Question 1

How does it work?

Accepted Answer

Pigmentation: IPL is absorbed by pigmented areas of skin where it is converted to heat, causing a breakup in the pigment, which improves progressively over time with consecutive treatments.

Vascular: IPL targets thread veins by firing short bursts of light energy into the affected area. This light is absorbed by the haemoglobin in the surface capillary, causing the tiny blood vessels to break down and be reabsorbed by the body. IPL effectively treats thread veins while minimising harmful effects to surrounding healthy tissue.

Rejuvenation: IPL stimulates the fibroblast cells deep within the skin to gradually soften wrinkles and improve skin tone, which will create new collagen re-growth and reformation. You can have your whole face treated for rjuvenation.

Question 2

What results can I expect?

Accepted Answer

You may see improvements to broken capillaries, and some pigmented areas within a few days. 
Other improvements such as wrinkle reduction will be more subtle and may take four months or more. With each subsequent treatment, subtle changes will accumulate until you have achieved the improvement you desire.

Question 3

How many treatments will I need and how often?

Accepted Answer

Often, a course of 6 treatments spaced 3-4 weeks apart. Occasionally, more treatments may be needed for certain individuals or conditions.

If treating a variety of concerns, such as pigmentation and rejuvenation treatments, can be spaced at 2-week intervals.

Rosacea treatment results vary from person to person, and this condition requires maintenance/top-up treatments, which could be once or twice a year, or once every 12 weeks.

We can never guarantee how many you will need or how effective it will be for you.

Question 4

How do I prepare for treatment?

Accepted Answer

Do not apply skin products, moisturising cream, or make-up (if treating face) or perfume on the day.
Do not use essential oils 48 hrs prior.  
Do not take Ibuprofen or Aspirin 48 hours prior to treatments. 
Refrain from using products containing active ingredients such as retinoids, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or vitamin C on the treatment area for 7 days prior to treatment.
Do not use any photosensitising creams or medications.

Inform your practitioner before your next appointment either by email or direct message if any of the following apply, otherwise treatment may not be able to go ahead on the day.
Any change in medications (including herbal remedies). 
If you have been exposed to strong sunlight without any SPF.
If you have applied fake tan products to the area 2 weeks prior.

Question 5

What will my skin look like after?

Accepted Answer

You may not notice anything straight away. Sometimes following the treatment, you may have a little redness and very mild swelling, which usually dissipates within 2-72 hours. 
Pigmentation may darken as it comes to the surface of the skin before gradually flaking away over the course of a week. Additionally, hair growth may be temporarily impaired in the treated area, although it is not the intended purpose of this particular treatment.

Question 6

What cause vascular lesions?

Accepted Answer

Small dilated blood vessels near the surface of the skin, known as thread veins, broken capilarries, telangiectasia and spider veins, they can be unsightly and often occur around the nose, cheeks and chin. 
These superfial broken veins occur when the vein dilates and becomes larger, so they are visible through the transparency of the skin. 
They are quite common and also found on the body (commonly on legs). 
They can be hereditary, or a variety of factors including damage from sun exposure, wind, and the extremes of temperature. The overuse of steroid creams and certain autoimmune conditions may also induce thread veins. Often the exact cause is unknown and may just be part of the natural ageing process or as a part of a skin condition called rosacea.

Question 7

What causes Rosacea?

Accepted Answer

Rosacea often refers to redness, sensitivity and break-outs of the face, which affects approximately 1 in 10 people. 
Rosacea can be a long-term inflammatory process that causes an over-growth of capillary blood vessels in the upper layers of the skin.
These tiny blood vessels are very sensitive and enlarge in response to sunlight, stress, exercise, alcohol, spicy food, caffeine and hot/cold weather. 
In addition rosacea can be caused by a change in hormones – pregnancy, menopause etc.
These factors cause flushing and a sensation of burning or stinging. Over time, the chronic inflammation leads to larger vessels developing (‘telangiectasia’), often seen around the nose, cheeks and chin.
The appearance of rosacea can be improved with IPL, but it cannot cure the condition, instead it can help to subside the redness, spots and inflammation. Often people have a course of treatments which can last a year or so and may require maintenace/one-off treatments as and when.
We are an offical stockist of HYPO21 w(https://www.hypo21.co.uk/faq)hich is a very effective treatment spray, helping to improve skin conditions like rosacea by reducing inflammation and redness.
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Question 8

What cause aging skin?

Accepted Answer

As we grow older, our fibroblast cells deep within the skin diminish, collagen reduces and structures weaken, resulting in wrinkles and creepy, lax skin.
IPL can stimulate the fibroblast cells that create collagen, which tightens the skin and decreases fine lines. 
Fibroblast cells also help the production of hyaluronic acid, a natural skin substance that hydrates the skin, further improving tone and elasticity and smoothing the texture of the skin.
Both the face and body can be treated and is fantastic on the back of the hands.

Question 9

What causes pigmentation?

Accepted Answer

IPL is naturally attracted to melanin and so can be used to help reduce superficial sun damage. 
Pigmentation consists of sunspots, liver spots, age spots, brown spots and freckles. These dark patches are caused by an over-production of melanin.
From the age of about 40 the skin is less able to regenerate from sun exposure, and so age spots start to appear. Generally, these age spots pose no health risk, however, they can be unsightly and create a patchy, less youthful appearance. These lesions can be successfully lightened or removed with IPL.

Very large, raised, or very dark/black pigmentation cannot be treated.

Not all pigmentation concerns are a result of sun exposure and some people are born with pigmented birthmarks or may have melasma, a skin pigmentation condition often associated with pregnancy or hormones.

For birthmarks or severe pigmentation, we recommend our laser treatments instead Advanced Carbon Laser (https://www.westfieldclinic.co.uk/advanced-carbon-laser-peel)or Advanced Tri-wave.(https://www.westfieldclinic.co.uk/tri-wavelaser)

Question 10

Am I suitable?

Accepted Answer

Westfield Clinic requires you to complete a short Medical Questionnaire when booking. Some conditions or medications prohibit you from laser treatments and would be unsafe for you at that time. 
Some conditions or medications may require written GP approval before treatment can proceed.
It is only suitable for Fitzpatrick Skin Types 1-4 (see below).
During the consultation, the treatment will be discussed fully and a series of small patch tests (at various energies) will be carried out, enabling the correct parameters to be established and check your skin's tolerance. Full treatment can then commence 3-14 days later, following no adverse reactions.
For more information on contraindications that could prohibit you from treatment click here...(https://www.westfieldclinic.co.uk/contraindications-guidance)
Stop all photosensitising treatments at least 7 days before including retinoids on the area being treated.

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Question 11

Why do I need a consultation?

Accepted Answer

We do not charge for consultations.

It is important to check you are suitable for treatment, to explain the safety protocols, to answer your questions, to establish machine parameters for you and to check for no adverse reaction from the patch test.

Please note - your skin does not need to be at its worst for the consultation appointment. But photos showing this are useful.

If you are taking antibiotics, please let us know beforehand, as you may not be suitable for a patch test - some antibiotics are photosensitising and will need to be completely cleared from your system first.

Email photos or antibiotic query: info@westfieldclinic.co.uk

IPL SKIN REJUVENATION