Is an IPL PhotoFacial Painful?

Before we begin, we will provide you with protective eyewear and apply cooling gel to the treatment areas. This has the dual benefit of keeping your surface skin cool and protected while also acting as a lubricant for the IPL handpiece as it is moved across your skin. When the IPL is pulsed, you can feel it. Our patients equate the feeling as akin to snapping a small rubber band on your skin. The number of pulses you receive will depend on the size of the area being treated. The overall sensation is not painful. Most of our patients tolerate the IPL PhotoFacial treatments well, though it is common to experience redness or swelling shortly after treatment. These symptoms are temporary and can be managed with ice packs or ibuprofen. Lux Skin Lasers will make every effort to ensure your IPL PhotoFacial treatment is a comfortable experience, such as applying cooling gel at the time of treatment or using numbing ointments to make the process smoother.

How Many Appointments Will I Need?

The frequency of IPL Photofacials at Lux Skin Lasers varies with our patients, as they have different goals for these treatments. We’ve found that a series of initial Photofacials will deliver a higher level of skin improvement, but how many treatments you seek is up to you. A single IPL Photofacial will deliver noticeable improvements, but many of our patients from Philadelphia and the surrounding areas have from 3-5 treatments to address their skin issues actively. From there, they have a photofacial once or twice yearly for maintenance, which boosts collagen production.

How Long Until I See the Results?

Most patients see an immediate improvement after their first treatment, though the best results will be gradual over time. IPL Photofacials are most effective for treating pigmentation issues, from age spots to rosacea, as well as closing off broken capillaries on the face. These changes in your pigmentation problems and blood vessels are permanent. After the IPL energy breaks down the melanin in your sun spots and closes off those small surface blood vessels, your body removes them as waste products. Your future sun exposure will determine whether you develop more sun spots and broken surface blood vessels. More sun exposure will create more sun spots and areas of blotchy pigmentation. However, if you take good care of your skin and protect it from the sun, it will continue to look good in the long term. While every patient’s needs will vary, most patients see optimal results after 3-5 treatment sessions.

Can I Combine an IPL PhotoFacial with Other Procedures?

An IPL PhotoFacial can be safely combined with other cosmetic, non-surgical treatments, such as injectables or hair growth treatments, for a fully revitalized appearance! Please let Dr. LaTerra know about any cosmetic treatments you are interested in at the time of your consultation so he may recommend the best combination of treatments to deliver optimal results for your skin needs. Your customized Lux Skin Lasers skincare treatment plan will include all the procedures and pricing options for your holistic skincare treatment.

What Are the Risks Associated with an IPL PhotoFacial?

IPL PhotoFacial treatments are generally safe and well-tolerated by the majority of our patients. However, they are associated with the following risks: Swelling Redness Tenderness Bleeding Blistering Itching Hypo- or hyperpigmentation Peeling Please schedule a consultation with Lux Skin Lasers to ensure your IPL PhotoFacial will have few risks for your skin type.

King Of Prussia & Bryn Mawr

IPL PhotoFacial / Cynosure Icon

Introduction

Introduction to IPL PhotoFacial

Celebrities may say otherwise, but the secret to their glowing, smooth skin isn’t just hydration and over-the-counter moisturizers! Some common skin conditions, such as eczema or the general aging process, will interfere with the skin’s texture, creating wrinkles and brown spots that require more than a cream or ointment to disappear.

Lux Skin Lasers offers IPL PhotoFacial treatments with advanced Cynosure Icon technology to improve skin discolorations and irregularities. These treatments refresh the skin and restore its natural brightness and volume. Schedule a consultation at our Philadelphia, PA, practice to learn more about how IPL PhotoFacial treatments can help your skin achieve youthful radiance!

What is an IPL PhotoFacial?

An IPL (intense pulsed light) PhotoFacial treatment uses laser technology to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin and target damaged skin cells. This treatment stimulates the body’s natural collagen regeneration and healing process to create smooth, healthy skin. Lux Skin Lasers uses state-of-the-art Cynosure Icon technology to rejuvenate the skin in fewer sessions, with minimal downtime, and is especially effective when treating the following skin conditions:

