BROADBAND LIGHT (BBL)

Pros

• BBL treatments are relatively quick. BBL HERO can treat the face and large areas of the body in minutes. 
• Typically, the treatment is not painful, thanks to a cooling mechanism that prevents skin from getting too overheated.
• BBL downtime is minimal, with redness and peeling for about 4 days.
• The treatment can be performed anywhere on the body.
• According to a 2012 study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, BroadBand Light treatments make skin look and act younger at the cellular level. 
• Its light energy is clinically proven to be effective for treating a wide range of skin conditions and increasing new collagen production, which helps rebuild your skin’s structure and mildly firm skin over time.

Cons

• IPL treatments like BBL work best on light, untanned skin. They carry a risk of burning, scarring, or creating hyperpigmentation on olive or brown skin. 
• You’ll need multiple treatments for optimal results (unless you get BBL HERO, which may provide sufficient results in a single session).
• Post-procedure, some patients can look sunburned for about a week. 
• It’s also important to protect skin in the targeted areas with a high-SPF sunscreen or avoid the sun entirely for at least two weeks.
• An inexperienced technician could increase your BBL treatment risk of burning and scarring, no matter your skin tone.

• Average Cost:
• $850

• Range:
• $225 - $1,800

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.

See our guide to BroadBand Light treatment costs

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. 

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. 

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. 

The light’s 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.

You’ll start with a consultation, where your provider will determine if you’re a good candidate for BBL and recommend a treatment plan. 

Your pretreatment instructions may include avoiding:

• waxing for a few weeks prior
• chemical peels for a few weeks prior
• sun exposure for four weeks prior (and several weeks after the treatment—you must not have a tan)
• topical skin care containing retinol or glycolic acid for one week prior

If you’re prone to cold sores, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication, like Valtrex or Famvir, to mitigate flare ups. You’ll take it for five days, starting the day before your treatment.

Here’s what you can expect.

• Your provider will apply a topical anesthetic and possibly a cooling gel—unless they have the latest model of the BBL device or the BBL HERO upgrade, which both have their own cooling mechanisms. 
• You’ll be given eye protection, like goggles or dark glasses, though you may still see (harmless) flashes of bright light.  
• During the procedure, the BBL handheld device exposes your skin to quick blasts of high-intensity light. 
• RealSelf members felt just a warm sensation during their BBL treatment, though some compare it to a “rubber-band snap.” You may feel more discomfort in sensitive areas, like the upper lip.
• Your treatment time will depend on the size of the area, so it could last anywhere from a few minutes to as long as a half hour. Treatments with BBL HERO will be quicker, as they can be delivered with four times the speed.
• When you’re done, moisturizer and sunscreen will be applied, to soothe and protect your skin.

RealSelf Tip: Find an experienced provider for your BroadBand Light treatment. “In inexperienced hands, IPL may leave permanent scarring in the shape of a square (due to the device shape),” says Dr. Khorasani. “I recommend avoiding light therapy treatment at med spas.”

Most people return to work or their daily routine immediately after a BroadBand Light procedure. That said, here’s what you can expect during your BBL treatment recovery:

• Your skin may look pink and feel sunburned for two to four hours post-treatment.
• You can apply makeup and topical skin products as you normally would.
• Use a gentle moisturizer, but steer clear of products that contain retinol, glycolic acid, or salicylic acid for one week while your skin heals. 
• You can relieve discomfort with cool compresses (lightly pressing a damp, soft cloth for 10–20 minutes at a time) or an over-the-counter pain reliever, like ibuprofen.
• You’ll be more sensitive to sunlight for two weeks after your treatment, so be especially vigilant about using sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. It's also important to avoid prolonged or excessive sun exposure for four weeks after the procedure. 
• Some people also have some swelling, especially around the eyes, for three to five days afterward.
• There can also be bruising after BroadBand Light skin treatments for vascular issues. 
• Some pigmented lesions slowly turn darker over the first three days, almost the color of coffee grounds. It’s important to resist the urge to pick at or scrub off these pigmented lesions and to let them flake off on their own, to prevent scarring. They should be gone in one to two weeks.

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. 

One 65-year-old RealSelf member, lotusgal17, described her results after five days: “The 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 ‘waddle’ wrinkle seems gone. So far so good!”

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. 

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. You’ll need annual follow-up treatments to maintain your results. 

“BBL treatments remove sun spots very effectively, but the spots can return over time, and new spots will occur,” says Dr. Patrick Flaharty, an oculoplastic surgeon in Fort Myers, Florida. “Patients 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.”

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. 

Safer skin rejuvenation options for people with a lot of melanin in their skin include chemical peels, some nonablative laser treatments, dermaplaning, and microneedling. 

Related: Top Cosmetic Treatments for DeepSkin Tones