What is IPL Skin Rejuvenation?

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IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light technology. It is an FDA and TGA-approved and patented form of treatment which has been shown to be both safe and effective. IPL is also known as photorejuvenation. Because it is a relatively simple and straightforward procedure, with few concerns in terms of either side effects, recovery time, or the level of invasiveness with the treatment itself, IPL is continuing to become a more widely utilized choice.

Benefits of IPL Skin Rejuvenation

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IPL skin rejuvenation offers patients a wide range of benefits, including:

• IPL is a quick in-office procedure, with almost zero needs for recovery. It’s easy to fit it into your schedule and get on with the rest of your life. You see great results without undergoing intensive surgery.

• IPL works wonders for removing red splotches, brown spots, and scarring, as well as reducing pore size, eliminating and reducing wrinkles, and improving overall skin texture, smoothness and quality. IPL has been used to treat rosacea, hyperpigmentation, melasma, age and sunspots, broken capillaries, spider veins, stretch marks, and other conditions as well.

• IPL is a great tool to help combat the effects of ageing, and achieve a more youthful appearance.

• IPL offers a legitimate and long-lasting solution, as opposed to some procedures which offer only short-term results.

• IPL can also be utilized anywhere on the body, offering great versatility from a single procedure.

 

Procedure Details

During an IPL procedure, intense light from a range of wavelengths is focused on the specific parts of your skin that you are treating. The IPL device itself is gently pressed onto the skin, with a smooth, transparent surface emitting the light on the targeted areas.

This light helps to spur on the production of collagen, which will help to fill in lines and wrinkles or shallow scarring, while also reducing redness, discoloration, and spots.

Meanwhile, the targeted tissue that has been damaged is naturally removed by the body. Depending on what is being treated, the exact wavelength range can be adjusted to optimize results.

You will wear an eye mask to protect your eyes and vision during the procedure, and topical gels may be applied on your skin to prevent overheating. You may also be given pain medication before or after the procedure, but you do not undergo any form of anesthesia.

The entire procedure is very quick, taking about half an hour to complete, although the exact length will depend on what you are specifically treating, and its size or scope.

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Light vs. Laser

It is important to understand that IPL skin rejuvenation utilities light waves, not laser. These terms are often used interchangeably by many individuals, however, this is not correct. A separate treatment, known as laser skin resurfacing, is also utilized as a cosmetic treatment for some similar conditions. Laser skin resurfacing may either be ablative (removing top layers of skin via induced injury) or non-ablative (heat damage to deep layers of skin without removing skin).

While there is an overlap between IPL and laser skin resurfacing in terms of what they are used for and how they work, they are not the same and do not have the exact same applications, either. Laser skin resurfacing is also much more expensive than IPL. The latter is also seen as offering reduced risk of abnormal healing or the potential for making certain types of skin conditions worse.

 

Other Considerations

While IPL is a very versatile and effective procedure, it does not produce guaranteed results for all people, all skin types, and all issues. For instance, IPL is not as effective on very dark or tan skin in comparison to fare or pale complexions.

The procedure itself may be slightly uncomfortable, akin to a stinging or slight burning sensation. After the procedure, it may feel as if you had been sunburned for about 24-48 hours. There is the possibility, although not common, that you may develop blistering or scabs following IPL.

After receiving your treatment, you will be advised to spend anywhere from two to five days out of direct and prolonged sun exposure. Your clinician may also recommend avoiding direct hot water streams, i.e., your shower, or soaking in water in a tub or pool.

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Depending on what exactly you’re looking to accomplish, you will likely need to schedule multiple IPL treatments, potentially up to half a dozen. Individual IPL sessions are spaced approximately four weeks apart. Therefore, while the treatments are quick, the overall process may take some time to see final results and completion. In the first week or two after a treatment, blemishes or spots may actually darken before fading.

While IPL offers a long-lasting solution with the appearance and texture of your skin, it does not stop the ageing process, or the causes of other wear and tear to your skin. Therefore, it is not a permanent solution.

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The Bottom Line on IPL

IPL skin rejuvenation is safe, easy and highly effective for treating everything from wrinkles to blemishes, and a wide range of skin conditions and related ailments. With a relatively affordable cost per treatment and little if any need for downtime, IPL offers its patients a great combination of convenience, accessibility and overall success.

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