PHOTOFACIAL
WHAT IS IT?
Photofacial refers to any of our skin rejuvenation treatments designed to lift pigment from the skin. IPL is the most common way to treat pigmented lesions (brown spots), rosacea, and small blood vessels. The light heats the darker area, damaging either the targeted melanin (skin pigment in dark spots), or the desired blood vessels/diffused redness, and lifts the melanin to the surface of the skin where it sloughs off.
If a client only has brown spots to treat, we can utilize the Alexandrite laser using a “punch hole” technique to target only those areas of the skin, rather than scanning the entire area with an IPL. Depending on how fair a client is, we can also use our SRA hand-piece utilizing our ELOS machine to target pigment on the lightest of skins.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
A test patch must be done a minimum of two days prior to a full treatment in order to find the ideal settings for your skin type. During treatment, a gel is placed on the skin as a barrier between the hand-piece and the skin, in order to make the treatment more tolerable. The broad spectrum photo light filters out all wavelengths except those taken up by pigment and blood vessels. The light energy penetrates just below the skin’s surface, and the body’s natural skin repair mechanisms remove the unwanted pigment and redness.
HOW CAN I PREPARE?
Avoid botox or fillers 2-4 weeks prior to your appointment and 5-7 days post-treatment. Sun exposure should be avoided for 4-6 weeks prior and post-treatment. Exfoliating products including scrubs, acids, Lotion P50, and retin-A products should be discontinued for 3-7 days prior to and post-treatment.
ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD KNOW?
It is highly recommended you get in for a hyper-customized facial 2-3 weeks post-treatment to professionally exfoliate and hydrate the skin during the healing process.