How Much Does BroadBand Light Therapy Cost?
If it's worth the money
Financing options
BroadBand Light therapy costs $725 on average, but the price can range as high as $1,800, according to 150 patient reviews on RealSelf.
Often called a photofacial, a BroadBand light treatment uses intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy to treat a variety of skin concerns. The most common issues targeted by this light energy treatment include:
- acne
- rosacea
- age spots or sun spots
- fine lines and wrinkles
- uneven skin texture
- small blood vessels like spider veins, broken capillaries, and vascular lesions
The new-generation Sciton BBL HERO (BroadBand Light High Energy Rapid Output) device delivers quicker and more effective treatments than the original, according to its manufacturer.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About BroadBand Light Treatments
Read on to find out why you might pay more or less than the average cost—and whether real patients think their results were worth the money.
RealSelf Tip: Because pigment in skin absorbs the light, this treatment comes with risks of burns or hyperpigmentation for people with olive or brown skin. If you don’t have light skin, explore safer skin rejuvenation treatment options.
What affects the cost of BroadBand Light therapy?
These are the main factors that will affect your BroadBand Light therapy cost.
1. Your provider’s credentials and level of experience
A treatment that’s performed by an aesthetician, registered nurse, or physician’s assistant typically costs less than one from a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon.
As you choose your provider, look for someone who has years of experience with this and other skin rejuvenation treatments, along with glowing patient reviews and a before and after gallery that demonstrates their expertise in treating your skin concerns.
This treatment is considered safe for patients with light, untanned skin—but even if you’re a good candidate, an inexperienced provider could still leave you at risk of burns, scars, and other side effects.
2. Their practice location
As you’d expect, aesthetic practices and med spas in areas with lower rents and costs of living typically charge less, while practices in high-rent areas of major cities have more overhead that they have to cover with higher patient fees.
Prices can even vary by zip code and practice size, so if you’re looking for savings, it’s worth taking the time to compare personalized treatment plans and price quotes from more than one qualified provider.
3. The size and number of treatment areas
While it’s possible (and cheaper) to spot-treat a few targeted areas, most providers recommend addressing the entire face and neck, often along with the décolletage, to get the best result. Larger treatment areas take longer to treat, so they cost more.
“You can absolutely spot treat with BBL or IPL, but it is always recommended to consider treating the entire face for a smooth look—and it will also help with any additional brown spots/sun damage you may have [and not notice],” says Dr. J. Jason Wendel, a plastic surgeon in Nashville.
4. The number of treatments you need
With the original device, most people need a series of three to four Broadband Light therapy treatments for optimal results.
The more powerful BBL HERO device typically only requires one or two sessions for optimal results. However, each individual BBL HERO treatment may be slightly more expensive, simply because providers have to cover the cost of this newer device.
During your initial consultation, ask your provider how many treatment sessions they think you'll need and get a written estimate for the cost of your entire treatment plan, so you can budget accordingly.
Many providers offer discounted prices if you pay for a series of BBL treatments up-front.
Is BroadBand Light therapy worth the money?
BBL therapy has an 75% Worth It Rating from reviewers on RealSelf, so the majority of reviewers think their results were worth what they paid.
Those who were happy with their outcome reported an improvement in excess pigmentation and redness, as well as signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. They also noted that the treatment was mostly painless and downtime was manageable.
Of the reviewers who were not a fan of this treatment, most cited a lack of visible results, while several report more serious complications, including burns and scarring that required additional, expensive treatments to fix.
As we noted above, not everyone is a good candidate for BBL therapy: it’s safest for fair to medium skin tones (Fitzpatrick skin types 1–3). And it can leave lasting damage if your provider is inexperienced or inattentive.
To help ensure your treatment is worth the investment, pay close attention to your potential provider’s credentials, patient reviews, and photo gallery.
Can you finance a BroadBand Light treatment?
Yes, most practices offer payment plans or accept financing options.
The CareCredit credit card is widely accepted by providers across the U.S., for both plastic surgery and nonsurgical procedures.