BroadBand Light (BBL) uses intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy to treat a range of skin concerns, including acne, rosacea, age spots, sun spots, fine lines and wrinkles, and uneven texture. It can also treat spider veins and other small blood vessels, as well as broken capillaries and vascular lesions.
âThese treatments work well for improving skin tone, reducing mild redness, and erasing brown spots,â says Dr. Hooman Khorasani, a dermatologic surgeon in New York City.Â
Sometimes called a photofacial, this FDA-cleared skin rejuvenation technology is most often used to treat redness and visible signs of aging on the face, neck, hands, and chest, but it can treat the legs and other areas as well.Â
Recently, IPL technology has improved with the introduction of the Sciton BBL HERO (BroadBand Light High Energy Rapid Output). The next-generation BBL HERO device delivers four times the speed and three times the power for quicker, more effective treatments.
Most people need a series of three to four BBL treatment sessions, two to four weeks apart, though results can be seen in just one to two sessions with BBL HERO.
Pros
Cons
Your cost will depend on your provider's practice location, their level of expertise, and the number of treatments you get, and a few other key factors.
The Broadband light photos in our gallery have been shared by the surgeon who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.
Developed by Sciton, the BBL device emits broad-spectrum photothermal energy, which is absorbed by brown pigment (melanin) in skin and the hemoglobin in blood vessels that cause redness.Â
As the upper layers of your skin absorb the heat and energy from the light, pigmented skin cells are destroyed and superficial blood vessels in the treated area are closed off.Â
The particles of any remaining brown pigment peel or slough off within 7 to 14 days. Over the next several weeks, the body continues to absorb remnants of the destroyed blood vessels.Â
The lightâs energy and heat also trigger a wound-healing response, generating new cells and boosting new collagen production.
BBL HERO harnesses the same biological mechanisms of the skin, but the upgraded device can deliver more broad-spectrum photothermal energy, more quickly.
Youâll start with a consultation, where your provider will determine if youâre a good candidate for BBL and recommend a treatment plan.Â
Your pretreatment instructions may include avoiding:
If youâre prone to cold sores, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication, like Valtrex or Famvir, to mitigate flare ups. Youâll take it for five days, starting the day before your treatment.
Hereâs what you can expect.
RealSelf Tip: Find an experienced provider for your BroadBand Light treatment. âIn inexperienced hands, IPL may leave permanent scarring in the shape of a square (due to the device shape),â says Dr. Khorasani. âI recommend avoiding light therapy treatment at med spas.â
Most people return to work or their daily routine immediately after a BroadBand Light procedure. That said, hereâs what you can expect during your BBL treatment recovery:
Your skin tone will look more even within two weeks after your first treatment. It should also feel smoother, with less noticeable fine lines and pores.Â
One 65-year-old RealSelf member, lotusgal17, described her results after five days: âThe brown and red spots faded, pindots of brown on their way out, my skin texture seems smoother, my lips better defined with the fading of the red sun damage, deep jawline âwaddleâ wrinkle seems gone. So far so good!â
The number of initial treatments needed for optimal results varies and will depend on whether your provider uses the original BroadBand Light therapy device, which can require up to four sessions, or the newer BBL HERO, which can produce visible results in one or two sessions.Â
For rosacea and vascular sun damage, which are more difficult to treat, you may need additional treatments.
Results can last up to a year, provided you regularly use good sun protection. Youâll need annual follow-up treatments to maintain your results.Â
âBBL treatments remove sun spots very effectively, but the spots can return over time, and new spots will occur,â says Dr. Patrick Flaharty, an oculoplastic surgeon in Fort Myers, Florida. âPatients who have these treatments annually see continued improvement in skin tone, texture and color. This is why we recommend maintenance treatments at least once a year.â
The procedure is gentle, noninvasive, and safe for people with light, untanned skin. Because melanin in the skin absorbs the light, olive or brown skin can experience side effects like burning, hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation, and even scarring along the treatment area.Â
Safer skin rejuvenation options for people with a lot of melanin in their skin include chemical peels, some nonablative laser treatments, dermaplaning, and microneedling.Â
Updated May 25, 2022
Get beautiful skin from head to toe with BBL HERO.
Get beautiful skin from head to toe with BBL HERO.