IPL for beginners

So, I'm starting my first post with my first facial cosmetic treatment - IPL or Intense Pulse Laser treatment. According to dermanetwork.org IPL:

"delivers high intensity pulses of broadband light that is different from the narrow band light of lasers. IPL, which stands for intensed pulsed light, is non-ablative meaning that is does not damage the surface of the skin. The intense light is delivered to the deeper parts of the skin (dermis) and leaves the superficial aspect of the skin (epidermis) untouched."

Different lasers target different issues, for example pigmentation, spider veins or hair follicules.

Why I had IPL
I have very fair skin and what with an outdoorsy childhood, swimming training and the occasional and futile attempt to get a tan during my teens (don't worry that's those days are over! Now it's sunblock morning, noon, and... er... afternoon... for me!) I've managed to clock up plenty of prematurely aging hours under the Australian sun over the past 33 years.

The result? Lots of light brown freckles or sunspots, especially on my cheeks. Made the perfect candidate for IPL!

I was a wee bit nervous, however, having had laser hair removal on my bikini line I thought IPL on my face would be easy-peesy.

I was wrong!

What happens during a treatment
The doctor/nurse holds a handpiece with a clear plastic (??) prism on the end. They cover the treatment area in a cooling gel then place the prism agasint your skin, the machine beeps to indicates it ready, then a flash of hot laser light is released. Hey presto the laser light zaps and heats the dark pigments in your skin.

So this is how it goes.

Beeep. Flash. Zap. Move the handpiece a couple of centimetres.
Beeep. Flash. Zap. Move the handpiece a couple of centimetres.
Beeep. Flash. Zap. Move the handpiece a couple of centimetres.
And and you get the picture, until the entire treatment area is covered.

My doctor told me he tries to push the intensity and do two "passes" or rounds of the face in one treatment. As a result he's able to excellent results for brown pigmentation after one or two treatments. So maybe his treatments are a little more painful than the places that promote doing five or six gentler treatments, and hense the pain.

During the treatment
As I alluded to before, it freaking hurt. I was prepared for the sensation of hot rubber band flicking on my skin.

It was worse.

I was surprised.

After the first pass the doctor offered me gas for the pain. To me, gas doesn't actually reduce pain sensations, it just provides a distraction. Still, it was something to get me through the Beeeeep. Flash. Zap. Pain! routine.

Immediately after the treatment
My face was red and blotchy and hot and painful. The doctor suggested pain relief, which I picked up on the way home.

The good thing was, I also had lots of Milo-like brown spots all over my face! This was all the zapped pigmentation. Hurrah!

Days following treatment
The next few days my face was a little freaky with the dark brown spots. I was a lot more liberal with my foundation application, which went some of the way to making me look less freaky. Still, work colleagues noticed and my brother visiting from out of town thought there was something wrong with me. The things we do...

A week after treatment
The brown spots started flaking off my face. Hurrah again! By about day 10 they were all gone, leaving a lovely fresh clear complexion, not seen by the likes of my reflection since I was 16.

Was it worth it?
The first treatment, totally.

The second treatment, I could have done without because the first treatment worked so well. My doctor has since told me he suggests subsequent treatments to improve the texture of the skin (promote collagen production, reduce pore size etc) rather than to remove pigmentation. I don't really think I experienced any of those benefits but the pigmentation reduction was great.

Cost
$400 for a full face

The deets
My doctor uses IPL Quantum