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Photo rejuvenation is a series of “Intense Pulsed Light, or IPL treatments. It will improve the appearance of many things including skin texture, sun damaged skin, photo aging, rosacea, flushing, age spots. The treatment is also capable of improving mild acne scars, and may also help in reducing fine lines and large pores on the face. There is little or no down time involved with this exciting treatment. You can immediately resume normal activities.

Photo rejuvenation treatments work by having intense light applied over the treatment area in a series of gentle pulses. This will not damage the skin. The light will penetrate through the skin and be absorbed. It is absorbed because the pigmentation and vessels are abnormally dilated. The heat will impair the lesion or vessel, and the body will begin it’s natural healing process. The lesion will then darken and eventually flake off. The body may also just absorb it. If desired, this treatment can be administered as frequently as every three weeks.

Each patient will require a different amount of treatments for optimal results. A series of five treatments is recommended for optimal results. While some patients will be able to see a significant improvement in just two or three treatments, others will require more. To maintain results, follow-up treatments may be desired once a year.

There is no specific duration for any given treatment. A photo rejuvenation treatment may last from anywhere between 15 and 45 minutes. The first step in the procedure has the plastic surgeon cleaning and applying a cool gel to the treated area. The discomfort level, as the pulse of light is delivered, is minimal. After the treatment, the gel will be removed, the skin will be cleansed, and a sun block will be applied. For maximum comfort during treatment, a topical anesthesia can be used. For the most sensitive skin, a cool gel will be applied following the treatment.

Side effects are rare, and there are also very few possible side effects. Immediately after the treatment, brown pigmented spots may appear darker and the skin can appear flushed. Also capillaries may be more visible. In rare occurrences, temporary blistering and/or swelling may occur. By limiting sun exposure for several weeks before and after surgery, you will in turn significantly minimize the risk of complications.

Patients usually have a high degree of satisfaction with the treatment’s results. Many of these patients have seen a 70 to 90 percent improvement. After successive treatments, the skin will feel smoother and appear to have a more even tone.