IPL & Photo Facials
Intense Pulsed Light
Ahh. The beautiful weather in Carlsbad. The residents here understand the jewel of a location in North County, San Diego. There are so many reasons vacationers flock here every year, and out-of-town guests find any excuse to visit. We enjoy the sun, warm weather, and outdoor lifestyles. From the beaches to the hills and everything in between, we love our fun in the sun. The sun can be a double-edged sword, though. No matter how meticulous you are with your sunscreen, those pesky brown spots or age spots like to visit too.
Palomar ICON
WE USE THE LATEST IPL EQUIPMENT BY THE LEADING MANUFACTURER CYNOSURE.
At Premier Medical Aesthetics, we use an industry-leading laser from Cynosure to reduce unwanted pigmentation, skin redness, and rosacea. Along with our IPL Laser, we use the Skintel Melanin Reader to measure the amount of light reflected from our patient’s skin at various wavelengths, average those readings into a Melanin Index Value that wirelessly communicates the suggested parameters to our laser’s settings. These extra calculations allow us to optimize the effects of the IPL treatment without damaging the epidermis. Effective in repairing sun damage, hyperpigmentation, acne scarring, freckles, wrinkle reduction, and broken capillaries, patients often choose IPL because it’s non-invasive, effective, and affordable.
WHAT IS INTENSE PULSED LIGHT ALSO KNOWN AS IPL?
A safe and effective non-invasive light therapy, Intense Pulsed Light, or IPL photofacial, works by harnessing the power of broadband light to treat and improve the appearance of brown spots, dark spots, age spots, sun spots, freckles, birthmarks, rosacea, acne scars, and skin texture. Unlike other laser treatments, IPL uses different wavelengths to penetrate deep down to the dermis (second layer of skin) without damaging the epidermis (top layer of skin). The pigment cells in your skin absorb the light’s energy, convert it to heat, and the heat then destroys the pigment. The unwanted pigment gradually sloughs or sheds off, leaving younger-looking skin with even skin tone. Popular treatment areas include the face, neck, arms, hands, and décolletage. An effective treatment, the Intense Pulsed Light, works almost anywhere on the body where pigmentation, discoloration, blotchy skin, or redness occur. Give us a call to see if IPL is an effective treatment for your skin problems.
IPL Treatment Process
Patients seeking IPL should not be pregnant, taking medications, have a sensitivity to light, keloid scarring, or other skin conditions.
WHAT HAPPENS WITH AN IPL PROCEDURE?
When you come into our office for a free consultation, one of our cosmetic laser nurses will assess your skin concerns to see if IPL is the right treatment. Before your IPL treatment, we’ll cleanse your skin, removing any trace amounts of makeup or moisturizer. We’ll apply a topical numbing cream and give it enough time to take affect. We’ll then use the Skintel Melanin Reader to get an approximate starting point for the power setting. We’ll provide special eyewear for you to wear to protect your eyes from the laser’s light. Once ready to begin, we’ll visually subsection the area, following a path to cover the entire treatment area with the IPL device. You may experience a mild pinching or stinging sensation as the laser works. Most people say the laser light pulses feel like a light rubber band snap. After treatment, your skin may feel like a mild sunburn; your spots will darken and slowly shed away.
What IPL Can Do
Typically, IPL works in 1-3 treatments depending on the severity of the skin condition. Some patients may require additional treatments. Patients experience significant improvements with sun damage, freckles, broken blood vessels, acne scarring, birthmarks, rosacea, mild wrinkles, and fine lines. Your skin will appear more evenly toned and younger-looking. Even with proper sunscreen, people with pigmentation may have changes in hormones or sun exposure that can affect the skin and cause future skin damage. For them, IPL is part of a yearly or biennial routine to maintain your look. Patients should consult with our office regarding additional IPL treatments.
IPL Treatment Cost
Most people consider IPL in the fall and winter months when sun exposure has dwindled. We try to run an IPL special around this time of year as a reminder that it’s the perfect opportunity to get the best results. Because every patient is different, it’s difficult to determine the scope of damage without a consultation. IPL prices are determined by the size of the treatment area and the number of procedures needed to achieve the desired results. If you’ve ever contemplated IPL, now’s the time to schedule your free consultation.
Intense Pulsed Light Treatment Zones
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is used to treat skin discoloration, damaged blood vessels, stretch marks, freckles, scars, and more.
LEGS
Soften or remove birthmarks, brown spots, discoloration, freckles, scars, spider veins, and broken blood vessels. 1 of 8FACE
Lighten or erase age spots, discoloration, fine wrinkles, freckles, redness from rosacea, broken blood vessels, birthmarks, and acne scars. 2 of 8CHEST
Lighten or erase age spots, discoloration, fine wrinkles, freckles, and birthmarks. 3 of 8NECK
Soften or eliminate age spots, discoloration, fine wrinkles, freckles, birthmarks, and more. 4 of 8TORSO
Soften or remove birthmarks, brown spots, discoloration, freckles, scars, spider veins, and broken blood vessels. 5 of 8HANDS
Soften or erase sun damage, discolored skin, freckles, scars, age spots, and birthmarks. 6 of 8ARMS
Lessen or remove birthmarks, brown spots, discoloration, freckles, and scars. 7 of 8FEET
Diminish or eradicate sun damage, discolored skin, freckles, scars, age spots, and birthmarks. 8 of 8
*Model shown. Number of required treatments may vary.
We’ve tried to answer the top most asked IPL questions below in our Frequently Asked Questions section. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact our office. We want our patients to have a full understanding of the process, aftercare, and expected results. Please call our office to schedule a free consultation with a skin assessment to see if IPL is right for you.
IPL Treatment FAQ
Everything you could ever want to know about Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), but don’t know who to ask.
