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 541-508-7907
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IPL

IN BEND, OR

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Our med spa in Bend offers several types of intense pulsed light therapy treatments to gently remove brown spots and redness, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and tighten loose skin. IPL uses multiple wavelengths of short light pulses to boost collagen production and reduce discolorations. A solution for all skin types, this is a treatment with no downtime for clearer, smoother, more radiant skin on the face, neck, or other areas of the body.

What does IPL Treat?

IPL can treat a wide range of skin concerns, including but not limited to:

  • Acne
  • Vascular and pigmented lesions
  • Discolored skin
  • Fine lines and wrinkles
  • Redness from rosacea
  • Facial vascular lesions
  • Scars
  • Unwanted hair
  • and more!

What is the Difference Between Intense Pulsed Light and Laser Treatment? 

While both the intense pulsed light treatment and laser treatments can be used to address a variety of skin issues, they are two separate treatments. IPL therapy works by emitting more than one wavelength of intense pulsed light, while lasers only send out one wavelength of light energy. Certain skin issues may respond better to IPL than lasers, and vice versa. Our team will work with you to determine which treatment is best for addressing your individual skin concerns. 

What to Expect During Your IPL Treatment

Prior to your IPL treatment, you may be asked to avoid sun exposure, tanning, or certain skincare products such as retinoids for 1-2 weeks. This is important because irritated or sunburned skin cannot be treated with intense pulsed light. If you are undergoing IPL for laser hair removal, you will be asked to shave the treatment area the day before your session.

During treatment, a topical numbing cream may be applied to ensure your comfort. You will also be given protective eyewear to shield your eyes from the intense pulsed light source. A cooling gel will be applied to the treatment area, and the IPL device will then be moved across the skin, delivering intense pulsed light to the treated area. Some patients may experience a slight stinging sensation, similar to a rubber band snapping against the skin. 

One IPL treatment session typically lasts 10-45 minutes, depending on the size of the treatment area.

Intense Pulsed Light Results 

Following your IPL treatment, you may experience mild swelling or redness, which will subside within a few hours. Cool compresses can be used to reduce these effects. Pigmented areas will darken and then flake off over the next several days, revealing rejuvenated skin beneath. To protect your skin following treatment, be sure to wear sunscreen when outdoors. Results will develop over time, and most people require multiple intense pulsed light treatment sessions for optimal results. 

Schedule a Consultation 

If you would like to learn more about intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments in the Bend, OR, area, please contact EsthetixMD today. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding treatment and outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Does the IPL Work?

The IPL device is the best treatment for fading away excess brown pigment (freckles, sun/age spots), and clearing facial redness associated with rosacea and sun damage. It targets the cells that contain the excess pigment and then causes the pigment to rise to the surface of the skin where it sloughs off. Because excess pigment is deposited at different layers of the skin, it takes up to six treatments to reach the deeper layers of pigment and get optimal results. For facial redness, the IPL closes down the tiny blood vessels that cause the redness.

How Well Does IPL Work for Brown Spots?

An effective solution for brown discoloration (hyperpigmentation), IPL is delivered in a series of treatments. IPL can initially darken some of the area treated. This is a sign of good things to come, indicating the brownish pigment superficially located in the layers of your skin has been reached. Over seven to 14 days, most of our Bend IPL patients notice a lightening of these superficial brown spots. If the pigment is located in the deeper layers of skin, as is often the case in melasma, we may recommend a profractional laser treatment. It is not always possible to eliminate all spots and brown pigmentation, but dramatic lightening and improvement is common.

What Does the IPL Treatment Feel Like?

You’ll feel a mild stinging sensation. A bright light will be evident even though your eyes are completely protected with laser eye shields. Anesthetics are typically not required. Afterwards, there can be a mild “sunburn” sensation that usually goes away after one or two days.

How Long do the Results of the IPL Treatments Last?

With proper skin care and sun protection following your Bend IPL treatments, results can last for years. But skin naturally creates brown spots in response to UV radiation exposure. Since it’s impossible to avoid all sun exposure, new brown spots may emerge gradually over time. You can prolong your good results with a skin care regimen that includes products designed to suppress the development of brown and red discoloration, followed daily, year-round. Skin damage can occur even in dreary winter months when there is much less sunshine. The damage often does not become apparent until sunnier months. Most people find they need a single IPL treatment once a year for maintenance.

What Are the Common Side Effects of IPL?

The most common (and expected) side effect is a darkening of the more superficial brown spots and areas being treated. This darkening will flake off after one or two weeks. You may also experience generalized redness of the skin and redness around the brown spots, like a halo. This can persist 48 to 72 hours. To avoid complications, IPL should not be done prior to or after sun exposure.

Does IPL Work for Redness?

The IPL can also be used to treat facial, neck and chest redness. Redness can look slightly more evident and patchy after a session. A short series of treatments is typically needed to see significant results.

Is There Any Downtime With IPL?

There is minimal downtime with IPL treatments. Typically, darkening and discoloration is most evident after the first treatment, is less obvious with subsequent sessions, and can be covered with makeup. To avoid complications and assure best outcomes, we require that You do not tan, or use spray tan/self tanner two weeks before your treatment, and You avoid direct sun exposure for 48 hours before and after your treatment.

What is the Cost and How Many Treatments Will I Need?

The cost is based on the size of the area you want treated and the number of treatments needed to address your specific problem. Treatment of brown spots or hyperpigmentation will require up to six sessions for ideal results. With the IPL Bend patients usually get results for redness after three treatments. Sessions are conducted every three to four weeks.

What EsthetixMD Offers

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