Pulsed light photorejuvenation in Lausanne

What is photorejuvenation?

Photorejuvenation is a technique using pulsed light (IPL=Intense Pulsed Light or flash light) and non-ablative fractional lasers. It gives a more youthful appearance to the skin of the face, neck, décolleté or hands.

The general appearance of skin that is beginning to age is primarily related to the harmful and cumulative effects of repeated sun exposure. UV rays denature the skin's components, particularly collagen and elastin. The skin loses its thickness, its firmness and especially its elasticity.

Indications

The signs of aging usually occur more pronounced in young people who practice sun culture or are exposed to pollution, or in slightly older patients with overexposure to the sun.

The symptoms that patients present may be redness, hyperpigmentation, lentigines, blurred complexion by pigment deposits. Another group of symptoms can be dilated pores, loss of elasticity, brown pigment spots, wrinkled skin, fine lines.

Intense Pulsed Light has become a must for the treatment of facial aging.

Photorejuvenation: The procedure

By passing through the epidermis without damaging it, the light creates heat in the dermis acting on three targets of particular interest for skin rejuvenation

• capillaries, to reduce redness and red spots
• melanin pigments, to erase brown spots and even out skin tone
• fibroblasts, cells that produce new natural collagen.

Uniformity of skin tone and radiance are also improved because pulsed light helps the skin to eliminate small deposits of brown pigment (melanin pigment) that accumulate with age and make the complexion dull.

The laser and flash light sources are used alternately during the sessions and the sequence of their use depends on the skin's appearance and the type and depth of lesions (red spots, brown spots, parchment-like or sagging skin, etc.).

The new non-ablative lasers and pulsed light make it possible to improve the skin without abrasion. This treatment can be undertaken as a preventive measure, as soon as fine lines appear.

Post-treatment period

This treatment leaves the epidermis intact and allows the patient to resume normal activities immediately after the session, without additional precautions.

Some redness may appear immediately after the session but will disappear within a few hours. The treated brown spots will darken, especially after the first session, for a few days. Sometimes a very thin crust may form right on the spot of the brown spots. It will disappear in 5 to 6 days.

Results

Several sessions are necessary to significantly improve the skin and the complexion. They will allow the progressive stimulation of natural collagen.

The first results are seen after 7 days with an improvement in the appearance of the skin. The rejuvenating effect is natural, the skin takes on a new radiance. Redness is lightened, brown pigment spots are quickly erased during 10 days. The skin takes on a smoother and more luminous appearance. The skin texture becomes noticeably smoother.

Significant wrinkles are not treated by this type of treatment, but very fine lines and wrinkled skin can be improved. When the signs of aging are advanced, other treatments such as laser resurfacing or a phenol peel may be indicated.

The results obtained are long-lasting, especially if you take care of your skin (UV protection, moisturizing...). To maintain the effect obtained, it is good to repeat a session every six to eighteen months.

Risks and side effects

There are no risks for fair skin.

The skin should not be tanned at the beginning or during the treatment.

Tanned skin should not be treated because it would pick up the heat from the light flash and may then heat up excessively and become depigmented.