What
is Intense Pulsed Light?
Intense pulsed light , also known as IPL, photo-facial, fotofacial,
and photo rejuvenation, is a proven skin therapy that was pioneered
by Dr. Patrick Bitter Jr. and is based on emitting high intensity
pulses of light (not lasers) to penetrate the skin and rid you
of various complaints. There are different wavelengths for different
levels or types of penetration.
How Does it Work?
A highly advanced computer regulates the light pulse to a specific
wavelength range, which in turn heats the target, thereby damaging
or otherwise destroying the targeted lesion while sparing the
surrounding healthy or "normal" tissue. The penetration
depth and degree of heat is highly controlled so that most complications
contributed to these specific factors are not an issue with
Intense Pulsed Light Therapy. With IPL fotofacial rejuvenation
the light pulses are directed at the blood vessels, age spots,
freckles, flat pigmented birthmarks and other types of discolorations.
Depending on the wavelength used, the tissue targeted is either
hemoglobin in the dermis or melanin in the epidermis. The target
is heated and damaged or destroyed, thereby ridding you of unwanted
hyper-pigmentation or blood vessels. Due to the thermal response
generated by the IPL device, the production of new collagen has
been noted as an additional positive side effect of the treatment.
The micro vascular blood vessels are targeted causing an inflammatory
response, resulting in the production of new collagen fibers.
Although it is possible to actually shrink sebaceous glands (oil
glands), pore size, with repeated treatments, the number of treatments
necessary to achieve this result varies from patient to patient.
How is the IPL Photo rejuvenation
different from CO2 or Erbium Laser Resurfacing?
IPL photo rejuvenation is a noninvasive, safe method to improve
the look and feel of the skin without undergoing the pain and downtime
associated with deep laser resurfacing. Deep laser resurfacing removes
the entire epidermis leaving the skin vulnerable to infection and
requires 3-4 weeks of patient downtime and post healing.
Why should I go to Perfect
Skin for my fotofacial treatments?
We get the best possible results. Our fotofacial treatments take longer (1-2
hours each) because we do multiple passes with different settings to specifically
target the skin conditions you want improved. After your fotofacial treatment
we use the VersaPulse C aesthetic laser to go over any resistant redness, spider
veins, or pigmented lesions you may have. This combination results in much greater
improvement in your skin with each session. We also combine fotofacial
with Levulan in a procedure called PhotoDynamic Skin Rejuvenation. This is the
ideal treatment for moderate to severely sun-damaged skin. If you have pre-cancerous
skin lesions (AK's) or if you have had them treated in the past
this is an excellent way to improve your skin.
Am I a good candidate for
IPL?
If you are prone to keloids, hyper or hypo pigmentation, are dark-skinned,
darkly tanned or do not react well to burns you may not be an ideal
candidate for Intense Pulsed Light Therapy. Also, if you have ethnicity
(like Greek, Italian or African American, etc.) in your biological
family, you may be prone to hyper or hypo pigmentation resulting
from the procedure. An ideal patient would be of white European
descent with elastic, non-oily skin. Although many other types of
skin are treated successfully, only a qualified doctor or dermatologist
can determine if you are eligible for treatment.
What should I expect during
my IPL treatment?
During the fotofacial procedure you will wear protective eyewear.
A topical
anesthetic will be applied. After the treatment area is "numb" a
cold, soothing gel will be applied and a glass prism (pyramid)
will then be placed over the gel and treatment area. An intense
flash of light, or pulse, is flashed through the prism where
it is directed at the treatment area to rid you of your complaints.
This initial treatment may not be as aggressive as your following
treatments so as not to possibly damage the skin and to determine
your skin's tolerance for further fotofacial treatments. Fotofacialt
reatments are usually performed every 3-4 weeks.
What to expect after the
procedure:
Since there is no real "downtime" you may resume your
normal activities after an IPL treatment. However you must
protect your treatment area from UV light, be it natural sunlight
or tanning beds. You may be slightly pink or red directly after
your treatment as well as have mild swelling. This should subside
in a few days and if not you should inform your doctor.
What risks & complications
are associated with IPL therapy?
Although rare, blistering or slight bleeding is possible as is hypo-
or hyper-pigmentation (lightened or darkened areas of skin). If
pigmentation problems occur, it may be anywhere from 3-12 months
before normal skin tone returns. This is especially so with hypo-pigmentation
(lack of color). Be aware that some patients may experience permanent
skin pigmentation changes. Scarring is possible although it too
is a rare occurrence.
Can't I just use topical
agents to reduce wrinkles & improve my skin?
Topical agents such as wrinkle creams or moisturizers help give
the top layer of skin the vitamins and nutrients that can help this
layer look younger and healthier. Some creams also work as exfoliants,
meaning they rub off thin layers of dead or damaged skin. If these
creams and moisturizers contain sunscreen as well as essential oils,
vitamins and minerals, they can help prevent further sun damage
and, therefore, can slow down the wrinkling process. However, topical
agents can only minimally improve damaged collagen below the skin's
surface.
What
is Intense Pulsed Light?