IPL Treatments
What Is Stellar M22 IPL Treatment?
We’re excited to introduce you to the wonders of Stellar M22 Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments, a cutting-edge solution designed to enhance your skin’s tone, texture, and overall radiance.
IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light, is a non-invasive light therapy used to treat various skin concerns. This versatile technology uses a broad spectrum of light wavelengths to target specific skin issues, such as sun damage, age spots, rosacea, acne. IPL treatments are renowned for their effectiveness in rejuvenating the skin, minimising imperfections, and promoting a more youthful complexion.
What Can IPL Treatments Help With?
- Rosacea (redness and visible blood vessels in the face/ mild to moderate)
- Redness
- Broken capillaries (also known as spider veins due to the web-like appearance)
- Reduces the appearance of sun damage and hyperpigmentation (sunspots, age spots)
- Acne (mild & moderate)
- Helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines.
*We don’t advise treating Melasma with IPL. We believe that laser and light therapies, especially the common IPL and [fractionated] laser treatments, can, in fact, exacerbate melasma, since heat is considered a trigger. This treatment possibly can worsen the condition.
Our IPL Treatments:
What To Expect During And After IPL (Stellar M22) Treatment?
Consultation and patch test will be carried out before your first treatment. We will explain how the treatment works, possible side effects and risks also check for the contraindications. Patch test is carried out to determine the treatment parameters and assess how your skin might react to a full treatment.
You may feel a warm sensation, ‘ping like elastic band’ snapping against the skin. Goggles are worn to protect the eyes and then a layer of gel is applied to the skin, the IPL applicator is then applied and repeated pulses of light are directed onto the affected skin. Each pulse can cause a slight sting or burning sensation. Right after your IPL treatment, your skin may look blotchy, red, a little swollen, and you will start to notice sunspots or pigmentation darkening. It is also common for the skin to feel tight or like you have a mild sunburn. Crusting ‘coffee grounds’ or even slightly dirty looking skin over some dense pigmented areas- may take 5-10 days to flake off and it is important not to manipulate or pick which may otherwise lead to scaring.
Before IPL Treatment Advice:
It is important to implement and follow the pre and post IPL treatment advice to help minimise the side effects and achieve better results.
- Avoid injectables 4 weeks in or near treatment areas before treatment
- Avoid any facial peels 4 weeks before treatment
- Avoid microdermabrasion 4 weeks before treatment
- Avoid having any laser treatments on the area 4 weeks before treatment also avoid home IPL
- Avoid sun exposure / sunbeds – 4 weeks before treatment (sunburned or tanned skin will not be treated). Wear sunscreen of SPF 30-50 (best with zinc oxide)
- Avoid skin care containing active ingredients 7 days before treatment all skin irritants must be stopped (glycolic / salicylic acids, benzoyl peroxide, retinol products such as Retin A, Tazorac, Triluma, Differin, and Vitamin C) on the area being treated
- Avoid Accutane (or isotretinoin products) for 6 months prior
- Advise staff when taking antibiotics. Certain antibiotics (Tetracycline, Doxycycline) can make a patient photosensitive, therefore, treatment may not go ahead until two weeks after completion of antibiotic
- Treatment cannot be done if you have an active cold sore or skin infection and will be rescheduled.
- Do not use self-tanner or spray tan products for at least 4 weeks before your treatment to avoid potential injury
- We recommend not to take ibuprofen before a session. This medication may cause bruising after the treatment. Avoid taking products containing ibuprofen at least 48 hours before the session
Day before the treatment:
- Area must be shaved within 12-24 hours prior to your appointment.
- No make-up / lotion / deodorant or perfumes on the day of your appointment (in the treatment area). Make sure the skin is clean.
Post IPL Treatment Advice:
It is important to implement and follow the below advice after your IPL treatment to help minimise the side effects and achieve better results.
- Keep the treatment area clean. Make-up can be applied after several hours;
We advise caution if the area is feeling sensitive. Remove make up carefully as rubbing the skin can cause irritation. If the skin at the treatment area becomes broken or sensitive, then make-up should be avoided. - Use cool showers / face wash. The skin should be patted dry and not rubbed.
- Do not use any retinoids, tretinoins, alpha or beta hydroxy products, vitamin C products, scrub, exfoliate, chemical peels or any other facial treatment for 2-3 weeks.
- Care should be taken to avoid trauma to the treated area for 4 or 5 days afterwards.
- Keep on moisturising, Apply Aloe vera at home if needed.
- Avoid strenuous exercise and activities for 48 hours
- Avoid hot treatments i.e., sauna and steam rooms, hot baths, massaging etc. for 48 hours
- Avoid swimming in chlorinated water, pools, rivers, sea, lakes for a week.
- Sunspots and age spots will DARKEN with the IPL treatments BEFORE they begin to respond and resolve. This is expected and a normal part of the IPL process. Do not pick these spots once they become dry. They will lift and fall off on their own.
- Avoid picking, scratching, waxing, threading, tweezing, plucking, electrolysis and electrical epilation)
- Shaving is tolerated but avoid it for 48 hours.
- Avoid use of deodorants & perfumes for at least 48 hours after treatment or as long as skin is sensitive or fragile.
- Always use a sunscreen SPF 30+ (best with Zinc Oxide) and protect the area from sunlight as much as possible between treatments and for at least one month after treatment ends. Failure to do this can lead to sunburn and hyper-pigmentation of the treated area. (Most cases of changes in pigmentation occur when the treated area has been exposed to sunlight, or in people with darker skin types).
Potential Side Effects Of IPL Treatments
As with all cosmetic procedures, there is some risk of side effects and possible complications.
Most common and short lived are:
- Redness. A mild like ‘sunburn’ sensation may follow for a couple of hours and will be reduced will application of cooling and soothing creams.
- Erythema / oedema – severity and duration will depend on the intensity of the treatment and the sensitivity of the area to be treated. This redness / swelling may be reduced with application of cooling and /or inflammatory creams. Redness typically lasts from 1-3 days. Edema may typically last from a few hours to 2 days.
- Light bruising
- Itching and crusting over some dense pigmented areas. Crusting ‘coffee grounds’ or even slightly darker looking kin over some dense pigmented areas- may take 5-10 days to flake off and it is important not to manipulate or pick which may otherwise lead to scarring.
- IPL can cause hair loss / reduction in treated areas.
In some cases, more serious IPL side effects such as:
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation (may become apparent in 2 weeks and 2 months after treatment is usually reversible it can take 3-6 months to clear very rarely, they are permanent) Changes in skin colour -some people may notice minor colour changes to the treated area of skin. It may get slightly darker or lighter, following IPL treatments. People with lighter skin may be more likely to experience darker pigmentation changes. People with darker skin tones may be more prone to lighter pigmentation changes.
- Bruising if you prone to or over dense vesiculated areas- may last several days.
- Skin burns, permanent discoloration and scarring are rare possibilities of side effects. Burns and blisters are rare.
OUR SERVICES
Our cutting-edge technologies are designed to help you achieve your beauty goals safely and effectively. With the latest techniques and experienced professionals, we are dedicated to providing you with the highest quality services possible!
