Treatment FAQ

what is a ipl treatment

by Steve Schneider IV Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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How much does an IPL treatment cost?

What Is IPL Treatment? Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy, aka photofacial, is a way to improve the color and texture of your skin without surgery. It …

What are the advantages and disadvantages of IPL?

May 18, 2018 · As it turns out, IPL stands for Intense Pulse Light, and according to Dr. Engelman, it’s a broad range of light—not a laser. The treatment involves a light-based device that can help address the appearance of hyperpigmentation, broken capillaries, and skin redness. Each treatment can be completed in a matter of minutes, but Dr. Engelman explains that you’ll likely …

How many IPL treatments will I Need?

Nov 24, 2020 · An IPL (intense pulsed light) photofacial is a versatile treatment that can improve a range of skin conditions. The first IPL device was FDA approved in 1995, to treat dilated blood vessels called telangiectasia (aka spider veins). In the decades since, IPL photofacial treatments have expanded in scope to address vascular lesions, pigmented lesions, and even unwanted hair.

How often is it safe to use IPL laser treatment?

Mar 10, 2020 · Intense Pulsed Light is a non-invasive, non-ablative form of laser skin rejuvenation. As one of the first types of laser skin therapy, IPL has become a go-to treatment for countless patients looking to correct a wide array of skin blemishes. These range from rosacea redness to age-related issues such as brown spots and broken blood vessels.

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What is IPL treatment good for?

Intense pulsed light (IPL) is a cosmetic skin treatment. People may use it to reduce the signs of aging or remove unwanted hair. Other uses include reducing the appearance of scars, lightening darker patches of skin, and improving the appearance of spider veins. IPL works in a similar way to laser therapy.

How much does IPL treatment cost?

Average Cost of IPL Treatments It's difficult to give an exact price for an IPL treatment because each patient has different cosmetic concerns they wish to address. An average cost for Intense Pulsed Light treatments can range from $349 to almost $649.Feb 14, 2021

How long does an IPL take to heal?

Healing after an IPL treatment varies with the patient although in most cases takes less than a week and as little as 2 to 3 days. IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light. Dermatologists use this non-surgical therapy to remove blemishes and imperfections in the skin, or in severe cases make them less noticeable.Jun 2, 2020

Is IPL better than laser?

As laser uses a stronger beam of light, you might think the IPL is safer. However laser only targets the hair follicles and unlike IPL, it doesn't affect the surrounding skin tissue. IPL is not as strong as laser so will need more sessions. This puts your skin under more stress and it will spend more time healing.Jun 12, 2019

Is IPL worth the money?

IPL is an excellent option for people who want to address many of the signs of aging with one treatment. You can greatly improve fine lines, sun spots, redness, and dull skin, all with the power of light.

Which is better IPL or BBL?

With a range of light waves being used, IPL works to stimulate collagen to reduce visible signs of aging, sun spots, rosacea, and more. BBL specializes in high intensity light to heat up the skin.Apr 6, 2021

Is IPL laser painful?

IPL causes little to no pain. Regardless, we will apply numbing cream to the area being treated to provide a pleasant and pain-free experience.

Why do you have to shave before IPL?

You need a small amount of hair visible at the surface of the skin for the IPL light to effectively destroy the follicle. Shaving the area being treated will help the laser focus beneath the skin and improve the results. If there's a lot of hair on the surface, a lot less light energy makes it deep into the follicle.May 5, 2021

What are the side effects of IPL?

Side effects of IPL are minor and include:Pain during treatment (reduced by contact cooling and if necessary, topical anaesthetic)Skin turning pink and a little sore immediately after the procedure.A sensation of a mild sunburn (redness, peeling, swelling) that may last a few days after treatment.More items...

Which is more painful IPL or laser?

IPL is less painful than laser hair removal, but pain levels can be dependant on your body type. Many professional IPL machines have a built in cooling system which actively cools the skin as the machine is operating. This considerably reduces any discomfort felt during the treatment.Jun 21, 2019

Is Home IPL safe?

Is IPL hair removal safe? IPL is considered safe to use, providing the device is from a reliable, trusted brand and instructions are followed as advised. Occasionally, some people may experience side effects such as redness, discomfort or, very rarely, blisters or burns.Nov 26, 2021

How often should I use IPL at home?

Since only hairs in their growing phase are susceptible to treatment with light, it is important to do multiple treatments to achieve continuously smooth skin. For this reason, we recommend a start-up phase of 4-12 weekly treatments to achieve optimum results.

What is an IPL photofacial good for?

An IPL (intense pulsed light) photofacial is a versatile treatment that can improve a range of skin conditions. The first IPL device was FDA approv...

What are the pros and cons of IPL therapy?

Pros IPL photofacials are best used to treat excess or uneven pigmentation, helping to reduce age spots, sunspots, freckles, and melasma (aka hyper...

How much does IPL cost?

Pricing varies based on the size of the treatment area and the number of treatments. Depending on the severity of the issue being treated, you’ll n...

What happens during an IPL photofacial?

During your initial visit, your provider will make sure you’re a good candidate for intense pulsed light therapy. They may even perform a spot test...

How long does it take to heal after an IPL treatment?

There's little to no downtime after an IPL photofacial, but your skin will still go through a healing process that takes about a week. Your skin ma...

How soon will you see IPL facial results?

An IPL treatment plan is typically slow and steady, using a series of treatment sessions to achieve full results. Patients often see some improveme...

Are IPL results permanent?

An IPL facial can make your skin look better, but it can’t stop future aging. "IPL can be very effective, but the results are not permanent," says...

What IPL side effects and risks should you consider?

