IPL Skin Treatment

IPL Skin Treatment Services in Franklin & Nashville TN

Many people who struggle with sun damage, signs of aging and uneven skin turn to skin treatments that target the portions they want to change the most. New skin treatment options are taking the place of old practices and reducing fine lines, wrinkles, and other skin imperfections.

In the mid-1990s, dermatology professionals developed a new system for smoothing skin and targeting dark spots that are less painful and produces more advantageous results for skin beautification in a cost-effective way. This method is called Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment.

You may be looking for IPL skin treatment near your location, and if you live in or around Nashville, Tenn., continue reading to find out about how to gain confidence in your skin.

What Is IPL Skin Rejuvenation?

IPL began as a hair removal service comparable to laser hair removal, but it has developed into a skin procedure. To define IPL skin treatment, start with the projection of pulses of incoherent broadband light onto places with a darker pigment to take out the excess redness or patchy inconsistencies. IPL removes unwanted defects in the complexion, but the powerful bursts of light also smooth the skin.

The intensive beam of light targets places of higher pigmentation, namely scars, and discoloration, and the directed energy hits within your skin to prevent further blemishes from rising. The wavelength of the light is between 500 and 1,200 nanometers, and this level of light moves past the epidermis to reach the pores and whatever intense pigmentation exists, inhibiting future skin complications like flushing and constricting pores to a reasonable size after follow-up treatments. Collagen production is also stimulated to rejuvenate wrinkled skin, so it is full again.

What Do Intense Pulsed Light Services Entail?

What IPL entails is as many sessions of treatment as needed to help skin blemishes vanish in a particular area of your body. Because pores may react to the treatment at their own pace, results will become more obvious with multiple sessions. All wrinkles or discoloration will not clear up at the same time. Certain stages of regeneration display the treatment sooner in particular patients, and due to these variations, several visits can be scheduled to cover the fluctuations.

The procedure can be applied to any part of the body, but some parts of the body could take longer to treat, mostly due to skin texture. Other areas may be limited to a few short visits. Treatments occur with about a month in between visits, because subjecting your skin to intense light bursts too frequently may have adverse effects.

IPL services treat many places on the body, and both men and women use IPL for skin enhancement. The face and neck are the most popular, but the procedure takes great care to avoid the eyes. Décolletage areas are another common place for IPL treatment. Also, smoother or more level areas are better for Intense Pulsed Light rather than extensively uneven places.

What to Expect with IPL Treatment

There are many reasons to get IPL skin treatment, but before you decide on the treatment, find out what you should expect when you go to get this treatment and how it works. There are other things to consider with IPL skin treatment, but understanding the procedure will best prepare you.

Before you go for the IPL treatment, you should have the opportunity to discuss the process and the areas where skin refinement will occur with your plastic surgeon. You will also address any previous conditions and medications you have taken that may change how the treatment progresses. You may even receive pretreatment counseling before the procedure.

When you go to your plastic surgeon for IPL skin treatment, you may get anesthesia through a topical cream about an hour before the treatment. This is typically for highly sensitive skin, and this is not given to every patient in at every practice, as it isn't necessary.

You will be provided with eye protection, especially if your IPL treatment is for your face or neck. The plastic surgeon will clean the area being treated and place a conduction gel on your skin to improve the connection of the handpiece. Then, the handpiece's crystal apparatus will be placed on your skin during the light bursts. Expect a few follow-up treatments over the next months, because the skin reaction will differ before you see your desired result.

How IPL Skin Treatment Works

IPL treatment is a non-invasive procedure where the patient has a burst of light directed over their skin in the problem area. The process relies on the epidermis' selective absorption, and the surface layer of skin is not negatively affected by the light pulses. There are cut-off filters and an absorption peak that the device follows to protect the skin from harm.

The discoloration on and below the surface reacts to the treatment and is heated until eradicated from the location. IPL devices and handpieces differ in size, and the handpiece may need to be placed over a wider area of skin to reach the desired result. Each device has a cooling system and a conduction crystal. The blemish or wrinkle is diminished, but it requires more than one exposure to the treatment to clear the area.

If you are lookng for IPL skin treatment services near Franklin or Nashville TN, contact us today for a consultation

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Intense Pulsed Light Benefits

This pulsed light beam method is an easy, long-lasting option for skin imperfections. People frequently choose IPL for their cosmetic needs due to its many advantages.

1. Cost Effective

The initial price of IPL may appear to be more substantial than other skin treatments like topical medicines, but invasive procedures are more expensive and last shorter periods of time. Glycolic acid peels, deep peels, dermabrasion, surgical procedures, injection of fillers and Botox can be demanding and take a large budget.

The cost that is accumulated from topical medicines and trying lots of new products without results take time and money when IPL gets results quickly. After the IPL treatments are finished, further payments will not be necessary, aside from infrequent maintenance. Eliminating these skin treatments will save you funds in the long run.

2. Improves Skin Rather Than Damaging It

IPL targets high levels of pigment which includes unevenness, so any discoloration in the surrounding skin is subjected to the IPL process — and benefits from it. This method smooths skin and leaves it in better repair than many other methods. Because it is not focused on the top layer of skin, damage is avoided, and the pronounced issues are taken care of.

3. Comparatively Quick

The treatment typically takes three to eight visits to successfully reduce discoloration and imperfections in the area, but each session is relatively short. Depending on the place on the body, your visit takes a short appointment time. However, larger portions of the body will extend the time of the treatment significantly. For lasting results, this short time is a small effort to extend.

4. Covers a Number of Areas

IPL can emit its beam on a large portion of skin and still be effective. IPL remains precise and successful on a wide surface area. You can diminish fine lines and sun damage over a significant section of your body with this method.

