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What is IPL?
IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light therapy, is a form of photorejuvenation designed to improve skin tone and texture. During the IPL treatment, a non-ablative pulse of light energy is applied to targeted tissues, typically darker areas of the skin like scars and age spots. Dark areas of the skin absorb light more quickly than lighter areas, so the laser helps to break up pigmented cells without damaging lighter tissues nearby.1
Benefits of IPL Therapy
Our patients love IPL because of the great results it delivers. Benefits of laser skin resurfacing with IPL include:
- Fast, non-invasive treatment
- No downtime
- Improve dark spots including age spots, sun spots, and melasma
- Reduce appearance of freckles
- Diminish appearance of rosacea
- Reduce spider veins
- Treat acne
- Remove unwanted facial hair
- More even, younger looking skin
IPL Treatment: What to Expect
Preparing for IPL
There isn’t much our patients need to do in preparation for IPL treatment at Renew Aesthetic Center. Simply relax while the gentle light therapy targets dark spots and other imperfections.
The IPL Treatment Experience
IPL therapy is safe, gentle, and non-invasive. Before treatment begins, the practitioner will cleanse your skin and apply a cooling gel designed to enhance your comfort. You will wear dark glasses to protect your eyes from the light therapy, and recline in a comfortable position while the IPL handpiece is directly applied to the treatment areas. Treatment is not painful, but some patients do report a tingling sensation or mild discomfort. IPL treatment takes between 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the area treated.
Recovery After IPL Photofacial
No downtime is necessary after photorejuvenation with IPL, but some patients do encounter mild redness and/or swelling of the treated skin. Some patients also report a slight stinging sensation, which is easily resolved by the application of a cool compress. Over the course of a few days following treatment with IPL, discolored treated skin may appear darker or crusted over. Soon, it will peel off to reveal fresh, even, youthful skin.2
Intense Pulsed Light Therapy Results
Research shows that IPL therapy is incredibly effective in treating discoloration of the skin. In fact, patients who underwent laser skin rejuvenation with IPL showed:
- A 50% to 75% improvement in rosacea and facial flushing, and a 40% to 60% improvement in dyschromia (discoloration of the skin)3
- Significant improvement in skin texture4
- Treated facial hair becoming finer and sparser within weeks5
Frequently Asked Questions About IPL
Who is a candidate for IPL therapy?
If you are troubled by dark spots, rosacea, melasma, or other forms of skin discoloration, you may be a good candidate for photorejuvenation with intense pulsed light. This treatment is most effective for patients with light to olive skin.
How much is IPL photorejuvenation?
The cost of IPL treatment varies according to the size of the treatment area and the number of treatments required to achieve optimal results. Your practitioner will give you a detailed IPL cost breakdown for your unique treatment plan when you attend your personal consultation at Renew Aesthetic Center.
Contact Renew Aesthetic Center
At Renew Aesthetic Center, we offer safe and effective treatment of dark spots and skin discoloration using IPL phototherapy. To learn whether you may benefit from IPL, please contact us to schedule a consultation at our medical spa serving patients from Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Hampton Roads and beyond.
1 Goldberg DJ. Current trends in intense pulsed light. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2012;5(6):45-53. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3390232/. Accessed March 9, 2022.
2 American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. Intense Pulsed Light Therapy for Aging Skin. Available: https://www.asds.net/skin-experts/skin-treatments/laser-light-therapy/intense-pulsed-light-therapy-for-aging-skin. Accessed March 8, 2022.
3 Kulick MI. Photorejuvenation: using intense pulsed light technology in a cosmetic surgery practice. Aesthet Surg J. 2001 May;21(3):255-8. doi: 10.1067/maj.2001.116243. PMID: 19331901. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19331901/. Accessed March 8, 2022.
4 Hedelund L, Due E, Bjerring P, Wulf HC, Haedersdal M. Skin rejuvenation using intense pulsed light: a randomized controlled split-face trial with blinded response evaluation. Arch Dermatol. 2006 Aug;142(8):985-90. doi: 10.1001/archderm.142.8.985. PMID: 16924047. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16924047/. Accessed March 8, 2022.
5 Goldberg DJ. Current trends in intense pulsed light. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2012;5(6):45-53. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3390232/. Accessed March 9, 2022.
