What is an IPL Facial?

The IPL facial uses the power of broadband light to lessen the appearance of age spots, sunspots, acne scars, rosacea, and more. First, a specialist cleanses the face thoroughly and allows it to get fully dried. Protective eye shields are provided to the patient during the procedure. Next, the practitioner uses a handheld device on the targeted area to deliver pulses of intense light to penetrate the layers of skin. Patients usually experience the tight pinching sensation during the treatment with the slightest discomfort.

What Can You Expect from an IPL Facial?

After getting the IPL facial, the treated area will appear slightly pink, red, or swollen. These effects usually subside within 24 hours. However, the sunspots, age spots, and discolouration will become a little darker and more prominent. Some other blemishes begin to surface. It is an indication that the treatment is working. All the dark spots and pigmentation will eventually flake off the skin as it heals from the inside out.

What is IPL?

IPL or Intense Pulsed Light is a cosmetic treatment that can be used to reduce the signs of ageing or remove unwanted hair. Other benefits include reducing the appearance of scars, lightening dark patches, and helping with the visibility of spider veins.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses high-intensity pulses of visible light to treat various skin problems.

How IPL Works

The IPL is a type of light therapy in which light energy is absorbed by the particular cells with chromophores in the skin. This light energy is then converted into heat that damages the cells in the targeted area.

The pulses of light from an IPL device get absorbed by the melanin pigment and the red blood cells in the skin. It generates heat and causes a superficial injury that is not similar to a burn. It does not cause lasting damage. The IPL device accelerates the skin’s natural healing instead of potentially harming the dermal tissues.

When your skin repairs itself, it sheds dull and damaged skin cells from the surface, revealing a supple and vibrant complexion. IPL also accelerates the production of collagen and elastin proteins and provides anti-ageing benefits.

The IPL therapy utilizes polychromatic light to perform its magic. This type of light is made of many different wavelengths that pass through a crystal, and only a few wavelengths get into your skin. A specialist can calibrate the IPL device according to your skin conditions to provide optimum and safe results.

Benefits of an IPL Facial

Here are the top benefits of an IPL Facial.

• Repairs Sun Damaged Skin

The natural process of ageing causes wrinkles and fine lines. However, the harmful sun rays accelerate the process. UV radiation breaks down the collagen protein in our skin and makes it susceptible to wrinkles and sagging. In addition, sun rays cause age spots on the exposed areas of skin, including hands and face. The IPL facial is very effective in combating UV rays damage. The intense pulsed light draws out the discoloured cells, dissolve them, and restores an even and dewy complexion. In addition, it stimulates the production of new collagen fibres. After healing, the skin becomes firmer and supple. As a result, patients are likely to see an apparent reduction in wrinkles and sagging.

• Heals Acne

Intense pulsed light is beneficial in tackling the causes of acne. It prevents bacterial growth and reduces inflammation and redness. In addition, the IPL facial encourages the skin to shed old and damaged cells and replace them with new and healthy cells. It gradually heals the acne scars.

•  Reduces the Visibility of Spider Veins

The intense pulsed light gets absorbed by the red blood cells and significantly reduces the appearance of blood vessel abnormalities. It dissolves the broken capillaries and spider veins to give you an even youthful complexion. This facial is ideal for the treatment of redness caused by rosacea.

• Helps Prevent Premature Skin Aging

The IPL facial has a unique ability to change the structure of skin cells. It transforms the genetic expression of aged cells similar to the young cell. The intense pulsed light heals the sun-damaged skin and prevents premature ageing. In addition, it helps to preserve the collagen and elastin in your skin.

• Can be Used Anywhere on the Body

Though the IPL provides facial rejuvenation, it can be used anywhere on the body, including the neck, shoulders, upper chest, hands, arms, and legs. So, if you have the symptoms of sun damage on multiple parts of your body, you can treat them all with IPL to get uniformly beautiful skin. A specialist can guide you if it is appropriate to get IPL treatment on your multiple body parts.

• Combination of IPL with Other Non-Surgical Procedures

You can complement the lifting and revitalizing effects of IPL facial by combining it with other non-surgical procedures like Facial Injectables and Dermal Fillers. Botox reduces the appearance of ageing signs, and Dermal Fillers enhance the lifting effect of IPL facial.

• The Procedure Is Quick and Convenient

The IPL facial takes a maximum of one and a half hours. Therefore, you can schedule your appointment by sparing only a little time from your daily routine. The procedure is non-invasive, and you will feel your skin is hitting with a rubber band. Some practitioners use topical numbing cream to minimize any discomfort.

