IPL Photofacial Vancouver WA
Our IPL® photofacial treatment is ideal for treating a range of skin issues, and Dr. Max Grishkevich recommends it for our younger and older patients in Vancouver, WA. Intense pulsed light is more effective than laser treatments, and a single session can address one or more concerns.
What is an IPL® Photo Rejuvenation Facial Treatment?
Intense pulsed light (IPL®) therapy uses high-intensity light energy to break down damaged skin cells and stimulate collagen production. IPL® photorejuvenation is a non-invasive procedure, meaning that it requires no incisions. It is also non-ablative, so the surface of your skin remains intact. This reduces downtime and eases healing.
Our photo rejuvenation treatment helps with the most common skin concerns, including those that can’t be corrected with plastic surgery. In addition to treatments with IPL® for your face, it can also be used on other areas of your body, such as your legs, neck, arms, back, chest, and hands.
How Does IPL® Rejuvenation Work?
IPL® is pulsed energy, non-ablative skin resurfacing technique. Ablative technologies, such as lasers, remove the outer layer of skin. Our IPL® skin treatment uses high-intensity, broad-spectrum light energy to create microscopic channels in your skin. The photofacial process stimulates your body’s natural healing process to create new collagen fibers and skin cells. The result is skin with a healthy, smooth texture. For some cosmetic concerns, we may recommend a series of photofacial treatments.
What is IPL® vs. Laser?
There are some key differences to understand when you are choosing between IPL® and laser treatments. Both technologies use light energy. Laser systems need to be set at a specific wavelength for each skin concern with lasers. Additionally, many laser treatments work by removing layers of skin. By design, laser treatments require longer session times and healing. With IPL® rejuvenation, we can treat several types of conditions in a single session, such as wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots. Intense pulsed light therapy requires no downtime, and the changes to your skin are gradual.
IPL® Photo Rejuvenation Procedure
Our IPL® photofacial treatments take about 20 to 30 minutes to treat your face. Other areas of your body may take up to 60 minutes. Before the procedure, we clean your skin to remove any makeup and skin care products. We apply a topical ointment to numb your skin. A small handheld device is placed against your skin, and the high-intensity light energy is emitted in short pulses. There is no downtime for IPL® treatments. Your skin may be slightly red and feel sensitive.
What Can Be Corrected with an IPL® Skin Treatment?
Intense pulsed light offers benefits that appeal to people who want to address several cosmetic concerns. IPL® is a type of collagen stimulation therapy that helps with fine lines, wrinkles, and even some sagging in your face. Having a photofacial for wrinkles gives you gradual improvements, and most people won’t know that you had a procedure. Other issues that can be corrected with an IPL® photofacial treatment include dark spots, sun damage, acne, rosacea, broken capillaries, and excess hair.
IPL® for Wrinkles
Wrinkles develop because your skin doesn’t have enough collagen. Treatments with IPL® for wrinkles stimulate collagen production to soften and smooth fine lines and wrinkles. The results of an IPL® laser for wrinkles can last for several years, and you may be able to delay plastic surgery.
IPL® Treatments for Dark Spots and Sun Damage
Get rid of your sun spots with our IPL® photo facial. Using intense pulsed light for hyperpigmentation, such as dark spots and sun damage, breaks down the extra melanin that causes these types of irregularities. The melanin slowly rises to the surface of your skin and flakes off within one week. IPL® treatments for hyperpigmentation can also help with uneven skin tone and dark patches. You can learn more about using IPL® for dark spots during your consultation.
Acne Treatment with IPL®
Intense pulsed light is an excellent treatment for healthy pores. Not only does it help with the occasional blemishes, but we also recommend IPL® treatments for chronic and severe acne. It is also a good treatment for acne redness and scarring. IPL® for acne is a pore treatment that eliminates bacteria, inflammation, and excess oil.