In general, when performed by an experienced provider on the right candidate, IPL is extremely safe and well tolerated. "However, there are some re...

How do IPL and laser treatments differ?

While most laser treatments deliver one intensified wavelength of light in a focused, localized beam, IPL delivers broad-spectrum visible light at...

Does IPL really work?

IPL is, first and foremost, an effective way to treat uneven skin discoloration—to reduce unwanted brown pigmentation and minimize redness. Because...

What is IPL therapy?

What it does. IPL stands for intense pulsed light. It’s a type of light therapy used to treat wrinkles, spots, and unwanted hair. You can use IPL to minimize or remove: age spots.

How much does an IPL cost?

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.

What are the side effects of IPL?

You can use IPL to minimize or remove: 1 age spots 2 sun damage 3 freckles 4 birthmarks 5 varicose veins 6 broken blood vessels on your face 7 rosacea 8 hair on your face, neck, back, chest, legs, underarms, or bikini line

What to expect before IPL?

How to prepare. 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, ...

How long does it take for a pulse to work?

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.

Does IPL damage the skin?

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.

What is the best treatment for wrinkles?

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.

What to use after IPL?

Dr. Engelman always recommends that her patients use a topical vitamin C after IPL. She suggests applying five drops every morning to give antioxidant protection against free radicals, which can wreak havoc on skin cells. Dr. Engelman recommends using the SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, one of her favorite vitamin C serums.

What does IPL mean in medical terms?

As it turns out, IPL stands for Intense Pulse Light, and according to Dr. Engelman, it’s a broad range of light—not a laser. The treatment involves a light-based device that can help address the appearance of hyperpigmentation, broken capillaries, and skin redness.

What does IPL stand for?

Engelman exactly what an IPL treatment is. As it turns out, IPL stands for Intense Pulse Light, and according to Dr. Engelman, it’s a broad range of light—not a laser....

What is an IPL?

IPL, or intense pulsed light, is a versatile treatment that can improve a range of skin conditions. The first IPL device was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1995, to treat dilated blood vessels called telangiectasias. In the decades since, IPL treatments have expanded in scope to address vascular lesions, ...

What is an IPL device?

An IPL device delivers an arc of light energy that penetrates all levels of the skin, without harming the surface, so there’s little to no downtime. The size of the head of the IPL device is usually larger than most laser spot sizes, which allows for the rapid treatment of large areas.

How long does it take for IPL to work?

Most patients are recommended to undergo at least three sessions of IPL therapy scheduled at four-week intervals. While the four-week intervals may seem arbitrary, they are in fact specifically timed match the skin’s natural regeneration process. On average, most patients’ skin cells grow and die within a 30-day window.

What is intense pulsed light?

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Treatments: What You Need to Know. Intense Pulsed Light is a non-invasive, non-ablative form of laser skin rejuvenation. As one of the first types of laser skin therapy, IPL has become a go-to treatment for countless patients looking to correct a wide array of skin blemishes. These range from rosacea redness ...

Does IPL help with rosacea?

By targeting these areas of discoloration with intense light energy, IPL helps patients improve overall skin clarity and tone while also reducing the appearance of aging.

Who is a Good Candidate for IPL?

Always check with a licensed dermatologist to see if you're a good candidate. The treatment works best on fair-skinned individuals. The more melanin skin contains, the greater the chance of hyper-pigmentation or scarring from an IPL treatment. Here is a good rule of thumb:

What Happens During Treatment?

The first step is to thoroughly clean the area receiving treatment, so don't bother wearing makeup to your appointment. The technician should also provide goggles to protect your eyes from the light.

Does it Hurt?

It's mildly uncomfortable. It feels a bit like a weak rubber band popping against the skin. I personally tend to jump more from the unexpected flash of the bright light than I do from any type of discomfort.

What's the Downtime?

I wouldn't say there's much real “downtime” from IPL, because most people can function normally after a treatment. It's nothing like a chemical peel where skin sloughs off and you need to hide indoors for a few days.

Post Treatment Care

Hand-wash treated areas with a gentle cleanser for best results (no harsh scrubbies or washcloths).

Number of Treatments?

Most people require 3 to 6 treatments scheduled approximately 4 to 6 weeks apart. Some people notice a dramatic difference after the first treatment and then milder results after follow-up treatments, which is completely normal.

How Much do IPL Treatments Cost?

The cost varies heavily depending on where you live and whether or not you visit a dermatologist or an aesthetician. Expect to pay roughly $100 – $300 for a single treatment or $500 – $1500 for a package of multiple treatments.

What is IPL therapy?

IPL, also known as Intense Pulsed Light therapy or the photo facial, uses cutting edge technology to produce younger-looking skin that’s firmer and more even in tone and texture. With little recovery time and no surgery, IPL offers a safe, FDA-cleared option for sun damage, anti-aging, and skin rejuvenation.

How often should I use an IPL machine?

IPL is a safe, effective approach to younger-looking skin. It is recommended that individuals undergo treatment two to four times per year for optimal results.

How long does it take to get rid of a swollen face?

Treatments are quick and usually take about 30-60 minutes. During the treatment, your skin may appear slightly red and swollen. This is a normal reaction. You might feel a slight warming of the skin and mild discomfort during treatment.

How long does it take for freckles to fade?

It’s normal for freckles and sunspots to initially get darker and they usually flake off within one to three weeks. You might feel something like a sunburn after the treatment, but an ice pack should help. View all Expectations.

Does IPL help with aging?

Years of unprotected sun exposure, harsh cleansers, and the process of aging can do a number on your skin, making it look dull and wrinkled. IPL helps reverse the signs of aging by minimizing sunspots, sun damage, and more.

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