In Windermere, FL, you can easily achieve a golden glow after laying in the warm sunlight. But after a while, that sunlight can become “too much” and cause more harm than good for your skin.
At Lumina Vein & Aesthetics, we can help you reverse the sun’s effects on your skin and restore that natural and healthy glow to your complexion. With intense pulsed light, you can target excess pigment and create clearer, healthier skin. Whether you want to address sun spots, freckles, or loose skin, we can use IPL to target pigmentation and help you feel more confident in your skin.
Our team focuses on enhancing your natural beauty using only the highest quality of treatments and devices to achieve total beauty and wellness. That is why instead of providing intense pulsed light in Windermere, FL, we provide something better: broadband light therapy.
The Difference Between IPL and BBL
Now, we know the first question on your mind: What’s the difference between intense pulsed light (IPL) and broadband light (BBL)? While many providers refer to both treatments as one, they each offer different benefits that can make a difference in your treatment process and your results.
Here are the basics you need to know:
- Compared to IPL, BBL requires less time and fewer treatment sessions to deliver effective results.
- BBL is more precise than IPL, and has a broader range of wavelengths to customize your treatment to your needs.
- While IPL can reduce the signs of aging, BBL actually slows and stops the expressions of genes associated with aging.
- BBL delivers more predictable and consistent results than IPL.
- BBL has state-of-the-art cooling systems in place to make treatment more comfortable than IPL.
Now, there are some benefits to getting IPL versus BBL. Looking at the details of how each treatment works provides some clarity as to the pros and cons of each:
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
There are two major methods for rejuvenating your skin: lasers and light. While both IPL and BBL use light to improve pigmentation, IPL uses quick flashes of broad-spectrum light and infrared light to target multiple concerns at once.
This light enters your skin in the form of thermal energy, which is absorbed by the damaged tissue, pigmentation, and superficial blood vessels within your skin. This creates permanent damage within the cells, breaking them apart to deliver lighter and brighter skin.
Depending on the size of the treatment area, one IPL session can take 20 minutes to an hour and a half, and most patients describe the feeling of treatment similar to someone snapping a rubber band across their skin. While not necessary, many patients request a topical numbing cream to ensure they are comfortable for the entire treatment process. You can expect your results to last anywhere between 6 months and 1 year once you’ve undergone a full series of intense pulsed light in Windermere, FL.
Broadband Light (BBL)
Our team uses the BBL Hero to administer broadband light therapy. BBL uses the same science as IPL, but advancements in technology allow it to treat specific conditions more effectively while prioritizing your comfort.
We can customize your treatment for your specific skin concerns using various filters and spot-size adaptors. BBL Hero also uses specialized cooling technology to protect your skin during treatment, so you remain comfortable through the BBL process.
So What Does That Actually Mean?
We get it—it can be a lot of information to take in at once. Here is a side-by-side comparison of the two treatments:
| IPL | BBL | |
| Treatment Time | 20 to 90 minutes | 10 minutes |
| Amount of Treatment Sessions | 3 to 5 sessions | 1 to 3 sessions |
| Duration of Results | 6 to 12 months | 6 to 12 months |
| Downtime | About 24 to 48 hours | None |
| Numbing Needed? | Varies | None |
| Skin Types Treated | Fitzpatrick Types I-III | Fitzpatrick Types I-V |
When compared side by side, BBL targets the same issues in less time with fewer sessions and less discomfort than IPL. But customization is the main reason our team offers broadband light therapy over intense pulsed light in Windermere, FL.
The biggest difference between IPL and BBL is how well they can target certain issues. IPL can treat multiple issues at once, but does not target those issues at the same depth as BBL. This is the reason IPL requires additional treatment sessions and longer appointment times. BBL can concentrate treatment on one specific issue, focusing all of that treatment so you can improve one or two skin concerns with fewer appointments that take less time.
Which one should I use?
Understanding the best option for your skin can be difficult. That is why we recommend meeting with our team for a consultation. We can examine your skin, learn about your concerns, and help you determine the best course of action. Schedule a consultation with one of our Lumina experts to learn more about how to best care for your skin.
