How to Get a Photofacial

A photofacial is a procedure used to lessen the appearance of age spots, mild acne scars, redness and other skin problems usually caused by sun exposure. Consider getting a photofacial if you would like to improve the appearance of your skin, especially the face and chest.

Instructions

• 1

  Know that a photofacial involves concentrating an intense light that delivers gentle pulses to the deeper layers of the skin. A photofacial uses a broadband light over many wavelengths, meaning it can penetrate deeper than a laser, which transmits a single wavelength and is limited in the depth it can attain.

• 2

  Most people need 3 to 6 treatments to realize the full effect, spaced 3 weeks apart. Each treatment takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Some patients experience mild discomfort during the procedure. If your skin is particularly sensitive, you might ask your doctor to use a topical cream on your skin prior to the procedure, which eliminates most discomfort.

• 3

  Treatments are done in a doctor's office and usually require little if no down time for recovery. Any redness is usually gone in 24 hours. Mild swelling of the face can occur for several days after a treatment, particularly with severely sun damaged skin. Scars or infections of the skin due to the procedure are very rare, but something to keep in mind.

• 4

  Realize that getting a photofacial won't improve lines on your forehead, crow's feet or frown lines, and is not a substitute for a facelift. Costs vary, but run in the range of $350 to $600 per treatment.