Laser and light treatments for sun spots, redness and texture
What it is
Intense pulsed light, often called a photofacial, sends flashes of filtered light into the skin. Brown pigment and small red vessels absorb it, and over the following week the spots darken and flake away.
A non-ablative fractional laser heats thousands of tiny columns of skin while leaving the skin around them untouched. The skin repairs those columns over the following weeks. It is used for rough texture, fine lines and some kinds of acne marks.
Who it suits
Light treatment suits fair to medium skin with sun spots or redness. Deeper skin tones need different settings or a different treatment, which Marcus will explain at the consultation.
You will be asked to avoid a tan, self-tanner and some medicines for a few weeks before. Many Hinsdale clients start their series in October or November and finish before the spring sun.
What the visit is like
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First visit
Consultation and test spot
We check your skin type and medicines, then treat a small hidden area. You come back for the full session once we have seen how that spot responds.
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First 10 minutes
Preparation
The skin is cleaned and a cool gel goes on. You wear eye shields the whole time.
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15 to 40 minutes
Treatment
Each pulse feels like a warm snap. Fractional laser sessions start with numbing cream for 30 minutes.
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Days 1 to 7
The week after
Daily sunscreen, a gentle cleanser and no exfoliating products. Sessions are spaced four weeks apart.
Downtime and price
After light treatment, spots turn darker and look like coffee grounds for about a week before they flake off. After fractional laser, expect two or three days of redness and a sandpaper feel for about a week. Makeup is fine the next day for most people.
In this demo, a light treatment session starts at $395 and a fractional laser session at $650. Most people need a series of three to five, and a series booked together is priced lower. The plan and the price come in writing first.
Prices on this demo are sample figures. Sample prices
Laser skin treatments: common questions
Does it hurt?
It stings briefly. We use cooling, and numbing cream for the fractional laser.
Why do you insist on a test spot?
Because skin reacts differently to light, and a small hidden area tells us the right setting before we treat your whole face.
Can I do this in summer?
We prefer not to. Fresh sun exposure raises the risk of burns and of new dark patches, so we plan series for fall and winter.
Talk it through with Dr. Valcourt first
A 30-minute consultation covers your health history, whether this treatment suits you and the exact price.
Or call (630) 555-0187