Age Spots: Pigmented spots and freckles appear over time due to age and sun exposure. IPL treatments can effectively decrease pigment, leaving a more even complexion. The face, neck, chest, arms, hands, and legs can all be treated.
Fine Lines, Wrinkles, & Pores: Photofacial treatments offer the opportunity to refine your appearance by making your skin look and feel more healthy and attractive. The light delivered by IPL will gently heat up the upper layers of your skin. The heat absorbed by the targeted areas can stimulate your skin cells to generate new collagen. This can reduce fine wrinkles and pores and result in smoother, vibrant skin.
Rosacea/Facial Vessels: The IPL can safely and effectively reduce unsightly facial veins or capillaries and facial redness through a series of photofacial treatments.
Acne: The Photofacial treatment creates heat at a level strong enough to treat acne bacteria. Photofacial acne treatment does not cause skin or other tissue damage. Since no harm is done to the surrounding tissue, minimal pain and redness can occur after the procedure.
Leg Veins: We use the Cynosure Icon laser to remove spider veins on the legs. The laser wavelength is set to the spider vein’s purple, red, or blue color. The blood in the vein attracts the laser energy, which converts to heat. That heat damages the walls of the spider vein, constricting and closing it off. The vein is instantly far less noticeable and eventually fully absorbed by the body.
Laser Hair Removal: With the Cynosure Icon IPL, laser hair reduction can be performed on all skin colors and most hair types and provides hair reduction. Treatment areas include the face, lip, underarms, arms, chest, back, bikini area, and legs. Our laser hair reduction treatments are priced per area, and multiple sessions are recommended to achieve optimal results.

Compared to standard IPL PhotoFacial technology, the Cynosure Icon uses a fractional laser that works on most skin types, including light and dark tones. To learn more about whether an IPL PhotoFacial with Cynosure Icon technology would be effective with your unique skin conditions and texture, please schedule a consultation at Lux Skin Lasers in Philadelphia, PA.

What Are the Benefits of an IPL PhotoFacial?

Lux Skin Lasers in Philadelphia, PA, recommends IPL PhotoFacial treatments for their numerous benefits, including:

Restoring the skin’s youthful firmness and texture
Reducing the appearance of sun damage, such as dark spots
Minimizing fine lines and wrinkles
Addressing chronic skin conditions such as eczema or rosacea
Non-invasive treatment
Minimal downtime for recovery

Who Are the Best Candidates for an IPL PhotoFacial?

Thanks to the advanced Cynosure Icon technology, Lux Skin Lasers can deliver IPL PhotoFacials on candidates of nearly every skin tone and type! Best candidates for this treatment may exhibit some or all of the following characteristics:

Struggle with chronic skin conditions such as rosacea or broken capillaries
Experiencing age-related or sun-related skin damage
They would like to improve their skin’s overall quality and texture without resorting to invasive or stringent methods such as chemical peels.
Prefer minimal downtime for recovery to suit their busy schedules!

What’s the First Step?

An IPL PhotoFacial with Cynosure Icon technology may suit most skin types, but it is still wise to be sure it is a good fit for your skincare needs. Please schedule a skin consultation for an IPL PhotoFacial with Lux Skin Lasers at our practice in Philadelphia, PA. Our non-surgical aesthetic medicine specialist, Dr. LaTerra, will meet with you to discuss your skincare needs and goals, evaluate your current skin condition, and review your medical history. Please share any and all questions regarding the IPL PhotoFacial, as we would like all our patients to feel comfortable and informed when it comes to their bodies! Dr. LaTerra will make recommendations as to whether an IPL PhotoFacial or other skin treatment may suit your needs and create a personalized skincare treatment plan. If you love his suggestions, you will be scheduled for your first IPL PhotoFacial treatment that day itself, or feel free to schedule an appointment for a later time more suited to your schedule.

What to Expect on the Day of an IPL PhotoFacial Treatment

At Lux Skin Lasers, our physician specialists will handle your skincare treatments directly. On the day of your IPL PhotoFacial treatment, Dr. LaTerra will review your skincare treatment plan and explain how he will use the Cynosure Icon device to target the areas of concern on your skin. When you are ready, your skin will be cleansed, and we will apply a cooling gel to your treatment areas. You will also be given protective eyewear for the duration of your treatment session. Dr. LaTerra will then apply the Cynosure Icon device to the skin, methodically allowing the laser to penetrate the deeper layers until the treatment is complete. Our IPL Photofacials take between 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the areas and specific conditions we are treating. You will be able to return to your work or home the same day!

IPL PhotoFacial Recovery

IPL PhotoFacial treatments require minimal downtime for recovery so that patients can bounce back to their work or home responsibilities soon after their treatment. Some patients may feel redness or swelling following their treatment. This is a normal and temporary side effect of the treatment and can be managed by soothing the skin with ice packs or taking over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen. Dr. LaTerra strongly advises patients to avoid sun exposure immediately after their IPL PhotoFacial treatment, as their skin will be more sensitive to UV rays and may trigger sun damage. Please follow all aftercare instructions for your treatment.

How Much Does an IPL PhotoFacial Cost in Philadelphia, PA?

The cost of an IPL PhotoFacial in Bryn Mawr, King of Prussia, and the greater Philly area is priced per area and may include packages of sessions. To understand the overall cost of your expected treatment, please schedule a consultation at Lux Skin Lasers so we may provide you with a total cost estimate and breakdown for your individual needs.

Why Choose Lux Skin Lasers?

