IPL Facial vs. HydraFacial: Which Is Right for Me?

So you’ve decided that you want to get a facial and reveal refreshed and more youthful-looking skin. But should you get an IPL photofacial or a HydraFacial MD®? The answer to that question largely depends on the results you want to see and how quickly you want to see them.

Both types of facials are equally effective at rejuvenating the appearance of your skin. But one is designed to target specific issues, such as blotchy skin on your face or chest, while the other one is customizable based on your skin concerns. 

Our providers at eleven19 Medical Spa + Weight Loss explain more about both of these facials in greater detail.

What an IPL photofacial entails

An IPL photofacial uses intense pulsed light to stimulate your skin to regenerate itself. The light waves heat your skin, targeting certain colors to get rid of them. This can quickly allow your skin to heal from such issues as:

• Sun damage
• Rosacea
• Spider veins
• Age spots
• Large pores
• Freckles and birthmarks

After an IPL photofacial, you should notice the results gradually begin to appear as the light waves pass through your epidermis (the outer layer of your skin) to target the melanin underneath, which allows the skin to regain a more even tone. 

It also stimulates your skin’s production of collagen, which is the building block of strong, youthful-looking skin. Your body naturally produced more collagen when you were younger, which was responsible for the elasticity in your skin. You can see that again.

What the HydraFacial MD entails

A HydraFacial is a three-step treatment that aims to:

• Cleanse and peel your skin
• Extract blemishes and improve your skin’s hydration
• Fuse and protect your skin

The HydraFacial MD uses a patented Vortex-Fusion delivery system. The same machine exfoliates, deep cleans, and hydrates your skin, while the spiral design allows it to also extract blemishes from your skin, even if they haven’t appeared on the surface of your skin yet.

The HydraFacial MD is unique in that we can customize it based on the results you want to achieve. It can deliver a variety of effective treatment serums to your skin based on your specific concerns.

I still can’t decide — now what?

Your best bet is to schedule a consultation with one of our aesthetic medicine providers, who will answer questions about your biggest skin concerns.

IPL is best if you want to target blotchy or uneven skin tones. The light from an IPL is much brighter than a laser, yielding more improvement. We usually recommend 3-5 treatments, each scheduled six weeks apart.

The HydraFacial MD is best if your skin has any of these issues:

• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Loss of elasticity and firmness
• Undesirable skin texture
• Brown spots
• Oily, congested skin
• Enlarged pores

The results of a HydraFacial MD aren’t permanent, either, but we determine the number of additional treatments you need on an individual basis.

If you’ve decided that you want an IPL photofacial or a HydraFacial MD, we would love to talk to you. Contact us today at the eleven19 Medical Spa location nearest you in Santa Ana, Ontario, or Fullerton, California.