Your provider will give you more information about what to expect from your treatment. Leading up to your IPL session, you will likely need to avoid certain medications (aspirin, e.g. Bayer, Excedrin, etc.) and blood thinning medications (e.g., vitamin E, fish oil). If you are taking any other medications, including antibiotics, let your doctor know and they will let you know whether to discontinue them. Avoid smoking and using retinoid products leading up to the IPL treatment, as these can make your skin sensitive to the effects of IPL.
IPL Highlights
Consultation Required?
Yes
Downtime?
Little to none
Results in:
1 to 3 months
Results Duration:
Up to several years
An Even Skin Tone
Acne breakouts, rosacea, and sun damage can all leave behind areas of discoloration. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a gentle and non-invasive method to reduce pigmentation and even out your skin tone.
During an IPL treatment, pulses of intense light pass through the epidermis and into the dermis underneath. This treatment goes beyond the surface of your skin to repair damage from aging and sun exposure, stimulate collagen production, and repair blood vessels. For IPL treatment in Waterloo, look no further than Premier Dermatology.
Welcome to Premier Dermatology for IPL in Waterloo
Mon-Thurs: 8AM-4:30PM
Friday: 8AM-3:00PM
Sat & Sun: Closed
Gentle Treatment for Refreshed Skin
Safe
IPL is a gentle, non-invasive treatment; you may experience mild redness and swelling for a day or two, but other side effects are rare.
Customizable
IPL can be used anywhere on your body, and its customizable light wavelength options can treat multiple conditions in one session.
Lasting
The results of IPL can last up to several years; with annual maintenance sessions, results can last even longer!
How IPL Works
Preparation
Before treatment, your provider will clean the treatment area and apply a cool gel. This will protect the surface of the skin from the thermal energy of the light pulses. Before treatment begins, we will give you dark glasses to protect your eyes from the intense light.
Treatment
Using the IPL handpiece, your provider will apply the light pulses into the treatment area. We set the pulses of light to different wavelengths depending on the condition(s) we are treating. Sessions often take less than half an hour, allowing you to jump right back into your day.
Sessions and Results
To achieve its full effect, IPL treatment in Waterloo usually requires multiple sessions. A general treatment plan is 3 sessions, each spaced 4 weeks apart. This allows your body to heal between sessions. Some clients have reported seeing improvements even after just one session!
Frequently Asked Questions
After receiving IPL treatment in Waterloo, your skin can be sensitive and require a gentle touch. For 48 hours following the treatment, use lukewarm water to shower or bathe instead of hot water, and avoid strenuous activity and exercise. Don’t use harsh skincare agents for a week afterward to avoid irritating the skin. If you can, avoid direct sunlight. When you do go outside, use SPF 30+ sunscreen to protect your skin and maximize the benefits of IPL treatment.
Your provider will guide you through any other post-care instructions specific to you.
Some clients report some mild redness and swelling that typically goes away within a day or two. In many cases, you can return to your normal routine immediately after treatment. Other possible side effects include bruising, blistering, and changes to skin coloration, but these side effects are rare.
We use Sciton BBL Forever Young treatments. This IPL treatment has the added benefit of stimulating collagen for tighter, younger-looking skin.
IPL may not be right for you if you are sensitive to light, have had past issues with scarring, or have a dark skin tone. Recent uses of tanning beds and retinoid creams can increase your sensitivity to light, so these may need to be discontinued before an IPL series can begin. If you have severe scarring or have keloid scar tissue, there may be other treatment options than IPL that are better suited to your skin.
About Premier Dermatology
Premier Dermatology is a leading provider of dermatological treatments, including IPL treatment, in Waterloo. All of our treatments and services are developed under the guidance of board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ellerbroek. You can rest assured that we work with your skin’s biology to deliver results aimed at the complete health of your skin.
Younger, Smoother Skin
To learn more about IPL treatment in Waterloo, contact Premier Dermatology for an appointment or use our virtual treatment planning tool.
Learn More
Laser and IPL treatments in Waterloo may sound similar, and they offer many of the same benefits, but they work in different ways.
At Premier Dermatology, we can help you decide what the best treatment option is for your unique skin and desired results.
Laser treatments use a single focused beam of light to target sun damage, wrinkles, and other spots. Laser treatments are more intense and usually require fewer sessions than IPL, and they can be used on darker skin.
IPL treatment uses pulses of light at different wavelengths to repair spots and reduce discoloration, mostly targeting red and brown pigment. Since it is a gentler treatment, it usually requires more sessions, but we can treat multiple conditions in a single visit.