Every person has a different opinion on what they want to look like as they age. Although, most people want healthy, glowy skin and a clear complexion. As we start to age, most of our sun damage from our 20’s is starting to pop up in our 40’s, and it just keeps adding up on our skin as we get older. Most of the time our cute freckles we had when we were younger, start to look like sun spots. You may start to notice flushing when you have a glass of wine, or notice broken blood vessels around our cheeks and nose. For those seeking a solution to these common concerns, IPL treatments are a game-changer.
If you're considering IPL therapy in Kansas City, here's everything you need to know about how it works, its benefits, and whether it might be the right treatment for you.
What is IPL?
IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light. This technology has been around for decades and has been used to treat many things. It is most commonly used for treating redness, broken capillaries, brown spots, and imperfections in the skin. The IPL device emits light with each pulse that targets melanin and “color” in the skin. So when we have reds and browns, the light is going to find that color and correct it while simultaneously stimulating new collagen! Whenever I am in a consultation with a patient I like to use this analogy. I want you to think of a 15 year old boys room. In order to clean it you have to pick up all of the clutter, trash, and dirty clothes, before you can vacuum and wipe the baseboards. IPL therapy works the same way. I look at IPL treatments as picking up the clutter off of the skin. You are clearing out decades worth of damage, leaving the skin with a clear and refreshed complexion.
For anyone in Kansas City seeking to minimize the effects of aging and sun damage, IPL treatment is an excellent non-invasive option for anti-aging and overall skin renewal.
What to expect during and after an IPL treatment?
When you arrive for IPL therapy we will go over any questions you have. You will hop on a nice cozy bed, where I will cleanse the skin and prep it for the treatment with ultrasound gel. The ultrasound gel works as a nice buffer between your skin and the handpiece! We will start the treatment with a test spot. This ensures it is a tolerable and proper setting to achieve the result that you are looking for. I will place goggles over your eyes and we will cruise through the treatment! People often say the treatment feels like a flash of heat, with a bright flashy light.
After we complete the treatment it will feel “prickly” or tingly like a sunburn for 30 minutes to an hour. You will notice the pigment is red and more pronounced. It will continue to look more pronounced as the day goes on. The areas that look more “pronounced” are your pigmented skin cells starting to come up to the surface. In the following 5-7 days after your treatment you will begin to notice peppering on the surface of the skin. Peppering is a word I like to use for those skin cells starting to slough off. It seriously looks like little tiny coffee grounds on the skin. During this time you are okay to apply makeup to cover up the appearance of the spots. They fall off on their own and underneath is fresh, even skin in less than a week!
How Often Should You Get IPL Treatments?
Typical IPL treamtents are done generally in a series of 3 treatments, spaced 4 weeks apart. Your skin has a cell turnover cycle rate of give or take, 28 days. That means, every 28 days your skin will go through an entire cycle of new skin cells resulting in dead skin sloughing off and new fresh skin cells. This is why we space most treatments in aesthetics out every 4 weeks. I also like to mention, it can take up to a couple weeks after a treatment to see your full result of the treatment. After you complete a series of 3 treatments I generally put you in maintenance mode. I like to do 1-2 treatments a year to keep up with your results from the series. For patients with redness and rosacea, I sometimes see them more frequently like once a quarter to keep up with the general redness in the skin. This is something we can determine together!
If you're located in Kansas City and looking for a reliable IPL therapy provider, we’re here to guide you through the process and tailor treatments to your skin.
Am I a candidate for IPL treatment?
Good candidates for IPL are individuals concerned with the following:
- Sunspots
- Age Spots
- Facial Redness
- Rosacea
- Broken Capillaries (Blood Vessels)
- Acne Discoloration
- Scarring
The best candidates are those who have untanned skin, and realistic expectations for their results. This treatment is not for people with tanned or darker skin tones, as the device looks for melanin in the skin and can remove melanin that we want to keep (such as your base skin tone). If you are not a candidate for IPL therapy, we have many other options to tackle your skin concerns such as microneedling, chemical peels, and medical grade products. This is a non-invasive procedure, and a great approach to skin rejuvenation with very little downtime.
IPL Treatment Before & After Photos
Why Choose IPL Therapy in Kansas City?
If you're searching for a trusted provider of IPL treatments in Kansas City, we specialize in helping patients achieve radiant, youthful skin. With years of experience and a personalized approach to skincare, we are dedicated to delivering exceptional results.
Whether you’re addressing sun damage, redness, or other anti-aging concerns, IPL therapy can help you achieve the clear, glowing complexion you’ve always wanted. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn how IPL treatments can transform your skin!
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