PHOTOREJUVENATION WITH BBL® (BROADBAND LIGHT) AND IPL (INTENSE PULSED LIGHT)
IMPROVE YOUR SKIN’S TONE AND TEXTURE WITH POWERFUL LIGHT-BASED TREATMENTS IN THE PHILADELPHIA AND VILLANOVA AREAS
Uneven skin tone and texture are common problems that can develop for several reasons, including lifestyle factors, acne, pollution, scarring, and hormonal changes. Although we may wish for a smooth, even skin tone, blemishes or patches of color are a reality. Fortunately, so is photorejuvenation. At Cross Medical Group, serving Villanova and Philadelphia, BBL® (BroadBand Light) and IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) are non-surgical options for restoring clearer skin with a more even tone.
These treatments—often referred to as photofacials—offer their own unique benefits, but both help to transform blotchy or uneven skin to create a more radiant and flawless complexion.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
Schedule a consultation for photorejuvenation with IPL or BBL by calling Cross Medical Group today at (215) 561-9100 (Philadelphia) or (610) 688-9100 (Villanova), or send a message online.
WHAT IS PHOTOREJUVENATION?
Photorejuvenation is a cosmetic treatment that involves the use of light to address sun damage and signs of aging. By making controlled wounds in the skin, photorejuvenation treatments encourage natural healing processes that involve creating new collagen and elastin. This can enhance the skin’s overall appearance—but specifically, what is photorejuvenation good for?
Ultraviolet radiation exposure tends to cause dark spots to develop in the skin as a protective reaction. Time spent in the sun can also cause lasting facial redness as blood vessels become more visible. Photorejuvenation treatments like IPL and BBL® address these issues and more.
Laser resurfacing works in a similar way, but IPL and BBL® are not laser treatments. What is the difference between laser and IPL? Is IPL better than laser treatments? Although the two devices can accomplish similar effects, laser skin treatments are not the same as photorejuvenation with IPL or BBL®.
Intense pulsed light is a larger category of treatments that includes BBL®. BroadBand Light treatments use multiple, strong pulses of light that are absorbed by pigmented lesions and visible vessels in the skin. Laser treatments involve single-wavelength and highly focused beams that narrowly target specific areas. Because of this, BBL® can be used to treat a larger amount of skin in a shorter length of time compared to laser skin resurfacing. Healing after BBL sessions is also less involved than post-laser recovery.
HOW DOES PHOTOREJUVENATION WORK?
The light energy given off by the BBL® device passes through the surface of the skin and is absorbed by areas that are darker than the surrounding tissue. The heat generated causes the unwanted pigmented cells to break down, leading to a reduction in spots and the collapse and dissolution of visible veins.
BBL® treatments target the middle layer of skin, called the dermis, without causing much harm to the surface. The resulting photorejuvenation produces a more even, glowing, and radiant complexion.
WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR IPL PHOTOFACIALS?
Photorejuvenation treatments are ideal for women and men who have pale or light-brown skin tones and obvious spots or redness. If you have a skin condition, are taking medications for other conditions, are pregnant, are sensitive to light, might have skin cancer, use retinoid creams, are very dark skinned, have keloid scars, severe scarring, a skin resurfacing disorder, or have recently tanned your skin or used tanning creams, then an option other than BBL may be best for you.
The BBL® procedure is recommended for people who have various types of skin imperfections or problems such as acne, birthmarks, broken blood vessels, liver spots, age spots, dark spots from hormonal changes, unwanted hair, discolored skin, fine wrinkles, freckles, rosacea, and scars. Photorejuvenation is particularly effective for pigmentation and skin tone problems, but it also works well for reducing vascular lesions.
BBL® FOR PHOTOREJUVENATION
BBL® is effective for reducing a variety of skin concerns without requiring any creams or medicines. The light gently heats the surface of the skin. This treatment brightens up the complexion and stimulates the production of collagen, a protein that provides structure and strength to the skin. BBL® also promotes the body’s self-healing ability to help it regrow new, healthier skin.
