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Foto Facial / IPL
Every year,
millions of patients visit the dermatologist office complaining of
skin problems including fine lines and wrinkles, persistent red
complexion, sun spots, acne scars, large pores and other
blemishes. Various treatments, including
chemical peels and
laser resurfacing have been used to improve these conditions.
Intense pulsed light is a new, non-ablative
technique to treat the above described conditions and is also
called photorejuvenation.
How does IPL (Fotofacial) work?
The IPL hand piece delivers high
intensity pulses of broadband light that is different from the
narrow band light of lasers. IPL, which stands for intensed
pulsed light, is non-ablative meaning that is does not damage
the surface of the skin. The intense light is delivered to the
deeper parts of the skin (dermis) and leaves the superficial
aspect of the skin (epidermis) untouched. There are different
versions of IPL available on the market that target different
structures in the skin. The PhotoDerm VL targets vascular lesions
such as spider veins and vascular birthmarks. The PhotoDerm PL
targets pigmented lesions such as melasma and age spots. The
PhotoDerm HR and Epilight target hair. The thermal effect of IPL
also causes production of new collagen, leading to improvement in
wrinkles.
What are IPL’s advantages?
As discussed above, IPL does not
damage the skin surface, unlike dermabrasion and laser
resurfacing. Therefore, there is virtually no recovery time.”
Treatments take approximately 30-45 minutes. Patients can apply
makeup before leaving the office and return to work the same day.
There is also minimal pain with IPL, unlike laser or
radiofrequency resurfacing which both require topical anesthetic.
Also, with IPL, a larger area can be treated at one time than with
laser treatment.
What are IPL’s
disadvantages?
Given that there is little damage
to the skin surface, several treatments may be required to see the
desired effect. For best results, approximately 4-6 treatments,
spaced 3 weeks apart, are needed. Side effects can include
transient redness and increased or decreased pigment in the
treated area. Minimizing sun exposure can reduce these side
effects.
How much does IPL cost?
Prices usually vary according to
the ipl treatment size. For more details
click here to contact us.
A consultation with a fotofacial specialist and the number of
treatments needed will determine your ipl treatment cost.
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