What Do IPL Treatments Feel Like And How Many Will I Need?

As the name implies,the IPL hand-piece cools and soothes as it glides along your skin.When the pulse of light is delivered,some patients experience a mild pinching or stinging sensation. No local anesthesia or pain medication is typically required.However some patients may prefer to use a topical anesthetic when sensitive areas are treated.
Most areas require 3-6 treatments,but the number of IPL treatments you may require for optimal long-term benefits depends on various factors such as your hair's thickness,the area treated and your hair's growth cycle. Interestingly,not all hairs are actively growing at the same time.But actually go through three distinct phases:growth,regression and resting. IPL systems work by disabling the hair that is principally in the active growth phase at the time of treatment. Since other hairs will enter this active growth phase at different times,additional treatments may be necessary to disable all of the hair follicles in a given area.

How Many IPL Treatments Will You Need?

Most areas require 3-6 treatments, but the number of IPL treatments you may require for optimal long-term benefits depends on various factors such as your hair’s thickness, the area treated, and your hair’s growth cycle. Interestingly, not all hairs are actively growing at the same time, but actually go through three distinct phases; growth, regression, and resting. IPL systems work by disabling the hair that is principally in the active growth phase at the time of treatment. Since other hairs will enter this active growth phase at different times, additional treatments may be necessary to disable all of the hair follicles in a given area.

Laser Hair Removal

Radio frequency (RF) is a frequency or rate of oscillation within the range of about 3 Hz to 300 GHz. This range corresponds to frequency of alternating current electrical signals used to produce and detect radio waves. Since most of this range is beyond the vibration rate that most mechanical systems can respond to, RF usually refers to oscillations in electrical circuits or electromagnetic radiation.
Special properties of RF electrical signalsElectrical currents that oscillate at RF have special properties not shared by direct current signals. One such property is the ease with which it can ionize air to create a conductive path through air. This property is exploited by 'high frequency' units used in electric arc welding. Another special property is an electromagnetic force that drives the RF current to the surface of conductors, known as the skin effect. Another property is the ability to appear to flow through paths that contain insulating material, like the dielectric insulator of a capacitor. The degree of effect of these properties depends on the frequency of the signals.

Nursing for the Laser treated region

Face can be washed normally. The ointment will be daubed in the affected part until the scab falls off. Other medicine and cosmetic are forbidden. Ice compress can be used if the affective part is in the turgescence state. The ointment won't be daubed after the scab falls off, but the suntan oil (SPF15) will be daubed both in the room and outside the room avoiding the damage of ultraviolet radiation UVA/UVB. Further consult with a doctor after 1~2 weeks. Please further consult with a doctor instantly if unwanted conditions occur. Vitamin C will be supplemented improving the metabolism of melanin. The laser beam irradiates on the skin's effective part with definite wavelength generating white bleb with a diameter of 0.2~0.3cm. The pain is very slight. Doctors do some testing on the small-sized skin firstly owing to the treatment region generally in the face. Large-area treatment can be carried out if no unwanted reaction occurs. Treated skin is very sensitive to the sun avoiding the irradiation of sun.

What is the complication of laser cosmetic operation?

The treated region is coagulated, carbonized or vapored by the thermal effect of the laser. Up to date, the common lasers used in the China is He-Ne laser and CO2 laser which is suitable to remove pigment naevus, common naevus, syringocystadenoma, yellow eyelid tumor and small wrinkle et al. The common complication is as following: Pigmentation: The pigmentation is caused by ultraviolet radiation. Flower spots: The flower spots are caused by the different reaction of the sicken region to the laser. Treatment method: Pigmentation will disappear generally after half a year of operation. So no special treatment is needed. Flower spots can be concealed using the mask cream if the symptom isn't serious. But the flower spots should be cut and skins will be transplanted if the symptom is serious.

Why the IPL over laser hair removal methods?

Using the latest technology in laser hair removal, IPL can rapidly treat large areas without the limitations of older technologies.The IPL system's longer wavelength allows it to be used safely and effectively on patients.Unlike other systems, IPLcan treat the fine hair on a woman's upper lip just as easily and effectively as the coarse hair on a man’s back. The cooled handpiece increases patient comfort and minimizes the adverse skin reaction commonly seen with other lasers. IPL Best for Hair Removal Because : Best Wavelength for dark and tanned skin. Also effective for light skin.Best range of parameter for both fine and coarse hair.

