Five Reasons You Might Want to Get an IPL Photofacial

If you’ve been considering laser treatment but are concerned about things like side effects, downtime, and discomfort, you might want to think about getting an IPL photofacial instead. This procedure is similar to laser resurfacing, but it’s a lot gentler and shorter. Basically, an IPL photofacial is like a gentler, non-ablative version of laser treatments like Fraxel or Clear + Brilliant. Rather than removing layers of skin, it uses intense pulses of light to penetrate below the skin, causing collagen and blood vessels to tighten. This in turn reduces your skin’s redness, wrinkles, and acne – giving your face a smoother, more radiant look.
If you’re on the fence about IPL, here are five reasons we’d encourage you to give it a shot.

1. Facial Rejuvenation with No Downtime

   You heard that right. Unlike Fraxel, which has anywhere from a few days to a couple weeks of downtime, and other lasers that come with even longer recovery periods, IPL results in absolutely no downtime. While your face may look a little red immediately after the treatment, it shouldn’t be too noticeable and shouldn’t last too long – usually just a few hours. That means you can go back to your regular activities right away without feeling self-conscious. You’ll just need to avoid sun exposure and wear sun lotion for a couple weeks to protect your skin, as it will be sensitive following the treatment.

2. Treatment Solution for Varying Skin Conditions

   IPL can be effective for treating several different skin conditions including:

   • sun damage;
   • rosacea;
   • hyperpigmentation;
   • acne;
   • large pores;
   • redness;
   • scars;
   • wrinkles;
   • sagging skin; and
   • broken blood vessels, among other things.

   It also improves skin tone and texture. In fact, one IPL machine can usually address all of these issues, which will make your treatment process a lot more convenient since you will only need to see one provider.

3. IPL Treatment Session Are Short

   While you may have to go in for multiple treatment sessions (usually three to five) in order to get the results you want, sessions can last for as little as twenty minutes. At most, it will take around an hour.

4. IPL Is Fairly Painless

   The sensation of getting an IPL photofacial has been compared to rubber bands snapping against the skin. While this can be a little startling, most patients are not in pain. At most, you may feel a sensation similar to a very small electric shock.

5. Low-Risk

   Since IPL is non-ablative, meaning it doesn’t remove any skin, it’s also pretty low-risk. While it is possible to experience side effects like redness, bruising, and minor swelling, these are rare and usually disappear within a few hours or, at most, a few days. The risk of experiencing negative side effects from IPL is much lower than that associated with other, more intense types of laser treatment.