Dr. LaTerra specializes in providing non-surgical but effective treatments for his patients. A graduate of Jefferson Medical College, he spent years under the mentorship of top plastic surgeons and completed advanced training in cosmetic injectables, lasers, and non-surgical aesthetic procedures. Over the past decade, Dr. Laterra has safely performed his favorite treatments, including Xeomin, Radiesse injectables, Ultherapy, and lasers, which provide noticeable and effective results without invasive surgeries.

In addition to providing quality skin care treatments, Lux Skin Lasers supports the non-profit International Justice Mission by training, mentoring, and supporting local law enforcement and other community leaders to slow down and stop the cycle of human trafficking violence. Lux Skin Lasers donates a portion of its business revenue to this worthwhile cause.

IPL PhotoFacial / Cynosure Icon FAQ’S

Before we begin, we will provide you with protective eyewear and apply cooling gel to the treatment areas. This has the dual benefit of keeping your surface skin cool and protected while also acting as a lubricant for the IPL handpiece as it is moved across your skin. When the IPL is pulsed, you can feel it. Our patients equate the feeling as akin to snapping a small rubber band on your skin. The number of pulses you receive will depend on the size of the area being treated. The overall sensation is not painful.

Most of our patients tolerate the IPL PhotoFacial treatments well, though it is common to experience redness or swelling shortly after treatment. These symptoms are temporary and can be managed with ice packs or ibuprofen. Lux Skin Lasers will make every effort to ensure your IPL PhotoFacial treatment is a comfortable experience, such as applying cooling gel at the time of treatment or using numbing ointments to make the process smoother.
The frequency of IPL Photofacials at Lux Skin Lasers varies with our patients, as they have different goals for these treatments. We’ve found that a series of initial Photofacials will deliver a higher level of skin improvement, but how many treatments you seek is up to you. A single IPL Photofacial will deliver noticeable improvements, but many of our patients from Philadelphia and the surrounding areas have from 3-5 treatments to address their skin issues actively. From there, they have a photofacial once or twice yearly for maintenance, which boosts collagen production.
Most patients see an immediate improvement after their first treatment, though the best results will be gradual over time. IPL Photofacials are most effective for treating pigmentation issues, from age spots to rosacea, as well as closing off broken capillaries on the face. These changes in your pigmentation problems and blood vessels are permanent. After the IPL energy breaks down the melanin in your sun spots and closes off those small surface blood vessels, your body removes them as waste products.

Your future sun exposure will determine whether you develop more sun spots and broken surface blood vessels. More sun exposure will create more sun spots and areas of blotchy pigmentation. However, if you take good care of your skin and protect it from the sun, it will continue to look good in the long term. While every patient’s needs will vary, most patients see optimal results after 3-5 treatment sessions.
An IPL PhotoFacial can be safely combined with other cosmetic, non-surgical treatments, such as injectables or hair growth treatments, for a fully revitalized appearance! Please let Dr. LaTerra know about any cosmetic treatments you are interested in at the time of your consultation so he may recommend the best combination of treatments to deliver optimal results for your skin needs. Your customized Lux Skin Lasers skincare treatment plan will include all the procedures and pricing options for your holistic skincare treatment.
IPL PhotoFacial treatments are generally safe and well-tolerated by the majority of our patients. However, they are associated with the following risks:
- Swelling
- Redness
- Tenderness
- Bleeding
- Blistering
- Itching
- Hypo- or hyperpigmentation
- Peeling
Please schedule a consultation with Lux Skin Lasers to ensure your IPL PhotoFacial will have few risks for your skin type.

5.0 – 301 Reviews

Lux Jawline Lyft

I recently had a LUX Jawline lyft with Dr. Lee, and I am beyond thrilled with the results! From my initial consultation, Dr. Lee and his team went above and beyond to make sure I felt comfortable.

Testimonials Aubrey L.
Semaglutide

After three kids, I wanted to feel like myself again, so I decided to try semaglutide with Dr. Lee – and it was the best decision I could have made!

Reviews Celeste B.
Great Listener

I have been seeing Dr Castelli at Lux for some time. He is a great listener and the final result of any treatments always exceeds my expectations! He is honest and gentle and cares about his patients. I highly recommend him for injections and/or weight loss!

Reviews Nikki K
Gave me hope!

Dr Castelli gave me hope! It’s so encouraging to know there are things he can do to take away some of the signs of aging & I felt so comfortable with him. He was professional yet still friendly & personable, as were his assistants. He explained everything clearly & made suggestions that fit my needs. I am so excited to move forward with all of my skin care concerns.

Schedule a consultation

If you are interested in learning more about how an IPL PhotoFacial using advanced laser technology can help you achieve smooth, glowing skin, please schedule a consultation at Lux Skin Lasers! You can fill out our online booking form or call us at 484-322-5316. A member of our patient care team will assist you shortly!

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