What Is Skin Resurfacing?
Skin resurfacing, also known as skin peel, is a non-surgical aesthetic treatment. The procedure involves using broad band light to target specific treatment areas. The device heats the deeper layers of the skin causing microdamage, which in turn triggers the skin’s natural healing processes. As the skin repairs itself, its tone, texture, and overall appearance improve considerably.
Skin resurfacing is used to treat many different skin conditions and imperfections. These include acne scarring, fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, discoloration, and dull or sagging skin.
There are two main types of laser resurfacing treatments: ablative and non-ablative.
- Non-ablative procedures only heat up the lower layer of the skin to trigger the healing response. Such treatments typically require little to no downtime.
- Ablative procedures, on the other hand, are much more invasive, not only heating up the lower layer of the skin but also removing its upper layer. Because ablative treatments are so much more invasive, they leave the skin red and raw, and require at least a week of downtime.
BBL Skin Resurfacing vs CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing
Broad Band Light skin resurfacing delivers similar results to ablative CO2 Laser resurfacing but since BBL is non-ablative, it is far more comfortable with much less down-time than traditional laser resurfacing. The BBL device emits warm pulses of light, which are absorbed by the water molecules in the targeted skin areas. The resulting heat leads to microdamage in the tissue, thereby stimulating skin healing and collagen production.
BBL resurfacing can help treat acne scars and eliminate or minimize the signs of aging. Results are usually seen as soon as the skin heals and will continue to improve over the course of several more treatments.
Sciton® BBL Resurfacing
Compared to CO2 resurfacing, Sciton® BBL is much gentler to the skin. It allows for the precise treatment of the targeted areas while keeping side effects, downtime, and thermal exposure of the rest of the skin to a minimum.
What Can BBL Skin Resurfacing Be Used For?
TRL™ technology is used to effectively target a wide variety of skin issues caused by aging, environmental factors, and health conditions. These include:
- Freckles
- Brown spots
- Hyperpigmentation
- Vascular lesions
- Rosacea
- Hemangiomas
- Small blood vessels
- Sun damage
- Wrinkles
BBL treatments can also help improve dull skin tone and uneven texture and boost collagen production.
How Long Does the Treatment Take?
Depending on the size of the area being treated and the level of skin damage, the average treatment session typically lasts around 15 to 45 minutes. For best results, you may need to recieve four to six treatments over the course of six months.
Is BBL Skin Resurfacing Safe for All Skin Types?
Sciton’s BBL can be used to treat most skin types, including skin types 1 to 4. That is not the case with traditional CO2 laser resurfacing procedures, which may cause burns or hyperpigmentation in darker skin types. The treatment is also safe to be used on all skin areas of the face and body.
What Does the Treatment Feel Like? Does It Hurt?
BBL resurfacing procedures do not hurt. Most patients describe the feeling as similar to snapping a rubber band against their skin. If you feel any discomfort, your physician can apply a topical numbing cream or use a cooling device.
What Results Can You Expect to See?
Most patients see quick results. However, as collagen reproduction is gradual, you should also expect a continued improvement in the look of your skin for up to six months. Generally, your skin will feel and look tighter, smoother, brighter, and younger. Both skin tone and texture should improve considerably, and any imperfections will be minimized or even eliminated.
Is There Downtime with BBL Skin Resurfacing?
BBL skin resurfacing is a non-surgical and non-invasive treatment and requires no or minimal downtime. In most cases you can apply makeup and resume a gentle version of your skin care routine immediately following the procedure.
How to Prepare for a BBL Skin Resurfacing Session
While the procedure is generally safe, there are still some precautions that you will need to take prior to your sessions.
Twenty-four hours prior to the procedure, discontinue the use of retinol products.
You should also abstain from alcohol and tobacco products for two weeks before and after each session. This will help speed up skin healing and prevent any unwanted complications.
At your first appointment your expert skin care care technician will perform a thorough examination of your skin to determine the type and condition. They can then suggest the best course of treatment for you, making sure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision.
Once you embark on your treatment, you will have ready access to high-quality medical advice at each step of the process. Belle Ame MedSpa’s team will be there to guide you along the way, ensuring that you receive the best results possible.