Houston & Pearland, TX
IPL PhotoFacial

Introduction to IPL PhotoFacial

Many people enjoy spending time outdoors and being in the sun, but they may not know that sunlight damage to the skin accounts for over 80% of all aging changes that occur. That means only 20% of the skin’s aging signs come from the skin’s natural aging process.

If you live in Houston, Pearland, Lake Jackson, or the surrounding communities of South Houston, it is likely that you have spent too much time in the sun and are seeing dark spots that indicate skin damage has occurred. You may want to consider a BBL or IPL photofacial treatment at Premier Plastic Surgery.

Contact us today to learn more about the procedure or to request a free consultation. Dr. Hankins will be happy to discuss your treatment options. Our Houston area office is located in Pearland, TX, conveniently located to see IPL patients in Lake Jackson, Clearlake, Friendswood, Marvel and the surrounding areas of South Houston.

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Before & After
IPL PhotoFacial Results

What Are Sun Spots/Age Spots?

Sun spots are flat, dark brown spots that appear on the skin. They are caused by overexposure to the sun’s harmful rays and eventually turn darker. If left untreated, sun spots can progress to a more damaging condition called actinic keratosis. This benign lesion is crusty, hard, and raised on the skin and potentially can progress to skin cancer.

Other pigmentary changes, including skin thinning, can occur from sunlight exposure over the years.

At Premier Plastic Surgery, Dr. Christopher Hankins and his staff offer multiple treatment laser treatment modalities, including photo-facial, otherwise known as intense pulsed light therapy (IPL) or broadband light (BBL) procedures, to reverse the signs of aging and lessen the appearance of dark sun spots. These light therapy treatments may often be “stacked” or combined to get the best possible outcome.

What is an IPL PhotoFacial?

What is an Acne Scar Treatment?

Photo-facial treatments use a small amount of light energy to penetrate the skin’s surface and trigger collagen production in the skin cells. The new collagen growth improves the skin texture, making it look more vibrant and youthful.

“IPL” refers to “intense pulsed light treatment” and addresses several skin imperfections, including acne, freckles, age spots, and rosacea, to name a few.

“BBL” treatments or “broadband light” are the names applied to the specific head in the Sciton® laser system, an IPL device.

What are the Benefits of an IPL PhotoFacial?

Our patients have reported the following benefits of undergoing an IPL photofacial treatment:

Softened skin

Reduced redness caused by acne

Reduced or erased wrinkles and fine lines

Treatment of sun spots and sun damage caused by environmental factors

Who Are the Best Candidates for an IPL PhotoFacial?

The best candidates for IPL photofacial treatments are experiencing the following:

Dark sun spots or sun-induced freckles

Age spots

Fine lines and wrinkles

Rosacea

Acne inflammation

IPL/BBL photofacial treatments are not recommended for recently tanned patients or taking photosensitizing medications.

IPL photofacial treatments have reduced effectiveness on patients with darker skin tones. This is because increased melanin in the darker skin tones tends to absorb more light, resulting in a darker spot that is more difficult to treat.

If you have darker skin, other, more suitable treatments may be available. Please contact Dr. Hankins to discuss the full range of your treatment options.

IPL PhotoFacial First Step
What’s the
first step?

Dr. Hankins will meet with you in a private setting, allowing you to feel comfortable as you take advantage of the personalized experiences offered in our cosmetic-oriented practice. Together, you and Dr. Hankins will determine whether IPL/BBL photofacial treatments are best for you.

If you’re considering photofacial treatments in Houston, Pearland, Lake Jackson, and the surrounding areas of South Houston, call us to schedule your consultation today.

What to Expect From an IPL PhotoFacial Treatment

During your appointment, your skin will be cleansed thoroughly before treatment. The laser treatment will target broader sun spots and any smaller areas of concern.

After the treatment, we will apply an ice pack to your skin to reduce any overheating or potential swelling.

IPL Photofacial Recovery

Recovery following treatment is quick, and almost no downtime is necessary. Mild redness or a warm or burning sensation may be present for several hours or up to a day after treatment. However, most patients can continue their usual routine immediately following the procedure, and make-up and skin care products can be used as usual.

IPL PhotoFacial Cost
How Much Does an IPL PhotoFacial Cost in Houston, TX?

The cost of IPL photofacial treatments will depend on several factors, including the severity of each patient’s case and the frequency of sessions needed to achieve the desired results.

We offer several payment options, including CareCredit and Cherry. If you have any questions about the fees or financing for your treatment or procedure, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Payment is due in full before the start of treatment. You can use payment options individually or in any combination you choose. Feel free to contact our office about your financing options.

We also accept:

Cash or Check: personal check, cashier’s check, or cash

American Express

VISA

MasterCard

Discover

We don’t want finances to prevent you from getting the cosmetic surgery you want and deserve. To that end, Dr. Christopher Hankins is committed to making it as affordable as possible, including offering alternative financing solutions to his patients in Houston, Pearland, Lake Jackson, and the surrounding areas of South Houston.

