Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

Why not let the regenerative power of light renew your skin? IPL, or intense pulsed light, is a treatment that harnesses the regenerative capacity of various light waves to significantly improve your skin quality, remove skin flaws, and leave you with a healthy, even glow.

Starting in your early 30s, cellular turnover begins to decline, and elastin and collagen production decrease, making it more difficult for your skin to regenerate—until the discovery and development of IPL technology.

How Does IPL Therapy Work?

IPL devices use multiple light wavelengths to treat sun and age-induced changes on the face and neck. Light energy is converted into heat energy and absorbed by the skin and red blood cells. Freckles, sun spots, age spots and other areas of hyperpigmentation are affected by the energy emitted by the system. The darker cells are absorbed by the body or rise to the skin’s surface and shed. Because multiple wavelengths are used during IPL, the treatment is adjustable, appropriate for a wide spectrum of skin tones.

IPL therapy is known as a non-ablative resurfacing technique, meaning it’s directed at the lower layers of skin (dermis) without affecting the top layers (epidermis). Results are not as dramatic as ablative resurfacing, in which both the epidermis and dermis are impacted for a more comprehensive level of skin renewal. The advantage of IPL therapy is its minimal downtime—you can undergo an IPL procedure during your lunch break with no downtime required.

What Does IPL Therapy Treat?

Also known as a photofacial or photo-rejuvenation, IPL is a nonsurgical cosmetic procedure. The treatment device emits intense pulses of light onto the targeted area without causing damage to the adjacent skin. It can be used to treat a multitude of skin concerns, including but by no means limited to the following:

Freckles
Age spots
Spider veins
Reddened skin on cheeks
Rosacea
Acne

What is an IPL treatment like to experience?

To begin, the targeted area is cleansed, and a cooling gel applied. Your eyes will be protected with dark glasses to protect from the laser’s light. Once you are in a relaxed, comfortable position, the IPL device is then gently applied to the skin and light pulses are emitted. The procedure takes about 20 to 30 minutes to complete, based on the areas that need to be treated.

Because the intensity of the laser’s wavelengths is milder to avoid triggering a pigmentation response, multiple treatments are generally needed to achieve the optimal outcome. As the pulses of light are applied to the skin, you may feel a slight snapping sensation, like the feeling of a rubber band snapping against your skin.

What is the Recovery After IPL Therapy

Your skin may appear red or have pinpoint bruising for a few days after the IPL procedure. Brown spots may appear darker for several days before the cells rise to the surface and are shed by your skin. Skin protection such as daily sunscreen should be worn post treatment. Skin cleanser and moisturizer for sensitive skin should be applied immediately following the procedure, and for about a week, after which your usual skincare routines may be resumed. Makeup may be applied immediately following an IPL treatment.

IPL therapy at-a-glance

Procedure time: 30 minutes to 1 hour
Anesthesia: none
Recovery time: No real recovery time, but darker pigmented areas may darken and fall off for five to seven days

Why Choose Rousso Adams Facial Plastic Surgery Clinic for your IPL treatment?

As a world-renowned plastic surgeon specializing in the face and neck, Dr. Rousso has more than 30 years of experience and has gained worldwide recognition for his contributions to the fields of plastic surgery and hair restoration. Dr. Adams is double board-certified in facial plastic surgery and otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, making him an expert in facial anatomy.

Your IPL therapy will be performed by a leading medical professional with outstanding skills and experience, for superior results. For IPL treatments in Birmingham, enjoy the exclusive atmosphere, comfort, and world-class patient experience.

FAQ

How many treatments will I need?

Most patients complete a series of monthly treatments and follow up with maintenance treatments once or twice a year. However, it is common to see a vast improvement in skin after just one treatment. Multiple sessions are typically performed three to four weeks apart. All our Birmingham, Alabama patients should expect to leave our plastic surgery clinic with more radiant, clear, glowing skin.

How long does it take to heal after an IPL treatment?

You are free to apply makeup immediately following your treatment. For hyperpigmentation such as sun spots, age spots, and freckles, they may darken initially, with about seven to ten days required for the pigmented cells to slough off.

How long do the results of IPL last?

The results should last several years. You may require a series of treatments to achieve clear skin if you have age spots, sun spots, spider veins, or rosacea.