Services in Columbia
Even Out. Brighten Up.
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is a light therapy that addresses uneven skin tone, redness, and sunspots. Unlike more aggressive laser options, IPL gently enhances skin brightness with minimal recovery time.
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is a light therapy that addresses uneven skin tone, redness, and sunspots. Unlike more aggressive laser options, IPL gently enhances skin brightness with minimal recovery time.
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is an advanced light-based treatment used to improve a variety of cosmetic skin concerns, including discoloration, sun damage, and uneven tone. Unlike traditional lasers that rely on a single, focused wavelength, IPL delivers broad-spectrum pulses of light that can be adjusted to target multiple chromophores at once, making it highly effective for reducing unwanted pigment, redness, and visible vascular lesions on the face, neck, chest, and hands.
Often called a "photofacial," this treatment helps refine overall tone and clarity so your complexion looks smoother, brighter, and more radiant in everyday life and in photos.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is gentle enough for routine treatment plans and can be precisely customized to suit a wide range of skin types, tones, and concerns.
IPL therapy is our go-to solution for age spots and sunspots.
It can also improve fine lines and wrinkles, acne, pigmentation, and redness related to rosacea or visible facial veins. Recovery time varies by person, but most skin heals within a week. For optimal, longer-lasting results, we typically recommend a series of approximately 3-5 IPL sessions. Book a complimentary consultation to learn how many treatments you may need and whether IPL is right for you.
Your IPL journey starts with a personalized consultation to confirm the treatment is a good match for your skin tone, texture, and specific concerns.
On treatment day, your provider will gently cleanse your skin and apply a cooling gel to enhance comfort and conduct the light pulses. Protective eyewear keeps your eyes shielded throughout the session.
Using a handheld IPL device, your specialist delivers controlled flashes of light to the targeted areas. Most people describe the feeling as a quick snap or warm flick. Sessions usually take under 30 minutes, and you can resume your regular activities right away.
IPL is a flexible light-based treatment that can visibly improve many pigmentation and redness concerns, including:
IPL gently revitalizes your skin with little interruption to your routine. With a customized treatment plan, many people notice visible improvements in tone, texture, and overall radiance, helping them feel more confident with less reliance on makeup day after day.
Clearer, more even skin tone
Reduced redness, sun damage, and hyperpigmentation
Smoother, brighter, and more refined appearance
A fresher, more radiant, youthful-looking complexion
Minimal downtime and quick return to normal activities
IPL skin rejuvenation is typically ideal for individuals with lighter skin tones (often Fitzpatrick I–III) who want to address brown spots, redness, visible vessels, or early signs of sun damage. It can help even out overall tone and restore a more radiant complexion.
Those with deeper complexions or recent tanning (including self-tanner or tanning beds) may be better suited to alternative treatments to reduce the risk of hyperpigmentation. People with active skin infections, recent sunburn, or who are taking certain medications (such as Accutane) may need to postpone IPL. During your consultation, we will review your complete skin history, lifestyle, and goals to design the safest, most effective plan for you.
After your IPL session, you may notice temporary skin sensitivity, redness, warmth, or mild swelling, much like a light sunburn. These effects typically fade within a few hours to a day.
Dark spots can initially appear more pronounced before gradually flaking away as your skin renews. Protect your results by avoiding direct sun and applying broad-spectrum sunscreen every day. Normal routines can usually be resumed right away, but wait 24 hours before applying makeup or using active products such as retinol or exfoliating acids.
Some improvement may be noticeable after a single IPL session, but most people enjoy their most dramatic results after a series of 3 to 5 treatments, typically spaced about a month apart.
As dark spots fade and discoloration breaks apart, your complexion can appear smoother, clearer, and more luminous. With ongoing collagen stimulation, you may also see softer fine lines, refined texture, and an overall more youthful-looking glow over time.
At Marvel Cosmetic MedSpa, our experienced team uses advanced IPL techniques designed to deliver luminous, consistent results while keeping your skin safe and protected.
Each treatment is thoughtfully customized to your skin type, tone, and goals, so you can enjoy a smoother, brighter complexion with confidence. Marvel Cosmetic MedSpa is a trusted choice for expert care, natural-looking enhancement, and long-lasting radiance.
Considering IPL therapy for clearer, more even skin? Below you'll find answers to common questions patients ask before scheduling a consultation. This information can help you understand what to expect and whether IPL is the right choice for your specific skin concerns.
Most people notice visible improvement after a series of 3–5 IPL sessions, typically spaced about 4 weeks apart. The exact number of treatments depends on your skin tone, specific concerns (such as redness, brown spots, or sun damage), and how your skin responds to each session.
Patients often describe IPL as feeling like a quick rubber band snap or a brief warm sting on the skin. The sensation is momentary with each pulse. A cooling gel and built-in device cooling help increase comfort, and most patients find the procedure very manageable without the need for numbing.
IPL can soften the look of discoloration left behind by breakouts, especially brown or red marks from past acne. However, it is not designed to correct deeper textural acne scars. For pitted or raised scarring, treatments such as microneedling, laser resurfacing, or a combination approach are usually more effective.
Downtime is generally minimal. You may experience temporary redness, mild swelling, or darkening of pigmented spots as they come to the surface. Makeup can usually be worn soon after, and most people return to work and normal activities the same day, while carefully following sun protection guidelines.
IPL is commonly used on the face, neck, chest, and hands, where sun damage and discoloration tend to be most visible. It can also be applied to other areas with uneven pigmentation or broken capillaries, as long as the skin is suitable and has not been recently tanned.
Chemical peels are typically best for refining skin texture, softening fine lines, and improving mild acne scarring by exfoliating the outer layers of skin. IPL treatments are ideal for reducing redness, visible vessels, and brown spots by targeting pigment and blood vessels. Many patients benefit from a customized plan that combines both, recommended after an in-person skin assessment.
Yes. Intense pulsed light can be used to reduce unwanted hair by targeting the pigment in hair follicles. It tends to work best on individuals with lighter skin tones and darker hair. During your consultation, your provider can explain whether IPL or a dedicated laser hair removal system is better suited to your hair type, skin tone, and goals.
