BBL Skin Resurfacing Laser

BroadBand Light (BBL) uses intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy to treat a range of skin concerns, including acne, rosacea, age spots, sunspots, fine lines and wrinkles, and uneven texture. It can also treat spider veins and other small blood vessels, as well as broken capillaries and vascular lesions.

What is BBL Laser Treatment Used For?

BBL is a type of laser therapy used to enhance and brighten your complexion by treating skin concerns and stimulating your body’s production of collagen. Collagen is a protein that helps give structure to your skin, among other things.

Usually, BBL therapy targets your face, neck, chest, arms, and hands — though it’s possible to treat all areas.

What Conditions are BBL Laser Treatments for Used For?

BBL Laser Treatment enhances your skin’s firmness, elasticity, and pigmentation (coloring). It may also boost your body’s self-healing ability to regrow healthy skin.

BBL may also reduce the appearance of:

BBL Treatments Help Enhance the Appearance of Skin Damaged by Factors Such as What?

Sun exposure
Harmful skin care products
Pollution

How should you prepare for a BBL Laser treatment?

You’ll start with a consultation, where your provider will determine if you’re a good candidate for BBL and recommend a treatment plan.

Your pretreatment instructions may include avoiding:

waxing for a few weeks prior
chemical peels for a few weeks prior
sun exposure for four weeks prior (and several weeks after the treatment—you must not have a tan)
topical skin care containing retinol or glycolic acid for one week prior

If you’re prone to cold sores, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication, like Valtrex or Famvir, to mitigate flare ups. You’ll take it for five days, starting the day before your treatment.

How long does it take to heal from BroadBand Light therapy?

Most people return to work or their daily routine immediately after a BroadBand Light procedure. That said, here’s what you can expect during your BBL treatment recovery:

Your skin may look pink and feel sunburned for two to four hours post-treatment.
You can apply makeup and topical skin products as you normally would.
Use a gentle moisturizer, but steer clear of products that contain retinol, glycolic acid, or salicylic acid for one week while your skin heals.
You can relieve discomfort with cool compresses (lightly pressing a damp, soft cloth for 10–20 minutes at a time) or an over-the-counter pain reliever, like ibuprofen.
You’ll be more sensitive to sunlight for two weeks after your treatment, so be especially vigilant about using sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. It's also important to avoid prolonged or excessive sun exposure for four weeks after the procedure.
Some people also have some swelling, especially around the eyes, for three to five days afterward.
There can also be bruising after BroadBand Light skin treatments for vascular issues.
Some pigmented lesions slowly turn darker over the first three days, almost the color of coffee grounds. It’s important to resist the urge to pick at or scrub off these pigmented lesions and to let them flake off on their own, to prevent scarring. They should be gone in one to two weeks.