In 2023, BBL® is expected to remain the most powerful IPL device in the world. One of the major advantages of BBL® for photorejuvenation is that it won’t get in the way of an active lifestyle and allows you to avoid side effects associated with taking medicines or using over-the-counter products.
BBL HERO® FOR PHOTOREJUVENATION
BBL HERO® improves the quality of the skin anywhere on the body by reducing pigment, redness, visible signs of aging, sun damage, and other concerns. While a typical BBL® treatment is quite effective, BBL HERO® is an advancement on the technology that makes treatment sessions faster and more efficient. The intense pulses of light are more rapid, which results in a more powerful treatment that allows the aesthetician to focus on larger or multiple areas without dramatically increasing the time of a session.
Despite the step up in intensity, patients can still expect comfort. The BBL HERO® device is specially designed to glide over the surface of the skin with the help of a friction-reducing gel, as opposed to being manually and repeatedly repositioned in overlapping sections. It also employs an enhanced cooling system. While temperatures in the targeted lesions are high enough to properly damage the pigmented cells, the surface temperature stays much cooler.
HOW CAN YOU PREPARE FOR PHOTOREJUVENATION?
Prior to having a BBL® photorejuvenation treatment, it’s important that you avoid tanning your skin in the sun or with artificial sources such as tanning beds or with tanning creams. You should also avoid certain skin treatments like chemical peels and waxing. Discontinue topical skin care products such as retinoids. Don’t wear perfume, makeup, or other things that can irritate the skin on the treatment area before and after the photorejuvenation procedure. Aspirin and other blood thinning medications or supplements should be avoided for one week if it is medically safe to do so. Additionally, you should avoid any medications that increase sun sensitivity.
WHAT IS RECOVERY LIKE AFTER PHOTOREJUVENATION WITH BBL®?
Patients will usually experience a mild sunburn-like sensation on their skin for the first four to eight hours after their photorejuvenation treatment. Apply ice packs or a cool washcloth to soothe your skin, which will possibly feel warm, swollen, or tingly and stinging. It may look red or pink at first. Red and sensitive treated skin should be kept out of sunlight for the first few days after a BBL® session. As opposed to laser skin treatments, photorejuvenation with BBL® usually won’t cause flaking or peeling.
If you’re wondering, “What should I not do after IPL?” here’s what you should know: Other than intense exercise, BBL® patients will be able to resume their normal activities as soon as they’d like. Use a moisturizing lotion, don’t apply makeup if your skin feels sore, use a cleanser for sensitive skin when washing your face, and apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to protect your skin from sun damage while you’re healing.
WHAT RESULTS CAN YOU ACHIEVE FROM PHOTOREJUVENATION WITH BBL®?
How long does it take to see results from an IPL photofacial? How many IPL treatments does it take to see results?
The initial effects of a BBL® treatment will start to be visible within days and will continue to improve in the following days and weeks as pigmented cells flake away or are absorbed and new collagen accumulates in the skin.
Results develop gradually after a BBL® session, and while there can be improvement after a single treatment, multiple treatments may be required for patients to achieve the clear texture and tone they are seeking. With the newer technology available via BBL HERO®, full correction is often achieved even with one BroadBand Light® treatment.
WHAT OTHER SKIN REJUVENATION TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE?
Photorejuvenation with BBL HERO® is ideal for many patients, but some would benefit more from a different approach. Cross Medical Group provides a variety of skin care treatments, including chemical peels, dermaplaning, laser skin resurfacing, AquaGold, Ultherapy®, and more. Peels and dermaplaning involve the removal of the damaged outer layer of skin as a way of reducing the appearance of skin imperfections. A consultation can help to determine whether photorejuvenation with BBL®, laser skin resurfacing, or another option would be ideal for specific patients.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
Contact Cross Medical Group for IPL photorejuvenation with BBL® in Philadelphia (215) 561-9100 or Main Line's Villanova (610) 688-9100. You can also send a message online to inquire about a consultation, or for more information.