This means skin treatments can happen on places where scarring is present, even if this is not the face. The cosmetic possibilities can fit where you want to improve your skin quality, whether that is on your neck, back, or shoulders.

Good Candidates for IPL Skin Treatments

IPL does work best on certain skin tones, but the technology has advanced to include more people than before. Light skin with dark blemishes produces the highest contrast and the most consistent results for IPL. Skin tones which produce less contrast make it more difficult to single out the pigmentation difference to target the defects. Darker skin tones can be accommodated, but the process usually takes more visits to eliminate the imperfections or scarring.

You will not be able to receive IPL treatment if you are pregnant or attempting to become pregnant. New mothers who are breastfeeding also cannot undergo IPL. Several other conditions are not permitted for IPL, including autoimmune diseases, conditions prone to seizures, herpes, diabetes, psoriasis, vitiligo, eczema, keloid formation, or melanoma. If you also have skin anomalies or drastic changes in skin, like raised moles, sunburns, recent tanning or questionable legions, you cannot receive IPL. Tattooed skin can only receive IPL around the tattoo, and the area of the tattoo cannot be treated.

The risk of many of these situations is the threat to the areas with high melanin, as the skin could be burned or damaged rather than just the desired blemishes. Also, if you have recently used Accutane, St. John’s Wort, topical retinoids or tetracycline, you cannot use IPL treatment.

Intense Pulsed Light Service Costs

IPL is cost effective compared to several alternative skin treatment options, like topical medicine and even invasive measures. Insurance does not typically cover cosmetic expenses, so the IPL cost will not be offset with any insurance plan arrangements. According to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the national average of a photorejuvenation IPL procedure costs approximately $342, not including additional tests, anesthesia and additional visits. This estimate of IPL skin treatment will help you evaluate the funds you need for the total procedure.

IPL Treatment Risks

IPL skin treatment has many benefits, but consider these risks and side effects before going through the treatment. Weigh the benefits and risks before beginning IPL. Overlooking present conditions or failing to communicate medication information can result in worsened side effects.

Aside from minor side effects, some risks are involved in IPL treatment. This treatment is an overall low-risk process, but if any side effects occur and are not appropriately treated, infection is a possibility. A few cases of bruising and blistering have arisen, but there is a low chance of these risks.

Side Effects of IPL

IPL can result in some side effects during and after the treatment, which are usually minimal and quickly fade away. However, if you are concerned about specific side effects, check out the typical side effects of the treatment.

1. Sensation During Treatment

While IPL is taking place, the light pulses can be uncomfortable and produce an unpleasant sensation. The bursts of light may cause highly sensitive skin to feel something like a sting from a rubber band. The treatment is not uncomfortable for everyone, but any pain or discomfort should fade quickly after the process is finished or within a few hours. For some, sensations like this last for a few days.

2. Disturbance of the Skin

After IPL, the treated skin may be irritated or swollen for a brief time. The skin usually returns to a neutral state after a few hours or days. Reddened skin is simply a result of the heating method, and similar to a sunburn, it will lessen and fade. Bleeding and crusting are other possible skin disturbances, but these are rare instances.

3. Changes in Skin Pigmentation

Occasionally, patients experience differences in shade of skin, like a scar or discoloration becoming pronounced for a brief time after the treatment. Before discoloration diminishes, the spot may look darker than usual, then it will soon disappear. Alternatively, redness or the appearance of a sunburn can change your skin color. This often diminishes after four to six hours, and when this occurs for longer times, this can be due to sun exposure, which patients are supposed to avoid after treatment. This does not happen often, but it is possible with IPL.

4. Burns or Scarring

The most extreme side effects that occur are burns or scarring. When burns happen, it is because the skin is too sensitive to perform the procedure on or has a heightened sensitivity from medication. This is not common, because dermatologists take precautions against this, but it is possible. Scarring also can occur when the skin is highly sensitive or has a history of forming noticeable scars. This should not occur in most cases. Carefully treat the area with gentle skincare practices if you have any suspicions of scars or burns after the treatment.

Looking for IPL skin treatment services near Franklin or Nashville, TN? Contact Dr. Brought and his team and schedule a consultation!

Choosing to Ask a Surgeon

Find about the procedure and the follow-up sessions by asking your surgeon the following questions.

1. Questions to Ask a Surgeon

• Are you board-ceritfied in cosmetic procedures and plastic surgery?
• How often do you perform IPL skin treatments?
• How did you train in IPL skin treatments?
• Will I receive anesthesia? If so, what kind?
• What additional costs will be included in this procedure?
• How long does it take before I can see mn=y results?
• How long will I need to wait before my next treatment?
• Are there protective measures I can do to reduce side effects?

2. Factors to Consider When Selecting a Surgeon

Select your surgeon to perform IPL by considering these factors:

• Consider the training and experience of the surgeon.
• Personal aesthetics are unique for each person, so consider the surgeon's past cosmetic work to determine if your opinions of what is beautiful lines up.
• Ensure the facility that the surgeon uses is up to standards and has a good reputation.
• Confirm that you are comfortable with the surgeon and staff’s bedside manner.

Find a Surgeon Near Nashville, Tenn.

With preoperative and postoperative care, Dr. Nathan Brought and his staff will attend to your skin imperfections and additional cosmetic needs. We use a holistic approach with surgical and nonsurgical therapies, and these often include counseling on diet, exercise, and overall lifestyle changes.

If you're looking for IPL treatment near Nashville, Tenn., schedule a consultation with the board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Brought at Southern Plastic & Reconstructive Surgical Institute.

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