What is IPL
All about IPL treatments and why they’re so popular.
About IPL
Okay, I’m ready to get started and smooth my skin tone.
IPL Precautions
Concerns you might have about Intense Pulsed Light treatments.
What is IPL
What is IPL
All about IPL treatments and why they’re so popular.
IPL or “Intense Pulsed Light” is a minimally invasive cosmetic skin treatment that uses powerful flashes of light to decrease the appearance of skin imperfections.
To reduce a patient’s sensitivity to discomfort, your clinical will apply a topical anesthetic. After the numbing cream has taken effect, the IPL technician will ask you to wear protective eye glasses or coverings, and then trigger flashes of light carefully across the treatment zone.
Even with a topical numbing cream, some patients report some slight discomfort and liken it to a light rubber band snap. Most patients handle the sensation very well. We can also take breaks if the process is too uncomfortable.
Intense Pulsed Light Photofacials treat a host of minor skin imperfections. Imperfections like sun damage, skin discoloration, rosacea, brown spots, acne scars, and vascular lesions.
A high-intensity light is focused on the skin’s surface to improve tone. IPL procedures target vascular irregularities and pigmentation, leaving patients with younger, healthier-looking skin.
Yes! When performed by an experienced licensed clinician, there is little to no safety concerns to worry about. During your consultation, we will not only cover your goals but will review your medical history to make sure IPL is right for you.
About IPL
About IPL
Okay, I’m ready to get started and smooth my skin tone.
IPL Photofacials are pretty quick. It takes about 20-30 minutes for the numbing cream to take effect and the actual procedure usually lasts somewhere between 20 and 45 minutes depending on the area being treated.
Desired results are typically achieved in three to six treatments. IPL Photofacial procedures should be spaced at least one month apart.
IPL procedures are excellent for anyone interested in improving the signs of aging. They work great on lighter skin tones, but it’s best to schedule a complimentary consultation to see if your skin tone and skin condition would benefit from an IPL treatment. Photofacials use deep-penetrating light to stimulate collagen growth and improve fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, pigmentation issues, vascular rosacea, brown spots, vascular lesions, and sun damage.
Be sure to stay out of the sun at least two weeks prior to treatment, apply sunblock with SPF 30 or more, and wear a hat when outdoors.
IPL Photofacials tend to be more expensive than treatments like chemical peels and microdermabrasion but less expensive than laser treatments. Because the severity of each person’s skin issue is different, there is no set time or price on IPL treatments. During your IPL Photofacial consultation, we will go over the cost related to your needs.
IPL Photofacials are extremely popular because you are unlikely to experience any downtown. You might experience some bumps or appear like you have a mild sunburn, but that doesn’t seem to keep our clients from setting appointments over their lunch breaks.
After your treatment, we recommend using a moisturizer with full-spectrum sun protection. For the next 30 days, avoid the sun as much as possible and continue to use a full-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or more to protect against damaging UVA and UVB rays. For the initial 48 hours following your procedure, reframe from wearing make-up and taking hot showers or baths. To avoid skin irritation and possible infection, do not pick or scratch the treated area. Make sure to moisturize frequently and avoid bathing or showering in hot water. Avoid any products containing forms of vitamin A acids like retinoid acid, glycolic acid, tretinoin (Retin-A), and alpha-hydroxy acids. Do not use Accutane during the course of your treatment and thirty days after.
After your first IPL treatment, you will begin to notice smoother, tighter skin and pores will start to shrink. Hyperpigmented skin will become darker and quickly begin to shed away, leaving your skin with an improved tone. As collagen growth increases, fine lines and wrinkles will decrease. Each successive treatment will bring even more improvements to your overall complexion.
The key difference is that IPL treatments use high-powered, full-spectrum light while fractional laser treatments use an actual laser. IPL treatments focus on skin tone irregularities while fractional lasers concentrate on skin texture imperfections. Depending on the treatment area, Fractional Laser Resurfacing may require some downtime versus an IPL treatment where you can typically return to your normal routine.
IPL Precautions
IPL Precautions
Concerns you might have about Intense Pulsed Light treatments.
IPL treatments are very safe but can irritate your skin. It is not uncommon for clients to encounter some small raised bumps and redness post-treatment. These symptoms will subside over the next few days.
Our computer-controlled system makes it very difficult to cause harm. It is essential to always make sure wherever you receive treatments that your clinician is certified and licensed to perform IPL Photofacials.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any long-term studies of pregnant women undergoing IPL Photofacials at this time. We think it’s best to err on the side of caution and ask that you refrain from setting an appointment until after the birth of your child. During pregnancy, your body is producing a host of positive growth hormones that will likely make your skin glow anyway (there’s a reason there’s a term called pregnancy glow).
You should not have IPL if you have recently experienced a sunburn, have tanned, have active inflammatory acne, eczema, or dermatitis. People using photosensitizing or diabetes medications, Accutane, vitamin A acid-based products like retinoic acid, glycolic acid, tretinoin, and alpha-hydroxy acids are also not candidates for IPL. Individuals using St. John’s Wort or blood-thinners like Aspirin, ibuprofen, or Aleve cannot have IPL treatments. If you have an active herpes outbreak or infection, you will need to wait until the issues have been resolved. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or suffer from seizures, cancer, lupus, you shouldn’t seek IPL procedures. IPL treatments should be avoided if you have a history of keloid scarring, hypo pigmentation issues, and dark or sensitive skin.
Before & After IPL Treatments
IPL treatments work effectively to treat skin discolorations and more. Talk to an expert today to see if it’s right for you.
CONTACT US
Phone:
(760) 642-7014
Email:
office@med.pagesparx.com
Location:
3257 Camino De Los Coches, Ste 305
Carlsbad, CA, 92009
Directions: Map