What You Need to Know About Broadband Light Therapy
What to Expect
Consultation
You first meet with one of our team members to discuss your aesthetic and wellness concerns. They examine your skin, then talk with you about your options for treatment.
Our team members have more than skills and expertise—we also have compassion and genuine appreciation for what our patients experience. We combine your goals with their knowledge to revitalize your skin, creating an appearance you can feel confident in.
Treatment
Once you’ve determined you are right for intense pulsed light in Windermere, FL., we will help you schedule an appointment. We provide you with pre-care and aftercare instructions and answer any lingering questions you may have.
During your appointment, we will cleanse your skin and then apply a cooling gel to protect it. We will also provide a pair of goggles to shield your eyes from the light. Then, we’ll glide the handheld BBL device across your skin, moving quickly over the treatment area. You will feel a snapping sensation on your skin, but should otherwise tolerate the BBL light therapy.
Next Steps
Once your appointment is over, we will review the aftercare instructions with you again and help you schedule your next session if needed. You will experience some mild redness and swelling, but these symptoms are temporary and will resolve themselves within a few days following your BBL session.
How to Prepare
Following your pre-care instructions is important for intense pulsed light in Windermere, FL. This not only helps improve your results but also ensures your treatment is as comfortable as possible.
Before your appointment, you will need to:
- Discontinue retinoids 2 to 4 weeks before your treatment.
- Do not expose your skin to direct sunlight for 2 to 4 weeks. Wear a minimum of SPF 30 sunscreen when going outdoors.
- Talk with our team during your consultation about any medications you take. If needed, you may need to stop certain medications that increase photosensitivity.
- Let us know during your consultation if you have a history of cold sores.
How to Care for Your Skin Post-BBL
These instructions will help enhance and prolong the results of your BBL treatment:
- Continue avoiding direct sunlight and wear a minimum of SPF 30 when going outdoors for at least 2 weeks.
- Be aware that some pigmented areas may get darker before they peel away.
- Wash the skin in the treatment area with gentle, unscented soap and lukewarm water for 2 weeks.
- Avoid hot tubs, saunas, swimming pools, and other environments that would irritate your skin for 2 to 4 weeks.
Benefits of BBL Hero
It Reverses the Age of Your Skin Cells
What makes BBL such a revolutionary skin rejuvenation treatment is that it can truly turn back time when it comes to your skin.
A 2013 study by Stanford University shows that BBL goes into your cells to target your genes, restoring the gene expression pattern to that of youthful skin. This means you don’t just “look” younger, your skin actually becomes younger on a cellular level!
It Treats More Than Your Face
The sun reaches more than the skin on your face, but so can BBL. In fact, BBL can effectively treat your face, neck, decolletage, arms, legs, back, buttocks, and abdomen.
You can talk to us during your consultation about the areas you would like to treat and create a custom plan when it comes to intense pulsed light in Windermere, FL.
It Pairs With Other Treatments
We understand if you weren’t as diligent with your skincare during the summer as you should have been. At Lumina, we offer many treatments that can help enhance and restore your healthy, youthful skin, and can pair different treatments together to improve their results. You can pair your BBL with additional treatments like facials, Emface, Halo Skin Resurfacing, and more!
Why Lumina?
The team at Lumina Vein & Aesthetics has years of experience and expertise. We are leaders and educators for many aesthetics device companies. This includes being a BTL Academic Center, an International Key Opinion Leader, a Sciton Luminary Physician, and Preceptor location for our medical and aesthetic services provided.
But our care goes beyond our knowledge and skills. Our team puts patients first, using their goals as our guide for treatments so they can achieve whole-body health, wellness and beauty. When you visit us for your care, you become a part of the Lumina team, where your goals are our goals.
By combining cutting-edge technology, dedicated experience, and compassionate care, our team at our wellness and aesthetics clinic ensures that you can achieve your goals, whether it’s with broadband light therapy or any other of our exceptional treatments.
Schedule Today
Schedule a consultation with our team today, and discover the transformation you can achieve with intense pulsed light in Windermere, FL!
