I had a IPL photofacial yesterday, in order to get rid of the freckles and sun spots on my face.
The IPL photofacial claim: effectively treats facial redness, flushing and pigmentary problems like freckles, age spots and sun damage on face, neck and/or chest. The Photo Facial evens skin tone and restores a more youthful appearance to your skin with no downtime.
The Process: I went in the office (Dermalase - in Frisco, TX) and the laser specialist put numbing cream on my face. When my face was numb it felt a little like when you go to get a cavity filled, that partial paralyzed feel, but it wasn't necessarily unpleasant. After about 45 minutes, the IPL treatment began. My eyes were shut and covered, but you could still see the bright bursts of light through your skin. The light was a little hot, but you hold a small fan to blow on your skin during the process which helps a lot. It was over after about 20 minutes and I was set to go. At that point my face was slightly red and splotchy and some of my brown spots were darker.
The Costs: I paid $199 for my entire face, but the place I go was running a special. It usually costs $299 per area (face, back, chest...). More than one treatment is usually required (3 weeks apart), especially if the area is severely damaged. Average is 3 to 5 treatments, so the entire costs can run up to $1000. Prices can vary depending where you go and where you live. I would look online for the best deal, but make sure it's a reputable place with someone who knows what they are doing. I would stick with doctors offices only.
The Results: It has only been one day so far (I will update as progress is made), and my skin is a little flakey and my freckles are a lot darker and some freckles popped out where there were none before. These spots are supposed to flake off and leave behind clear, even skin.
Day 4, some of the brown spots have flaked off, but most are still there. My skin looks a tad bit tighter.
End Results with 1 treatment: The IPL treatment got rid of all the dark freckles on my face, but none of the light ones. It may have lightened the lighter ones a bit, it's hard to tell. The girl who did my IPL treatment told me I would probably need three treatments to achieve my results, and it looks like she was right. I guess it was wishful thinking on my part that one would work. Overall, I think this is a great treatment to get if you want to remove freckles and age spots, but be prepared for at least 3 treatments and at least $600 spent.
If you have had an IPL photofacial treatment, please leave a comment about your satisfaction.
Here are some before and after images of IPL treatments. These patients probably had multiple IPL treatments.
