Laser Treaments & IPL
Posted by: Laser Treatments MD In: IPL| Laser Treatment ()
Cosmetic Dermatologists and IPL Intense Pulsed Light
Cosmetic dermatologists and plastic surgeons have embraced IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) devices to treat wrinkles, pigment, and other issues that generally fall into the realm of cosmetic medicine.
Intense Pulsed Light Devices (IPLs) differ significantly from lasers in the way that they deliver energy into the skin providing a “feathering” of the treatment area and less painful treatments for the patient. (Think of IPL as a bell curve and laser treatments as a light switch. While IPL has a more gradual curve, laser treatment energy is delivered instantly as a ’spike’.)
IPLs are a preferred technology for many skin pigment and coloration treatments by cosmetic dermatologists, plastic surgeons, aesthetic physicians and medical spas.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a non-laser flash lamp light source that emits broad spectrum, high-intensity visible and infrared (IR) light and is used to treat a wide variety of conditions including hair reduction, acne (Including PDT), Rosacea, dyschromias and telangiectasias, and age related treatment of facial lines and creases. Wavelengths are chosen by selecting a particular wavelength filter or attaching a specific treatment head or hand piece that is configured with the filter already attached.
When treated with IPL, the amount of visible improvement in treating wrinkles and creases is usually less remarkable than an ablative laser; but, there’s less pain and recovery time and significant improvement when treating dyschromias and erythema generally results in overall patient satisfaction.
The shorter, visible wavelengths are used to target hemoglobin and melanin with the longer, infrared wavelengths used to target water in the tissues. Because these devices operate with a pulsed light instead of a high-intensity focused beam, they emit more scatter and are considered to be less selective than a laser. Therefore, more treatments are necessary to achieve optimal results.
Intense Pulsed Light Devices (IPLs) are not perfect and don’t treat many cosmetic dermatological conditions but for a growing number of plastic surgeons, dermatologists and medical spas, they’re a important tool.
IPL Intense Pulsed Light manufacturers include: Palomar, Cutera, Lumenis and Sciton although there are many others.
