Aesthetician Education – BBL with Carla!
Posted March 22, 2023 in Aesthetician Education, MedSpa Treatments, Skin Care Treatments, Skincare Products
Here at the MedSpa at Wake Plastic Surgery, we offer several laser treatments to meet our patient’s various needs. Today, our blog focuses in on BBL, or Broad Band Light Laser, designed to target skin concerns such as hyperpigmentation and redness, as well as to help stimulate collagen production. Below, we asked our medical aesthetician Carla to answer some frequently asked questions about this amazing treatment – for even more information, check out our webpage on this procedure, here!
How does a BBL Laser work?
BBL is a non-ablative laser, meaning it does not wound the skin. BBL technology uses specific wavelengths that target and correct concerns such as redness, facial vessels and hyperpigmentation. This skin rejuvenation treatment stimulates collagen.
Can the BBL reverse the signs of aging?
Yes, BBL wavelengths work to reverse the signs of aging. We often use this laser as our first recommendation to treat pigment issues from sun damage, redness associated with rosacea, and broken vessels. The added benefit to BBL therapy is that it stimulates your cells to regenerate, stimulating collagen so it can help to treat and minimize fine lines and wrinkles. We often recommend a series of 4 treatments to achieve full results. Our MedSpa team will help to determine your personal needs based on desired outcome.
Is BBL just for the face and neck?
A great benefit of BBL is it is designed to treat the whole body, not just the face or neck. Sun damage can happen on our shoulders, back and hands over time that can result in unwanted pigment. Why treat your face and neck to look younger, and not your other exposed body parts?
Does it hurt? Will I be numb?
Numbing is not required for BBL. It is non-ablative and usually the patient is in and out in about an hour. Our practitioners use an ultrasound gel on clean skin to protect the epidermis during treatment. The sensation you may feel is a light snapping on the skin followed by a burst of heat and a bright light. Your eyes will be protected with safety shields or glasses. It is very tolerable for most patients.
Is there any downtime with a BBL treatment?
One thing that our providers and our patients love about this treatment is that there is minimal to no downtime. Following treatment you may experience some mild heat, redness or swelling that usually subsides within 24-48hrs. Often pigmentation will darken before fading or flaking at a later stage. This is dependent on the level of sun damage present. The patient can continue their normal skincare routine under the guidance of their provider, and most redness can be concealed by using a tinted sunscreen.
What do I do before my appointment?
Safety is our main concern when using lasers. Rule of thumb for almost all lasers is to be free from direct sun exposure at least 2-3 weeks before your scheduled BBL. Prior to your BBL treatment you would discontinue using any retinol products for 48 hours. A thorough consultation is given prior to the treatment to make sure the patient is on no medication that would be contraindicative to the treatment. We recommend coming to the appointment with clean skin to protect against any reactions from laser. Following the BBL, it is important remain out of direct sun exposure for at least 2 weeks. The skin is healing and is sensitive to sunlight – you do not want to damage the skin that was just treated!
What will my results be like?
Results vary. A detailed consultation to include photos that show underlying sun damage are taken before recommending how many treatments are needed to achieve the desired results. Typically, after the first treatment you will start to see smoother, more vibrant and even toned skin.
If you feel like BBL may be right for you, call our office here or submit an inquiry so a Patient Care Expert can help you schedule a consultation! If you’d like to read more about our MedSpa at Wake Plastic and other treatments we offer, click here!
