Photo Genesis IPL Facial Rejuvenation
Questions and Answers
- What areas can be treated?
- How many treatments will I need?
- What does the treatment do?
- What happens after the treatment?
- Does it just remove sun spots?
- Are there any side effects?
- Is it true that I'll need to arrive an hour early to apply a numbing cream?
- Will the spots reappear over time?
- When will I see results?
- What do treatments feel like?
- Can all of my spots be treated this way?
- How long will the treatment take?
- The Solar Genesis difference.
What areas can be treated?
Virtually any part of your body with sun and age spots or freckles can be safely treated. The face, neck, chest, shoulders, arms and hands are the most popular areas for treatment because they typically have the most sun exposure. Both discrete spots and skin densely covered with freckles respond well to treatment.
What does the treatment do?
The visible light delivered by the Solar Genesis intense pulsed light system is selectively absorbed by the pigmented spots on your skin. It is the heating of the pigmented cells that causes the therapeutic effect. The handpiece delivers a broad spectrum of light which is converted to heat energy when it interacts with the different pigmented lesion or sun spots in your skin.
Does the treatment just remove sun spots?
Our IPL Facial Rejuvenation therapy has other benefits besides the removal or reduction of benign pigmented lesions. The procedure is considered gold standard for skin bleaching, but it also reduces redness, large pores, uneven texture, fine lines and wrinkles. Optimal results can be achieved when IPL facials are used in combination with our Laser Genesis and Titan Skin Facial Rejuvenation systems.
Is it true that I'll need to arrive an hour early to apply a numbing cream?
No. Unlike other systems, the Solar Genesis IPL treatment requires no topical anesthetic or gels before treatment. Gel is messy, time consuming, and uncomfortable. Solar Genesis therapy is the next generation in pulsed light treatments. No gel! Dr. Patrick Bitters developed the Intense Pulse Light fotofacial in 1997 using gel and the Epilight system. Significant technological improvements have been made since then, resulting in safer and less painful treatments.
What do the treatments feel like?
When the handpiece is placed on you skin, it will feel cool and comfortable. When the pulse of light is delivered, you may feel a mild, brief pinching or stinging sensation. The treatments are normally tolerable without the use of anesthetics.
How long will the treatment take?
The actual treatment will only take a few minutes. And, since there is no need to apply gel or any topical anesthetic, your total appointment time can easily fit into your lunch hour.
How many treatments will I need?
Typically, one or two treatments are sufficient to see dramatic results. Additional treatments may be required for very large or dark spots or for densely covered areas. More information about what you can reasonably expect will be reviewed during a consultation.
What happens after the treatment?
Immediately following the treatment, the spots may start to darken. You may notice a slight reddening of the surrounding skin. This typically subsides within a couple of hours. Over the course of the next one to three weeks, darkened spots will fade and flake off.
Are there any side effects?
Any laser or light based skin therapy involves risk of adverse effects to the skin. Adverse effects are usually mild and temporary. But IPL treatments involve more risk than our other laser procedures. This is why we utilize what we feel is the safest broad band light based system on the market. That is why we offer two different systems for hair and three different systems for facial rejuvenation. At the Lux Clinic, we are committed to reducing possible adverse effects by using only the most advanced medical equipment. We will thoroughly review the benefits and risks of treatment during our consultation.
Will the spots reappear over time?
New spots may appear, particularly if the treated area is subjected to chronic sun exposure. These too can be removed. Remember to liberally apply sunscreen when outdoors to minimize sun damage and the appearance of new spots.
Can all of my spots be treated this way?
Spots formed by sun exposure can effectively be treated with our Solar Genesis intense pulse light procedure. It is an ideal treatment for all types of skin discoloration including brown/red combination skin, poikilorderma and solar lentigines. There are, however, other types of pigmentated lesions, such as birthmarks and moles that will not respond to this therapy. We will identify the spots most likely to respond well during our consultation.
When will I see results?
Most patients find the majority of their treated spots have shown significant improvement within two to three weeks of treatment. However, your final result may not be apparent for a month or more and multiple treatments are sometimes necessary to achieve optimal results.
The Solar Genesis difference
One of the main advantages of our system is comfort. We have created a pulsed light system that is exceptionally effective at treating pigment at a much more comfortable energy level. Unlike other photofacial IPL systems, there is no need to apply topical anesthetic or gel beforehand, and you can realize superior results in just one or two treatments. And our integrated closed-loop system and temperature monitoring was designed to increase the safety of the procedure and decrease the chance of adverse effects to the skin.
