An IPL photofacial uses intense pulsed light, not a laser, to target two things in the skin: the persistent redness of rosacea and the brown spots and blotchy tone left by sun damage. Over a series of sessions it may gradually even out the colour of your face, neck, chest or hands.
Many people start IPL in autumn or winter, when sun exposure is lower. IPL is $500 per session at our Oakville clinic, and every plan begins with an honest assessment of whether your skin is suitable and what a realistic result looks like for you.
Broad spectrum light, filtered to find colour in the skin.
An IPL photofacial is a light-based skin treatment. IPL stands for intense pulsed light: a high-output flashlamp that releases short pulses of broad spectrum light across a wide range of wavelengths, rather than the single concentrated wavelength of a laser. IPL is not a laser, and you will not see us describe it as one.
Filters placed in front of the lamp remove the shorter wavelengths, so the light can be tuned to what needs treating. In the skin, that light is absorbed by two natural pigments: hemoglobin, the red pigment in the blood inside small vessels near the surface, and melanin, the brown pigment that collects in sun spots. As they absorb the light they heat up and are damaged, and the body gradually clears them. This process is called selective photothermolysis, and it is why IPL is a treatment for colour, meaning redness and brown pigment.
Because it treats a whole area rather than a single mark, an IPL photofacial, sometimes called photorejuvenation, generally suits skin where the red and the brown are spread across the face, neck, chest or backs of the hands. It is not a treatment for texture, fine lines or pores, and it is not a treatment for melasma. IPL is one of our non-invasive skin treatments, with nothing cut and nothing injected.
Two clear jobs: redness and sun damage.
At Oakville Flawless Cosmetic, IPL has two roles, and each has its own page.
Rosacea and facial redness. Persistent redness and flushing across the cheeks, nose and chin is often driven by small blood vessels close to the surface. IPL may calm that background redness over a course of sessions. Rosacea itself is managed, not cured, so IPL works alongside your doctor’s care rather than replacing it. Read more about IPL for rosacea and facial redness.
Sun damage. Sun spots, blotchy brown patches and the red-brown mottling that builds up on the face, neck, chest and hands after years of summers are, at our clinic, treated with IPL rather than laser. Sun damage is usually a mix of brown and red, and IPL may address both together. See our page on IPL sun damage treatment for the face, chest and hands.
Some concerns belong to other treatments. If you have a few individual visible vessels rather than overall redness, our targeted capillary removal, listed at $250, may suit you better. If you have only a few distinct spots, targeted freckle removal, from $175, may be a simpler option. Both appear on our price list. If your concern is texture or fine lines rather than colour, laser skin rejuvenation is the better fit, and our guide to choosing between IPL and laser sets out the difference plainly.
A series of sessions, and a darkening phase worth knowing about.
Every IPL plan at Oakville Flawless Cosmetic is made under the medical direction of Dr. Andrea Garcia, MD CCFP.
IPL is usually given as a series rather than a single appointment, with sessions generally spaced about four weeks apart. The number of sessions you need depends on your skin and your concern, and it is set at your consultation rather than promised in advance. How IPL feels varies from person to person, so your provider will explain what to expect and how comfort is managed before the first pulse.
One part of IPL is worth knowing in advance. Brown spots often darken after treatment, sometimes looking like a sprinkling of coffee grounds on the skin. This is expected, because the treated pigment is working its way to the surface. It generally crusts within a day or two and flakes away within about a week. Redness and some swelling are also common and usually settle over hours to a few days. So we are upfront that IPL comes with some downtime. Your provider gives you written aftercare for IPL, and our general aftercare guidance for our in-clinic treatments is there if you are planning other treatments with us.
Untanned skin, less sun, and time to finish before spring.
Summer is when sun damage shows, but it is generally not the best season to treat it. Tanned skin carries more pigment, and more pigment generally means a higher risk of unwanted effects such as blistering or changes in skin colour, which is why recently tanned skin is generally not treated. Sunbathing, tanning beds and self tanner should be avoided in the weeks before IPL, and sun exposure kept to a minimum afterwards.
That is why many people start once summer is over: a tan has had time to fade, and there is less sun while treated spots fade. Because IPL is given as a series with weeks between sessions, starting in autumn generally leaves time to complete your course through the colder months, before the spring sun returns.
Skin type matters as much as timing. IPL is generally best suited to lighter skin tones, because the risk of pigment change rises in darker skin. If your skin is deeper in tone, your provider will assess it carefully and tell you honestly if IPL is not the right choice.
Melasma is different again. IPL can worsen melasma, so it is generally not recommended where melasma is present or suspected, and your skin is always assessed first. Any sun spot that is new, changing or irregular should also be checked by a physician before any cosmetic treatment.
IPL Photofacial Pricing in Oakville
IPL is $500 per session at Oakville Flawless Cosmetic. Because IPL is given as a series, the number of sessions you need is agreed at your consultation, so you know the plan before you commit to it. The price for the neck, chest or hands, alone or with the face, is confirmed at your consultation. Our full price list is published for you to review before you book.
Questions about IPL and your skin, answered.
If your question is not answered here, our team is happy to help. The clearest answer usually comes from a consultation, where your provider can assess your skin directly.
Explore our IPL photofacial pages and related skin treatments in Oakville.
If the sun has left you with sun spots, blotchy tone or redness that will not settle, a consultation is the place to start. We will look at your skin, tell you whether IPL is suitable, and plan a course around the seasons. Patients visit us from Oakville, Burlington, Mississauga and Milton.
Hours Of Operation:
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) uses broad-spectrum light energy to target skin imperfections such as pigmentation, sun damage, redness, and acne.
IPL: Regular $500, Now $400
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The hydrofacial is a highly sought-after, non-invasive facial that utilizes medical-grade aesthetic device for a complete skin renewal experience.
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