Intense Pulsed Light Therapy

By admin • August 4, 2020

Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy is a non-invasive and non-ablative treatment that uses high intensity pulses of visible light to improve the appearance of aesthetic skin problems such as:

Vascular lesions including spider veins, port wine stains, broken facial veins, rosy cheeks, rosacea and red thread veins of the legs
Hair removal
Sun spots and sun damage
Freckles and age marks
Facial lines and wrinkles
IPL may also be helpful for mild to moderate acne and stretch marks

IPL therapy works by delivering precise pulses of light to specific areas of the skin. The light energy is converted to heat energy which causes damage to the specific target area. Intense pulsed light therapy is different from lasers in that it delivers many wavelengths in each pulse of light instead of just one.

Intense pulsed light therapy is considered a non-ablative resurfacing technique – which means that it targets the lower layers of skin (dermis) without affecting the top layers of skin (epidermis). The results are not as dramatic as ablative resurfacing where both the dermis and epidermis are injured to produce a much more noticeable overall outcome.

A considerable benefit to intense pulsed light therapy is that it combines dramatic improvement with virtually no down time. Treatment sessions usually last about 20 minutes and patients can return to their regular activities immediately following. To achieve desired results, repeating sessions every 3-6 weeks may be needed.

IPL treatments are relatively painless compared to other facial rejuvenation techniques. The sensation has been likened to a light pinch or the snap of a rubber band.

Side effects of intense pulsed light therapy are minor and include:

Mild pain during treatment
Skin turning pink and a little sore immediately after the procedure
Sensation of a mild sunburn (redness, peeling, swelling) that may last a few days after treatment
Rarely, skin pigment may absorb too much light energy and blistering can occur
Sometimes the pigment cells (melanocytes) can be damaged leaving darker or paler patches of skin
Hair loss may occur
Bruising affects up to 10% of patients

Intense pulsed light therapy offers a gentle, long-lasting solution for visible signs of skin damage that affect the way you look. To learn more or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Georgescu in Coral Springs, Hollywood and Weston, FL, contact OculoFacial Institute at 954-519-3923 or website.