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How Long Does It Take to See Results After My IPL Photofacial?

You want to look your best. If you have sun damage, rosacea, benign brown spots, or large pores, you could benefit from an IPL Photofacial®. Intense pulsed light (IPL) has been used successfully to treat skin conditions since it was approved for such use in 1995.

If you’re like most of our clients, you probably want to see results as soon as possible. But sometimes IPL results take time. Just remember that good things are worth the wait. 

Read on as our providers at eleven19 Medical + Weight Loss explain a bit more about this procedure and when you can expect to see results.

What the IPL Photofacial is

Intense pulsed light therapy is a way to improve the texture and appearance of your skin. The procedure uses light energy to target certain colors in your skin. It’s most effective at reducing benign discolorations due to sun damage on your face, neck, or chest.

The IPL Photofacial is effective at eliminating dark or red spots due to other conditions, including rosacea, birthmarks and freckles, acne scars, and age spots. It can also eliminate or minimize facial veins and large pores.

The light energy gently heats your skin to eliminate the unwanted cells that are causing the discoloration. Although this is not painful, some of our clients do find it uncomfortable. You may ask about topical anesthetic creams to minimize the discomfort.

How quickly does the IPL Photofacial show results?

The effects of an IPL Photofacial are gradual, so don’t expect to see immediate results. You begin to see a change in your face within a week to 10 days and on the other treated areas of your body within 6-8 weeks.

What to do after an IPL Photofacial

To see the best results after an IPL Photofacial, take care of your skin both before and after the procedure.

Before getting the IPL Photofacial, avoid tanning and using retinoid cream. On the day of the procedure, don’t use makeup, perfume, or scented products, all of which can irritate your skin.

After the procedure, immediately ice your skin because it may feel a little bit hot and sensitive. Apply ice for about 30 minutes after the procedure. Continue to apply ice for about 15 minutes every hour for the first 3 hours. We give you more detailed recovery instructions after your photofacial.

It’s normal for your skin to feel hot and swollen for up to three days after the procedure, although it disappears sooner for most people. 

Avoid exfoliating products. The IPL Photofacial causes brown spots and sun damage to darken and flake off on their own. If you exfoliate or pick off the flaking skin, you run the risk of developing a condition called hypopigmentation, in which your skin has less pigment than normal.

The darkened skin flakes off of your face in about a week to 10 days, but it can take 6-8 weeks for the skin to flake off of other parts of your body. 

Avoid sun exposure for at least 6-8 weeks, although we highly recommend that you use sunscreen so you don’t get new sun damage.

If you have sun damage or other facial imperfections, the IPL Photofacial might be right for you. Call us at eleven19 Medical + Weight Loss today or request an appointment online. Our offices are located in Santa Ana, Fullerton, and Ontario, California.

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