If you’ve noticed subtle changes in your skin tone, like brown spots or pesky wrinkles, you’re not alone! Everyone’s skin changes as they get older, and the great news is that we can treat some of those visible effects of aging with IPL Treatment (Intense Pulsed Light), also known as a photofacial. At Delta Skin Care Centre, in Delta, BC, we’re here to help you choose and customize the right IPL Treatment for your needs.
With new laser and cosmetic technology coming out all the time, it can be very confusing for patients to figure out what treatment is best to help achieve their skincare goals. The great news is you don’t have to navigate these choices on your own: we’re here to help! If you’ve always been interested in improving the look and feel of your skin, but have felt intimidated or don’t even know where to start, IPL is a great option to begin the journey to looking and feeling your best.
What Is IPL?
Over the years, our skin is bombarded with the effects of sun exposure and environmental factors that can cause red, brown, or splotchy skin. This type of damage can occur anywhere on the body but is more pronounced on the face, hands, neck, and chest. This visible damage is called photoaging, and it affects everybody and every skin type.
This safe and popular procedure uses multiple wavelengths of pulsed light that can treat a variety of skin conditions that generally begin under the skin’s surface and do so better than over-the-counter treatments. As with any treatment, each person’s specific conditions and needs are unique leaving most patients asking, “How many sessions will I need?”
How Does It Work?
IPL is a non-surgical option to help reverse or improve the effects of photoaging. It uses light energy to target a certain color in your skin. The laser heats the skin and your body gets rid of the unwanted cells. Unlike lasers, IPL sends out more than one wavelength of light and can treat a wider range of skin conditions at the same time. Because IPL is set to only address a certain color in your skin, the light does not hurt the rest of the surrounding tissue. The ultimate goal of IPL is to make your skin tone more even, resulting in a younger-looking complexion.
The light is similar to a photo flash. The light penetrates down to the second layer of your skin without harming the top layer (epidermis). Pigmented cells in your skin absorb the light energy, which is converted into heat. The heat destroys the unwanted pigment (like dark spots, freckles, etc). The treatment can be used anywhere on your body.
What Causes Aging Skin?
No one can escape the visible signs of aging such as wrinkles, brown spots, and dull skin. There are several external factors that contribute to uneven skin tone and other aging-related skin conditions, including sun exposure, lifestyle choices such as smoking, poor diet, stress, as well as repeated facial expressions that are etched permanently into the skin over time.
Some internal factors that contribute to aging skin are genetics, your body’s natural decrease in collagen and hyaluronic acid production, hormonal changes, and dilated blood vessels. IPL can help address the damage that has occurred as a result of all these factors and often can erase some of these adverse effects permanently.
What Is Treatment Like?
When you come in for your appointment, most importantly, follow the instructions we give prior to your arrival. At the appointment, our medical staff will apply a gel to your clean skin and you will be given dark glasses to wear to protect your eyes. The medical technician will apply the handheld IPL device directly to your treatment area. The treatment takes around 20-30 minutes for single treatment areas but can take up to an hour for larger areas.
Is There a Difference Between IPL and Laser Treatments?
The simple answer is yes. Both treatments address similar concerns but treat the conditions in different ways. The first thing to understand is that IPL is not a laser. IPL produces a larger spectrum of light, and laser treatments treat conditions in a more intense and focused way. Lasers address different sorts of conditions based on the device.
The biggest difference between the two is downtime and intensity. Almost all lasers require longer downtimes, avoiding sun exposure, and require the patient to adjust their lifestyle during the healing period. IPL does not require much change at all to your schedule after treatment.
What Types of Skin Conditions Does IPL Treatment Address?
IPL photorejuvenation has been proven to treat a variety of cosmetic skin conditions for the face, hands, neck, and chest including:
- Rosacea
- Hyperpigmentation
- Broken blood vessels
- Age spots
- Dark spots and brown spots
- Skin texture irregularities
- Redness
- Acne
- Fine lines and wrinkles
IPL treatments can address all of these conditions all at the same time, resulting in an overall improvement of your complexion. Additionally, some IPL lasers can also address hair removal, but not all hair removal IPL devices can address the other conditions listed above.