After Care

• Use a gentle cleanser to wash your face twice a day.
• Don’t forget to keep your skin moisturized.
• Wear sunscreen daily with a minimum of SPF 30.
• Avoid wearing makeup for 12-24 hours after getting the IPL facial.
• Avoid strenuous physical activities as overheating can affect the results.
• Avoid taking a hot bath or shower for 48 hours after the treatment.
• Do not pick or scratch your skin; allow the blemishes to flake away naturally.

Ideal Candidates for an IPL Facial

The IPL facial is primarily used to treat pigmentation issues. So, patients with blotchy, sun-damaged, and pigmented skin are considered ideal for the treatment. It also shrinks the size of pores, eliminates broken capillaries, and lessens the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

IPL facial is not effective for darker skin tones or deeply tanned skin because wavelengths of light cannot differentiate between the age spots or pigmentation and the rest of the skin.

How Long Do the Results of IPL Facial Last?

The IPL facial fades uneven pigmentation and spider veins permanently. As it breaks down the melanin pigment in age spots and removes the broken capillaries, your body eliminates them as waste. More spots and broken capillaries can be formed due to sun exposure. Protect your skin by using sunscreen to make yourself look good for a long.

For antiaging benefits, The specialists recommend maintenance treatments every six to 12 months to maintain the younger-looking skin.

Are There Any Side Effects of an IPL Facial?

The IPL facial is a non-invasive procedure with no potential side effects. It simply penetrates the outer layer and targets the darker-coloured patches, spots, and spider veins. However, your skin will look red after the procedure, and this side effect will resolve in a few hours.

What is IPL Hair Removal?

IPL is not only great for treating pigmentation concerns but excellent for breaking the cycle of hair growth by targeting the hair roots or follicles. The Intense pulsed light gets transferred through the skin and absorbed by the melanin pigment in the hair shaft. As a result, the light energy transforms into heat energy which disables the hair follicles and prevents further growth. The treated hair naturally falls out within 1-2 weeks.

What is the Difference Between IPL Hair Removal and Laser Hair Removal?

Both treatments are pretty similar in transforming the light energy into heat to prevent hair growth. But their technologies are quite different. The critical difference is the kind of light itself.

Laser treatment produces light with only one wavelength. Light of the same wavelength is of one colour only and it goes in one direction only,  like for example a laser pointer. In contrast to that, an IPL device produces light of multiple wavelengths to create a single white flash. This light is very close to natural light.

The mechanisms for laser and IPL treatments are the same. However, IPL heats only the specific cells without damaging the surrounding skin cells. Laser treatment can sometimes be used in darker skin tones which may not be suitable for IPL.

Is IPL Hair Removal Permanent?

Yes, the IPL prevents hair regrowth as long as you keep treating it regularly. Usually, after 1st session, results last for 4-8 weeks. The hair that regrows after the IPL session is thin and soft. Results continue to improve with progressive sessions.

Does IPL Hair Removal Work on All Types of Body Hair?

Yes, IPL hair removal works on all body parts, including arms, legs, underarms, bikini lines, and faces. In addition, the IPL device comes with different light intensities and attachment heads to effectively reach and treat each part. A specialist understands your skin condition and provides proper treatment without damaging or causing potential side effects.

Does IPL Hair Removal Hurt?

No, the IPL hair removal does not hurt. However, patients usually experience a warm sensation with each flash.

How Long Does IPL Hair Removal Take to Show Results?

You will likely see a noticeable reduction in hair growth after the four sessions. You can go for a full body treatment, covering legs, underarms, face, and bikini in 10-15 minutes.

Is IPL Hair Removal Safe?

IPL hair removal is safe when used by a professional. As long as it is used following instructions, you won’t get any side effects.

Book Your Consultation at Satini Cosmetic Clinic

Going to a reputable aesthetician is crucial to minimize the risk of adverse reactions. Our founder Dr Nadja Haub is an experienced cosmetic doctor. She holds the internationally recognized Australasian Professional Diploma in Aesthetic Medicine and is a member of the MultiSpecialty Aesthetic Society. We offer various rejuvenating skin treatments, including Facial Injectables, Dermal fillers, Blood Facial and more. In addition, you can come for a free skin assessment consultation and discuss your skincare goals. Dr Nadja suggests treatments that make your skin feel and look good.