At Faulkner Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics, Lumecca IPL is generally well-tolerated. You may feel a slight snapping sensation as the light pulses reach your skin, but it is not usually considered painful. After treatment, mild redness or a warm sensation in the treated area is common and typically resolves within a few hours. Pigmented spots may become darker initially before flaking off, and the skin may feel slightly dry for a few days.

Typically, we recommend a series of 1 to 3 treatments to achieve optimal results, with each spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. However, your treatment plan may vary depending on the severity of the skin concerns you wish to treat.

We use intense pulsed light in Rockville to treat a variety of skin concerns, delivering quick, long-lasting results. Each 30-minute session helps improve skin tone and texture, with results lasting 6 to 12 months. The benefits of Lumecca include:

• Fast Results: Many patients notice improvements after just one session, though multiple treatments are often recommended for optimal results.
• Minimal Downtime: Lumecca has little to no downtime, with most people able to return to their normal activities immediately after treatment. There may be mild redness or a feeling of warmth in the treated area, which typically subsides within a few hours.
• Non-invasive: Since it’s a non-surgical treatment, there’s no need for incisions or injections, making it a safer and less invasive alternative to other skin rejuvenation procedures.

Lumecca IPL stands out from other IPL devices due to its large spot size and high pulse repetition rate, allowing for faster, more efficient treatments. Results appear quickly, as dark spots darken before naturally flaking off within a week. Since this treatment does not require a consultation, you can begin your sessions right away. When booking your appointment, a member of our team will discuss your aesthetic goals and how Lumecca can help you achieve them.

Lumecca uses a high-energy light that your skin absorbs and converts into heat. The heat targets specific chromophores in the skin, such as melanin (pigment) and hemoglobin (blood vessels). This allows Lumecca to effectively treat pigmentation and redness while leaving the surrounding tissue unharmed.

Lumecca is an advanced IPL system, delivering up to 3 times more energy than traditional IPL treatments, making it highly effective with fewer sessions needed. Lumecca IPL offers precise skin correction without excessive energy levels, allowing our team to:

• Reduce Pigmentation: Lumecca is particularly effective at treating sunspots, age spots, and freckles caused by sun exposure. It targets and breaks down the pigment (melanin) in the skin, which helps to lighten and reduce the appearance of discoloration.
• Treats Vascular Lesions: It addresses vascular issues like broken capillaries, rosacea, and redness in the skin. The intense light energy selectively targets and reduces the appearance of small blood vessels and redness on the face and other parts of the body.
• Improves Skin Texture: The treatment can improve overall skin texture by stimulating collagen production. Collagen is a protein that supports the skin’s structure, and an increase in collagen leads to smoother, firmer, and more youthful-looking skin.
• Reduces Fine Lines and Wrinkles: While Lumecca is primarily focused on pigmentation and vascular issues, the collagen stimulation it promotes can also lead to a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles over time.
• Improves Overall Skin Tone: Lumecca helps to even out skin tone by targeting hyperpigmentation (dark spots) and redness, leading to a brighter and more uniform complexion.

Proper preparation and post-treatment care play a crucial role in achieving optimal results. Contact our team to learn more about how intense pulsed light in Rockville can improve your skin.

Lumecca IPL is a versatile treatment that addresses multiple areas of the body, including the face, neck, chest, hands, and arms. It is particularly effective for Fitzpatrick skin types I to III, while individuals with darker skin tones may require additional evaluation to determine suitability. When booking your appointment, share your medical history and treatment goals so our team can tailor a plan that delivers the best results for your skin type and concerns.

Although both Lumecca IPL and RF microneedling create a healthier-looking complexion, the two devices address different aesthetic concerns.

Dr. Faulkner recommends Lumecca IPL to patients who want to address hyperpigmentation, including sun spots, rosacea, and melasma. Lumecca IPL emits high-intensity pulses of broad-spectrum light, which are converted into heat when they reach the skin. The pigmentation in your treatment area selectively absorbs this heat, damaging the discolored cells and breaking apart the excess pigment to create a more even skin tone. Patients can achieve optimal results with little to no downtime.

Alternatively, Morpheus8 RF microneedling combines radiofrequency (RF) energy with traditional microneedling to address skin tone and texture issues. The Morpheus8 device is equipped with tiny microneedles, which penetrate the dermis, or the middle layer of skin. This process stimulates the body’s natural healing process to boost collagen production. As the skin’s primary protein building block, increased collagen strengthens the skin on a cellular level.

Either device can be highly effective, but each has its unique strengths and advantages. To help you determine which is right for you, Dr. Faulkner will consider your aesthetic goals and your specific concerns, using this information to recommend the most suitable treatment.

No. Patients primarily use Lumecca IPL to address hyperpigmentation. Dr. Faulkner uses Diolaze to remove unwanted hair. Diolaze is an advanced laser hair removal treatment that uses diode laser technology to target and destroy hair follicles, resulting in permanent hair reduction. 

