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A Complete guide to IPL Photorejuvenation
Odds are, if you’re not engulfed in the skin care industry, you don’t know what IPL Photorejuvenation is. With more and more people becoming concerned with the health of their skin and sun damage awareness growing, IPL Photorejuvenation is growing in popularity. The skin care sector of the cosmetic industry is becoming more and more exposed every day and will continue to as the age of social media continues to dominate. But what exactly is IPL Photorejuvenation? How does it work? What is it used for? How long does it take? Is it painful? Is it safe? All these questions and more are answered in the following guide to IPL Photorejuvenation.
What is IPL Photorejuvenation and what is it used for?
IPL Photorejuvenation (Intense pulsed light) is a type of laser treatment used for lightening and removing sunspots, age spots, and brown blotches on the face, neck, chest, hands, and other areas of the body. The treatment also reduces redness, rosacea, dilated blood vessels, and broken blood vessels in the face, chest, and neck. It can also help to control flushing and can even improve skin texture through collagen stimulation.
How does it work?
The laser device works by emitting a range of lightwaves that are tuned and targeted at hemoglobin (the red blood cells in the vessels) or melanin (the brown pigment in freckles and age spots). The beam of light passes through the skin and is absorbed by either hemoglobin or melanin leading to damage in the vessel wall or fragmenting of melanin pigment. The tiny vessels and/or the melanin pigment are then absorbed by the body making them invisible.
How long does it take to work?
Most patients need 3-5 months for the results to have full effect. This entails a series of 3-5 treatments about 1 month apart. Improvement will be seen with each treatment and it is common for the response to be slightly different after each treatment. The more sun damage you have, the more likely it is that you will need closer to 5 treatments. Some severe cases may require more than 5 treatments.
Is it painful and is it safe?
You may experience slight discomfort throughout the treatment. However, most patients are able to easily tolerate the removal of dilated blood vessels or age spots and freckles very easily. The first treatment is usually the most uncomfortable. The process is nonablative, meaning no skin is removed during the treatment. This makes the process relatively safe and leads to little downtime and a speedy recovery. However, like any medical treatment there are risks involved. These risks include: bruising, blistering, scabbing, and changes in skin pigmentation. Most of these issues soon disappear however.
How much do these treatments cost?
A full-face treatment runs from about $300 to $500 per appointment depending on your region and the clinic. A series of 3-5 treatments would usually be around $1000-$2500. A face, neck, and chest treatment typically ranges from $800-$1000. A series of 3-5 would total around $4000 to $5000. Treating hands usually costs around $250 per treatment.
Who is a candidate for these treatments?
People with blotchy, sun-damaged, or discoloured skin, people whose skin is affected by large pores, freckles, or wrinkles will benefit from an IPL photorejuvenation treatment.
Consultations Available Now
Take the first step. Get your questions answered and find out which treatment option is best for your personal situation by meeting with one of our knowledgeable medical staff at Yaletown Laser Centre for an in-person consultation.
Simply fill out the form on this page, and one of our experienced team members will reach out to you promptly to schedule your consultation.