Treating Rosacea and Broken Capillaries with IPL®
Finding a safe and effective treatment for broken capillaries on your face and rosacea is challenging. Many skin products irritate your skin and make the condition worse. IPL® light therapy for broken capillaries shrinks the tiny blood vessels, making them less visible. For rosacea, light therapy soothes your skin and reduces inflammation. IPL® is also good for the treatment of clogged pores and pimples that are common with rosacea.
Hair Removal with IPL® Treatments
Intense pulsed light can be used to heat hair follicles and prevent regrowth. IPL® hair removal can be performed on your face and body. You may need a series of treatments to remove all the hair.
Is an IPL® Laser Treatment Right for Your Skin?
We recommend IPL® photofacial skin rejuvenation for most skin types. You should not have this treatment if you have darker skin. Your skin tone does not shorten or extend the IPL® stages of healing, recovery time, or photofacial results.
IPL® Complications. Risks, and Side Effects
Before choosing to have an intense pulsed light treatment, you should understand the dangers of an IPL® photofacial. IPL® photorejuvenation side effects are rare, and you should only receive the treatments from a qualified and experienced practitioner.
The most common risks of intense pulsed light treatments are thick scars, burns, blisters, and loss of skin pigment. IPL® photofacial burns are typically the result of an untrained person performing the procedure. Additionally, using the wrong setting on the system may result in unwanted side effects after a photofacial. Redness after an IPL® treatment is normal, your skin can look like it has a mild sunburn. It should not be deep red. Another situation that increases the risks for IPL® photo rejuvenation is using certain medications, having specific types of medical conditions, and being pregnant. If you have concerns about the side effects of our intense pulsed light treatment, discuss them with Dr. Grishkevich during your consultation.
Recommendations for IPL® Laser Treatments
Knowing how to prepare for your IPL® treatment ensures that you get the best possible results. During the two weeks before the appointment, avoid waxing, direct sunlight, and tanning beds. You should also avoid getting chemical peels and collagen injections in the treatment area. If you take medications that increase the risk of bleeding, discuss this with Dr. Grishkevich during the consultation. You may also need to change the skincare products that you use.
After your treatment, your skin will need some extra attention. The best moisturizer aft an IPL® treatment is made for sensitive skin. Avoid products that exfoliate your skin. Your skin needs time to heal, and the minimum time between IPL® treatments should be four to six weeks.
What to Expect After Your IPL® Photofacial
Your photofacial aftercare begins as soon as you get home. Gently place an ice pack in the treatment area for approximately 30 minutes. Follow this with icing the area for 10 to 15 minutes every hour for the first three hours. On the night of your treatment, use a gentle cleanser and warm water to clean your skin, and use a soft towel to pat it dry. To reduce swelling during your IPL® recovery, elevate your head the first night when you sleep. Properly caring for your skin is an important part of IPL® aftercare. Use the gentle cleanser and warm water two times per day. Follow this with a gentle moisturizer. Let the skin flake off naturally. Don’t rub your skin or try to remove the flakes. You can apply makeup once the redness subsides. Use high-quality sunscreen when you are outdoors. Your IPL® aftercare instructions provide more details about how to care for your skin after the treatment.
You can exercise after IPL® laser treatment on your face, but be sure to stay hydrated. This helps your skin heal faster. IPL® photofacial recovery is a day-by-day process. Carefully follow all IPL® facial aftercare instructions. Expect to have some redness for the first one to two days after your IPL® treatment, and you will also notice some skin flaking. If you have intense pulsed light treatments for dark spots and hyperpigmentation, you will see small, dark granules flaking off of your skin. This is a normal part of photofacial recovery, and it indicates that the light energy reached the extra pigment in your skin.
We discuss other photofacial aftercare recommendations before you are released to go home. You may want to have someone with you, such as a trusted friend or family member, to make sure that you understand all the IPL® facial aftercare requirements.
IPL® Photo Rejuvenation FAQs
Testimonials
What our patients say
Gallery
Before & After
We strive to offer the latest in safe and effective skin and body treatments using lasers, injectable treatments, and other well proven cosmetic treatments.
View Full Gallery
