“Actually had the bbl, does the same thing ipl does but stronger”
IPL: NOT worth it
Pain: Uncomfortable
I have melasma and redness, and have had several ipl's with one awesome result (first time) and had only gotten a mild (at best) result for the last time. I went to a new Derm who wants to do Cosmelan, but suggested 3 BBls to get my skin ready for such a peel.
I have only had one BBl 2 weeks ago and the results were very dramatic compared to ipl. I had pigment come up, redness is gone, and a dermal- gray scar is pink and raised (It was sunken down below my normal skin). I looked bad for a week because of all the pigment that came up, you have to let it slough off on its own. Also I was puffy under my eyes and red for about 2 days.
I paid 200.00 more to have this doctor do the BBl rather than a nurse, and I think the extra money was worth it. Going in for my second BBl in 2 weeks. I am a pretty happy camper, this worked better than the one Fraxel treatment I had.
Also, the BBL wasn't as painful as the ipl, but maybe that's just me.
Updated on Jun 8, 2009
Six months again I had a horrific experience with a doctor and the BBL (see my review). I decided to try it again, but at the place I had been going to for years. Janie is normally my nurse, and has been doing ipls for over 9 years and has always done an excellent job. She was unavailable to do the BBL, so I went with Debbie, who has been working there for 17 years. She put me at ease, but more importantly she did a fabulous job. On my melasma "mustache" she used a 560 filter then a filter just for brown, and it is almost gone. Three years of anguish and thousands of dollars on fraxel and the thing is gone! I will never stray from this facility again, and I hope this helps someone. Thank you Laura, Janie, and Debbie!!!
Oct 31, 2008Comments and replies (26)
23 posts
18 Nov 2008
Had second BBl on the 10th, and not nearly the pigment or redness came up as the first one. But, I still ended up hiding for 5 days. I have to say I am thrilled with the results. Please feel free to email me for the name of the doctor. I did have the alexandrite laser done on my dermal "mustache" and it didn't seem to help, the doctor went easy as to not cause pih (my "stache" is pih). If anyone has some suggestions that worked for them, let me know!
12 posts
14 Dec 2008
Hi Merry. First of all, what is BBI? I glad to hear you had great experience with it and I'm considering it myself (too bad I don't live where you are). Also, you mentioned that you paid extra $200 to have a doctor perform the BBI, does the $500 include that? How much does one treatment come out to be?
12 posts
14 Dec 2008
Another question, Merry, do you know what was the name of the IPL treatment you had? Or was it just IPL?
23 posts
11 Jan 2009
Hi dicheung1, I had the Sciton BBl done, it was not an ipl. A BBl is pretty much the same technology as an IPL but this machine was much stronger, and if you have any surface issues (milia, pimples etc.) the BBL will zap those. Actually I found out this Doc charges 750 for a BBl as opposed to where I could get it done for 300 (a 450 dollar difference), I didn't realize I was buying a package for 3 at 1500. On my last BBL I freaked out, she used a 560 cut-off filter and it burned my chin-luckily I have a reddish skin tone and the pink just blended in. It took 11 days to heal and my 'stach is the best it has looked in 3 years. The IPL never brought up any pigment there, the bbl's and one alexandrite(an extra 250.00) sure did. I would not recommend a BBl with a 560 cut-off filter. On my last BBL she also used a laser filter across my 'stach.' I looked very scary for 10 days. I will never get ipl or bbl done on my chin again - I am too afraid of brown spots cropping up there because of the burns. I will BBL again, just at $300.00 and not ever on my chin again, and certainly not with this doctor. It was not an easy 10 days, I was very scared. Hope this helps. On my first 2 BBL's she went extremely easy, maybe better to go that way and buy more.
12 posts
16 Dec 2008
Merry, thanks for the answers and advice. I'll research some more to find out more about BBL. Taking ten days to heal sounds pretty scary, I'll be sure to ask for a low setting the first time (if indeed I'm getting this procedure done). Thanks!
23 posts
11 Jan 2009
It was the two scabs and redness that took so long - It only took me 5 days to heal after the second one, and I smoke so it takes me longer to heal. Good Luck, at least the nurse who charges only 300 never burned me, whereas a Harvard Doc did, go figure.
23 posts
11 Jan 2009
I had to change my rating as I now have two scars on my chin from the burns, a new brown spot on my chin, and still have painful flushing, which I didn't have before. I have waited an entire month to write this so as to be fair to the Doctor and the treatment. I can't even use the 500.00 in products that were pushed on me. I am going back to my nurse, who is obviously more qualified than this Doctor, and almost half the price, to see if this damage can be mitigated in any way. Stay away from this Doctor, she is charging 2000.00 for the new Cosmelan, and wanted me to do it despite my issues with Kojic acid and redness. And no, I haven't asked for a refund, and certainly won't ask for additional treatments.
1 post
14 Jan 2009
what is a bbi i have melasma would this be good on my face. and i am in los angeles area 818 area code, i would like to know how much and where i can go.
23 posts
15 Jan 2009
Hi bj, bbl is a stronger version of the ipl. It might make your melasma worse, or it might make it better. Don't do it if you are not caucasion. I am not sure what it would cost in LA, If I lived in California I would go to see Dr. Fitgerald.
3 posts
7 Feb 2009
Hi Merry, A nurse practitioner suggested I receive a BBL treatment for what she called my mild rosacea (I've had facial redness since at least my teens). It is only priced at $150/treatment (seems like a very low price). The machine is the Sciton Profile BBL. What questions would you suggest I ask regarding treatment? Thanks a lot- your posts have been helpful!