Home WellnessBroadband Light Therapy

Broadband Light Therapy

12 Minutes

Edited & clinically reviewed by SENSES Team

Fact checked

BroadBand Light (BBL) Therapy can treat the majority of skin conditions. BBL can reduce the look of sunspots, uneven texture, dark spots, and wrinkles, thus improving the appearance of damaged skin and aging signs.

BBL is a painless procedure that employs brief bursts of high-intensity light to generate even skin tone, and smoother, younger, and healthier-looking skin. The treatment is administered in our clinic and does not involve surgery or a lengthy recovery period.

BBL can be fully personalized to address your unique skin care concerns, such as aging, acne, sun damage, unwanted hair, rosacea, laxity, vascular lesions, and scarring.

BroadBand Light (BBL) utilizes intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy to treat a variety of skin issues, such as acne, age spots, rosacea, fine lines, sun spots, uneven texture, and wrinkles. Additionally, it can cure spider veins, other smaller blood vessels, damaged capillaries, and vascular diseases.

These treatments are effective at enhancing skin tone, diminishing moderate redness, and eliminating brown spots.

This FDA-approved skin rejuvenation technique is commonly used to address redness and visible symptoms of aging on the face, hands, neck, and chest, but it can also be applied to the legs and other regions.

With the release of the Sciton BBL HERO, IPL technology has advanced recently (BroadBand Light High Energy Rapid Output). The next-generation BBL HERO gadget offers 4 times the speed and 3 times the power, resulting in treatments that are more efficient and faster.

The majority of patients require a series of 3 to 4 BBL treatment sessions, spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart, whereas BBL HERO only requires 1 to 2 sessions.

The BBL device generates broad-spectrum photo-thermal energy that is taken up by brown pigment (produced by melanocytes) in the skin and the hemoglobin that causes redness in blood vessels.

As the top layer of your skin absorbs the light’s energy and heat, pigmented skin cells are eliminated and superficial blood vessels in the treatment area are sealed.

Within one to two weeks, any residual brown pigment particles peel or slough off. Throughout the following weeks, the body keeps absorbing the remnants of the damaged blood vessels.

The light’s heat and energy also induce a wound-healing response by stimulating the synthesis of new cells and collagen.

BBL HERO utilizes the same biological principles of the skin, but the improved device is capable of providing more photo-thermal radiation with a broader spectrum, more rapidly.

Within 2 weeks of your initial treatment, your complexion will appear more uniform. Additionally, the skin should feel smoother, and softer, with diminished pores and fine lines.

One client detailed her 5-day results. The red and brown spots had faded, the brown pinpricks are on their way out, the skin texture appeared smoother, the deep jawline ‘waddle’ wrinkle had disappeared, and the red sun damage had receded from the lips.

The number of first treatments required for optimal results varies depending on whether your practitioner utilizes the traditional BroadBand Light therapy device, which can take up to 4 sessions, or the more recent BBL HERO, which can yield visible improvements in as few as 1 or 2 sessions.

For the more difficult-to-treat conditions like rosacea and vascular UV damage, you may require further treatments.

During your first BBL appointment, a dermatologist will analyze your skin to identify which areas will be treated. Then, a treatment plan incorporating many laser therapy sessions will be developed.

Based on the extent of the treated region, BBL treatments typically last roughly half an hour.

During the process, the doctor will use a cooling gel and potentially a topical anesthetic to the treating region. To safeguard your eyes, you will use safety goggles, shields, or spectacles.

You may notice pulses, sensations, and slight pain. Your skin might feel slightly heated and seem slightly red, puffy, or sunburned.

BBL treatments utilize a broad spectrum of frequencies to target the deeper layers of your skin. This light energy is absorbed by your skin, which stimulates collagen formation and removes pigmented (darker) skin cells.

Within a few weeks or days of your initial BBL treatment, you should observe obvious improvements in your skin. As you continue treatment, you will observe increasingly dramatic improvements.

Getting Ready For The BBL Procedure

Before receiving BBL, you must prepare your skin. Importantly, your skin should not be browned. Avoid tanning beds and direct sunlight for four to six weeks before and following each session.

Avoid using self-tanner for at least two weeks before treatment. Avoid chemical peels, waxing, and products containing salicylic acid, retinol, and glycolic acid at least one week before BBL.

Consult your physician before discontinuing the use of any prescription meds that induce photosensitivity, including high sensitivity to UV radiation. If you suffer from recurrent cold sores, your physician may recommend an antiviral medicine a few days before your session.

If you have insurance, you should be aware that BBL is typically not covered. It may be advantageous to set a payment plan in advance.

