Lumenis® Quantum IPL Information
As the population ages, ever increasing numbers of people are interested in improving their appearance, IPL technology can be used to help restore the skin’s youthful appearance.
What does IPL (Intensified Pulse Light) do?
· Treat age spots (sun induced freckles) and most benign brown pigments
· Address broken capillaries which often cause redness
· Treats full face, neck, legs, chest or hands – helping restore overall youthful look
IPL technology improves the appearance of photo aged skin, removes age spots (sun induced freckles), most benign brown pigments, and redness caused by broken capillaries. The gentle, non-ablative treatments use broad spectrum light to treat the face, chest, neck, and hands – virtually anywhere that sum damage shows. Treatments are gentle, offering gradual results with minimal downtime and risk and side effects.
How does IPL work?
A broad spectrum of light is transmitted through a small, smooth, transparent hand piece which is gently placed over the skin. The light penetrates the tissue and is absorbed by either the blood when treating vascular lesions or the melanin when treating pigmented lesions damaging them. The body’s natural process then removes the injured tissue over the next few weeks, giving the skin a more even and youthful appearance.
Why are multiple treatments necessary?
A series of 4-5 sessions may be recommended, depending on which condition is being treated. Age spots and most benign brown pigments show significant improvement after one treatment, but these types of spots reoccur. Future maintenance treatment are often desired. Fine line and erythema, the redness caused by broken capillaries, require 4-6 treatment sessions to achieve optimal results.
What can I expect?
Red areas may be bruised and more red while brown spots appear darker immediately after treatment. The brown spots will flake off over the next 1-4 weeks and the original brown spot will have disappeared or at least be significantly reduced in color. Bruising and redness will fade over the next 3-4 weeks. Swelling is very common and you can use a cool compress on the affected areas immediately following the treatment.
Preparation and Aftercare
• No tanning or self-tanners 4-6 weeks prior to treatment
• Avoid toners and exfoliates such as retin-A, glycolic acids, and alpha hydroxyl products 3-4 days prior to treatment
• No aspirin one week prior to treatment unless it is prescribed by your doctor. (This increases the risk of bruising)
• Nothing on your face the day of treatment including makeup, moisturizer, sunscreen etc.
After Treatment:
· Immediately following the treatment, brown spots being treated will appear darker. They may continue to darken for 1-2 days. It will then start to look like flakes of pepper on the skin. These will flake off over the next week (for the face) to a month (for the hands and arms). Avoid picking or scrubbing these brown areas, they will eventually come off on their own.
· There may be some redness and bruising may intensify throughout the day, but will then slowly fade over the next week. It can take up to 3-4 weeks in some patients.
· There will be mild to moderate swelling especially around the eyes upon awakening the morning after treatment. Cool Packs or cool wet compresses (avoid direct ice packs) applied to the treated area 10-20 minutes every 2-4 hours the day of the treatment will help alleviate this. Elevating the head on an extra pillow the night after treatment can also help.
· Occasionally blisters or crusting can occur. In this case, call the office and keep the area moist with Vaseline.
· Makeup can be used immediately.
· Avoid aerobic exercise/sauna/hot tub/baths for 48 hours.
· Avoid sun exposure to treated area for 3-4 weeks to reduce the chance of lightening or darkening the skin. Wear sunscreen with at least an SPF of 45 and cover up as much as possible with a hat and clothing is the sun cannot be avoided.
· Avoid toners and exfoliates such as retin-A, glycolic acids, and alpha hydroxyl product 3-4 days following the treatment.