These days, you have more options than ever when considering nonsurgical skin rejuvenation treatments. If you’re looking for something that can address a range of complexion concerns, the Sciton BBL (BroadBand Light) laser technology is an innovative, effective, and safe choice.
What Is BBL?
Often called a photofacial or photo-rejuvenation, the BBL is considered the gold standard of light-based skin rejuvenation treatments. Unlike lasers, which target treatment areas with a single, coherent wavelength for pinpoint accuracy, the BBL procedure delivers a broad spectrum of light waves over a larger area to treat complexion issues. A BBL treatment peppers the skin with rapid pulses of broadband light, warming the skin’s outer layers as the deeper layers absorb the heat. This stimulates new collagen production, an essential element of smoother, firmer skin.
One study concluded that BBL treatments change the genetic structure of cells associated with aging, rejuvenating the skin and resulting in a more youthful appearance.
What Does BBL Treat?
We use BBL treatments to address concerns on almost all body parts, but it most commonly targets the face, neck, chest, and hands. The benefits of BBL treatments include:
- Reducing age and sun spots
- Minimizing wrinkles
- Improving the appearance of acne scars
- Reducing rosacea and redness
- Removing freckles
- Shrinking large pores
BBL is especially popular for patients who want to treat rosacea, a common skin condition that causes blushing or flushing, bumps, and visible facial blood vessels. You can see the results in these BBL before and after photos showing one of our patients in his 50s:
How Many BBL Treatments Are Needed?
After the first treatment, you may notice improvement in your skin’s complexion and tone, but we recommend additional sessions to get optimal results. The exact number of treatments depends on the condition being treated and your goals. We typically schedule 3 to 6 treatment sessions 2 to 4 weeks apart.
Combining BBL With Other Treatments
Even though the BBL laser produces excellent results as a standalone treatment, we often combine it with other nonsurgical procedures to target other skin concerns or to enhance the improvements. One of the most popular pairings is BBL with radiofrequency (RF) microneedling.
Microneedling creates tiny wounds with a pen-sized device tipped with needles, which also heats the skin’s deeper layers with radiofrequency energy. Combining BBL and RF microneedling creates a one-two punch that addresses complexion concerns and spurs new collagen production, resulting in smoother, firmer skin.
Will There Be Downtime?
Most patients return to their normal activities immediately after a BBL treatment, although some choose to spend the rest of the day at home. You’ll probably notice some redness that fades after a few hours. If you’re targeting dark spots, they’ll temporarily appear darker before disappearing. Some patients may also experience peeling or flaking for about a week after the treatment.
Do you want to give your skin’s appearance a boost? The BBL laser treatment may be an optimal solution. Request a consultation using the online form to meet with Dr. Dax or our licensed medical aesthetician to discuss your options. You can also call our Boston practice at (781) 740-7840 .
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