IPL Intense Pulsed Light system use specialised handpieces which filter light from different parts of the spectrum.  Different treatments such as hair reduction, sun spot removal, or leg vein clearance require light of different wavelength bands.

Hair removal handpieces emit pulses of light into the hair follicles.  The light is absorbed by the pigment in the follicles and converted to heat.  The heat then loosens the hair and disables the cells responsible for growing new hair.

IPL systems and lasers are very similar, but IPL use a much larger treatment window than most lasers.  This spreads the light over a wider area of skin and allows faster coverage of the skin and quicker treatments as a result.

Any area, except around the eyes can be treated.  The upper lip, face, neck, underarms, bikini line, legs, chest and back can also be treated.

Your treatment provider will move the handpiece over your skin, pulses it all the while.  Each pulse will send a beam of light through your skin.  A flashing light, an audibel tone, and a mild sensation on the skin will tell you when the handpiece is being pulsed.

What should I expect after treatment?

Immediately after treatment, you can expect a mild sunburn-like sensation, possibly accompanied by some minor swelling.  This usually lasts 2-24hours, and can be soothed with cold gel or ice packs.

The treated hair will continue to appear for 7-30 days post treatment.  This is not new hair growth but the treated hairs being expelled from the skin.  At any given time, some of your hair is not in a phase of active growth.  Therefore, you will need more than one treatment to affect the growth of all your unwanted hair.  Typically, several treatments will be necessary to achieve permanent hair reduction.