Question 1

How does IPL work? What does IPL do?

Accepted Answer

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a treatment that uses light energy to remove hyperpigmentation, brown spots, and sun spots – clusters of melanin in the skin. IPL works by emitting short bursts of light that target those clusters of melanin. As the melanin absorbs the heat from the IPL, the clusters break down into smaller pieces, which the body can then metabolize and flush out naturally.

During this process of flushing out the melanin, some of the melanin will rise to the surface of the skin, forming what looks like coffee grounds. These specks will flake off within a week or two, leaving behind even-toned, spot-free skin.

Question 2

How many IPL treatments do I need?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you’re treating and how severe it is, but most patients need 3-6 monthly treatments to eliminate hyperpigmentation, brown spots, or red marks.

Question 3

What is the downtime of an IPL treatment?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your lifestyle.

It’s extremely important to avoid sun exposure for the first three days after your appointment. If you work inside, that’s no problem: just keep the shades drawn and reapply sunscreen every few hours.

If you work outside, we recommend booking this treatment around work hours to avoid sun exposure.

You may experience mild to moderate redness, swelling, and sensitivity for up to three days, but most of our patients feel comfortable going back to work the day after their appointment.

You can download the post-op care for IPL Photofacials here.

Question 4

Does IPL hurt?

Accepted Answer

Nope! You may feel a slight pinch, like being flicked with a small rubber band. Most of our patients find this to be only slightly uncomfortable. The good news is that any discomfort you might feel is over very quickly.

Question 5

Does IPL work?

Accepted Answer

Yes! IPL is a highly effective treatment for blasting away unwanted hyperpigmentation (sun spots, age spots, melasma) and redness (Rosacea, broken blood vessels, post–inflammatory erythema, red acne marks).

Question 6

How long until I see results from my IPL treatment?

Accepted Answer

Results typically become noticeable within 7 to 10 days after your treatment. Improvements continue over time as your skin renews itself, so you may see your complexion becoming brighter, clearer, and more even with each session.

For long-term maintenance, we often recommend seasonal or annual touch-ups depending on your lifestyle and skincare goals.

Question 7

How long do IPL photofacial results last?

Accepted Answer

The results of your IPL treatment can last for years, as long as you are caring for your skin properly and using sufficient sun protection.

An IPL photofacial treats existing sun damage, but it cannot prevent your skin from being damaged by future sun exposure. If you want to avoid new sun spots, it’s important to wear sunscreen and sun protection every day.

Question 8

Can you get IPL during the summertime?

Accepted Answer

Yes - IF you promise to hermit away for a couple of WEEKS.

This treatment requires avoiding sun exposure for several weeks prior to your appointment. Also, your skin is extra sensitive to the sun for the first three days after your IPL Photofacial. Sun exposure (especially during the summer months, when the UV index is high) can potentially ruin the beautiful results you just paid for.

If you know that you’ll be running errands, sitting in front of open windows, or otherwise exposing yourself to the sun, we recommend waiting until the fall or winter to book your IPL treatment.

Question 9

Is IPL a laser?

Accepted Answer

No, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is not a laser treatment. IPL uses a broad spectrum of light wavelengths, whereas a laser emits a single, focused wavelength. IPL is therefore less concentrated and more versatile than a laser, targeting multiple skin concerns at once.

IPL Photofacial is considered to be superior to most lasers when it comes to treating vascular lesions like Rosacea, post-acne red marks, post-inflammatory erythema (PIE), spider veins, and broken blood vessels. IPL is also effective at treating hyperpigmentation with little to no downtime.

Laser treatments are generally more focused on treating skin texture and hyperpigmentation, but often require some downtime.

If you are interested in a laser treatment, we recommend checking out our fractional CO2 laser: it can do everything, from a lunchtime pick-me-up to full-on facial resurfacing.

Question 10

Can you get IPL after Botox?

Accepted Answer

Many of our patients ask if they can get IPL and Botox on the same day. We are happy to provide Botox immediately following your laser treatment. However, we always recommend spacing your filler injections and IPL treatments at least two weeks apart.

Question 11

What IPL device do you use?

Accepted Answer

At Ageless Aesthetics in Indianapolis, Indiana, we use the Syneron Elos Plus for our IPL Photofacial treatments.

The Elos Plus pairs IPL with radiofrequency (RF) energy for precise targeting using less optical energy. This makes IPL Photofacials more effective, safer for darker skin tones, and shortens downtime.

Laser Treatments

IPL Photofacial

Fractional CO2 Laser

RF Microneedling

Laser Hair Removal

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