IPL and RF Therapies Explained
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What are Intense Pulsed Light and Radio Frequency Therapies?
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and Radio Frequency (RF) therapies are often used together for different skin resurfacing procedures to receive the benefits of both techniques. Each method uses different types of technology to target various skin conditions and disorders that lie beneath the epidermal layers of the skin and deep into the dermis layers.
IPL uses high-energy light pulses to reach the dermis layers of the skin to target specific skin cells and destroy them, thereby eliminating the cause of many bothersome skin disorders. While IPL therapies are similar to laser therapies in that they both use light energies to produce intense heat that can destroy cells, they are very different in how they use that technology.IPL uses a broad spectrum of light energy to reach deep into the layers of the skin to alter or destroy skin cells. This light energy bypasses the epidermis layer of the skin to reach the dermis. Therefore, no damage or scarring of the epidermis occurs during the treatment.
Conversely, Lasers penetrate the skin and destroy cells with a single light wavelength. However, laser therapy does affect the epidermis layer and can damage or scar the external tissue as a result of the treatment. Since lasers use just a single wavelength of light, they can pinpoint individual cells. However, the tradeoff is visibly damaged skin immediately after treatment.
RF uses electromagnetic energy, similar to microwaves, to penetrate the deepest layers of the skin. This therapy passes radio frequency electricity through the epidermis, targets cells, and heats them to a very high temperature. Doing this causes the skin tissues to contract, which will, in turn, cause them to begin making collagen again.
Using both IPL and RF treatments together has been shown to increase the positive effects of both therapies over using each individually. Skin pigmentation abnormalities are significantly decreased, and wrinkles, texture, and elasticity are greatly improved when both therapies are used together. Several companies have combined IPL and RF therapies into one step, including the FotoFacial/RF machine.
What Conditions Do Intense Pulsed Light and Radio Frequency Therapies Treat?
Wrinkles
Broken Capillaries
Port Wine Marks
Brown Spots
Age Spots
Freckles
Birthmarks
Loose Skin
Vascular Lesions
Sun Damage
Skin Discoloration
Spider Veins
Varicose Veins
Hemangiomas
Rosacea
Redness and Flushing
How Do Intense Pulsed Light and Radio Frequency Therapies Work?
The skin comprises three layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous. The epidermis consists of the outer layers that serve as a barrier to protect the rest of the layers of the skin and the body itself from harm. The dermis consists of everything that keeps the skin working correctly, like nerves, sweat glands, hair follicles, collagen, and all the other major components that keep the skin working as it should. The subcutaneous layer provides the dermis with the blood to work correctly. When damage occurs to the dermis layers of the skin, it can cause problems for all the layers combined, so treating these damages properly is essential.
When treating the dermis, IPL and RF therapies are effective tools for fixing problems in these essential layers of the skin. So, when skin resurfacing therapies need to reach the dermis, two types of procedures are available: ablative and non-ablative treatments. Ablative treatments affect both the epidermis and the dermis layers of the skin. While treating both of these layers simultaneously can significantly change the appearance of wrinkles and skin discolorations, they can also cause serious problems. These risks can include swelling, scabbing, bleeding, and irritation, resulting in permanent skin lightening or scarring. Lasers are often used for ablative treatments.
Non-ablative treatments focus on the dermis layers of the skin only, completely bypassing the epidermis layers in the process. These non-ablative treatments can target the damaged cells in the dermis without scarring or injuring any of the epidermis tissue. While this is certainly ideal, non-ablative treatments are less effective in overall results than ablative treatments. Both IPL and RF therapies are non-ablative.
Since IPL and RF therapies bypass the epidermis, they can work well together to treat damaged skin cells in the dermis layers. While the IPL super-heated light energies search out and destroy damaged skin cells, the RF electromagnetic waves vibrate the surrounding tissue and stimulate the production of collagen, which helps in the repair of the skin itself. As a result, skin discolorations become lighter by destroying damaged skin cells, and wrinkles become smaller as collagen causes the skin to plump up and become more elastic. Both technologies combine the best of both worlds to make your skin look younger and healthier.
What Results Can I Expect?
You will find the results satisfactory no matter what skin condition you use IPL and RF therapies to treat. Wrinkles will be significantly reduced, skin discolorations will be lessened, and skin texture will be smoother. While each person’s results will vary depending on the severity of the condition, most will see improvements in the form of brighter, fresher, and younger-looking skin.
What is Special About this Therapeutic Med-Spa Treatment?
Combining two unique skin resurfacing methods can result in better, more dramatic changes in your appearance. While both techniques effectively treat various disorders, using them in conjunction causes even more significant results than they would individually.
What About Recovery and Side Effects?
Because both IPL and RF therapies are non-ablative, no visible damage should appear due to the treatments. Improvements are immediate and will increase over a few days or weeks. There is no downtime, and most patients can resume normal activities immediately following the procedure. Side effects can include mild discomfort, redness, blistering, bruising, increased pigmentation, or swelling. However, these side effects should subside within a few hours or days.
Who is an Ideal Candidate for Non-Surgical Facelifts?
People with sun-damaged skin, rosacea, dilated capillaries, brown spots, redness, and wrinkles are good candidates for IPL and RF therapies. Most will see significant improvements to their overall skin appearance.
