IPL Laser Carlsbad: Here's What You Should Know Before The Procedure

IPL Laser is an abbreviation for intense pulsed light. In this form of light therapy, wrinkling, blemishes, and unwanted hair are treated using lasers.

If you are considering undergoing this procedure, it is critical that you understand the basics of the procedure and that you only visit a reputable IPL Laser Carlsbad clinic for the procedure.

If you want to reduce if not completely eliminate age spots, skin damage from the sun, freckles, birthmarks, varicose veins, damaged blood vessels located on your face, rosacea, as well as hair in the face, neck, back, chest, legs, underarms, or bikini line can be treated using IPL.

The Distinction Between IPL Versus Laser Therapy

IPL is comparable to laser therapy. However, a laser concentrates a single wavelength of light on your skin, whereas IPL emits light at a range of wavelengths, similar to a photo flash.

IPL light is more diffuse and less directed than laser light. IPL penetrates the middle layer of your skin or the dermis sans causing damage to the top layer (epidermis), resulting in less damage to your skin.

Your skin’s pigment cells collect light energy, which is transformed to heat. The heat dissolves the undesirable pigment, effectively eradicating freckles and other blemishes. Alternatively, it damages the hair follicle, preventing new hair growth.

IPL may be used everywhere on the body, but may not be as effective on uneven regions. This is why it is not recommended to those who are prone to developing thick, elevated keloid scars or for people who have darker skin tones.

How to Prepare for an IPL Laser Carlsbad Procedure

Your skincare professional will analyze your skin before the IPL process and inform you of what to expect, therefore, it is important that you let them know if you have any skin problems that might impair your recovery following medication, including inflamed acne or eczema.

For two weeks before your surgery, your skincare professional may prescribe that you abstain from certain activities, drugs, and other items.

Costs and insurance of an IPL Procedure

The cost is determined by the type of disease being treated and the treatment area’s size. IPL is typically between $700 to $1,200. You may be required to pay an additional fee for anesthetic, testing, follow-up appointments, or medications. This is because IPL is essentially a cosmetic operation, it is not covered by most health insurance policies.
Things to expect during an IPL procedure

Your skincare professional will begin by cleansing the area being treated. After that, they apply a cold gel on your skin, and then they will use the IPL equipment to deliver light pulses to your skin. You will be required to use dark glasses throughout your treatment to safeguard your eyes.

Your skin may be irritated by the pulses. According to others, the sensation is comparable to being cracked with a rubber band and the IPL procedure usually takes around 20 to 30 minutes depending on the region of the body that is being treated as well as the size of the area.

If you want to achieve the outcome that you want after the procedure, these can be done in three to six sessions and these procedures should be spaced at about one month apart in order to let your skin recover. Hair removal needs between six and twelve sessions.
How well should the IPL procedure work

For some aesthetic procedures, such as diminishing blood vessels in the skin, newer IPL devices perform similarly to laser treatments. IPL is more effective in removing hair from thick, black hair than it is on fine, light hair. You may require many treatments to obtain your desired outcome.
Possible risks after undergoing an IPL procedure

The majority of patients report minor redness or swelling following the surgery and this will usually subside after a day or two. You may have bruising, blistering, a change in the color of your skin, or an infection in certain situations.
Common expectations after undergoing an IPL procedure

You must be able to resume your normal activities immediately. For a few hours after treatment, the treated region of skin will be reddish and sensitive, as if it were burnt. Additionally, your skin might be somewhat swollen. Your skin will remain sensitive for many days following the treatment. You may need to refrain from putting hot water on it until it heals.

Possible Alternatives for IPL Laser Carlsbad

IPL isn’t the only treatment for removing wrinkles, spots, and unwanted hair; there are other options as well. Among your other alternatives are:

Lasers

A laser removes undesirable hair, wrinkling, sun damage, as well as other areas using a single, concentrated wavelength of light. Laser treatments are faster and more effective than IPL, and they may be utilized on dark skin. The typical cost of laser skin resurfacing is about $2,300.
Fraxel laser treatment

The Fraxel laser is classified as a nonablative therapy since it penetrates beyond the skin’s surface without causing damage to the top layer. Certain Fraxel treatments ablatively treat a section of the skin and are referred to as fractionated lasers. Sun degradation, lines as well as wrinkles, including acne scars can all be treated with the Fraxel laser. Following therapy, the skin regenerates. You will require many treatments to notice the benefits. The cost of Fraxel laser treatments is around $1,000 each session.
Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is a technique that delicately sands away the top layer of your skin with an abrasive instrument and can be used to lighten the age spots including the darker regions of the skin. To observe progress, you’ll need a succession of treatments, and the results are typically transitory. A session of microdermabrasion typically costs $138.

Pros and Cons of Undergoing an IPL Procedure

The following are the advantages and disadvantages of IPL in comparison to other cosmetic procedures.

Pros:

The procedure is effective in fading lines as well as spots and removing unwanted hair.
Sessions are shorter than they are with other techniques.
Because the light does not penetrate the top layers of the skin, you will have fewer adverse effects than you would with a laser or dermabrasion.
The recuperation period is fast.

Cons:

You must return for many treatments to achieve the desired results.
IPL is ineffective on dark skin as well as light hair.