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IPL Photofacial

For a brighter, more evenly colored complexion with minimal effort and downtime, visit WNY Plastic Surgery for intense pulsed light (IPL) photofacial treatments in Buffalo, NY. This noninvasive treatment effectively revitalizes your skin and helps reverse early signs of aging. Our skilled team combines state-of-the-art equipment with personalized care to deliver safe, effective results tailored to your unique needs.

What Is IPL?

IPL, also called a photofacial or photorejuvenation, is a skin rejuvenation treatment performed at our Buffalo, NY, practice with the Palomar device. It releases multiple wavelengths of light that penetrate the skin without harming it (non-ablative). The light energy is absorbed by concentrated pigment in brown melanin and red blood cells, which it heats up and destroys. The light energy also increases collagen production to make the skin firmer and smoother.

What Does It Treat?

IPL rejuvenates the skin by addressing the following concerns:

• Freckles, sun spots, age spots, and other discoloration
• Redness from broken blood vessels and rosacea
• Fine lines
• Mild laxity
• Varicose and spider veins

IPL is not a good choice for treating melasma because it may aggravate the condition. We may recommend a different treatment, such as a chemical peel.

Benefits

These treatments are popular with people who want to correct sun damage and signs of aging because they offer the following benefits:

• Easy: Treatments are fast and involve minimal discomfort.
• Convenient: You can return to your normal activities right away and strenuous exercise the next day.
• Effective: It works better and faster than topical skin-lightening products such as hydroquinone.

Am I a Good Candidate for IPL?

IPL is best for people with fair to medium skin tones. If your skin is naturally dark or suntanned, IPL may not be appropriate. It also may not be suitable for people with deep wrinkles, open wounds in the treatment area, or photosensitive skin.

IPL vs. Laser Skin Treatments

While both IPL and laser skin treatments are excellent for skin rejuvenation, your best choice depends on the specific skin concerns you want to address, your skin type, and your desired downtime.

• IPL is well suited for surface-level concerns such as freckles, sun spots, and other unwanted pigmentation; rosacea and redness; and fine lines and crepiness.
• Laser treatments effectively address deeper wrinkles, scars, or significant texture concerns.

A consultation with a skincare specialist will help determine the best treatment to achieve your goals and help your skin look its best.

What Happens During an IPL Treatment?

IPL is an office treatment that takes approximately 30 minutes to perform. After applying numbing cream and waiting about 30 minutes for it to take effect, your practitioner cleanses your skin and covers your eyes with protective shields. They move the IPL handpiece over the skin as it releases quick flashes of light that may feel prickly or like a rubber band snapping. Your provider may adjust the intensity of the light for different treatment areas.

Once your treatment is complete, your provider will apply a soothing sunscreen to the treated skin.

How Long Does It Take To Recover From IPL?

Expect treated skin to look and feel sunburned for as long as a few hours after treatment. Once the warmth and redness fade, you may experience the following to some degree:

• Dark areas on the skin that look like pepper or coffee grounds, called peppering. This indicates that the treatment has destroyed pigment below the skin. The peppering will gradually rise to the surface of the skin and slough off in about a week.
• Areas of redness where the light has heated blood vessels and other vascular structures. These will gradually fade as your body naturally absorbs them.

Dr. Andrew Giacobbe

Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon

Double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Giacobbe is a top Buffalo plastic surgeon known for his expertise and warm demeanor. He and his remarkable team are proud to be your partner in aesthetics, specializing in custom surgical and nonsurgical options to help you look and feel your very best.

Dr. Giacobbe is a leader is the local medical community and a member of prestigious national plastic surgery societies, such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Aesthetic Society.

Dr. Giacobbe View Before & After PHotos

Dr. Andrew Giacobbe

Dr. Andrew Giacobbe

Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon

Double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Giacobbe is a top Buffalo plastic surgeon known for his expertise and warm demeanor. He and his remarkable team are proud to be your partner in aesthetics, specializing in custom surgical and nonsurgical options to help you look and feel your very best.

Dr. Giacobbe is a leader is the local medical community and a member of prestigious national plastic surgery societies, such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Aesthetic Society.

Dr. Giacobbe View Before & After PHotos

Recovery Tips

For optimal results, follow these recovery tips in addition to your post-procedure instructions:

• Avoid strenuous exercise and exposure to heat, such as saunas and hot tubs, for the first 24 to 48 hours.
• Stay out of direct sun.
• Wear sunscreen with SPF 30+ daily.

Covering redness and peppering with makeup is safe as long as the skin is not broken.

Commonly Combined Services

You can combine IPL with other medical spa treatments for a more noticeable improvement. Popular options include:

• Microneedling
• Laser skin resurfacing
• Laser skin tightening

During your consultation, your provider will review the treatments best suited to you and create a custom treatment plan to provide your desired results.

How Long After IPL Do You See Results?

Improvements are noticeable in about a week when the skin begins to clear; however, it takes about 4 to 6 weeks to see the full results of an IPL treatment.

How Many IPL Treatments Do I Need for Ideal Results?

Most people need 2 to 4 treatments, each spaced about a month apart, to attain optimal results. The number of treatments you need will depend on the extent of your concerns and the intensity of your treatment.

IPL FAQ

How painful is IPL on the face?

We use a medical-grade numbing cream, so discomfort is typically minimal. However, areas with more hair, such as the sides of the face, are often more sensitive. Your provider will adjust the device’s settings during your treatment to keep you comfortable.

Which is better, IPL or microneedling?

IPL and microneedling address different concerns, making:

• IPL better for pigment and redness
• Microneedling better for fine wrinkles, thinning, and mild laxity

A combination of IPL followed by microneedling can provide comprehensive skin rejuvenation.

What does your face look like after IPL?

Immediately after IPL, your face will look mildly to very red. Within a few days, it will have noticeable dark spots and red areas where pigment and vascular structures were affected.

Eventually, your skin should look more evenly colored, radiant, and smoother.

Are IPL treatments worth it?

Yes. These treatments effectively and efficiently improve skin tone with minimal downtime.

How long do IPL results last?

The longevity of results depends on how well you take care of your results by limiting sun exposure and using quality sunscreen consistently. Most patients have maintenance treatments every 6 to 12 months to address pigment issues and redness that inevitably develop with everyday life.

In Buffalo and throughout New York, IPL is one of the most popular skin rejuvenation treatments. To find out more, request a consultation  using the online form or call WNY Plastic Surgery at  (716) 634-5555 to book your visit.