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 photo facial. 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 constantly, it can be very confusing for patients to figure out the best treatment to help achieve their skincare goals. The great news is you don’t have to navigate these choices alone: 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.
Over the years, our skin has been 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 affects everybody and every skin type.
This safe and popular procedure uses multiple wavelengths of pulsed light to treat various 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?”
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 removes the unwanted cells. Unlike lasers, IPL sends out more than one wavelength of light and can treat a wider range of skin conditions simultaneously. 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 converted into heat. The heat destroys the unwanted pigment (like dark spots, freckles, etc). The treatment can be used anywhere on your body.
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, and repeated facial expressions that are etched permanently into the skin over time.
Some internal factors contributing to aging skin are genetics, natural decrease in collagen and hyaluronic acid production, hormonal changes, and dilated blood vessels. IPL can help address the damage that has occurred due to all these factors and often can erase some of these adverse effects permanently.
When you come in for your appointment, most importantly, follow the instructions we give before 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.
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. Most lasers require longer downtimes, avoid sun exposure, and require patients to adjust their lifestyle during healing. IPL does not require much change at all to your schedule after treatment.
IPL photorejuvenation has been proven to treat a variety of cosmetic skin conditions for the face, hands, neck, and chest, including:
IPL treatments can address all of these conditions simultaneously, resulting in an overall improvement of your complexion. Some IPL lasers can also address hair removal, but not all hair removal IPL devices can address the other conditions listed above.
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 is ready to look and feel your best, IPL is a great option for you.
Other advantages of IPL treatments include:
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 immediately, and no one would guess they just had a cosmetic treatment!
During your consultation with the Delta Skin Care Centre professionals, our medical team will address your 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 considers your specific lifestyle and skincare goals. We want you to feel your best and look forward to helping you achieve your desired results.
The first step on your skincare journey is to identify your goals. Are you looking to get rid of discolorations? Are you concerned about fine lines and wrinkles? Creating specific 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.
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, so 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 who can customize your IPL experience based on your needs.
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 smooth, clear, younger-looking skin. As always, consult your medical professional to determine your right beauty plan.
There is no downtime for most patients. Some redness can occur after the treatment but generally goes away shortly. The healing occurs underneath the visible skin layers, and your body naturally removes the targeted cells.
Our medical staff will be able to give you a treatment plan at your consultation that considers your goals, timeline, and budget. We aim to help you look and feel your best while seeing results quickly. 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.
Many other laser treatments can irritate and damage skin and even cause scarring, but IPL has proven incredibly safe and effective with no healing time necessary. It is truly one of the most effective and safe skin treatment options on the market.
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.
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, 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 Delta Laser and Skin Care Centre experts in Delta, BC, are ready to book your initial consultation right now!