What Are the Benefits of IPL?
One of the biggest benefits of IPL Treatments is that they require far less downtime than more invasive treatments such as chemical peels or other, more intense, fractal lasers. If you have a busy schedule or are someone who can’t take time off to stay home for a few days, but are ready to look and feel your best, IPL is a great option for you.
Other advantages of IPL treatments include:
- Non-invasive and non-surgical that can provide dramatic results with little to no downtime
- Bypasses the skin’s outer layer, so there is minimal discomfort and no scarring
- Depending on the treatment areas, can be completed in very short sessions
- Addresses a variety of cosmetic skin concerns at the cellular level, going deeper than many alternative treatment options
Downtime is often one of the biggest deterrents to starting a cosmetic skincare program and there is no other procedure that offers as little downtime and the dramatic results that IPL does. Most people can return to their normal activities right away and no one would guess they just had a cosmetic treatment!
Is IPL the Right Choice for My Skin?
At your consultation with the professionals at Delta Skin Care Centre, our medical team will address your individual skin concerns and other lifestyle factors to determine if IPL Treatments are right for you. Ideal candidates are typically light-skinned individuals without a tan, but our team will be able to give you a treatment plan that takes into consideration your specific lifestyle and skincare goals. We want you to feel your best and we look forward to being part of helping you achieve your desired results.
How Many IPL Sessions Will I Need?
Identify Your Skincare Goals
The first step on your skincare journey is to identify what your goals are. Are you looking to get rid of discolorations? Are you concerned about fine lines and wrinkles? Creating a specific set of goals will help us guide you in setting a treatment plan. IPL is a great overall tool to help return youthful texture to your skin and can be enhanced even more by combining it with other treatments.
How Quickly Will I See Results?
Some patients see real results within one to three treatments, depending on their age and the severity of the photoaging. Others require three to six sessions. Everyone’s skin is unique, which is why a professional medical consultation is required. These treatments often eliminate the skin concerns completely, but sometimes they can resurface depending on how deep and how long the damage has been visible. Treatments are spread out a few weeks apart. A consultation with one of our caring medical staff members is the best way to determine a plan for your desired results.
As with any cosmetic treatment plan, medical professionals are the best source of information and guidance. At Delta Laser and Skin Care Centre, we have a team of beauty professionals that can customize your IPL experience based on your needs.
Can IPL Be Combined With Other Treatments?
The great news is that because IPL is non-invasive, it can be used in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures. Treatments like dermal fillers and Botox can be used in conjunction with IPL to achieve a smooth, clear, younger-looking skin. As always, consult your medical professional to determine the right beauty plan for you.
How Much Downtime Is Required?
There is no downtime for most patients. Some redness can occur after the treatment but generally goes away not long after. The healing process occurs underneath the visible skin layers and your body naturally gets rid of the targeted cells.
What Are My Treatment Options?
Our medical staff will be able to give you a treatment plan at your consultation that takes into consideration your goals, timeline, and budget. Our goal is to help you look and feel your best while seeing results as fast as possible. All treatments are done in our office with our highly trained staff. We offer a variety of appointment options to accommodate your schedule and timelines.
How Safe Are IPL Treatments?
Many other laser treatments can irritate and damage skin and even cause scarring, but IPL has been proven to be incredibly safe and effective with no healing time necessary. It is truly one of the most effective skin treatment options on the market and very safe.
How Long Do the Results Last?
The great news is that some patients see results from just one session of IPL! The look and feel of your skin will continue to improve with multiple treatments, and treatments are for anyone, male or female, and at nearly any age. As the skin ages, maintenance sessions are recommended to add longevity to your clearer, healthier skin.
Are You Ready for Dramatic Results?
If you want clearer skin, a noticeably brighter complexion, and to feel younger without surgery or a ton of downtime, call us to set up your consultation at Delta Laser and Skin Care Centre in Delta, BC and serving Surrey, Langley, and White Rock. We know you’ll love the results you’ll see from IPL, and because we use the latest technology, you can rest assured that whatever treatment you choose will be safe and effective. You deserve to look and feel your best at any age. The experts at Delta Laser and Skin Care Centre in Delta, BC are ready to book your initial consultation right now!
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