What are FotoFacial RF treatments?

FotoFacial RF treatments are face, neck, hands and/or body treatments using Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and RadioFrequency energy combined in the same pulse. These gentle, no-downtime treatments are used to improve the cosmetic appearance of the skin in any area treated. The original FotoFacial procedure was co-developed by Dr. Patrick Bitter, Jr. a dermatologist, and Dr. R. Stephen Mulholland, a plastic surgeon, bringing together the best of aesthetic dermatologic skin care and cosmetic plastic surgery into one non-invasive treatment. The FotoFacial procedure has increased in popularity and recognition to the point where it is now one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures in North America. It has been featured in Allure, Cosmopolitan, In Style, Vogue, USA today and numerous national and regional television shows. Many Hollywood stars and TV personalities rave about the FotoFacial and credit this procedure for the renewed health and vitality in their skin. The FotoFacial RF is the next generation in high-tech skin enhancement.

Am I a good candidate for FotoFacial RF?

FotoFacial RF treatments are beneficial in the treatment of the following cosmetic skin concerns on the face and body:You may also be a good candidate for the FotoFacial RF treatments simply if you want to experience an improvement in the pore size and the overall tone and texture of the skin- Rosacea (redness of the skin), Excessive “flushing”, Broken capillaries, Spider veins, Sun damage (sun spots), Age spots, Melasma, Hyperpigmenation (brown discoloration), and Freckles. There are some medical conditions that are contraindications to treatment. These include pregnancy, people who have used Accutane within 6 months, and people who are on photosensitizing medication. A comprehensive consultation with one of our well-qualified clinicians is the best way to determine if FotoFacial RF is a good choice for you.

What results might I expect?

Clients usually notice a consistent improvement in the appearance of their skin. The degree of improvement is gradual and persistent over the 15-18 week program of 5-6 FotoFacial RF treatments. The noticeable and significant changes that are typically seen include: • Rosacea, flushing, redness, ruddy complexion, broken capillaries and spider veins of the face. All these “Pink” vascular based conditions of the skin improve on average between 50-75% percent with FotoFacial RF treatments. • Sun spots, age spots, hyperpigmentation, melasma, cholasma, “mask of pregnancy”, multiple freckles. All these “Brown”, melanin based conditions of the skin improve, on average, 50-75% with FotoFacial RF treatments. • Sun damage and aging signs of the hands, neck (Poikiloderma) and chest skin can be improved by 50-75% percent with FotoFacial RF treatments. • A general improvement in the overall tone and texture of the skin as well as a reduction in pore size. After completing a series, the skin tends to look brighter and more “refreshed.” Many clients are particularly pleased when friends and family comment on how great their skin is looking!

How does FotoFacial RF work to improve the appearance of the skin?

Each pulse of the FotoFacial RF device sends two types of energy into your skin, Intense Pulsed Visible Light and RadioFrequency energy, that act synergistically to enhance the skin. These energies are absorbed into skin imperfections such as brown spots and broken blood vessels. This process causes the skin’s natural healing process to gradually and gently lessen or eliminate these blemishes. The RadioFrequency energy also stimulates production of collagen, elastin and ground substances in the dermis, the thick undercarpet of the skin, resulting in a smoothening of fine lines and textural irregularities of the skin.

How long do treatments take?

Treatment time is usually between 30 and 45 minutes. Many clients like to “numb” before the procedure. To do this, a topical anesthetic cream is applied roughly 30 minutes prior to starting the procedure.

How does FotoFacial RF differ from other photo rejuvenation or “Photofacial” procedures?

FotoFacial RF treatments combine both Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and RadioFrequency energy into one treatment. The synergistic combination of these two energies allow for a more effective procedure with the same or lower energy levels of other IPL-only devices. Thus, FotoFacial RF treatments are safer than so-called “Photofacial” procedures in addition to providing you with the optimal degree of enhancement for your skin.

What technology is used?

The laser/light-based technology used in skin rejuvenation treatments is a critical component in the ultimate result you receive. Evolutions Medical Spa is proud to use the only technology that marries the benefits of Intense Pulsed Light and Radiofrequency energy. It is the only machine able to perform true FotoFacial RF treatments.

Why should I have photorejuvenation treatments done at Evolutions?

Two reasons – superior technology and excellent clinician training.

As explained throughout this section, the technology Evolutions uses for this procedure is superior to other, intense pulsed light only devices. The combination of IPL and Radiofrequency allows us to achieve a better result with a safer treatment.

Ellipse IPL in Santa Barbara | Evolutions Spa 805-695-2167

Photofacial Photo Rejuvenation in Santa Barbara, featuring Ellipse IPL with Selective Waveband Technology (SWT)

Significantly improve your skin texture and appearance by reducing redness or rosacea, age spots, sun damage, spider veins, fine lines, uneven pigmentation and large pores. Ellipse IPL is a safe and non-invasive procedure that uses intense pulsed light (IPL) with Selective Waveband Technology (SWT) to diminish imperfections in your skin. The treatment requires no downtime and is especially effective for improving the appearance of the face, neck, chest, and backs of the hands.

IPL treatments have been one of the most popular treatments at Evolutions for many years and for good reason. They not only make your skin look and feel better, but they also make it healthier as well! Ellipse IPL treatments are a valuable part of almost any optimized skin rejuvenation program.

The following section answers some of the frequently asked questions about the Ellipse IPL. If you are interested in finding out more, please call us at 805-695-2197 to book a complimentary consultation. If you prefer, you may also fill out an online request form. One of our Spa Coordinators will then get in touch with you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ellipse IPL

Ellipse IPL treatments use Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) with Selective Waveband Technology (SWT) to provide skin rejuvenation almost anywhere on the body. These gentle, no-downtime treatments are used to improve the cosmetic appearance and overall health of the skin in any area treated, including face, neck, chest, hands, arms, etc.

