FYI Cosmetics

Intense Pulsed Light or IPL is one of the many non-invasive aesthetic laser devices available to practitioners and patients for skin and body rejuvenation. IPL technology is similar to true laser technology in that it emits a concentrated beam of laser light, but while true lasers target and treat at one specific wavelength depth, intense pulsed light reaches and treats many different skin depths by emitting multiple wavelengths of light. While this makes IPL less effective for some aesthetic treatments such as tattoo removal and cellulite reduction, it makes it more useful for aesthetic procedure such as skin tightening and skin rejuvenation. When considering any aesthetic treatment, speak with your practitioner beforehand about the laser devices being used; be sure you are undergoing treatment with the most precise laser technology available.

Skin Tightening/Skin Rejuvenation

Skin tightening and skin rejuvenation techniques with the IPL laser are always very effective for tightening loose and sagging skin, diminishing fine lines and wrinkles, and giving the skin a smoother, more uniform appearance. When the intense pulsed light laser is passed over the treatment area it penetrates through the outer layers of skin and targets multiple depths in the dermis layers below. The laser energy transforms into heat and that heat causes localized damage to the lower tissue layers. The damage caused by the heat of the laser effectively stimulates the natural growth of collagen within the skin.

Collagen is one of the natural building blocks of our skin—it is what gives the skin its smooth, firm appearance. As men and women age, their collagen growth within the skin slowly decreases, it is this decrease that causes the formation of wrinkles, fine lines and loose and sagging skin. By stimulating collagen growth, the IPL treatments effectively fill in fine lines and wrinkles from the inside out. This is the most effective method for rejuvenating and tightening loose and lax skin.

Permanent Hair Reduction

When performing skin tightening procedures, many practitioners realized that one of the side effects of the IPL treatment was the reduction of hair in the treatment area. There are several lasers currently on the market for the reduction of unwanted hair, and all but the intense pulsed light laser are true lasers. True lasers utilize one continuous wavelength of light which can accurately reach and treat hair at specific depths. The IPL laser can also treat and remove unwanted hair, but because it penetrates the skin at multiple wavelengths, treatments are not as precise. Now this isn’t to say that patients can’t see hair reduction success with the IPL laser, it simply means that on average, patients will have to undergo several more treatments with IPL technology than with true laser technology.

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Whether undergoing skin rejuvenation or hair removal treatments, know that after a series of intense pulsed light treatments, you will experience safe, effective results that last. Consult with your practitioner today and discover if aesthetic treatments with IPL are right for you.

The process of restoring the skin to a more youthful condition is the definition of skin rejuvenation. Many procedures and techniques are available today to give skin a total refreshed regenerated look. Procedures can vary from lasers to dermal fillers to facial surgery. As the skin begins to age, the connective tissue that provides firmness to the skin begins to break down and dry dead skin cells that would previously have a rapid turnover, begin to accumulate and build up. The connective tissue then starts to break down is due to sun exposure, heredity and the normal aging process. Collagen, beneath the skin, weakens, skin becomes loose and then starts to sag and wrinkle. As all this is happening, dry skin and dead skin cells reflect the light making lines appear deeper as the skin appears dull and lackluster.

Skin rejuvenation techniques are used to assist in reactivating the collagen within the structure of the skin. The result is a firm more taught and youthful appearance. This can be accomplished through surgical means such as lifts for both face and body, lasers either ablative (removing tissue) or non ablative, skin care products, peels, diet and exercise.

In the fight to revive skin to its once younger looking state the major culprit in causing skin to appear aged are wrinkles. Wrinkle reduction as part of skin rejuvenation can be lessened in a variety of ways depending on if the wrinkles are fine lines, dynamic wrinkles or skin folds: Fine lines can be decreased or even eliminated with a good skin care regime, microdermabrasion, or even light chemical peels such as alpha hydroxyl acid. These aggressive topical skin treatments work to remove the top layer of skin that causes skin to look dry and dull.

Dynamic wrinkles and skin folds can be treated by lasers, surgery, dermal fillers and injectibles:
Laser skin resurfacing with fractional laser and skin tightening laser treatments are effective in reducing the appearance of dynamic wrinkles and fine lines. The lasers can initiate a thermal injury within the skin to stimulate collagen which tighten the skin and decrease the wrinkles.

Surgical procedures such as face and body lifts and deep laser peels can dramatically alter the skin to give a renewed and rejuvenated look. Surgery lifts and tightens the face and body areas. Deep laser peels will remove the upper layers of skin and induce tightening and resurfacing as the skin heals. Surgical treatments generally have recovery time and should be considered when deciding which procedure to choose.

Injectibles such as Botox can be used for forehead rhytids to relax the muscles in that area thereby decreasing the appearance of wrinkles.

Dermal fillers are used to plump up lines and folds by injecting a gel under the skin. The gels add volume to the depleted areas thereby eliminating the wrinkles temporarily.

Combinations of treatments generally work best in order to rejuvenate the skin to a more youthful state. Several options are available and should be discussed with your aesthetic skin specialist to determine which treatment will benefit your needs best.