Looking for a way to refresh your skin for the new season? Perhaps it is time for an IPL photofacial. This procedure features innovative technology to rejuvenate your complexion and address a host of skin concerns. By indulging in a comfortable outpatient procedure, you can face spring and summer with a look that radiates youthful vitality. At Umansky Plastic Surgery, we offer IPL photofacials for our La Jolla patients to give them another option in skin enhancement that is quick, safe and extremely effective.
What is IPL?
IPL stands for intense pulsed light, technology that can work beneath the outer layers of the skin to achieve significant improvement in your appearance. This procedure delivers a variety of light waves to the skin, reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation and vascular lesions. At the same time, IPL therapy can treat early signs of aging like fine lines with minimal side effects and no recovery time.
The IPL photofacial is an effective way to restore a youthful glow to your skin while reducing minor imperfections that are interfering with your look and your self-confidence. While you will likely see positive results after your very first treatment, the majority of our patients require more than one treatment session to produce the best possible results.
Treatment Benefits
The IPL photofacial can treat a variety of skin issues, including:
- Sun spots, age spots and freckles
- Melasma and other pigmentation issues
- Spider veins and broken capillaries
- Skin flushing and symptoms of rosacea
- Spider veins and broken capillaries
- Uneven skin texture
- Enlarged pores
- Fine lines and wrinkles
In some cases, IPL technology will eliminate the problem entirely, such as in the case of brown spots and visible veins. Patients will also see a noticeable reduction in the appearance of other concerns, such as fine wrinkles. The number of treatments needed will also depend on the specific types of issues to be addressed and the severity of those issues.
In addition to the face, IPL can also be used to treat skin on the chest, shoulders, back and the backs of the hands. Anywhere that your skin has suffered damage as a result of sun exposure is a good treatment area for IPL.
Does IPL Hurt?
During an IPL treatment, a handheld applicator is moved across the surface of the skin to deliver light pulses into underlying skin layers. Most patients experience mild discomfort with their first treatment, which is generally very tolerable without any type of anesthesia. If you are concerned about your comfort level, we can discuss options in topical numbing prior to your treatment. Most patients find the treatments become much more comfortable after the first session begins to address some of those skin concerns for the first time.
An IPL photofacial usually takes around 30 minutes to complete. After the procedure is over, you will be able to return to your regular activities right away. Skin in the treatment area may be red and slightly tender, similar to when you get a sunburn. However, those side effects will subside in the first few days following your procedure. If you had brown spots that were treated, they will likely darken in the early days after treatment before they flake away. Flaking can occur over several days.
Getting Results
IPL photofacials are usually done in a series of around three treatments to ensure the best possible results. Once you have achieved those results, a touch-up treatment every 6-12 months should be enough to maintain them. If you would like to learn more about IPL photofacial rejuvenation, contact Umansky Plastic Surgery at 855-338-3511.