Laser Tattoo Removal's theory of operating

It's no surprise when someone with a tattoo wants it removed. After all, most people like to make changes to their appearance from time to time. If you have a tattoo, perhaps it's simply been there long enough. It's time to move on and the tattoo has to go.
Unlike other treatment methods, with laser treatment the surface of the skin is neither cut nor burnt. This minimises any risk of scarring. We use two advanced laser system known as a Q-switched Laser and Ruby Star Laser. These are the most effective and successful form of treatments available anywhere in the world for tattoo removal. The laser emits intense and extremely short pulses of light which are directed on to the tattoo. The laser light pulses break up the ink particles that form the tattoo, reducing them to minute fragments which are naturally absorbed through the body's own cleansing mechanism.
There are several other methods for removing tattoos; they involve using dermabrasion (wire brush), acids, plastic surgery (skin grafting) or chemical peels. These methods tend to be very painful, require a lengthy recovery period and frequently result in severe scarring

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

IPL is not a laser but is a powerful light source that is used for skin rejuvenation and has the ability to penetrate the skin with minimal skin damage. Like the laser, it works by filtering various wavelengths of light to react with specific skin conditions. IPL has been shown to help improve the appearance of red and brown skin discolorations, birthmarks and symptoms of rosacea, as well as to tighten and refine the appearance of the skin. This process is also known as photorejuvenation or photofacial. It has also become popular for removal of vascular lesions (broken blood vessels, etc.) as well as removal of hair on lighter skin types and even removal of some tattoos. IPL is truly a non-invasive procedure and is among the group of no-downtime skin treatments, which have become widely known as “lunchtime” procedures.

Necessary care after IPL / laser hair removal treatment

IPL / Laser hair removal, although it is a simple process, does require proper care of the skin in the area that was treated. Generally there is little recovery time needed regarding IPL / Laser hair removal procedures. People can usually return to normal activities immediately after treatment. However, it is important to take the time to follow the recommended guidelines for aftercare in order to protect against any chance of a complication and to reduce any discomfort that may be experienced.

Immediately after the IPL / Laser hair removal treatments, there should be redness and bumps at the treatment area, which may last up to 2 hours or longer. It is normal for the treated area to feel like a sunburn for a few hours. Some physicians recommend aloe vera gel or some other after-sunburn treatment such as Desitin. Darker pigmented people may have more discomfort than lighter skin people and may require the aloe vera gel or an antibiotic ointment longer.
Makeup may be used after the IPL / Laser hair removal treatment, unless there is epidermal blistering. It is recommended to use new makeup to reduce the possibility of infection. Just make sure that you have moisturizer on under your makeup. In fact, moisturizer frequently and freely on the treated area. Any moisturizer without alphahydroxy acids will work.
Avoid sun exposure to reduce the chance of dark or light spots for 1 month. Use sunscreen SPF 30 or higher at all times throughout the treatment.
Avoid picking or scratching the treated skin. DO NOT USE any other hair removal methods or products on the treated area during the course of your IPL / Laser hair removal treatments, as it will prevent you from achieving your best results.
You may shower after the IPL / Laser hair removal treatments, and use soap, deodorant, etc. The treated area may be washed gently with a mild soap. Skin should be patted dry and NOT rubbed. Underarm areas, that have been treated, should be wiped with alcohol for 24 hours. You may apply deodorant after 24 hours. Wait two (2) days before shaving treated areas.
Anywhere from 5-30 days after the treatment, shedding of the hair may occur and this may appear as new hair growth. This is not new hair growth, but dead hair pushing its way out of the follicle. You can help the hair exfoliate by washing or wiping with a washcloth.
Hair re-growth occurs at different rates on different areas of the body. New hair growth will not occur for at least three weeks after treatment.
Call your physician’s office with any questions or concerns you may have after the treatment.

Please note: Stubble, representing dead hair being shed from the hair follicle, will appear 5-30 days after the treatment date. This is normal and will fall out quickly.

Can I receive IPL treatments if I am on medication?

There are a few medications where I and other doctors should have concern. Certainly if you're taking a skin bleaching or changing agent for your skin, you need to be careful before you have IPL or any treatments. The other area is whether or not you're taking Accutane, that's the drug perscribed for persistent acne. It's important that you stop taking Accutane before having IPL or any other laser treatments.

Who is authorized to administer IPL?

An IPL machine is not a laser. In many states and in many spas it is important, and it's regulated, that the doctor perform the laser treatments. Again, you're going to need to check your state. With an IPL machine, because it's not a laser, the regulations are really a gray area. So again, state to state it depends who can use an IPL machine. It can be either your doctor or the aesthetician or somebody in the MediSpa who uses the IPL machine. In any regards, each IPL machine should have its own registration accreditation where whosever is using that IPL machine should know how to use it. And you should ask in the MediSpa to make sure that those accreditations to use an IPL machine, that certificate is available.