• The laser emits a wavelength of light that is absorbed by melanin, the pigment in hair. 
• This absorption generates heat, which damages and destroys the hair follicle. 
• Over multiple treatments, this process can significantly reduce or eliminate hair growth.

Lumecca IPL treatments are generally well-tolerated, with most patients compare the sensation to a rubber band snapping against the skin. This discomfort is brief and subsides quickly after treatment. Dr. Faulkner can also adjust the treatment intensity to accommodate your pain tolerance.

You may experience mild redness and swelling after your Lumecca IPL treatment session. Alert Dr. Faulkner immediately if you develop blisters, burns, scars, or excessive swelling.

Dr. Faulkner recommends protecting your newly treated skin from the sun’s harmful rays. If you must be exposed to direct sunlight, be sure to apply a 30+ SPF sunscreen every 2 hours. He also suggests wearing protective clothing items, including long sleeves, pants, and wide-brimmed hats.

Dr. Faulkner recommends patients undergo 1 to 3 Lumecca IPL treatments to achieve lasting hyperpigmentation reduction. Intense pulsed light in Rockville gradually breaks down excess pigment. Each treatment also builds upon the previous session’s results. Your recommended number of treatments may vary depending on the nature of your aesthetic concerns. 

Allowing 4 to 6 weeks between treatments also helps your skin heal and regenerate in between sessions. Undergoing too many Lumecca IPL treatments within a short period can damage your skin’s protective barrier. 

You must protect your skin from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays in the weeks before and after your IPL treatment. Lumecca IPL makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight, which increases your risk of developing a sunburn, further hyperpigmentation, and sun damage. 

Dr. Faulkner recommends patients undergo IPL treatments during the fall or winter. The colder temperatures and shorter daylight hours during these seasons can help you avoid direct sun exposure, thereby giving your skin the most optimal conditions to recover.

However, while it’s often said that IPL treatments should be avoided in the summer, there’s an unexpected upside to doing them during the sunnier months: it can actually motivate you to take sun protection more seriously. When you’ve invested in improving your skin with IPL, you’re much more likely to be diligent about wearing sunscreen, avoiding direct sun exposure, and sticking to a solid skincare routine—because you’ll want to protect your results. Sometimes, that extra motivation makes all the difference.

Despite significantly improving hyperpigmentation concerns, intense pulsed light in Rockville is not a permanent solution. Lumecca IPL cannot stop the aging process. It also cannot prevent further sun damage.

Dr. Faulkner recommends patients undergo regular annual maintenance treatments to prolong their IPL results. Daily SPF application can also help you protect your skin. Visit the Faulkner Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics shop to learn which medical-grade skincare products can help you enhance your clearer skin.

What treatments should I pair with Lumecca IPL?
Intense pulsed light in Rockville has helped countless patients brighten their skin tone and clear hyperpigmentation. Dr. Faulkner recommends pairing Lumecca IPL with the following treatments to build upon your glowing complexion:

• Chemical peels – Dr. Faulker applies a chemical solution to the skin to enhance collagen production and increase cellular turnover. Chemical peels can further treat areas of hyperpigmentation and prevent premature skin aging.
• Morpheus8 RF microneedling – Creates minor, controlled skin injuries to remodel your skin and address wrinkles, fine lines, and other skin texture concerns.
• Botox – An injectable purified botulinum toxin that minimizes facial muscle movements and softens wrinkles. Frequently used between the eyebrows, around the eyes, and across the forehead.
• Fillers – A hyaluronic acid-based solution that restores lost volume and provides lasting hydration. Primarily injected into the cheeks, lips, temples, and along the jawline.
• Laser hair removal – Uses thermal energy to reduce unwanted hair and prevent future growth. Safe for the legs, arms, and more delicate areas around the face and bikini line.

Dr. Faulkner also recommends pairing your Lumecca IPL treatment with hydroquinone and tretinoin creams. These prescription-strength topical treatments reduce the appearance of dark spots to create brighter, clearer skin.

These topicals are available in the Faulkner Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics shop, along with other medical-grade skincare products designed to enhance your treatment results. Dr. Faulkner can help you determine which products to add to your routine during a skincare consultation.

Lumecca IPL is a revolutionary device for intense pulsed light in Rockville. With more power and precision in fewer treatments, Lumecca IPL sets the bar for skin hyperpigmentation treatments. 

Dr. Faulkner prefers Lumecca IPL for Fitzpatrick skin types I–III (fair to light brown skin).. Many patients at Faulkner Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics choose Lumecca IPL to treat hyperpigmentation concerns on the face and throughout the body. 

Lumecca IPL also treats a wide range of skin concerns, including:

• Redness
• Rosacea
• Angiomas
• Freckles
• Moles
• Uneven skin tone

Our Lumecca IPL device includes a sapphire cooling tip to create a more comfortable treatment experience. This feature helps patients sit through the duration of their treatment without severe discomfort.