You will be able to drive yourself home from your session and continue your normal activities after BBL. Avoid anything that produces sweating or flushing for at least 2 days after your BBL treatment. This includes physical activity, warm temperatures, and saunas. Avoid eating alcoholic beverages and spicy foods.

BBL is a groundbreaking treatment that uses broadband light to diminish the look of skin damage and expose skin that appears younger, tighter, and more uniform. Below are five advantages of this new method and reasons why you may wish to try this cutting-edge treatment for yourself.

Reduces the appearance of rosacea and redness

Rosacea is a skin disorder characterized by noticeable, uneven face redness and visible vasculature near the skin. Some individuals may also develop microscopic pus-filled pimples that may be mistaken for acne. You may endure months-long flare-ups, and rosacea is difficult to conceal without heavy makeup and skillful application skills.

To minimize the sight of rosacea symptoms, your skincare experts can employ BBL therapy to target microscopic capillaries and enhance the overall tone of the face.

Reduce acne

There are a startling number of women and men in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who continue to suffer from acne or who develop it for the first time. Genetics, stress, and the usage of particular cosmetics may all have a role. The intense pulsed light (IPL) radiation of BBL may safely permeate the top layer of skin to accelerate cell regeneration and healing, which can eliminate acne and prevent its recurrence.

Improve sun-damaged/pigmented skin

Light therapy has been used for a long time to lessen the effect of sun damage, but modern BBL enables providers to more accurately target sunburns to improve the skin’s appearance. After procedures, the skin becomes much more vivid and youthful-looking, and as far as the skin is well-protected, the results are highly long-lasting.

BBL employs multiple light wavelengths to heat the epidermis and treats pigmented areas like sunspots and freckles to drastically diminish their appearance. BBL therapy is an excellent technique to improve the appearance of your skin and boost your self-esteem without pursuing invasive or invasive procedures.

Reduce vascular lesions

The skin-penetrating ability of BBL can safely and efficiently diminish the look of vascular lesions, such as age spots and birthmarks. Vascular lesions may manifest as well-defined blood vessels or as tiny, blood-filled lumps. In either instance, they are typically supplied by capillaries that are excessively close to the skin’s surface, which helps to define the lesion.

BBL can target a lesion’s blood supply, reducing and destroying the arteries that are providing vascular flaws and re-establishing adequate blood flow deeply under the skin to eradicate these flaws.

Reduce the onset of aging

The elasticity, texture, and look of our skin change as we age. We develop age spots in addition to freckles and sunspots. Facial spider veins and other vascular lesions could become more noticeable, resulting in brown or blotchy red patches in fair-skinned individuals. Collagen production begins to wane at age 25, resulting in skin that appears fragile and crepey.

BBL therapy can treat all of these concerns and more, resulting in brighter, tighter, more uniform, and younger-looking skin. BBL stimulates the generation of new collagen, reduces the look of “age-defining” abnormalities, and induces the body’s natural healing and rejuvenation of the treated area.

Note that additional BBL sessions may be required to achieve the desired outcomes. This is the case because BBL is non-invasive and gentle. It just displays your innate beauty, which may currently be concealed by skin flaws.

BBL is the premier method for treating skin flaws and revealing younger-looking skin. It is FDA-approved to address a variety of skin disorders, such as broken capillaries and dark spots, hence providing the numerous benefits outlined above.

BBL devices employ two lamps, each of which carries one-half of the light energy. Combined, they give the appropriate quantity of energy to the therapy region without overheating the epidermis or skin surface. A specialist continuously monitors the therapy to assure your continued safety and comfort. In order to get the most out of BBL, the device self-adjusts up to ten times during a single pulse using precision timing.

BBL with dual lamps is superior to other comparable systems because other systems employ a single or double lingering pulse that dissipates energy instead of focusing it on the skin. In addition, this skin treatment system includes a number of filters that your physician can utilize to tailor the treatment for your type of skin and circumstances. You will obtain superior results much more quickly with this innovative method.

Pros

BBL treatments are generally brief. In minutes, BBL HERO may fix the face and major body regions.

A cooling and conditioning mechanism that keeps skin from being overheated makes the treatment typically painless.

BBL has low downtime, with peeling and redness lasting approximately four days.

The therapy can be administered to any area of the body.

Based on a research study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology in 2012, BroadBand Light therapies made the skin seem and behave younger at the cellular level.

Its light energy has been clinically demonstrated to be beneficial for managing a variety of skin disorders and stimulating the generation of new collagen, which aids in the gradual rebuilding of your skin’s structure and firmness.

Cons

IPL treatments such as BBL are most effective on fair, untanned skin. On brown or olive skin, they pose a danger of scarring, burning, or causing hyperpigmentation.

