IPL transmits a precise beam of light through the skin which is absorbed by either the blood when treating vascular lesions which coagulates and closes the vessel or the melanin when treating pigmented lesions causing damage to the lesion.  The body's natural processes then remove the injured tissue giving the skin a more even and youthful appearance.  IPL also stimulates the fibroblast cells within the skin that produce collagen and elastin.  When performing IPL hair removal the hair follicle is thermally destroyed resulting in the inability to re-grow hair.

Our Registered Nurse will begin by first cleansing the skin to ensure there is no dirt, oil, make-up or build up of any other product on the skin that may interact with the IPL and increase your likelihood of complications.  You will then be asked to put on a pair of goggles to protect your eyes from the light.   She will then take the IPL hand piece and place it gently on the treatment area and a pulse of light will be released.  This will be continued until the whole treatment area has been covered.  When the treatment is complete, a cold compress or a cooling, hydrating masque will be applied to the treatment area for 10-15 minutes.  The compress/masque will then be removed and a soothing toner and a sunscreen specifically designed for your skin type will be applied to the treatment area.  Treatment time will vary by procedure and size of the treatment area.

Almost all skin types can be treated with the IPL with the exception of very dark or tanned skin.  Pregnant women or people taking the acne medication Accutane should not be treated.  Also, those with complicated Diabetes, Pace makers or taking oral blood thinners cannot be treated.  At your complementary consultation your skin expert will assess whether you are an ideal candidate for the treatment based on medical history and skin type.

IPL treatments are not extremely painful. The IPL hand piece is cooled for optimal patient comfort and there is no need for topical anesthetic.  Some patients liken the feeling to that of an elastic band snapping against the skin.

There is no recovery time associated with IPL treatments.  The IPL thermally destroys its target without any thermal effect to the surrounding tissue.  The surrounding tissue is maintained at a temperature below 50 degrees centigrade.

Unlike deep laser resurfacing which removes the entire epidermis leaving the skin vulnerable to infection and requires 3-4 weeks of patient downtime; IPL treatments can be performed over your lunch break and you can return to work immediately after. 

Redness and/or swelling and a warm sensation are normal after treatment although most patients experience no side effects.  If redness is present after treatment it usually only lasts for a few hours.  A cooling pack can be applied to the skin to ease these symptoms. 

After only one photo-facial treatment, your skin will have a more even tone with a smoother look and feel. Sunspots will fade. Pore sizes will shrink. Fine lines and wrinkles will gradually decrease in size. These improvements will steadily increase with each treatment. Patients with rosacea will see a progressive decrease in redness with every treatment.

Pigmented lesions (sun spots) may crust over and slough off  8-10 days after treatment.   It is very important not to pick at them.  It is very important to use high SPF sunscreens on a daily basis to avoid the harmful effects of UV rays on your skin.

The results of IPL vein treatments are not immediate.  After the treatment the vessels will gradually change from dark blue to light red in colour.  Then over a 2-6 week period they will disappear.  

In the case of hair removal, once the hair follicle has been thermally damaged the hair will remain in the follicle for several days to weeks after the treatment before falling out.  It will appear as though the hair is still growing but the body is actually shedding the hair from the destroyed follicle.

The number of treatments varies from person to person and depends on a number of factors including skin type, severity of the condition being treated, colour of hair (for hair removal procedures), health conditions, etc.  On average you can expect to be in the area of 6 treatments.

The cost of the treatment depends on what type of treatment you are having done, the size of the area to be treated and the number of treatments you will need.  The cost of treatment including discussion of payment and package options will be given to you at your complementary consultation.  Fees range anywhere from $50-$450.

Unfortunately these procedures will not be covered by your health care insurance but for those with a "Health Care Spending Account" it is possible that there may be some coverage, so you may want to look into that option.  If not,  you can claim your treatment on your income tax.

Micro-dermabrasion is a non-chemical, non-invasive procedure that uses a spray of Aluminum Oxide crystals to remove the outermost layer of dry, dead skin cells and reveal younger, healthier-looking skin. Micro-dermabrasion also encourages the production of a new underlying layer of skin cells with higher levels of collagen and elastin, which further improves your skin’s appearance. Micro-dermabrasion is much gentler than dermabrasion. Dermabrasion is a more intensive procedure used to treat deeper facial lines, extreme sun damage, and scars.

Our Registered Nurse will start by cleansing the skin to remove any dirt, oil and make-up from the skin.  You will then be given a pair of goggles to protect your eyes during the procedure.  She will then use a handheld device that sprays fine Aluminum Oxide crystals onto the surface of your skin, providing gentle abrasion, or "polishing," to remove the outer layer of old skin cells.  She will perform 3 passes with the hand piece.  Once she has completed she will dust any remaining crystals off the treatment area and apply a multi-vitamin power recovery masque to soothe, calm and hydrate the newly exposed skin cells.  The masque will remain on for 10 minutes before it is removed.  Then a soothing, refreshing toner and moisturizer will be applied followed by a sunscreen designed for your skin type.  Each treatment takes about 45 minutes to an hour.

No. Because the procedure uses tiny aluminum oxide crystals to gently exfoliate the skin, micro-dermabrasion should not be painful or leave the patient with any lingering discomfort. However, microdermabrasion does cause a mild warming or tingling sensation that most patients describe in positive terms.

After your first treatment your skin will already feel softer, smoother and have a light pink glow.  You will find that your make-up will go on smoother and your skin will take your skin care products better.  The skin may feel as though it were sunburned or windburned, but this sensation should subside fairly quickly.  It is important to keep the skin hydrated and moisturized after having a treatment.  Your skin therapist will recommend the proper home skin care regimen to follow to guarantee the best results.

Maximum results can be achieved in anywhere from 4-12 treatments depending on the severity of the condition being treated.  For those people who just love the great exfoliation that they get with micro-dermabrasion there is no set amount of treatments. Some people come in on a regular basis to have treatment done like they would a regular facial treatment.

Aluminum Oxide crystals are used to perform Micro-dermabrasion.  This oxide is found in nature as a mineral corundum, which is only exceeds in hardness by Diamonds and a few other synthetic substances giving it excellent abrasive qualities.

For over 15 years, this Oxide has been used by the Dental Profession for polishing surgical implants, preparation of crowns and fillings and as an abrasive used directly against the tooth surface to clean off decay.  These processes have been done worldwide with no health problems associated with Oxide crystals.

Micro-Dermabrasion treatments have been done in Europe over the past 10 years using Aluminum Oxide crystals with no reports of any medical related problems, i.e. alzheimers or cancer due to this process.

The use of Aluminum Oxide crystals with Micro-Dermabrasion, according to medical safety data sheet by NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), and ALGH (American Conference of Governmental Hygienist) conclude that Aluminum Oxide is considered a low health risk, it is non-toxic for ingestion, has no adverse effects on skin contact, is not a known carcinogenic, is a low health risk by inhalation, however it is considered to be a nuisance dust in high concentration.