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Home/Non-Surgical Treatments/Broadband Light Therapy

Broadband Light Therapy

Broadband light therapy has become a staple of the cosmetic industry for good reason. It is safe, the technology is thoroughly developed and practiced, it is reasonably affordable, and it does not require any downtime from work, school, or other obligations.

The Ottawa Clinic is proud to be able to offer you a host of different broadband light therapies to help you achieve the appearance you are after. Whatever your goal is, we know we can help you across the finish line.

What Is Broadband Light?

Broadband light uses a wide spectrum of light wavelengths to penetrate deeply into the skin and target specific cosmetic concerns. It is emitted through a medical-grade device that can be precisely controlled by our specialized team at The Ottawa Clinic.

As the light is emitted, your skin can take the energy from it and turn it into heat. This heat can then serve several functions based on the targeted outcome. Those outcomes include breaking down highly pigmented skin to address color concerns, triggering the body’s collagen production response to address signs of aging, and even getting rid of spider veins and other cosmetic vascular issues.

An example of how collagen production can reduce the appearance of mild fine lines and wrinkles.

One of our expert staff members will listen to your aesthetic goals and analyze your condition to help determine which BBL option is a good fit for your needs.

Broadband Light Options

There are generally three types of BBL treatments that we recommend to patients: BBL Hero, BBL Forever Young, and BBL Forever Clear. While each of these treatments serves a different purpose, they can all help you achieve noticeable and targeted improvement toward your goals.

BBL Hero

BBL Hero is a common treatment used to address topical textural and tonal concerns. By emitting energy deep into the skin, it can address any of the following conditions:

Compared to BBL Forever Young, BBL Hero uses higher amounts of energy with fewer passes over the skin.

BBL Forever Young

BBL Forever Young is identical to BBL Hero in what it can treat:

The main difference between the two is the amount of energy used and the number of passes made on the skin. Forever Young is designed to maintain healthy skin and address textural concerns like fine lines and wrinkles, although it can also be used for a host of other options.

To achieve this, it uses less energy and more total passes in the skin, looking to trigger the body’s natural healing process evenly throughout the face. Often, which treatment is right for you will depend entirely on how your body responds to each treatment.

BBL Forever Clear

Whereas BBL Forever Young and Hero look to focus on many different cosmetic concerns, Forever Clear focuses entirely on treating active acne breakouts. The energy emission and total number of passes are tailored to disrupt the natural acne breakout production and can help you achieve significant improvement in the appearance of your acne.

Am I a Candidate for BBL?

If you are experiencing any of the concerns mentioned above, you are likely a candidate for BBL treatment. Broadband light is an extremely noninvasive treatment with very few disqualifying factors. However, if you have ever reacted poorly to a light-based therapy, it is imperative that you let us know since your safety is paramount.

In some cases, BBL therapy might not work on darker skin tones since the body absorbs the heat differently, but even if BBL is not a good fit, our office will work with you to find a treatment that can help you achieve your aesthetic goals.

Lastly, the most important part of any cosmetic treatment is having reasonable expectations. We will have plenty of before-and-after photos for you to look through, but you should also do your own research to ensure that you know exactly what kind of results you can expect. BBL is a highly effective treatment, but it is noninvasive, which means it has limitations on what it can achieve compared to surgical alternatives.

How to Prepare for a BBL Treatment

Since BBL is noninvasive, you do not need to worry about lengthy preparation. To avoid unnecessary discomfort during the treatment, simply avoid excessive sun exposure prior to your treatment, and come to the office with a face clean from makeup and other topical products.

If any additional steps are necessary, we will make sure to fully inform you before you come for your treatment.

What to Expect from BBL Recovery

The vast majority of patients can return to their usual activities immediately after the procedure. You may experience very mild redness or irritation at the treatment side, but it usually subsides within a few hours to a day. If you are having pigment removed, make sure not to mess with the recovery too much and let the face heal as naturally as possible.

Your skin will likely be somewhat sensitive to sunlight and other factors for a week or so. Make sure to wear plenty of sunscreen and take steps to avoid anything harsh coming into contact with your skin.

Can I Combine BBL With Other Treatments?

As a noninvasive cosmetic treatment, there are lots of different combinations that can be paired with BBL therapy. During your consultation, we will ask you what your aesthetic goals are. If we believe there is a combination treatment that will help you achieve your goals, then we will make sure to recommend it to you. If there are other procedures you are interested in, make sure to let us know.

We will only ever recommend treatment if we believe it will genuinely help you achieve your goals—the last thing you want to do is have unnecessary treatments done, and we will never push you to have treatments that won’t truly benefit you.

FAQs

Does BBL Hurt?

No, the vast majority of patients describe the BBL treatment as extremely tolerable, with mild to moderate discomfort at worst. The level of pain will change based on the individual’s pain tolerance. Additionally, for maximum comfort, we offer a gentle skin numbing cream that makes the procedure even more tolerable. Patients are available to apply this one hour pre-procedure.

IS BBL Safe?

In 2019, 4.1 million laser, light, or energy-based procedures were performed, making them one of the most practiced and performed procedures on the market. Complications with this treatment are extremely rare, and as long as you disclose any previous medical conditions, we can generally ensure a smooth and safe process.

How Long Until I Notice Results?

For textural concerns, the body will take some time to go through its natural healing process and build on the protein structures in the face. As collagen and elastin develop, the skin will take on a naturally more taut appearance. When it comes to tonal concerns, you will see immediate improvement right after the procedure, but results will continue to develop for about a week or so.

How Long Will My Results Last?

A treatment plan may be necessary to maintain your results. This will also assist us in helping you attain your ideal long-term results. Generally, most patients need a treatment every three months, but that can become longer or shorter depending on your body’s unique reaction.

How Much Does BBL Cost?

Most BBL treatment costs depend on a range of factors like location, skill level, training, and expertise. For this reason, we never recommend choosing your medical professional based on price, as it is likely that their lower cost is associated with less training or experience.

What Is the Difference Between IPL and BBL?

BBL and IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) are both noninvasive light-based treatments used for skin rejuvenation, but BBL is a more advanced form of IPL. BBL offers a broader range of wavelengths, allowing for more precise targeting of skin conditions such as sun damage, pigmentation issues, and small blood vessels, while also promoting collagen production for improved skin texture.

Though effective, IPL is less customizable and may not be as precise in treating specific issues. Overall, BBL is often seen as a more refined and efficient option for addressing a wider range of skin concerns.

Want to Book a Consultation?

We know finding a partner to help you through your aesthetic journey can be difficult, which is why we are focused on being the professionals you can trust. If you would like to book a consultation fill out our online contact form. Someone from our team will be happy to set you up with an appointment.