BroadBand Light Therapy – Top 5 Questions Answered

Our BBL delivers the most powerful IPL (intense pulsed light) treatments available. But just because it’s powerful doesn’t mean it’s a high-risk procedure. A treatment with BBL is gentle, non-invasive and safe for many skin tones.

BroadBand Light Therapy works by heating specific layers of the skin. The device emits broad-spectrum light energy that is absorbed by the haemoglobin in blood vessels, which causes redness, and the excess pigment (melanin), which causes patches of discolouration. No surrounding tissues are harmed, so side effects are minimal, and there is no required downtime.

BBL treatments are not particularly painful, though you may feel some discomfort. Patients typically experience warmth and tingling while the light energy penetrates the skin, a sensation sometimes likened to the flick of a hot rubber band. The surprise of the pulses, rather than the physical sensation itself, can be what is most uncomfortable. We generally do not find that a topical anaesthetic is needed.

The BBL procedure includes steps that help minimise discomfort. Your provider may apply a cooling gel to your skin before the treatment and/or use the device’s integrated cooling mechanism.

Immediately after your treatment, you can expect to see mild redness, and it may feel like you have a sunburn in the treated area. This usually dissipates within a few hours. An ice pack or cool compress can help.

BroadBand Light Therapy is not a one-and-done treatment. The optimal number of BBL treatments varies from person to person, but most people benefit from undergoing an initial series of three to four sessions, scheduled two to four weeks apart.

Once your recommended treatment regimen is complete, you can expect younger-looking skin and improvements in skin tone and texture. You may see results for multiple conditions, including age spots, sun damage, redness, rosacea, visible blood vessels, fine lines and acne. Benefits typically last for up to a year.

The BBL device emits pulses of light in a range of wavelengths. Some of those wavelengths heat the skin’s deeper layers, where they stimulate the production of collagen and other proteins responsible for maintaining skin elasticity.

As we age, our bodies no longer produce sufficient quantities of these proteins. Our skin loses firmness and tightness, and we develop an array of fine lines and deeper creases. Increasing collagen production with a BroadBand Light treatment rebuilds the skin’s inner support structure, improving tautness and smoothing out wrinkles.

One of the best things about BBL is that it works by harnessing your body’s natural processes. It will never leave you with the overly tight, frozen face that is sometimes the result of plastic surgery. The results look and feel 100% natural because they are.

The main factors affecting the cost of a BBL treatment are the size of the area being treated, the number of areas being treated in a single session, and whether there are multiple sessions.

These other factors can affect the cost of any aesthetic treatment:

• What type of provider performs the treatment — a treatment from a nurse, for example, typically costs less than a treatment from a clinical doctor
• Your provider’s level of experience — more expertise usually comes with a higher price
• The location of the cosmetic practice — treatments are likely to cost more in high-cost-of-living areas
• Special offers or discounts — some providers offer discounted rates for multiple sessions booked together in a package