Broad Band Light (BBL™)

When age spots, sun damage, and tiny blood vessels accumulate on your skin, your complexion might seem hopelessly compromised. To reduce pigmented features like these, Louisiana Women’s Aesthetics in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, offers BroadBand Light (BBL™) filtered light therapy to restore a more even skin tone.

Broad Band Light (BBL™)

When age spots, sun damage, and tiny blood vessels accumulate on your skin, your complexion might seem hopelessly compromised. To reduce pigmented features like these, Louisiana Women’s Aesthetics in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, offers BroadBand Light (BBL™) filtered light therapy to restore a more even skin tone.

What is BroadBand Light (BBL)?

BroadBand Light (BBL) is a filtered light therapy that reduces the appearance of red and brown discoloration on the face and body. It is an excellent treatment option for sun and age spots, pigmentation from sun damage as well as rosacea and small facial vessels or microvessels. BBL also treats active acne and can be combined with other acne therapies.

How does BBL work?

BBL supplies a broad spectrum of light transmitted through a hand-piece placed directly over the skin. The procedure is gentle, non-invasive, and safe. The BBL device is gently guided over the skin, delivering consistent bursts of light energy. A slight sensation, like the snapping of a small rubber band may be felt.

What will happen during my BBL treatment?

During your BBL treatment your eyes are protected with safety shields or glasses. Typically, there is no need for a topical anesthetic and when treating vascular conditions such as rosacea and microvessels it is best to treat without anesthetic. A clear gel is applied to the treatment area to help buffer the heat felt by the skin. You may feel a quick, warm sensation as the light is absorbed by the targeted areas. After treatment you may have a flushed appearance to the skin and the brown pigment may appear darker. A cloth will be provided to remove the gel, followed by sunscreen with soothing complex to help calm the skin.

What can I expect after my BBL procedure?

Each BBL treatment usually takes about 45 minutes.  Immediately following treatment, you can expect to see mild redness, and it may feel like a slight sunburn in the treated area. This should dissipate after a few hours, but in some cases, it may last a day or two. Many patients do not experience downtime following BBL therapy, and are able to resume normal daily routines immediately as well as the application of facial products including sunscreen and makeup. We encourage the regular use of sunscreen to enhance the results of your BBL.

What common skin conditions can BBL help improve?

  • Age spots and sun damage: BBL is an excellent treatment option to precisely treat red and brown pigmentation. It diminishes the appearance of sun spots, age spots (liver spots), freckles, and discoloration from sun exposure. BBL reaches the pigment by penetrating the skin, fading the dark spot so that it will eventually lighten to match surrounding skin creating a more even skin tone.
  • Rosacea: BBL’s approach to treating rosacea is unique. It aims to alter the blood vessels that cause the face to look flushed. It does this by causing them to contract. The amount of blood near the skin decreases, which leads to a great reduction in the redness that a person’s face displays. It is recommended to have 3-6 treatments that occur every four weeks. Unfortunately, no treatment is permanent. Age and sun exposure causing the skin to thin will inevitably cause the blood vessels to surface and the face to become red again. Maintenance treatment is key in keeping the condition minimized, every 6 months to a year.
  • BBL for Acne: While BBL treatment is most commonly used to address pigmentation issues, it is also an effective treatment for acne. BBL lightwaves reduce acne-producing bacteria in the sebaceous glands and on the surface of the skin. Combined with other acne therapies BBL can help decrease the appearance of acne as well as the redness associated with it.  

Is there any downtime after BBL?

BBL is a noninvasive and gentle procedure with no downtime. Any redness will resolve hours following the treatment. The brown will continue to darken, then pepper flake and slough naturally. You are able to apply makeup/sunscreen, return to work and resume most of your activities immediately. The regular use of sunscreen and medical grade skincare will help enhance and maintain your results.

Am I a candidate for BBL?

Patients with fair skin tones with the above concerns are the best candidates for BBL. Patients with darker skin tones receive better outcomes with treatments such as microneedling and chemical peels.

Schedule your BBL consultation today

At Louisiana Women’s Aesthetics, we’re experts in choosing the right treatments & technologies to make sure you get real results. Get started with requesting an appointment at our medical spa in Baton Rouge today.