At a Glance
30 Minutes
4 Recommended
1-2 Days
1-2 years depending on diet and lifestyle
Same Day
Low
None
Physician or Nurse
IPL Photorejuvenation - Photofacials for Younger Looking Skin
Having clear, healthy and glowing skin can be a major confidence booster! If you want to improve the appearance of your skin and look younger without invasive skin surgery, then IPL photorejuvenation or photofacial, can give you the results you’re looking for.
What is the IPL Photofacial, and How Does it Work?
IPL photorejuvenation uses a specialized handheld device to deliver pulses of broad-spectrum light to the skin. It’s commonly used to address skin concerns such as sun damage, age spots, wrinkles, freckles, redness, uneven skin tone, acne, and scars.
During an IPL treatment, the doctor or esthetician will clean your skin and apply a cool gel on it. After this, they’ll use the IPL device to target pulses of high-intensity light to the problem area. This light energy targets what is known as chromophores in the skin, such as melanin (pigment) or hemoglobin (red blood cells). They absorb the light energy and convert it into heat which breaks down pigmentation, stimulates collagen production, and promotes the regeneration of healthier skin cells.
IPL photofacials take 15 to 30 minutes and usually cause a mild sensation of warmth or a slight snapping feeling during the treatment. You may see bright flashes of light during your treatment — which is totally normal. There’s no downtime needed, although you may experience temporary swelling and redness.
Multiple sessions every few weeks are recommended to achieve the best possible results and the number of sessions required varies depending on the severity of your skin concerns.
What to Expect During an IPL Photofacial Treatment
As you know above, IPL photofacials are a type of skin treatment that can help reduce the appearance of skin damage and leave you with a youthful, glowing complexion. Before your treatment begins, your skin will be cleansed, and a cool gel will be applied to the treated area. The IPL device will then be placed over your skin, and pulses of light will target the deeper layers of your skin.
Depending on how big the area is that needs to be treated, the entire process usually takes between 15 and 30 minutes. Most patients experience little to no discomfort during the treatment; however, some may feel slightly tingling. During the treatment, you may also notice a bright light or flashes of light, which is normal and should not be alarming.
After your IPL Photofacial treatment, you may experience slight redness or swelling in the treatment area, but this should subside within a few hours. You may also notice that your skin looks brighter immediately after the treatment, although full results may not be seen until weeks or even months later.
