The Benefits of a BroadBand Light Therapy (BBL)
BroadBand Light (BBL) is a type of photofacial, a cosmetic technique that uses light energy to treat the deep tissues of the skin. BBL is a type of IPL that has proven to be more effective at delivering results and has become the industry standard. Depending on the type of energy that the photofacial applies, the treatment can affect a range of features, such as collagen, blood vessels, hair follicles, and pigmented areas. BBL is most commonly used to treat the face, neck, chest and hands but can be used on any area of the body. Dr Porter can design a treatment plan with BBL specifically for your skin concerns.
To give patients the best experience and outcome possible, Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery offers BBL™ BroadBand Light from Sciton®. BBL is also proven to provide faster results than other photofacial devices, and it can improve a wide range of skin-related concerns, including:
- Sunspots and excessively pigmented splotches.
- Rosacea
- Vascular Lesions
- Ruddiness of the skin
- Active acne and redness
- Lax skin
- Unwanted facial hair
BBL has been shown to reverse the signs of aging at the microscopic level. Patients that have 3-5 photofacial treatments per year are found to have younger-looking skin both on biopsy and in photographs. BBL is best performed on lighter skin types to avoid complications such as hyper-pigmentation or scarring.
Smooth, firm, and clear skin are hallmarks of a youthful and attractive appearance. However, aging, exposure to the elements, and genetics can lead to unwanted aesthetic changes. Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery provides photofacial treatments as a non-invasive option for noticeable improvement in skin quality. Patients may be good candidates for treatments if their goal is to:
- Reverse the signs of aging.
- Repair sun damage.
- Minimize redness due to rosacea.
- Decrease acne breakouts.
- Get rid of facial hair.
Dr. Jennifer Parker Porter, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, guides patient consultations and performs BBL treatments for our practice. We invite you to learn about her work and how she will bring a high level of skill, experience, and expertise to your care.
CCFPS and Your Care
As part of your initial consultation, Dr. Porter will talk with you about what you want to accomplish with treatment and discuss your history of sun exposure, skin cancer, and previous aesthetic solutions that you’ve tried. She will also examine your skin, paying particular attention to sunspots, redness, wrinkles, acne, and overall health.
If your goals and needs line up with photofacial care, Dr. Porter will discuss the different types of treatments our practice can offer. BBL has numerous filters that allow us to address one targeted issue or several conditions in a single session. For example, the Forever Young BBL™ protocol diminishes sun damage by addressing the reds and browns in the skin. The Forever Clear BBL™ treats acne prone patients to eliminate bacteria in the skin and reduce the redness seen with acne.
Dr. Porter often recommends that her patients combine photofacial treatments with other procedures. This might include MicroLaserPeel®, NanoLaserPeel™, or Aerolase® Neo®. Adding these treatments to standard photofacial care can give greater improvement in the texture and appearance of your skin. When we combine this with other treatments a home skin care regimen we are able to achieve optimal and prolonged results.
Treatment With BroadBand Light Photofacial
Having your skin treated with a photofacial is a very manageable and comfortable process. On the day of the procedure, we will:
- Cleanse your skin and take “before” photos so that you can see your improvement after the appointment.
- Apply gel to your skin and perform a few test treatments to dial in the right setting.
- Conduct a single pass over your skin. If Dr. Porter is treating multiple issues at once, she may instead make several passes at a lower setting.
- Cleanse the skin a second time to complete the process.
Whether you want to eliminate sunspots, firm up your skin, or reduce the appearance of acne and rosacea, you can expect to have 3-5 BBL treatments every 2-4 weeks to get your desired results. Most of our patients see skin redness resolve within a few months, while dark spots appear more prominent for about a week before fading away. Note that photofacials don’t reduce the visibility of freckles that patients have had for a long time.
To maintain the improvement that you have achieved, Dr. Porter may recommend that you visit our practice for follow-up treatments such as chemical peels or Hydrafacial MD®. Having a photofacial three times annually in the years that follow can also help you keep up your results. Through treatment, you can expect skin that’s smoother, feels firmer, and has a more even tone.
Photofacial Frequently Asked Questions
How Can Photofacial Treat Enlarged Pores?
Patients who are struggling with enlarged pores know just how impossible they are to hide. Even with the use of coverup and foundation or at-home pore-shrinkage treatments, overly large pores often shine through. Luckily, the BBL Photofacial is a procedure that Dr. Porter can perform to improve the appearance and texture of the skin.
A BBL Photofacial works to treat enlarged pores by using a beam of light to break through the top layer of skin. The device uses light at different wavelengths to penetrate into the various layers of skin that require treatment. As this light hits inner tissues, it stimulates the production of collagen as well as blood flow to the area. This blood nourishes the skin while the collagen makes the skin looks smooth and plumper. Overall, the effect will minimize the appearance of pores while also healing any other abnormalities, such as discoloration. We often combine this treatment with the Aerolase Neo for further textural improvement and pore shrinkage.
Of course, not every patient will benefit from using a BBL Photofacial to reduce the appearance of their enlarged pores. To know for sure if this treatment will be a success, each patient will have an initial consultation with Dr. Porter to talk about their concerns. At this appointment, she’ll examine the patient’s skin, take a look at their medical history, and chat about their expectations for treatment. If Dr. Porter believes that an IPL Photofacial might not work on its own, she may also recommend combining it with MicroLaserPeel®, NanoLaserPeel™, or Aerolase® Neo® to increase results.
Can Photofacial Prevent Acne Break Outs?
A BBL treatment is actually a great way to prevent acne breakouts. This is because the treatment helps to revitalize the skin, stimulating the production of new cells. The light used in this technique can also specifically target the cells that produce the oil that causes a patient’s acne and the bacteria that lurks underneath the skin that causes pimples. For acne prone patients, the Forever Clear BBL treatment protocol has yielded amazing results. It decreases redness, reduces bacteria, and lessens the appearance of acne. Multiple filters are used in one treatment to yield results.
Photofacials are also a great way to reduce the appearance of scars related to acne. Because the dead layer of skin cells is destroyed and replaced with fresh, new cells, any adverse pigmentation or other discoloration often vanishes with the rejuvenated look. Results won’t be immediate, as the skin needs time to heal. Additionally, most patients will require more than one treatment to see full results. On average, patients have three to five photofacials at a rate of one photofacial every two to four weeks until they get the skin they desire.
Patients should keep in mind that having one photofacial is not a cure for acne for the rest of their lives. Over time, their skin will start producing more oils again, bacteria will continue to lurk, and dead skin cells will begin to accumulate, all contributing to a breakout. This is why Dr. Porter often recommends for her patients to schedule three maintenance treatments a year to maintain the results. As long as a patient doesn’t wait too long in between photofacials at Dr. Porter’s office, they should be able to keep their skin looking relatively smooth, clear, and uniform for years to come.
Learn more about photofacial treatments with BBL. Schedule a consultation online with CCFPS or by calling us in the at (301) 652-8191.
