Skin Care Treatments: IPL and ResurFX

It’s happening. I think my age is finally catching up to me. Changes are occurring on my skin and in my body and the days of eating whatever I want and sleeping in makeup need to be put behind me.

Let me preface this blog with the fact that I have worked in skin care for over 12 years. I think that there are things we can do to keep our skin hydrated, pimple free, and make minimal changes to lines and sunspots. However, when it comes to major changes in the skin, I think that more intense treatments are a must.

Treatment room at Plastic Surgery of Short Hills

Cue to the Plastic Surgery of Short Hills. I went in for a facial with their esthetician Sarune because I wanted to refresh my face. It has been years since I have had an actual facial. For those of you wondering, you should get a facial every season for optimal skin results. Sarune was amazing, and although the facial was great she told me I should really come in for IPL and ResurFX.

I didn't know much about either treatment, but she told me that the IPL would help with all of my hyperpigmentation (sunspots) and broken capillaries, and the ResurFX would help with my fine lines and actual texture of my skin. She said my skin would look and feel smoother and I would be very happy with the results. I took her word for it and went in a week later for the treatments.

IPL: (Intense Pulsed Light)

A device that delivers pulses of broad spectrum of light to the deep layers of the skin. These wave lengths target problems such as sun spots, acne scars, and broken capillaries. When the skin is heated, your body gets rid of the unwanted cells, and that gets rid of the condition you’re being treated for.

ResurFX:

A non-ablative laser that stimulates the skin to develop collagen without harming or ablating the skin. As collagen increases, the skin looks tighter, more even, and more youthful. ResurFX is also a fractional laser, which means the laser is delivered to the skin in tiny dots and to only a fraction of the skin.

I was definitely nervous and I had no idea what to expect. Sarune had me come in 45 minutes prior to the treatment to numb my skin. Side note, you can get these treatments done separately, however for my skin she recommended the combination of the two.

Immediate before and after IPL. Broken capillaries disappeared.

After my skin was numb, Sarune put goggles on my eyes and a gel like substance on my face. The first part of the treatment was the IPL. I could see bright flashes of light even though my eyes were closed and I had protective goggles on. There were definitely areas of my skin that were more sensitive than others, but overall I think the treatment was totally tolerable. The areas where she treated my spider veins showed immediate results.

After she finished the IPL, she cleaned off the gel and moved onto the ResurFX. Sarune moved the laser all around my skin and simultaneously blew cold air on my face to make sure I was as comfortable as possible. Both treatments were done in less than an hour.

Afterwards, my skin was red - like a sunburn (a side effect of the ResurFX) . I will say that immediately after the treatment my skin felt a little uncomfortable. I got in my car and cranked up the air conditioning on my skin. She told me that the discomfort wouldn’t last long and as soon as I got home I was feeling much better.

During my treatment, my followers were messaging me questions about the procedure. Here are all of the questions you had regarding IPL and ResurFX. I sat down with Sarune and had her answer them!!

How long does your face stay red?

Depends on the intensity of the treatment, but mild redness can last anywhere from 2-5 days.

What is the cost of the treatment?

Both treatments together cost $750.

How long does the treatment take?

The treatment takes 1 hour (add 45 minutes for numbing).

What do you need to do after the treatment?

Nothing major. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser or just water, and keep it hydrated and protected from the sun.

How often do you need to get the treatment?

Depends on the condition treated and the severity of the problem. Usually anywhere from 1-4 treatments are recommended a month apart. Then once or twice a year for maintenance.

How long does it last?

The results last based on how well someone takes care of their skin at home. With time, we accumulate more sun damage. When the new spots appear and new lines form maintenance is needed. But you can expect the results to last for a while if you take good care of your skin and protect it from the sun.

How badly does it hurt?

Everyone is different and everyones pain threshold is different. But with numbing cream the treatment is very tolerable.

How often/how many times do you have to do it?

Depends on the condition treated. Anywhere from 1-4 treatments a month apart.

What are the long term benefits?

More youthful, healthier looking skin. It can take up to 5 years off of your face. It reverses sun damage, helps to even out your skin tone and stimulates new collagen growth to improve wrinkles.

How sensitive does your skin get after?

Your skin will feel like it has a sunburn for 1-2 days. After that your skin feels normal.

Does this help with acne scars?

Yes, but it depends on the type of acne scars. There are different methods for different types of scars. It is good for boxcar and rolling scars. A consultation is definitely recommended before getting any treatment to find the right plan for you.

Is this treatment good for everyone? Who can’t get it?

This is good for anyone concerned with aging, even skin tone, scarring, or who wants an overall rejuvenation. This is not recommended for pregnant women, anyone with active skin cancer, epilepsy, severe cystic acne, or any opened sessions on the skin.

3 Week Update:

After about 7-10 days all of my brown spots flaked off, just like Sarune said. I was lighting washing my face and felt little pieces of grit in my hand. I looked down to see little brown specs! Within three days, all the dark pigmentation was gone! My skin has felt super smooth and the texture has improved significantly! The collagen will continue to produce for the next few months, so I should continue to see improvement!

I am honestly shocked at how amazing the results are! I had no idea that there was a treatment that could focus on hyperpigmentation and the discoloration of your skin! A huge thanks to Sarune and Plastic Surgery Short Hills for providing such amazing services!

As an extra bonus, you can use code PS50 for $50 off any medical grade service performed by Sarune! Just mention the code when you call to book an appointment! Head to their website for more information or call 973-379-0101 to set up a consultation!

<3

P.S.

If you have any questions at all about the treatments above please comment below or reach out to me directly!