We understand that sometimes it can be challenging to pay for cosmetic surgery. Dr. Hankins and his entire team at Premier Plastic Surgery want to ensure that your choice of procedures is as affordable as possible. One way we do that is by offering complimentary consultations to all our patients.

Please note: We charge a no-show fee for consultations and require a credit card to schedule an appointment.

Why Choose Dr. Hankins?

Christopher Hankins, MD, is a plastic surgeon specializing in facial, breast, and body aesthetic surgery. He also has advanced training in hand surgery, breast reconstruction after cancer, and other reconstructive surgical procedures. Dr. Hankins completed five plastic surgery fellowships with highly distinguished physician mentors in the United States and the United Kingdom, including a Plastic and Microsurgery fellowship at the Baylor College of Medicine and a Hand Surgery fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Dr. Hankins earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He completed his General Surgery training prerequisite for Plastic Surgery as established by the Residency Review Committee in Plastic Surgery and Anatomic and Clinical Pathology.

Dr. Hankins served as the Medical Director of the Wound Care Center at Lake Jackson Hospital from 2011 to 2014 and continues to treat wound care patients at his Premier Surgery Center and Lake Jackson Hospital.

In addition to his practice in plastic and aesthetic surgery, Dr. Hankins is actively involved in the study and clinical application of anti-aging medicine. He is a Diplomate of the American Association of Anti-Aging Medicine.

Dr. Hankins has authored 19 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and serves on the editorial boards of four medical journals and as a reviewer on three others. He has been a presenter on various plastic surgical topics at the regional, national, and international levels.

Dr. Hankins has participated in plastic surgery medical missions in Peru, Bolivia, and Pakistan, where he performed a number of surgical procedures on disadvantaged children and adults. He sits on the Boards of Directors of both the Agris-Zindler Children’s Foundation and the House of Charity.

Dr. Hankins treats patients in Houston, Pearland, Lake Jackson, and the neighboring communities of South Houston, but no matter where you come from, you will be in expert hands!

IPL PhotoFacial FAQ’S

Is an IPL PhotoFacial Painful?

IPL photofacial treatments are minimally invasive and should not result in significant pain or irritation. Your skin may appear red immediately after your IPL or BBL treatment, but that should fade over several hours. Any dark spots you have may appear darker after BBL or IPL treatments, but that will also diminish over time or with proper skin exfoliation.

Please follow the after-care instructions. Depending on your specific treatment, you may be advised to avoid sun exposure, hot water temperatures, and strenuous activities for a prescribed time.

Your skin will feel smoother shortly after the treatment, and in most cases, makeup can be lightly applied right after the procedure.

Tips to Limit Sun Exposure

There are several simple changes you can make to your life to avoid unnecessary sun exposure:

Avoid going out in the sun between 10 am and 2 pm when over 80% of actinic exposure occurs
Wear a wide-brimmed hat when going outdoors
Wear a high-SPF sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB on the face and the back of the hands

Sunlight in the UVA spectrum results in the majority of the aging changes we see, whereas sunlight in the UVB spectrum results in burns. Remember “A” for aging and “B” for burns.

This is important to keep in mind because although you may not get a sunburn when going outdoors, this does not mean that your skin is not undergoing accelerated aging due to the sun’s effects.

How Many Appointments Will I Need?

As many as necessary for your case, depending on the severity of your case and the combination of treatments used to target the affected areas. Many patients see results immediately but may require multiple sessions to achieve optimal results.

Dr. Hankins wants to ensure that he gets it right and that you will be satisfied with your skin. During your consultation, you can determine how many sessions will be needed.

How Long Until I See Results?

Most patients notice an immediate improvement in their skin following the procedure and the week after. However, multiple sessions may be recommended to achieve optimal results.

IPL/BBL photofacial treatments may last up to four months. However, since sun exposure is unavoidable, we recommend multiple yearly treatments to maintain healthy, glowing skin for longer-lasting results.

Can I Combine an IPL PhotoFacial with Other Procedures?

IPL photofacial treatments may be combined with other facial treatments to give you an overall, refreshed look. Please schedule a consultation with Dr. Hankins at Premier Plastic Surgery to further evaluate your options and develop a customized treatment plan.

What Are the Risks Associated with an IPL PhotoFacial?

The majority of patients tolerate IPL photofacial procedures well, however, there may be some unwanted side effects, including but not limited to:

Redness
Swelling
Bruising
Peeling
Increased skin sensitivity
Itching
Blistering
Hypopigmentation (for candidates with darker skin tones)

It is not recommended to receive IPL/BBL photofacial treatments while pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications that increase skin sensitivity.

Schedule a
Consultation

Contact us today to learn more about a BBL or IPL photofacial procedure or to request a free consultation. Dr. Hankins will be happy to discuss treatment with men and women living in Houston, Pearland, Lake Jackson, and the surrounding communities of South Houston.

Houston & Pearland, TX IPL PhotoFacial