial work?
What is intense pulsed light therapy?
Feb 4, 2024 · Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy, also known as a photo facial, is a way to improve the color and texture of your skin without surgery. It can undo some of the visible damage caused by...
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Nov 7, 2023 · An IPL (intense pulsed light) photofacial is a cosmetic procedure that uses pulses of light to treat a variety of skin issues. The first IPL device was FDA approved in 1995 to treat dilated blood vessels called telangiectasia, commonly known as spider veins.
- Pros IPL treatments target the pigment cells responsible for excessive or uneven pigmentation, helping to reduce age spots, sunspots, freckles, and...
- The price you pay will depend on the size of the treatment area, number of treatments you have, and the type of device used, as well as your provid...
- The IPL photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.
- Prior to your treatment, you should have a consultation with your provider to make sure you’re a good candidate for intense pulsed light therapy. T...
- There's little to no downtime after an IPL photofacial, but you may want to take some social downtime as your skin goes through a healing process t...
- Most IPL treatment plans are slow and steady, with a series of up to 6 treatment sessions, spaced 30 days apart, to achieve full results. This mont...
- "IPL can be very effective, but the results are not permanent," says Dr. William Groff, a dermatologist in San Diego. You’ll continue to age, accru...
- When performed by an experienced provider on the right candidate, IPL can be extremely safe and well tolerated. "However, there are some real compl...
- RealSelf members give laser resurfacing a much higher Worth It Rating than IPL photofacials, but which treatment option is better for you will depe...
What is an IPL Photo Facial? An IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Photo Facial is a noninvasive skin approach that uses light energy to target various skin imperfections. Unlike traditional laser methods, which use a single wavelength of light, IPL utilizes a broad spectrum of light, allowing it to address multiple skin issues simultaneously.
- Overview
- The difference between IPL and laser treatment
- How to prepare
- Costs and insurance
- What to expect during the procedure
- How well it works
- Possible risks
- What to expect afterward
- Alternatives to IPL
- The bottom line
Intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment is a type of light therapy used to treat wrinkles, spots, and unwanted hair. Side effects are usually minimal, but may include mild skin discoloration, bruising, or swelling.
You can use IPL to minimize or remove:
•age spots
•sun damage
•freckles
•birthmarks
IPL is similar to a laser treatment. However, a laser focuses just one wavelength of light at your skin, while IPL releases light of many different wavelengths, like a photo flash.
The light from IPL is more scattered and less focused than a laser. IPL penetrates down to the second layer of your skin (dermis) without harming the top layer (epidermis), so it causes less damage to your skin.
Pigment cells in your skin absorb the light energy, which is converted into heat. The heat destroys the unwanted pigment to clear up freckles and other spots. Or, it destroys the hair follicle to prevent the hair from growing again.
You can use IPL anywhere on your body, but it may not work as well on uneven areas. It isn’t recommended for people who tend to get thick, raised keloid scars or who have darker skin tones. It’s also not as effective on light-colored hair as it is on darker hair.
Before your IPL procedure, your skin care specialist will examine your skin and let you know what to expect. Let them know if you have any skin conditions that might affect healing after your treatment, such as inflammatory acne or eczema.
Your skin care specialist may recommend that you avoid certain activities, medications, and other products for two weeks prior your procedure.
The cost depends on the type of condition you’re having treated and the size of the treatment area. On average, IPL costs $700 to $1,200. You might have to pay more for anesthesia, tests, follow-up visits, or medicines. Because IPL is considered a cosmetic procedure, most health insurance plans won’t cover the cost.
Your skin care specialist first cleans the area that’s being treated. Then they rub a cool gel onto your skin. Then, they apply light pulses from the IPL device to your skin. During your treatment, you’ll need to wear dark glasses to protect your eyes.
The pulses might sting your skin. Some people liken the feeling to being snapped with a rubber band.
Depending on which part of your body is being treated and how large the area is, the treatment should take 20 to 30 minutes.
To get the results you want, you may need to have three to six treatments. Those treatments should be spaced about one month apart to let your skin heal in between. Hair removal requires 6 to 12 treatments.
Newer IPL devices work about as well as laser treatments for some cosmetic treatments, such as fading blood vessels in the skin. For hair removal, IPL works better on thick, dark hair than on fine, light hair. You may need to have several treatments to achieve your desired result.
Most people experience mild redness or swelling after the procedure. This typically fades within a day or two.
In some cases, you may experience:
•bruising
•blistering
•change in skin color
•infection
You should be able to go right back to your regular activities. The treated area of skin will be red and sensitive for a few hours, as if you got sunburned. Your skin may be slightly swollen, too. Your skin will continue to be sensitive for a couple of days after the procedure. You may need to avoid using hot water on it until your skin heals.
IPL isn’t the only method used to remove lines, spots, and unwanted hair. Your other options include:
Lasers: A laser uses a single, focused wavelength of light to remove unwanted hair, wrinkles, sun damage, and other spots. If the laser removes the top layer of skin, it’s considered an ablative treatment. If it heats the underlying tissue without damaging the top layer, it’s considered nonablative. Laser treatments require fewer sessions than IPL, and they can be used effectively on dark skin. Costs for laser skin resurfacing average around $2,300.
Fraxel laser treatment: The Fraxel laser is considered a nonablative treatment because it penetrates under the surface of the skin without harming the top layer. Some Fraxel treatments treat a fraction of the skin and may then be termed a fractionated laser, treating part of the skin in an ablative manner. Fraxel laser can be used to treat sun damage, lines and wrinkles, and acne scars. After the treatment, the skin regenerates itself. You’ll need several treatments to see results. Fraxel laser treatments cost around $1,000 per session.
Microdermabrasion: Microdermabrasion uses an abrasive device to gently sand off the top layer of your skin. It can be used to fade age spots and areas of darkened skin. It can also reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. You’ll need a series of treatments to see improvement, and the results are usually temporary. The average cost of a session is $138.
Here are the pros and cons of IPL compared to other cosmetic treatments.
Pros:
•The treatment works well to fade lines and spots and get rid of unwanted hair.
•The sessions are quicker than with other methods.
•The light doesn’t damage the top layers of skin, so you’ll have fewer side effects than with a laser or dermabrasion.
•The recovery is fast.
Intense pulsed light (IPL) is a cosmetic skin treatment that may help reduce the signs of aging, remove unwanted hair, lighten darker patches of skin, and improve the appearance of...
What Is Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy? Intense pulsed light therapy is a type of phototherapy (light-based treatment) for the skin. IPL uses energy emitted from light to target and improve the appearance of specific parts of one’s skin.
Oct 9, 2022 · An IPL photofacial treatment, also sometimes called a fotofacial or photo facial, is a cosmetic procedure that uses intense pulsed light (IPL) to improve the look of the skin. IPL photofacial treatments can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including sun damage, age spots, rosacea, and broken capillaries. How Does It Work?
