IPL Photofacial

IPL takes approximately 60 minutes to perform. The client is brought to the room for numbing of approximately 15 minutes for comfort. Numbing medication is removed, protection is applied to the eyes, and ultrasound gel is applied to the area to be treated. While typical treatment areas include the face and neck, the arms and hands are also frequently treated as well! Light energy is delivered with a handpiece, and each pulse covers an area of approximately 3” x 1”. The typical client receives approximately 20 pulses to the face, and slightly more to the neck. Each pulse is generally described as a “snapping”/warm sensation, and the client will see a flash of light despite having their eyes protected—this is normal!

May not have had recent sun exposure, and area to be treated should be without base tan! If treating face and/or neck, the area of treatment should match the color of your “bathing suit/shirt” tan lines. Recommend against IPL for those with darker skin types, such as types IV and V (Asiatic/Mediterranean/Persian/Hispanic/African American descent), as IPL can react with melanin in the skin and cause hyperpigmentation! Must not have used Retin-A nor minocycline in over a week; must not have used Accutane for over six months. May not be pregnant nor breastfeeding.

IPL photofacial is an outpatient procedure with no downtime. You can resume all your daily activities and work as soon as you leave the medical spa. Your skin will look red and sunburnt, and you should expect some swelling and discomfort for a few days. However, the sensation won’t be any worse than a bad sunburn. You should avoid exposure to direct sunlight and hot water for a few days.

• Avoid activities that increase your body temperature, such as strenuous exercises and saunas, for at least 2 days after the treatment.
• Use non-clogging and non-irritant skincare products for at least the first week after the treatment.
• Don’t use toners, glycolic acid, scrubs, bleaching creams, and other such products for a week.
• Apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 whenever you go outside. And reapply the sunscreen every two hours to protect your skin from the sun.

IPL photofacial gradually improves your complexion and skin texture, reversing the signs of aging, sun damage, and other textural irregularities. Over time, the IPL treatment will reduce the visibility of age spots, sun spots, freckles, varicose veins, birthmarks, vascular lesions, rosacea, fine lines, and wrinkles. It can also remove unwanted hairs from your face, neck, back, bikini line, or other parts of the body. The results gradually appear over several days.

For optimal results, most patients need 4 to 6 IPL treatments spaced four weeks apart. However, your esthetician will curate the ideal treatment frequency based on your specific needs and goals.