Laser and IPL

Laser and IPL.

Light that targets brown and red. Sun spots, rosacea flush, broken capillaries, and the hair you are tired of shaving. Not for everyone, and we test patch before we commit.

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A laser device with an articulated arm parked on a steel cart beside the treatment bed

What it treats

Pigment, redness, hair.

IPL is a broad flash of light. Brown pigment and red blood vessels absorb it, heat up and break down, while the surrounding skin is left alone. Over the next week the spots darken, crust slightly and flake off. Redness fades more gradually over a few sessions.

Laser hair removal uses a single wavelength aimed at the pigment in the hair root. It needs the hair to be darker than the skin, and it needs six or so sessions spaced four to eight weeks apart, because only growing hairs respond.

  • Sun spots and freckling on the face, chest and hands
  • Rosacea flush and broken capillaries around the nose and cheeks
  • Overall uneven tone that makes skin look tired
  • Hair removal on the face, underarms, bikini line and legs
Reception at golden hour, light falling across a curved plaster desk and a blush bench

Candidacy

Who it suits, and who should not.

This is the one treatment where we say no the most. Light-based treatments carry a real burn risk on tanned or deeper skin, and a bad outcome is worse than the original spot.

Good candidates

  • Fair to medium skin that has not been in the sun for four weeks
  • Brown spots that are flat and have been checked by a doctor
  • Redness that flushes with heat, wine or exercise
  • Dark hair on lighter skin, for hair removal

We will say wait, or no

  • A tan, including self tanner, in the last four weeks
  • Melasma: IPL often makes it worse, so we plan peels and skincare instead
  • Deep skin tones for IPL. We test patch behind the ear first, and sometimes the answer is no
  • Any spot that is raised, changing or itchy: see Dr. Shah first
  • Pregnancy, isotretinoin in the last six months, or a history of keloids

What to expect

Like a rubber band snap, then pink.

Each pulse feels like a quick snap. We cool the skin as we go. A full face takes about 30 minutes. Afterwards you are pink and warm, like a mild sunburn, for one to three days. Spots go darker before they flake off at around day seven. No picking.

Price

$350 to $900 a session, by area. A full face IPL is around $550. Most people need two or three. Hair removal sessions run $150 to $450.

Downtime

Pink for about 3 days. Makeup from the next morning. Strict sunscreen for two weeks.

Timeline

Many spots flake off within two weeks. Redness improves over the series. Sessions are four weeks apart, and daily sunscreen helps the result last.

A cool rolled towel, eucalyptus and a rose quartz roller on linen for aftercare

Medical facials and peels

Brightening peels lift surface pigment with no device risk. Our melasma plan starts here.

The facial menu

Medical grade skincare

Prescription brighteners and daily sunscreen. A good share of the result for a fraction of the price.

How we prescribe

Microneedling with RF

Suits a wider range of skin tones, and better than IPL for texture.

How the series works

Not sure which? Book a free consult