Laser treatments · Benicia, CA
IPL photofacial in Benicia, CA
An IPL photofacial uses pulses of light to fade sun spots, facial redness and broken capillaries on the face, neck and hands. At our Benicia studio, Janeeh Miranda, MSN, FNP-C plans every treatment. Most people need about 3 sessions, 4 to 6 weeks apart, and go straight back to work with a few hours of pinkness.
IPL photofacialLaser treatments- Downtime
- Pinkness for a few hours. Treated spots darken for up to a week, then fade
- Results show
- Progressively, over a series of about 3 sessions
What an IPL photofacial does for your skin
IPL stands for intense pulsed light. It is light-based rather than a true laser. A laser fires one wavelength at one target, and IPL sends a broad spread of wavelengths at once. That spread lets one treatment go after two different things: the brown of sun spots and the red of small blood vessels.
The light passes through the surface and is absorbed by pigment and blood. Brown spots darken over the next few days and then flake or fade away. Redness and broken capillaries fade as the heated vessels close down. The light also gives collagen a gentle nudge, so skin often looks a little clearer overall.
An IPL photofacial is used for:
- Sun spots, age spots and freckling
- Facial redness and flushing
- Broken capillaries around the nose and cheeks
- Uneven, blotchy tone from years of sun
We treat the face, neck and hands.
Which laser is right for you?
IPL is the one for redness and scattered sun spots. If brown pigment and dullness are your main concern and you want the least recovery, LaseMD Ultra targets them more directly. For texture and fine lines, a mini laser peel takes a day or two to heal. For scars and deeper wrinkles, erbium and CO2 laser resurfacing go further, with more downtime. The laser treatments page compares them side by side.
Who an IPL photofacial suits
An IPL photofacial suits you if:
- Your cheeks and nose flush easily or stay pink
- You can see small red vessels around your nose
- Sun spots have gathered on your face, chest or the backs of your hands
- You want a clearer, more even look with almost no time off
Your IPL photofacial appointment, step by step
Consultation
Janeeh looks at your redness, your spots and your skin tone, and checks that IPL is the right tool for them.
Treatment
You wear eye protection. A cool gel goes on, and the handpiece delivers short flashes of light across the area. Each flash feels like a warm snap.
The next week
A mild burning feeling can last about an hour, and pinkness for a few hours. Brown spots darken, sometimes for up to a week, and then fade. You can go back to work right away. Put off exercise for a day or so and keep out of the sun while your skin heals.
Your next session
Sessions are spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. Results build with each one.
Memberships
VIP members pay $149 a month and get it back as $149 of treatment credit, plus 15% off laser and energy treatments. Unused credit rolls over while the membership stays active, which suits a series spaced a month or so apart. VIP Elite, at $189 a month, adds a $189 monthly credit and injectable perks.
Compare membershipsIPL photofacial questions
How many IPL photofacial sessions will I need?
Most people need about 3 IPL photofacial sessions, spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. Results build with each session, so the number depends on how much redness and sun damage you start with. Janeeh sets your plan at the consultation and can tailor it to the areas that bother you most.
What is recovery like after an IPL photofacial?
Recovery after an IPL photofacial is quick, and most people go back to work right away. You may feel a mild burn for about an hour and look pink for a few hours. Treated brown spots darken for up to a week before they fade. Skip exercise for a day and stay out of the sun.
Is IPL the same as a laser?
IPL is a light-based treatment, and it works differently from a laser. A laser uses one wavelength aimed at one target. IPL uses a broad range of wavelengths at once, so one IPL photofacial can treat brown sun spots and red broken capillaries in the same session. Lasers are better for resurfacing texture.
Does an IPL photofacial hurt?
An IPL photofacial feels like a warm rubber band snap with each flash, and most people handle it without numbing. Areas with more redness or darker spots can feel a little stronger. A cool gel on the skin helps. Afterward, the skin may feel mildly sunburned for about an hour.
Can an IPL photofacial treat sun spots on my hands?
An IPL photofacial can treat sun spots on the backs of the hands, as well as the face and neck. Hands are easy to forget with sunscreen, so sun spots often gather there. The spots darken for a few days after treatment and then fade, usually over a series of sessions.
Pairs well with an IPL photofacial
IPL photofacials near Vallejo and Martinez
With only a few hours of pinkness, an IPL session fits between errands. The studio is a short drive east on I-780 from Vallejo and just across the Benicia-Martinez Bridge from Martinez, and the studio on Southampton Road has you back on the freeway soon after.
Keep exploring
Related treatments
- CO2 laser resurfacing
- Erbium laser resurfacing
- LaseMD Ultra laser treatment
- Laser hair removal
- Laser spider vein removal
- Laser tattoo removal
- Mini laser peel
Performed at the studio in Benicia, for clients across Benicia, Martinez and Vallejo.
Clear the redness and the spots
Book a consultation. Janeeh will check whether IPL suits your skin tone and your concern, and plan your sessions.