Ellipse IPL therapy with SWT uses a variety of wavelengths of light to improve the appearance of the skin. The exclusive SWT technology targets specific problem areas with sub-millisecond pulse duration and narrower wavelengths of light than traditional IPLs, which allows for effective treatment with less heat in your skin. The result is excellent overall skin rejuvenation and improvement in a variety of common skin concerns, including age spots and redness.

Ellipse IPL is beneficial in the treatment of the following cosmetic skin concerns on the face and body:

• Rosacea (redness of the skin)
• Excessive “flushing”
• Broken capillaries
• Spider veins
• Sun damage (sun spots)
• Age spots
• Uneven Pigment
• Melasma
• Hyperpigmenation (brown discoloration)
• Freckles

There are some medical conditions that are contraindications to treatment. These include pregnancy, people who have used Accutane within 6 months, and people who are on photosensitizing medication.

A comprehensive consultation with one of our well-qualified clinicians is the best way to determine if Ellipse IPL is a good choice for you.

Clients usually notice a consistent improvement in the appearance of their skin. The degree of improvement is gradual and persistent over a standard series of 5 Ellipse IPL treatments. The noticeable and significant changes that are typically seen include:

• Rosacea, flushing, redness, ruddy complexion, broken capillaries and spider veins of the face. All these “Pink” vascular based conditions of the skin improve on average between 50-75% percent with Ellipse IPL treatments.

• Sun spots, age spots, hyperpigmentation, melasma, “mask of pregnancy”, multiple freckles. All these “brown”, melanin-based conditions of the skin improve, on average, 50-75% with Ellipse IPL treatments.

• Sun damage and aging signs of the hands, neck (Poikiloderma) and chest skin can be improved by 50-75% percent with Ellipse IPL treatments.

• A general improvement in the overall tone and texture of the skin as well as a reduction in pore size. After completing a series, the skin tends to look brighter and more “refreshed.”

Many clients are particularly pleased when friends and family comment on how great their skin is looking!

It makes your skin look clear and bright by delivering short bursts of light that directly target the blood vessels or melanin within your skin. Potentially harmful wavelengths are removed using patented Dual Mode Filtering. The remaining wavelengths are absorbed by the hemoglobin in your blood vessels — only the treated ones — and the melanin in your freckles, sun spots, or other pigmented lesions. The natural healing process of your body then “cleans up” the treated areas, resulting in clearer, brighter, and healthier skin.

Treatment time depends on the area(s) treated, but a standard “face” treatment takes approximately 35-45 minutes. Many clients like to “numb” before the procedure. To do this, a highly effective topical anesthetic cream is applied roughly 30 minutes prior to starting the procedure.

Ellipse IPL treatments have a tolerable level of discomfort. The feeling is often compared to a light rubber band snap. However, the discomfort can be greatly reduced, or even eliminated by the use of a topical anesthetic cream applied to the skin 30 minutes prior to the treatment. Evolutions also uses a powerful cooling machine, the Synercool, to provide an additional degree of comfort. The end result of the numbing cream and Synercool is a highly comfortable procedure.

You should not have to miss any work. After each procedure, clients are typically only slightly pink. This reaction usually goes away within a few hours, but clients are also able to apply makeup immediately. Consequently, the vast majority of clients are able to resume normal activities immediately.

At the completion of an Ellipse IPL series (5 treatments), the skin will have achieved a noticeable and consistent degree of improvement. Over 90% of clients are very happy with their results. An effective home care program can help maintain these benefits. Also, a single maintenance treatment is recommended every 4-6 months to keep the skin looking vital, even, smooth and youthful.

The laser/light-based technology used in skin rejuvenation treatments is a critical component in the ultimate result you receive. Evolutions Medical & Day Spa is proud to use Ellipse IPL with Selective Waveband Technology (SWT) on the Nordlys system. The exclusive SWT technology targets specific problem areas with narrower wavelengths of light than traditional IPLs with sub-millisecond pulse duration. The result is a highly effective treatment with less heat in your skin and a larger safety profile than many traditional IPL devices. The Nordlys system and Ellipse IPL are FDA cleared and backed by nearly twenty years of research and experience.

Absolutely! RF micro needling treatments (such as SylFirmX) or traditional micro needling (such as SkinPen) can be performed in between Ellipse IPL procedures to further enhance the overall results. Also, for clients who wish to tighten skin as well as improve its tone and texture, Ultherapy and/or Sublime are excellent additions to a treatment program.

Evolutions provides the best photorejuvenation results because of our superior technology and excellent clinician training.

As explained throughout this section, the technology Evolutions uses for this procedure is top of the line (and we believe best in market). The exclusive SWT technology on the Ellipse IPL allows for excellent results with high levels of safety.

For any procedure, the skill of the clinician performing the procedure is critical. A number of factors need to be considered in preparation to treat a client, including skin type, medical history, medications used, etc. Based on these factors, the clinician must then decide what settings to use. If the settings are too high, there is the risk of burns. If the settings are too low, you may not receive a good result. Consequently, it is very important that the clinician performing your procedure is well-trained.

At Evolutions, all of the clinicians are extensively trained on all aspects of performing Ellipse IPL treatments, including laser physics, skin anatomy, and practical application. Furthermore, in the unlikely event of any complication, Dr. Perkins is always available to see clients personally and help resolve any issues as quickly as possible.