07 Mar, 2009
Laser Clinic & Med Spa IPL Treatments
Posted by: Laser Clinic MD In: IPL Laser| Laser Clinic ()
IPL for Treating Cosmetic Dermatology Conditions
Medical Spas have embraced the IPL device to treat a variety of skin and aging conditions, from acne to wrinkles to age spots.
Since IPL medical devices use a ‘pulse’ of light they deliver their energy into the dermis over a longer time than a laser, providing different treatments and usually resulting in less pain for the patient.
IPL devices have been embraced as a preferred treatment technology by plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and aesthetic physicians.
The IPL is a non-laser flash lamp light source which has the ability to emit a broad spectrum, high-intensity visible and infrared light and is used to treat a wide variety of conditions from hair removal/reduction, to Rosacea and acne therapy, removal of dyschromias and telangiectasias, and softening of facial lines and creases. The desired wavelength is chosen by either selecting a particular wavelength filter or attaching a specific treatment head or hand piece that is configured with the filter 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 can not treat all cosmetic dermatological conditions but for many plastic surgeons, dermatologists and medical spas, they’re a important tool.
IPL technology manufacturers include companies like Palomar, Cutera, Lumenis and Sciton.
