IPL Downtown Los Angeles

IPL Q & A

What is IPL?

IPL, or intense pulse light, treatment treats uneven facial redness, skin tone discoloration, broken capillaries, brown (age) spots, and varicose veins.

Concentrated pulses of light are used during treatment to break up pigmentation in the skin. These light pulses cause a chemical change in the skin cells. This treatment can also be employed to assist with clearing acne and boost collagen production. Intense pulse light treatment is very safe and non-invasive. Treatments can be scheduled to work around a jobs and social obligations since there is little to no downtown required.

How Does IPL Work?

IPL utilizes photo-rejuvenation by delivering pulses of visible light across the face, which penetrate deep into the skin.

These light pulses target and break up a range of colors associated with sun damage and age spots, and the damaged pigmentation is then reabsorbed by your body in the days following the procedure. IPL can also be used to treat redness and other signs of aging as the light pulses also cause blood vessels below the epidermis to constrict, reducing redness and improving overall tone.

What to Expect During the Treatment?

IPL is a 30 minute, non-invasive, non-ablative photofacial treatment. Patients begin their appointment by going over areas of concern with their provider, after which a topical numbing cream is applied to the patients face to minimize discomfort during the procedure.

Once the numbing has taken effect, the provider will hold the handpiece of the laser to the patient’s skin and begin moving the device across the patient’s face as the light pulses are distributed evenly. The treatment is minimally painful and has no associated downtime or side effects. Patients may be mildly red and look sunburnt following the treatment, but this will typically subside within an hour. Many patients supplement IPL treatments with Laser Genesis or Chemical Peels for enhanced results.

What Areas Can Be Treated?

While the face is the most common area to be treated with IPL, virtually any area of the body with sun damage, pigmentation or uneven tone can benefit from IPL.

Many patients opt to have their hands or décolletage treated to minimize signs of aging in these areas.

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

While patients can see significant results after just one IPL session, results from a 10 year Stanford study show that 2-3 treatments per year can restore gene expression of aged skin to resemble younger, healthier skin and prevent future signs of aging.

For best results, we recommend 3 initial treatments spaced one month apart to bring patients to a healthy baseline, followed by two to three maintenance treatments per year as needed.