The marks of sun and time, quietly undone.
The skin is host to two pigments that catch light differently. Melanin, the brown of sun spots and freckles, absorbs light at one wavelength. Hemoglobin, the red within small vessels, absorbs at another. BBL delivers a controlled pulse of light across the band where both can be reached.
What happens after is the skin's own work. Pigment, having absorbed the light, darkens at the surface and sloughs over the following week. Small vessels, similarly engaged, collapse and quietly disappear. The skin is left to reorganize toward something it once was, before time and sun took their account.
Before the visit
Pause active retinoids for several days, and avoid sun and self-tanner in the week before. Tell us about any new medication that increases light sensitivity. We will review all of this in the consult so the session can be calibrated to your skin.
The session
Eye shields are placed, and a cool gel is laid over the skin before the light begins. Your provider maps the area, sets the device to your skin, and delivers the light in measured passes, each pulse met by the device’s own cooling. Beyond the face, we can treat the chest, the back, and the hands and arms. A facial session runs about thirty to forty-five minutes.
After
The skin feels warm for a few hours, like a long afternoon outdoors, and may swell a little. Pigment that was treated darkens at the surface and sloughs over the following week. Wear mineral sunscreen faithfully, and keep the skin out of the sun. Return for a follow-up at four to six weeks.