Multiple treatments are required for optimal outcomes (unless you get BBL HERO, which may offer adequate results in a session).

Some post-procedure patients may seem tanned for around one week.

Additionally, it is essential to apply a sunblock with a high SPF to the affected areas or avoid the sun for at least 2 weeks.

Regardless of your skin tone, an untrained operator could raise your BBL therapy likelihood of scarring and burning.

In a matter of days, you should expect to observe significant changes in your skin. Typically, blood vessels and blemishes disappear after a few weeks.

Within two weeks of the first treatment, the skin may appear softer and more evenly toned and radiant. There may be a reduction in discoloration, fine wrinkles, and pores.

The physician conducting the procedure will suggest the number of BBL treatments required. They will decide on how many treatments you need based on:

Prevailing skin type
Current skin condition
Expectations and desired outcomes

Typically, 3 to 6 BBL treatments spread a few weeks apart are required. Dermatologists normally recommend a minimum of 2 treatments each year to preserve and enhance outcomes.

Multiple studies demonstrate the efficacy of BBL in enhancing the look of skin. A tiny study conducted in 2019 indicated that BBL is a safe and fairly efficient procedure for minimizing enlarged facial pores.

According to another 2019 research by a reliable Source, three BBL treatment modes effectively tighten skin. The zygomatic (cheekbone) creases, marionette lines, and Nasolabial folds were all improved by all three procedures.

According to research by 2020, BBL prevents new lesions and enhances the look of senile purpura effectively and safely. BBL treatments enhance the depth or thickness of the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin) and boost collagen and elasticity, hence improving the structure of the skin.

Immediately following a BroadBand Light procedure, the majority of patients return to work or their normal activities. Consequently, here is what you may anticipate during your BBL recovery:

Following treatment, your skin may appear pink and feel burnt for 2 to 4 hours.

You may apply cosmetics and topical skin care products as usual.

Utilize a mild moisturizer, but avoid products containing glycolic acid, retinol, and salicylic acid for a week as the skin heals during this time.

Cool compresses (lightly rubbing a soft, damp cloth for 10–20 minutes) or an over-the-counter pain medicine such as ibuprofen can alleviate pain.

After your procedure, your skin will be more sensitive to the sun for 2 weeks; thus, you should be very diligent about applying sunblock with an SPF of at least 30. Additionally, it is essential to prevent lengthy or intense sun exposure for 4 weeks following the operation.

Some people experience edema, particularly all around the eyes, for 3 to 5 days after the procedure.

Additionally, bruising can occur after BroadBand Light therapies for vascular problems.

Sometimes pigmented lesions become roughly the color of coffee grounds over the course of 3 days. To avoid scarring, it is essential to resist the temptation to pick at or wash off these pigmented areas and allow them to flake off on their own. They will likely be gone within 1 to 2 weeks.

Much like a sunburn, you may experience redness, burning, and warmth following your BBL treatment. This soreness often lasts just a few hours, but it may last for several days. Use a cold compress to the area affected for 10 to 20 minutes to alleviate swelling and pain.

The treatment is mild, noninvasive, and risk-free for those with fair, untanned skin. Due to the fact that melanin in the skin absorbs light, brown, or olive skin can develop side effects such as burning, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, and even scarring all along the treatment area.

Some non-ablative laser treatments, chemical peels, microneedling, and dermaplaning are safer methods of skin rejuvenation for individuals with high melanin levels.

During the week after your initial treatment, you may observe the appearance of the color on the skin’s surface. Additionally, peeling, redness, and swelling are typical. Freckles and dark spots may darken before disappearing and flaking off gradually, typically within one to three weeks.

After a BBL session, avoid:

Topical remedies for acne
Exfoliants
Fragranced beauty products

Avoid using cold or hot water while washing the afflicted region; use lukewarm water instead. Do not scrub or use a loofah on your skin. Use a non-irritating cosmetic products with care and avoid scratching, rubbing, and picking your skin.

Since melanin captures the light energy during a BBL treatment, light, untanned skin is most suitable for the process. Individuals with darker complexions and a higher melanin content are more susceptible to scarring, burning, and hyperpigmentation.

FAQs

How Many Treatments Do I Need To Get Noticeable Results?

The number of sessions required varies from person to person, and your physician will tailor a treatment plan to your specific needs and intended goal.

How Long Do The Effects Of Broadband Light Therapy Last?

Effects and improvements can last up to one year if you consistently use sun protection. You will require annual maintenance treatments to preserve your outcomes.
BBL treatments efficiently eliminate sun spots, but they can reappear over time and fresh spots will appear. When patients receive these treatments annually, their skin texture, tone, and color improve over time. This is the reason why annual maintenance treatments are proposed.

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