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Lasers and intense pulsed light devices (IPLs) use a powerful beam of light to heat tissue. The heating occurs where the light is absorbed. Most of the structures we are trying to treat lie 1-4 mm under the skin and much of the power in the light beam is absorbed and scattered by the outer 1 mm of the skin. Therefore powerful machines work best. When choosing which IPL to be treated by, choose one that produces at least 45 Joules of light energy and has a cooled treatment head. The cooled treatment head makes treatment more effective, safer and more comfortable. The details of your operator’s IPL can be checked on the manufacturer’s website.
Choosing the right laser/IPL and the best operator are important steps on the road to treatment. Sadly, scarring from lasers/IPLs is a common cause of litigation. If you can, be treated by an accredited Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon who, by law, must have completed a 4-6 year training programme in diagnosing and treating skin conditions in a Teaching Hospital. If not, choose a GP or nurse with equivalent training and experience.
Lasers can leave uneven results when treating areas of diffuse change, e.g. the veins on the cheeks, and here an IPL can be the better choice. Both lasers and powerful IPLs treat hair well. Treatment will reduce hair growth by 80% in people with dark, coarse hair and fair skin. Others need to seek out more specialist devices. A summary of the research that shows which device works best for whom can be found on my website at www.wessexskin.com.
The skin on your face, neck, chest and hands can be made to look younger by getting rid of the red veins and lightening the brown marks with an IPL. Nd:YAG lasers and IPLs that emit a combination of light and radiofrequency work best because the heat penetrates deeper into the skin.
Non-surgical laser/IPL skin tightening produces 1 to 4 mm of skin tightening. Combined with fillers it produces a natural looking improvement with little downtime or risk. However, if you need more than a centimetre of skin removed to get the effect you desire, a facelift is the only answer.
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