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BBL
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
BroadBand Light therapy is the most powerful Intense Pulsed Light device available today, setting the standard for skin rejuvenating technology. It’s effective at treating multiple skin conditions that come as a result of age or sun-damage, as well as for patients who are interested in maintaining their great complexion.
If you are looking to even out skin tone, improve texture, and tighten skin that has begun to become laxer over time, BBL might be right for you! Here at Cosmetic Surgery Associates, we are dedicated to helping people regain their youthful appearance one treatment session at a time.
What is BBL?
BroadBand Light, otherwise known as photofacial, BBL Photo Rejuvenation, or Pulse Light Therapy, is an innovative laser technology that is used to help reduce the look of brown or red blemishes that have appeared on the skin over time and smooth skin texture.
This is a completely non-invasive treatment that uses near-infrared light wavelengths to penetrate the skin at various depths to enhance its overall quality. This treatment will be custom-tailored to match each individual patient’s skin type and concerns.
Cosmetic Surgery Associates is proud to also offer BBL treatments for more specifics conditions.
Forever Clear BBL uses a special 3 step technique that allows for more precise acne treatment. Forever Bare BBL is a laser hair removal treatment that effectively removes hair from almost anywhere on the body.
How Does it Work?
This treatment will also eliminate the appearance of small broken capillaries that can often cause redness or discoloration.
Using photothermal energy, BroadBand Light gently heats the top layers of the skin, and the heat that is absorbed will then stimulate the generation of new collagen. This process creates healthier skin, making it smoother, clearer, and more vibrant through the process of blending one’s natural pigmentation.
This technology is equipped with advanced cooling components to provide maximum comfort while using high-powered energy to remove the complexion and texture issues. As the Safire plate comes in contact with the surface skin as energy is emitted into the deeper layers. Although this emits heat, the contact cooling removes this heat, making it very safe and effective at treating many areas of skin.
Patients who have lower pain tolerance can opt for numbing cream to be applied to the specified areas being treated for added comfort. BBL is a safe, nonsurgical treatment that can be a person’s best approach to obtaining younger looking skin without the extra time and hassle of surgery.
What Can Be Treated?
BroadBand Light can be used to treat brown spots caused by sun damage, age spots, rosacea, and broken vessels or capillaries mostly anywhere on the body. The most common areas to treat are those that receive the most direct sunlight, such as:
- Face
- Neck
- Chest
- Shoulders
- Back of the Hands
The particular conditions that BroadBand Light best treats are:
- Uneven Skin Tone
- Pigmentation
- Age spots
- Rough skin
- Vascular Lesions
- Mild skin laxity
BBL can also be used to treat some cases of active acne. This is done by using the laser to target bacteria that forms in acne and destroying it over time, reducing redness and clearing complexion.
BBL Study
Renowned dermatologists, Dr. Patrick Bitter Jr, and Dr. Jason Pozner have published a study on the results of BroadBand Light that was conducted over a 10-year time frame. This study is used to explain the benefits of continuous annual or biannual treatments of BBL. Patients who were treated 1-2 times per year throughout the study saw significantly better results than those who did not keep up with treatment sessions. At the end of the study, doctors were brought in to evaluate the condition of the skin that had been treated for the entire duration of the study.
After examination and analysis, the doctors found that the majority of the treated skin appeared to look younger than it did at the start of the study.
What to Expect
BroadBand Light is the newest innovative technology for skin rejuvenation and maintenance of great complexion. Over time we see discoloration in our pigment or blemishes that will not diminish on its own, requiring further assistance. BBL treatments are designed to improve the overall look and feel of skin, without any invasive procedures, to leave you looking flawless in no time.
Consult
When coming in for a consultation, you will meet with one of our trained aesthetics specialists to determine if this treatment is right for you. During this appointment, specific information will need to be reviewed in order to determine candidacy. It is important to specify the skin conditions that you are looking to get treated and the severity of each. BBL treatment is OK to use for all skin types. It allows for an individualized setting to be created depending on your particular skin.
Skin that has a darker tone has more melanin in it, which is what causes the darker pigmentation. The more melanin that is in the skin, the softer the light energy must be in order to properly treat the conditions. Luckily, BBL treatment strength can be adjusted to work on and improve most skin types. Because it allows a variety of skin types to be treated, consultations are not normally to determine if it is safe for you but rather if it can decrease or resolve any of the particular conditions that you are experiencing. Call us today to get started and start loving your skin again!
Treatment
BroadBand Light is completely non-invasive, safe, and very effective. During this treatment, you should experience minimal to no discomfort at all; however, this can vary from patient to patient. Numbing cream can be placed on the area of concern 45 minutes prior to starting treatment in order to minimize any discomfort that is associated with BBL.
Before starting the BBL treatment, a cold gel is normally placed across the area of concern and you will be given protective eyewear. Once ready to begin, the provider will place the glass surface of the handheld device to your skin. By doing this, light is delivered to the skin’s surface through an even pulsing technique. When undergoing the treatment, you might feel a mild sensation that is commonly described as “the snapping of a rubber band.” This is a very tolerable sensation and normally doesn’t last very long.
After Treatment
It is important to stay out of direct sunlight for 30 days before and after each treatment.
Once the treatment is complete, you are free to leave immediately after and go back to daily activities. There is no recovery time whatsoever, making it an easy fix for those who have very little free time to spare. You are more than welcome to apply makeup immediately after the treatment and get back to your busy lifestyle.
If continuing with BroadBand Light, we recommend that you return for at least 3-5 treatments spread apart by 4-6 week intervals. Make sure to wear a daily sunscreen to prevent reversing the process. Sunbathing or tanning beds must be avoided for at least one month or more depending on your physician’s recommendations.
Results
Our patients who have undergone BroadBand Light therapy have seen very positive results in the appearance of their skin. Commonly, patients will see that their skin looks more vibrant and youthful after treatments than it did when they first started. The photothermal energy helps to heighten confidence and give people the chance to be proud of their skin.
Immediate
Because this treatment has no recovery time, you can go back to your daily lives immediately after receiving BroadBand Light therapy. When leaving the office, your face might appear red or flushed but this will only last a couple of hours after treatment. Depending on the particular lesions being treated, some spots might appear darker right after treatment but the darker skin will flake off within 10-14 days leaving a more even skin tone. Although very uncommon, patients may experience very minimal bruising and swelling which will generally fade after 5 days. After treatment, you may be given ice to help with the inflammation or redness depending on the physician’s instructions.
Long-Term
The results of BroadBand Light therapy are extremely long-lasting. Once the area is fully done being treated, you will no longer be able to see the discoloration or uneven tone and texture of your skin. Areas of concern are smoothed out, blending the colors of your skin, making it appear more bright and natural. Although this treatment is great for reducing the look of current conditions, it does not prevent new spots or problem areas from arising. You will need to come in for more treatments down the road if this does occur.
If you are interested in a BBL treatment, feel free to contact our Maryland office today for more information.
Our Plastic Surgery Associates team includes Dr. Franklin Richards, Dr. A. Dean Jabs, and Dr. Keshav Magge. Each of our plastic surgeons is board-certified, and together they have over 60 years of combined experience. Drs. Richards, Jabs, and Magge are all highly qualified in procedures for the face, breast, and body, and pride themselves in providing excellent results through our state-of-the-art, Quad A certified operating centers