Use the Power of Light to Improve Your Complexion with IPL Skin Rejuvenation

IPL technology harnesses the power of light to improve the appearance of freckles, age spots, acne, spider veins, stretch marks, and much more. Give your complexion the care it deserves and achieve clearer, younger-looking skin. Book your complimentary consultation.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Skin Rejuvenation

Intense pulsed light (IPL), or flash lamp therapy, is a non-invasive and non-ablative treatment that uses high intensity pulses of visible light to improve the appearance of the following skin problems:

• Freckles and age spots
• Sun damage
• Broken vessels, spider veins, and rosacea
• Reduced pore size
• Acne lesions and scarring
• Stretch marks

Our highly-educated and qualified laser technicians have years of hands-on experience. Safety always comes first, and patch testing is required before we perform any treatment. We offer high-end, effective treatments at a reasonable cost, and best of all, your consultation is complimentary.

How Does IPL Work?

IPL systems work on the same principles as lasers in that light energy is absorbed into particular target cells with colour (chromophores) in the skin. The light energy is converted to heat energy, which causes damage to the specific target area. IPL systems are different than lasers in that they deliver many wavelengths (or colours) in each pulse of light instead of just one wavelength. Most IPL systems use filters to refine the energy output for the treatment of certain areas. This enhances penetration without using excessive energy levels and enables targeting of specific chromophores (these are skin components that absorb light).

IPL therapy is considered a non-ablative resurfacing technique, which means that it targets the lower layers of skin (dermis) without affecting the top layers of skin (epidermis). The results are not as dramatic as ablative resurfacing where both the dermis and epidermis are injured to produce a much more noticeable overall outcome. The advantage of IPL therapy is its minimal downtime–a patient can often have the procedure done in their lunch break and return to work immediately afterwards.

What does IPL do?

IPL is used to reduce the appearance of skin discolouration to help you achieve clearer, more even-looking skin. IPL helps with discolouration from:

• Vascular lesions including spider and thread veins and some vascular birthmarks. This treatment features light pulses targeted at the red-pigment (hemoglobin) in the blood which heats and destroys the pigment without affecting the skin or other tissues.
• Pigmented lesions including age spots, freckles, flat pigmented birthmarks and other skin discolouration problems such as melasma/chloasma and erythromelanosis of the neck (poikiloderma of Civatte). The treatment uses light pulses targeted at the melanin in the skin’s surface which heats and destroys the melanin to remove the discolouration.

What does treatment involve?

Prior to treatment, your medical esthetician will explain the process to you and clearly define your expectations. They should be able to tell you whether or not the results you are looking for will be achievable using this method. It is important that the correct diagnosis has been made by your doctor prior to treatment, if recommended.

Preparing for treatment:

• Avoid sun exposure in the days and weeks before and after treatment.
• Avoid Retinoid use for 48 hours prior to treatment
• Avoid self tanner and tanning beds. Use of either is a contraindication and the service cannot be performed.
• The smooth, glass surface of the IPL treatment head is applied to the skin, delivering precise pulses of light to the area being treated.
• Treatment sessions usually last about 20 minutes. A course of 4-6 sessions every 3-6 weeks may be needed to achieve desired results.
• Most patients can return to work immediately after treatment.

All clients must have a consultation and patch test prior to a full treatment.

Recovery time: 1 week
Number of treatments: series of 5
Approximate cost: $250 per treatment area (face, neck, décollète all other areas by consultation)
Treatment time: 30-45 minutes
Longevity of results: Lifestyle-dependent

Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy is a new skin rejuvenation treatment that treats a combination of changes in facial skin. It’s an effective treatment for:

• Mottled pigmentation
• Uneven complexion and tone
• Large pores, uneven texture, and acne scarring

Photodynamic therapy is also very effective for treating acne. The results appear to match those of Accutane, but without the potentially significant side effects.

How Photodynamic Therapy Works

In combination with dermaplaning [link to dermaplaning page], Levulan (aminolevulinic acid) is applied to the skin and activated by a light source. It destroys:

• Acne and cystic acne
• Rosacea
• Precancerous lesions (actinic keratoses)

First, dermaplaning will be done to prepare the skin with deep exfoliation prior to the application of the medicine. Then Levulan—a clear prescription liquid–is applied to the area. IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is used to activate the Levulan in a controlled fashion.

Meeting Your Needs

Following this treatment, your skin will be red–appearing almost sun burnt–for a few days.

To treat acne, it generally takes three photodynamic treatments, performed monthly. Combined with the appropriate at-home treatments, the results can be quite effective.

Recovery time:
1 week

Number of treatments:
1-3

Approximate cost:
Priced upon consultation

Treatment time:
1.5-4 hours

Longevity of results:
Lifestyle dependent